Priceline® Hotel Bidding Strategy Generator


Step 1: Provide details about each hotel bidding area in the target city for your trip.

First visit the Priceline.com Hotels page (link opens in new window). Click on the Name Your Own Price® link, enter your destination, arrival date, and departure date, and then click the button.

You will then be presented with a list of areas for your destination. For each and every area, do the following:

  1. Check the box next to the area and note the highest star level that becomes selectable/active.
  2. Type the area's name in the Area Name text box below and select the highest active star level from the Maximum Star Level drop-down list.
  3. Click the Add Area button.
  4. Uncheck the selected area's box.

When you have completed this step, each area should be listed in the Areas Defined table below along with its respective Maximum Star Level.

For additional help, please read our detailed example.

Area Name:
Maximum Star Level:
  
Areas Defined
Area Name Maximum Star Level  
None defined.

Step 2: Select the star level for your stay.

Hint: Selecting a star level equal to or above 4-Star Deluxe typically gives you the most hotel bids for your trip.
Bidding Star Level:

Step 3: Select the area for your stay.

Bidding Area:

Step 4: Define your bidding range.

First visit a few travel sites and determine the lowest price per night (before taxes) available for a room of your target star level, in your target area, and for the dates of your trip. We have provided links under the Travel Links section to the left for your convenience.

As a rough guideline, we suggest that you set your starting bid to 40% of this amount. Enter this amount in the Starting Bid text box below.

We recommend that you set your maximum bid to the lowest of the following:

  • 75% of the rate used to set your starting bid.
  • The rate quoted by Hotwire.com for a hotel at the closest star level and area for your dates.
  • The most you are willing to spend per night for your stay.

Enter this amount in the Maximum Bid text box below.

You have set your starting and maximum bid. Please feel free to deviate from these guidelines.

Starting Bid (in whole dollars):
Maximum Bid (in whole dollars):

Step 5: Choose the strategy generation mode.

Expert Produces the maximum amount of hotel bids, but may require you to log out of and back into Priceline® multiple times. Best chance of getting best price.
Advanced May produce more hotel bids than the simple mode, but may require you to log out of and back into Priceline® at most once. Better chance of getting best price.
Simple May produce the fewest number of hotel bids, but does not require you to log out of and back into Priceline®. Lowest chance of getting best price.

Step 6: Generate your bidding strategy and start bidding.


Generated Bidding Strategy
None generated.


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Browser Compatibility

BidSmartForHotels.com has been tested on the following browsers:
  • Mozilla Firefox 1.5
  • Opera 9.01
  • Microsoft IE 6.0

Recommended Resources

FlyerTalk - Travel Bidding Forum