New Question about PriceLine
 

To WillTravel and others that are familiar with bidding on Priceline:

I was going to bid on the Kensington London area for my May 2005 hotel, but now see that the Hilton Olympia has come up on a couple of bids on biddingfortravel. I know the "rule" not to bid an area if there is any hotel I'm not interested in. The hotel has some good reviews with the exception of location to the tube. I'm not familiar with London (this will be my first visit there) so I would appreciate your comments as to the location of this hotel as far as convenience to the tube, bus, and main sights. If your responses are negative, then I will bid for the Mayfair/Soho or Westminster area.

I'm also anxious to bid though my trip isn't until May, another 7 months. I was told I could bid anytime as long as my travel dates are firm (which they are).

Thanks!

Monica ((F))

PS: My goal for the Kensington area was the HOliday Inn Kensington Forum (coming in at $70 - 80). The Olympia has come in at $70-90).

I stayed there about 10 years ago, it was a nice enough hotel but it was not close to anything. It catered to tour groups and airline personnel. The Olympia tube stop was right next door but it was never in service. We had to walk a long, long way to the next tube stop or wait for the buses.

If the Olympia stop is open, it would be OK but I think there are more convenient places to stay.

Hope this helps,
Sandy (in Denton)

There are a couple of other hotels in the 4* category in the Kensington/Earls Court listings on BFT that have less-than-wonderful reviews. Why not try the other areas first and see what develops? I do think seven months is awfully far out, though.

Are you coming in via Heathrow? If price isn't a major concern, I think I'd choose the Mayfair-Soho zone for the best chance of being conveniently located on the Piccadilly Line. From the reviews, the Hilton Olympia hotel is 5 minutes from the Olympia tube on the District line. That is quite doable, but the hotels in the Mayfair-Soho zone are more convenient and central.

That said, the odds are greatly in your favor that you would get a hotel conveniently located on the Piccadilly Line if you choose the Kensington zone, and you would almost certainly get a cheaper hotel than the other zones. I would personally take the risk, being price-sensitive and having had a good experience before in this zone.

The Westminster zone is fine too, but any hotel in that zone would probably involve tube line changes to get on the Piccadilly Line. (Again, no big deal at all, as it's only a marginal loss of convenience if you are okay with stairs and walking.)

That seems a little far away from the action. I guess its risky but i think a lot of the hotels listed as Kensington can me in weird spots.

I think the safest area to bid is in the Mafair area. All the hotels seem to be right in the city center.

Also I think is in the Knightsbridge area where there are only 2 4* hotels. You will get one or the other if you win.

I also believe it may be too early to bid. If something happens you are screwed. Also, I think hotels use priceline as a clearinghouse for unsold rooms. I doubt that they know right now what occupancy will be during May of next year.

I won my bid for the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum almost 6 months in advance, and some bidders have won bids for it further in advance. So if Monica is okay with the upfront costs and the nonrefundable aspect, there's no harm in trying now.

Thanks for the fast responses.

Yes WillTravel I am coming in from Heathrow and planning to use justairports.com. The tube with luggage won't be good for my Mom.

I did see on BFT one or two winnings for May, so that's why I'm looking to bid now. I can wait though. My dates are set and I am planning to "buy" the $5/day cancellation fee for comfort sake.

Sounds like I should try the Mayfair area first.

Richard, you state there are two 4* hotels for Knightsbridge, but on Priceline, Kightsbridge is included with Kensington.

Maybe I'll wait another month and see is the Olympia comes up between now and then.

Thanks for your advise everyone!

Monica ((F))

There's the 5* Conrad Hilton in the Kensington-Knightsbridge-Earls Court zone which isn't very convenient. That's quite unlikely to come up on a lowball bid for a 4* hotel. The 4* Tara Copthorne had some mixed reviews, but I think it's been renovated and it's one of the several very conveniently located hotels near Gloucester Road station that show up in this zone on Priceline.

Monica, I think if traveling with your mom, the Mayfair zone would be an excellent choice.

I just came back from a Paris/London trip. We stayed at the Park International, close to the Gloucester tube station, one block. Bus stop outside the hotel so easy to get around. We walked to Harrods and all the way past Hyde Park to Oxford St. A friend who lived in London recommended this neighborhood or South Kensington. Value for your dollar is good, we even had a fridge. The rates are cheaper during the week(59GBP for 2 one night and $89GBP for 2 Fri. night (superior room)and always ask for a room above the basement as recommended by fellow fodorites.

I am sorry I meant 5 star hotels, but one of them is the Conrad and I think they don't have a tube station nearby.

I also think the Mayfair 4 star and 5 star is the best. Almost all of those hotels are in interesting areas and they are all nice.

In Bloomsbury - Marble Arch most of those are also good hotels and many of them ar right at Oxford Street. Bloomsbury is nice but there are a few tricky hotels which are at King Cross area which is terribly dull and a bit out of the way.

As far as your idea about Holiday Inn on Cromwell Road, GET OVER IT. Move up to Mayfair baby!

One last thought....

I am going to London in November and once I feel secure I am gonna do the Mayfair bid but until then I have a reservation at the Kensington Close Hotel. Oddly enough I stayed at this hotel on my very first trip to Europe in 1981! I think my room is 65 pound a night ($117). It's a clean simple hotel and the location is Kensington is great. I like the area but it is still too far to the West of the city for me since my business will be near Oxford Street.

Check out their site...

http://www.kensingtonclosehotel.com/#

The Kensington Close is listed with the Kensington Palace Thistle and often give rooms for $65! The KP Thistle isn't real close to the tube station though.

Anyway good luck!

Okay, I can't wait! I'm going to try bidding for the Mayfair area. Wish me luck! ;)

Monica ((F))

LOL!!! I posted my last message at the same time as you Richard! I'm going to get over it!

I'm happy to report I got the Thistle Charing Cross hotel for $100. So VERY glad I am done with hotels!!

Thanks everyone,

Monica

That's great, Monica!

I think you can be very pleased with your result. The location of the hotel is great as a base for getting around all the different areas of London.

At least that's one thing less to have to think about for your trip now you have it sorted.

Enjoy London!

Thanks WillTravel and Dave,

Yes, I am very happy with this hotel- love the location and positive comments on Trip Advisor.

Now I'm ready for a glass of wine!

Monica ((F))

Yes and it is right at a tube station too.

now that you have a hotel monica, have you been to paris lately? i am going there in NOV and wanna know if you have found any new good restaurants....

Good morning Richard,

No new restaurants for Paris. The last time I was there was in 2002, but here?s my link to my restaurant page: http://www.luvtotravel.homestead.com/francerest.html

Let me know if you discover a new one! I would love to get back to Paris!

Monica ((F))