I know that biddingfortravel.com states there is no way to tell when the best time is to bid for a hotel, but I was wondering is the beginning of May considered high tourist season for London? I'm wondering if I should bid soon or wait a few month.

Thanks!

Monica

How long is your stay? Short stays tend to be easier to get on Priceline, but there are no guarantees.

I bid in February for a 2-day stay in July and got it - $64/night (+ taxes and fees) for the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum. I think some people have gotten that hotel even further out.

I'd be more worried if there is any chance your trip will have to be cancelled or rearranged, given the long time period.

Early May is not high season for tourism in London but it's more that "in between" time before the summer rush starts in June.

I would have thought that now is a fair bit too early to start bidding on Priceline for May 2005. I live in London so don't have any real experience for bidding in London (although I have used it a fair bit in the US and Canada).

Depending on how keen you are to get involved in your hotel booking at this early stage, I suppose there's no harm in you having a few low Priceline bids now - you never know! Are you bidding at a star level where you have lots of free rebids? If so, you'll have more flexibility when you bid but I would still be inclined to wait a bit before seriously bidding.

We bid for our Heathrow airport rooms for our July trip in January.

You can start bidding early, keeping your bid low to see if you pull any really good deals. You have time on your side at this point. You can afford to bid low and see what happens. If you have to wait 3 days to re-bid, it's not a big deal at this point. You have nothing to lose.

Thanks for the quick replies. My Mother and I will spend 4 nights 3rd thru morning of the 7th. We're going on a cruise, so as long as the cruise doesn't cancel/change, I won't have to worry about the hotel. I think I read you can get insurance for $5/day? I'm looking for a 4* Kensington and I believe there will be the opportunity for 1 free-bid.

Thanks again,

Monica

You can get the insurance for $5/day. Make sure it would fit your needs. I think all the 4* possibilities in Kensington that have shown up on Priceline are very good and convenient. If you don't succeed now, you likely will in a few months.

I bid in mid-April 2004 for two rooms in a 5* in Mayfair for the nights of September 10, 11 and 12, 2004 and received the Le Meridien Piccadilly for $120/nt. per room, plus taxes and fees. Based upon my experience, I'd say you could be sure of some sort of successful result anywhere from five to seven months ahead of your intended stay dates. Of course, there is always the possibility of earlier successes. Good luck in your bidding! There have been some incredible priceline success stories in London lately, many of which are posted on biddingfortravel.com.

I haven't had much trouble getting hotels in London in May with planning only a month or less in advance.

By the way if you like gardens - it's a wonderful time to take a day-trip and see some.

I have another quesiton. How is the Victoria/Westminster area compared to the Kensington or Mayfair areas (as far as sights, restaurants, grocery stores, easy access to the Tube, etc)? We need to get to the Victoria Coach Station for our transfer bus to Dover for our cruise. In any area, we'll be taking a taxi to the station. Mom won't be able to handle her luggage on the Tube.

Thanks,

Monica

I booked with Priceline in March for May this year (after checking BFT for several months). We stayed at the Walforf Hilton on Aldwych for ten nights @$100/night. The hotel and its location were fantastic.

Best is to follow the conventional wisdom and book a room you can cancel, then keep checking BiddingForTravel to see what hotels are coming up, especially if near your dates. You could also bid off and on. You just never know about Priceline inventory, and there's no telling what percentage of Priceline users post their results on BFT. If you bid and book a room far in advance, more appealing hotels may be available later on, or not, or none. You just never know.

Note also that Priceline rooms are for two people. You may be assigned a room with only one bed and be unable to obtain a room with two beds. Though, in Europe it seems there are more twin bedded rooms and rooms with only one bed. But, again, you just never know.

If you're thinking of taking the insurance, be sure to check the coverage and read all the exclusions. Changes or cancellation by the cruise company may not be covered.

