Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Priceline: How many % off Hotwire?

If I know which hotel is being offered Hotwire for $197, how much should I bid for the same hotel on Priceline?

Thanks!

How do you know Priceline has a contract at that same hotel? Is it the only hotel in that zone at that star level (keep in mind their ratings systems are different, too)? I wouldn't assume it will be the same hotel for bidding purposes.

Have you looked at either of the boards that deal with winning bids?

The hotwire mark up is typically 30-50% of their cost. However, hotels that participate with hotwire may not always participate in priceline. If a hotel participate in both, they may not have the same inventory.

It happened to me once where I know the one particular LA hotel participates in both priceline and hotwire. Hotwire has rate of $69. I bidded all the way to $68 on priceline and it didn't accept (I bidded the correct star level for that hotel). I ended up booking on hotwire. At check in, I saw the screen which shows a cost of $50/night.

As the other posters mentioned, Priceline may have entirely different hotels than Hotwire. However, if you want to assume the risk of getting something different, a loose rule of thumb is to start your Priceline bids between 10 and 15% lower that Hotwire shows.

Romelle

The hotel in question is the Westin Palace Madrid. It is the only 5-star on Hotwire in the Old Town section and one out of two five stars in the same section, on Priceline (according to betterbidding.com).

I would say that chances are pretty good, considering that the other 5-star on priceline is a much smaller hotel.

The hotel in question is the Westin Palace Madrid. It is the only 5-star on Hotwire in the Old Town section and one out of two five stars in the same section, on Priceline (according to betterbidding.com).

I would say that chances are pretty good, considering that the other 5-star on priceline is a much smaller hotel.

You are assuming that the only 5* hotel on hotwire is the one listed on betterbidding.com. Please don't be surprised if you happen to get a different hotel. Similar things have happened to me in the past, once in London.

It is really tough knowing how much less to bid on PL than HW. I too had an experience (in RDU) finding a hotel on HW then trying to bid lower on PL in a similarly-rated quality level (HW's level was higher than PL's). I would start low and definitely not bid more than what your total cost would be on HW, probably less since HW gives you more info than PL does.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

John

Hotwire is a little more generous with their stars than Priceline is. Maybe about 1/2 star. So - a 3 1/2* on Hotwire can be a 3* on PL.

Romelle

When you see an attractive Hotwire rate, especially overseas, go ahead and click it to see what the taxes are. I recently had an experience in the UK where Hotwire only charged me about 3% in taxes and fees -- a huge discrepancy. Priceline, of course, would have charged me much more. This way you can compare apples to apples.

In general, I find priceline rates to be $10 to $15 less than hotwire, but I have seen Hotwire actually lower. Hotwire does grade on a curve, though -- it's easier to earn stars in their rating system -- so be careful when comparing the two.

I've found that Priceline has higher standards and lower prices for comparable properties if you can figure the lowest bid. Since Hotwire has no chance for an overbid they have a standard markup while Priceline can accept a bid at their cost plus the fee they charge. My rule is multiply the Hotwire price for the star level by 0.8 for a Priceline bid.

My rule is multiply the Hotwire price for the star level by 0.8 for a Priceline bid.

My rule is that I prefer to do my homework by researching conventional rates and making my PL bid based on those rates (though certainly looking at hotwire as well) - often starting as low as 30% of the lowest rate available through conventional sources. Unless it is a last-minute bid, I much prefer to underbid first than to use ballpark formulas such as mentioned above that might not be maximizing my cost savings.

John

My rule is that I prefer to do my homework by researching conventional rates and making my PL bid based on those rates (though certainly looking at hotwire as well) - often starting as low as 30% of the lowest rate available through conventional sources. Unless it is a last-minute bid, I much prefer to underbid first than to use ballpark formulas such as mentioned above that might not be maximizing my cost savings.

John
My understanding of the query from the OP was what is likely to be a reasonable guideline for a successful one-bid effort. Getting the satisfaction of the lowest possible bid is another story, requiring more research and necessarily unsuccessful bids, as noted: you should only make a bid that you would be pleased to have accepted.

If I know which hotel is being offered Hotwire for $197, how much should I bid for the same hotel on Priceline? Thanks!

My understanding of the query from the OP was what is likely to be a reasonable guideline for a successful one-bid effort. Getting the satisfaction of the lowest possible bid is another story, requiring more research and necessarily unsuccessful bids, as noted: you should only make a bid that you would be pleased to have accepted.

Not sure where you read "one-bid effort" into that post :confused:

Unfortunately it is not so simple as just taking some arbitrary percentage or formula. Using HW and PL requires research unless you want to be severely disappointed, OP. HW and PL use different quality rating systems, many hotels on PL do not even participate on HW because some chains feel HW is not "opaque" enough are two reason why a simplistic percentage or formula severely work against you.

I stand by my conviction that if you are not willing to put in some effort to do some research, you should stay away from HW and especially PL. Case in point - look for the thread about the person who walked away from a hotel in LON for which they paid over $1000. They didn't do their homework and were severely disappointed in the result. It really has little or nothing to do with the satisfaction of getting the lowest bid.

I am all for promoting informed bidding and don't want some casual reader of this thread to think there is a simplistic way otherwise. In fact, the OP's question shows they really don't have an understanding of how PL works - "how much should I bid for the same hotel on Priceline?" You are not bidding for the "same hotel." Not even the same chance to get the same hotel if you don't understand how HW and PL work, their different rating systems, etc.

John

Hmm
For instance looking to book a hotel in Rome 12/14-18th. Both PL and HW seem to have the IC (as from BFT and BB). Now, what are the odds that I will get that hotel?
Also when I check tripadvisor on what HW shows and the IC rome, seems to match 4.0/5 240+ comments

Hmm
For instance looking to book a hotel in Rome 12/14-18th. Both PL and HW seem to have the IC (as from BFT and BB). Now, what are the odds that I will get that hotel?
Also when I check tripadvisor on what HW shows and the IC rome, seems to match 4.0/5 240+ comments

I did not bid on the Madrid hotel, as airfare increased.

However, the IC Rome is a pretty good hotel!

The best of luck and let us know how things work out!:)

Hmm
For instance looking to book a hotel in Rome 12/14-18th. Both PL and HW seem to have the IC (as from BFT and BB). Now, what are the odds that I will get that hotel?
Also when I check tripadvisor on what HW shows and the IC rome, seems to match 4.0/5 240+ comments

Odds are probably good but if you would be disappointed if you did NOT get that hotel, then probably look elsewhere. You must be content with accepting any hotel in that star level. I have been surprised in the past more than once.