Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - PL Q -- Two nights -- different rates...

I have bid quite a bit in the past on PL, but not much recently. I am thinking of bidding two nights @ Vegas. It is a Thurs & Fri night. Not surprisingly, the Fri night is 40% higher than the Thurs night.

Would you base your initial bidding on the lower or higher night's rate?

I am also checking promo codes for Orbitz, hotel websites, and smartervegas.com promos.

Thanks :cool:

If it were me, it would depend on how soon the trip is (is it this coming weekend or in October for example?) and what quality level I was looking for. If you're looking for a 5* and you've got time (at least a week before you go), I would start low because you have MANY zones that you could use as free re-bids. If you're looking for something lower, you have very few.

If it's this coming weekend, I might start in the medium to high price range since there's not much time left before you go.

I am considering 4* (ie. Caesars/TI/Mirage) next week. Tomorrow I will re-review all the promos and then maybe throw out a lowball to see if I even get a counter. Thanks for the suggestions.

With multiple rebidding zones available I'd start low and probably aim for 5* if trump as the worst case scenario is acceptable. On the other hand there is a chance to get trump even on a 4* bid.

Another option could be to just bid for the Thursday night alone.... and if you succeed... hope they offer you the opportunity to extend for the extra night.

Another option could be to just bid for the Thursday night alone.... and if you succeed... hope they offer you the opportunity to extend for the extra night.Although caution must be used, as receiving the offer to extend (either one night before or after) is NOT a guarantee to be accepted. If no inventory is available in the Priceline bucket for the desired extra night, the request will be denied (this has happened to me twice in the past).

True... that is why I said "Could".... :)

Never a guarantee... but can be worth risking it at times.

Although caution must be used, as receiving the offer to extend (either one night before or after) is NOT a guarantee to be accepted. If no inventory is available in the Priceline bucket for the desired extra night, the request will be denied (this has happened to me twice in the past).

Update ~~

I tried bidding 4* for two nights and went up to $77+taxes. Got no counter offers and their system was problematic that day -- lots of re-entering bids, etc. In the interim, I was looking at other promo options. In the end, I made two separate one-night bookings @ the Venetian (managed to upgrade myself to 5* ;)).

Thurs night is $109 (+tax) (hotel-direct) and includes perks:
$50 in Slot Credits per stay
15% off at Bouchon (breakfast or dinner) (Thomas Keller)
30% off tickets to Blue Man Group (applies to Blue and Red zones only)
25% off at Postrio (Wolfgang Puck)
$30 off at Woo with a $60 minimum purchase
$20 off Spa or Salon services of $100 or more at Canyon Ranch SpaClub®

Fri night is $99 (incl tax):
I booked via Vegas.com, who is offering a BRG of 'double the difference' if you find a lower rate. I found a lower rate, but getting them to honor the claim was stressful and arduous -- I would be very hesitant to do it again. I would print out TONS of notes! Rates for Fri nite at Expedia/Orbitz/etc. are $220+tax !I chose NOT to bid for Thurs nite + try to 'add a nite' in case it didn't work. I wanted to be confident we didn't have to spend our time on Friday relocating and checking in & out. Generally, PL works great for me. But I'm very happy with what I worked out :)