You may want to check the Thistle Hotels website. They have many nice properties throughout London, reasonably priced, with rates that include breakfast (excellent). Sign up. You'll receive e-mails of special offers. They also have a senior citizens discount.

Hi Monica - If you're staying close to the Victoria tube stop then you'll have easy access to the main tourist sites... there are 3 lines (Victoria, District and Circle) at that stop, which will take you to lots of the major sights (or you can walk to some). Other sights might involve one transfer. The Victoria area has lots of hotels and restaurants, etc. It's a pretty good area, central, but some parts of it are not as nice as Mayfair or South Kensington. But it's close to most things (like Buckingham Palace), safe, and fine as a base.

Hi djkbooks,

I was wondering if you can tell me your bidding strategy for bidding the Waldorf Hilton. Seems like a great hotel. Any ideas on a tax ride cost from the hotel to Victoria Coach Station?

Thanks for your help!

Monica

I had been checking BFT for several months when around the middle of March I started seeing winning bids for the Waldorf Hilton. Based upon the reports of others,I started with 4*, Mayfair/SoHo, $95; received a counter offer for $109; added Southbank and raised to $100. Bid accepted.

For more e-mail [email protected]

You no doubt know this, but there's no guarantee at all of the Waldorf Hilton. In fact, it's probably less likely now than it was. The Waldorf Hilton was undergoing renovations (I don't know what stage they are at) and I think that was one thing that caused them to put a lot of rooms on Priceline. By May 2005, those renovations will likely be long over.

I know Willtravel, and I'm actually leaning towards the Kensington area - Holiday Inn seems to be a good choice and is won quite often.

Monica

My philosophy for bidding on priceline is to only bid on area and hotel rating that I can live with. When I bid, it's for a 4* in Westminster, Kensington or Mayfair. I figure I can live with whatever I win within those guidelines - especially when I'm getting a great deal on the rooms.

Three-star is a bit risky in London. There are a lot of dumpy hotels with a 3-star rating. Places where I wouldn't want to spend a week.

I agree with you Kayb95. I?ve also read several times not to go below a 4* hotel. I think we?ll be happy in any of those locations. And it looks like it will be just a short cab ride to the Victoria coach station from any location.

Monica

My strategy is exactly the same as Kayb95. Those 3 zones for 4 star. I have been successful in the $60 to $75 price range for Kensington on the last 5 or 6 trips.

Have a wonderful trip!

gg

Does the Kensington area have a decent amount of restaurants (inexpensive ones)?

Monica

Monica, we bid on a Priceline package for October and got the Millennium Bailey's at the Gloucester Road tube stop. It has been recommended a number of times here on the Forum.

There are also a number of So. Ken restaurant recommendations on various threads. A few I have copied are as follows, but I don't have the dates of the posts:

Dino's (Gloucester rd,great breakfast, lunch and wonderful Italian dinner) breakfst 6 pd, dinner 15pds

As for the gloucester area...if you do not have breakfast included in your hotel....see Dino's right across the street..they serve a cont breakfast for about 4 pds and a full breakfast for about 6. wonderful coffee! as far as dinner's around baileys, we had no problem finding a restaurant...there are so many in that area of gloucester and on cromwell one or two blocks up. the pub the stanhope arms is one of the busiest in the area on weekends, and they serve all day. at night dino's is pure italian med and quite wonderful. there is a american style mexican restaurant right across from baileys on harrington and gloucester. there are several indian restaurants down on the other end of gloucester rd (the #49 bus runs all up and down gloucester and about every 10-15 minutes).

Try La Sala romano...on the corner of Harrington and Glouscester rd above the Dino's..

Recommend RACINE a lovely inexpensive French restaurant SW of Harrod's just X from M. Victoria and Albert.

(Indian) I really like Noor Jahan in South Kensington. I have only eaten in a couple Indian restaurants in London, but that was the best. It's on Bina Gardens and is well-known. It's cheap.

Hope this helps.