Maybe there's some advice from you experts out there -- I'm a first-time Priceline bidder, and am hoping for the Grand Hyatt Tampa Westshore for one night -- this coming Saturday. We started at $55 and used 5 free re-bids and got up to a bid of $75 which was still rejected. Bidding for travel shows history of several successful bids at $62. Any suggestions?

My suggestions: follow the advice given on BFT, which is to check availability for that night in Tampa at other web sites. Don't expect to get the same price someone else paid, because the rates may vary a lot depending on the dates.

For starters, what are the best rates you can find on your own for the Grand Hyatt? (Check the hotel's web site plus a few others.) How do they compare to other dates? If the rates are much higher than similar dates, the hotel may be nearly booked - maybe there's some sort of event going on in the city at that time?

You need to base your bid price on the available rates, not on what other people are getting on other dates. This is what BFT recommends.

And by the way: you could well get a different 4-star hotel than the Grand Hyatt that has never shown up on BFT. New hotels do get added from time to time.

Andrew

I might have an inside line on this. Actually, the hotel is pretty busy >- and Priceline may be shut out. You may possibly hit a bit over $80 if anything.

There isn't another 4* in this area, either.

Were those other quoted winning bids for the last Saturday in January? Or were they for more "off season" dates?
Frankly I'd think a winning bid of $150 would probably be a steal.

Even OliveOyl, who's husband is the general manager of that hotel has mentioned that it is harder to get good rates these days on Priceline. She was speaking generally, not just about the Grand Hyatt Tampa.

Well, speak of the "devil". Look who was posting while I was. Hello OO!

Hi Patrick. Wish we could go this weekend. I'm sure you all will have a terrific time. Maybe someone can capture a screen shot from the web cam for those of us who will be away from our 'puters?

OliveOyl: Thank you so much! I bid $80 again today, and it worked like a dream. We are looking forward to our stay, and hope to also make reservations for dinner at Oystercatchers (if I have that name right), based on all the favorable remarks on this board. Thank you to all!