I'm seeing the lower prices right now. Did you search for 2 persons instead of 1? Even so, with the same number of people, I've seen the price of a hotel fluctuate wildly.

Hotwire charges some extra fees, but it's usually not quite as much as Priceline.

Thanks -- yes I think I searched as 2 last night, thinking it doesn't make a difference on Hotwire.

Prices can fluctuate on Hotwire. I used it once for a Chicago hotel a few years ago -- maybe 2006? So I experienced that first hand.

But I don't think that either potential Hotwire choice is acceptable because the Westminster 3* is unknown and the 3* City is probably that hotel with not very good reviews on TripAdvisor. Even if I get it for less than $100 I'm not sure if I want to stay there.

I think I'll continue to try PL or look at some other option.

I can see why the risk is too great for Hotwire, given the risk and the lack of significant upside.

Some other possibilities:
Express by Holiday Inn London City
- 64 pounds including breakfast, if prepaid. It's a little bit north and east of St. Paul's, possibly too much so.
Express by Holiday Inn Southwark - not sure, but I think there may be a deal.

Both of these prices probably will increase once the 14-day window is passed.

If you really want the Northumberland House/Thistle Charing Cross location, the Club Quarters Trafalgar is right next to Northumberland House, but not, I think, available for a bargain. You could check Londontown.com also (as suggested above by someone else, I think).

Thanks for the latest suggestions. I just bid $100 for 4* Mayfair and failed. Again the counteroffer is $167 + tax.

I've booked the Ibis for 69 pounds for now since I'm allowed to cancel up until day of arrival. The Days Hotel is no longer available at a cheap rate. It's over $160 or something like that.

I tried Priceline again for $100. Failed. Counteroffer at $166, $1 less than before.

I'd recommend checking Hotwire every day. You never know what will pop up (then disappear).

If you search the packages (air + hotel, the hotels are shown), you can often determine the hotels on the hotel only search.

Same goes for Priceline.

Used to be, you could start a new bid with the same price but a different area (as opposed to adding areas and raising your bid). Not sure if you can still do this.

USUALLY if the counter offer is at $166 (example) and you can bid again (using a free bid zone so you don't screw up and over bid a lesser zone) a bid of $133 (example) will win you the bid. Don't bid the full counter offer.

Margo is correct. Often you'll receive a message that your bid is too low and should be raised to at least "$...." or a counter offer.

When bidding on Priceline for London, to my recollection, I bid $95 and received a counter offer of $145, or something like that, but added a free re-bid zone and upped to $100, and it was accepted (for the Waldorf Hilton).

With either Priceline or Hotwire, the total for your stay, with taxes/fees itemized, will be shown before you finalize your bid/booking.

For Hotwire, if you cannot figure out the hotel or possibilities on betterbidding.com or by shopping the packages, click on "Continue" for each hotel, and look for "Our 3.5-star hotel suppliers include:
Hilton, Millennium, Crowne Plaza, plus other top brands and quality hotels." BIG CLUE. More often than not (and I use Hotwire a lot), the first hotel chain is the one, and I can't recall that I've ever gotten "other", although I don't always pay attention, because I'm pretty sure of what I'm going to get.

For only one night, I wouldn't obsess so much...

I tried again today. I've from seeing counteroffers in the 167-169 range. I bid 120 but it failed. Still for Mayfair 4*.

My backup is at 69 pounds a night, so I probably shouldn't bid much higher than 120. Or maybe I should change strategy and bid 3* Mayfair.

Mayfair is the most expensive London PL zone. Even at $150, most any 4 star in Mayfair would be a HUGE bargain.

If you want cheaper - bid another zone. if you want Mayfair, you'll probably have to bid higher.

How far off is your visit? They may well come down when you are a couple days out. Would just plan on using the backup reservation, and bid until the backup's cancellation date. Wouldn't bid over $130. Have a hunch you'll get it.

I really doubt $130 for 4* Mayfair will happen, unless there is a significant pound devaluation.

111op, what service did you use to get a cancellable 69-pound hotel?

It's for this Sunday. I mean, the counteroffer has been at $170. I know I've failed at $120. So an offer in between these two should be acceptable -- it will be less than $170 as people say. I just don't know how much less.

I booked the room on the Ibis website directly. I'm checking the confirm again to be sure.

"Cancellation delay: No cancellation charge applies prior to 19:00 (local time) on the day of arrival. Beyond that time, the first night will be charged."

Actually in this case I have a friend in London I can stay with, so that's always an option, but I don't want to impose too much.

Just in case anyone still cares -- I tried 120 again today and it still failed. The counteroffer went up to 185. So I bid from a different account at 130, which was also rejected with the same counteroffer of 185.

Looks like the winning bid will have to be above 130 at this stage. I still have a few days to decide (including staying with a friend if I really want to).

The Waterloo Days Hotel is available for about $130 again on Orbitz, so this is a non-refundable option (well with $25 fee if cancellation prior to 72h). In the meantime I've my Ibis City backup.

On BFT it looks like people are getting the Copthorne Terra in Kinsington for $85-$90 for Feb. The CT is ok and it is very close to the tube in Kensington.

AisleSeat: the Knightsbridge/Kensington/Earls Court zone was suggested before - but the OP doesn't want to go there . . . . . .

OK.

Priceline is good if you book early!

Yeah, for PL I think that I'll stick to Mayfair. I've never tried another zone, and I don't like unpleasant surprises.

I've stayed in the Days Hotel Waterloo and that's fine. I don't mind being in that area. City Ibis is fine too. I know both these areas and it's not worthwile for me to try to save some money on Priceline with a different zone. My goal with Priceline is to get a better hotel than these chains hotels without paying much more -- and yet in a central location.

I should check tube schedules though. I'm going to the British Museum to see the terracotta soldiers exhibition that night. It will be after midnight when I'm done probably, but I think that I should be fine even though it's Sunday night.

I'll think it over and look at the maps and make a final decision.