Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Priceline: 2 1/2 stars - is there leeway?

I am looking at bidding for a hotel in Santa Rosa, CA. There are several 2-star properties that don't look too appealing. There is only one 2.5 star hotel - a Courtyard - in the whole area, and some 3 star ones too.

If I bid specifically for the 2.5 star hotel, will it automatically go with the Courtyard, or will it also apply the bid to the 2 and 3 star hotels as well?

Thanks

I am looking at bidding for a hotel in Santa Rosa, CA. There are several 2-star properties that don't look too appealing. There is only one 2.5 star hotel - a Courtyard - in the whole area, and some 3 star ones too.

If I bid specifically for the 2.5 star hotel, will it automatically go with the Courtyard, or will it also apply the bid to the 2 and 3 star hotels as well?

A 2.5 star bid cannot, by definition, result in a win at a 2 star property. You can, however, get "upgraded" to a 3 star property.

Assuming you only want to get a hotel in the "Santa Rosa - Rohnert Park - Petaluma" zone and you are willing to consider only 3 star and 2.5 star properties, you should have two shots at the 3 star level (adding the "Fairfield" zone as a free re-bid), and if those fail, one more shot at the 2.5 star and above level. However, you'll need to log out in between your 3 star and 2.5 star bidding because there are 2.5 star properties in the "Fairfield" zone; be sure when you bid for a 2.5 star that the only zone that is checked is the "Santa Rosa - Rohnert Park - Petaluma" zone.

NICE! THanks ^

I have often been "upgraded" to a 3* when bidding on a 2.5* property.... often
this means paying for wifi, parking, and/or breakfast (these are often provided free at many 2.5* properties).

... However, you'll need to log out in between your 3 star and 2.5 star bidding because there are 2.5 star properties in the "Fairfield" zone....

Does log out really work? I have to use another browser (Priceline "remembers" my selections) .. or wait 24 hours.

Does log out really work? I have to use another browser (Priceline "remembers" my selections) .. or wait 24 hours.

Not if you are tying to circumvent the 24 hour bidding lockout. My suggestion to log out was a specific recommendation to flyinryan so that his 2.5 star bid would not encompass the "Fairfield" zone, a zone in which he does not want to have a bid accepted and which has no 3 star properties, but does have 2.5 star properties.