Understanding Immediate Rebid Zones

One of the most difficult, but also most rewarding, things to understand about Priceline bidding is how to use immediate rebid zones.

Normally when you bid Priceline, if your bid is rejected you must wait 24 hours to bid again.  However, in some cities, at some quality (*) levels, you can use immediate rebid zones to be able to raise your bid price without waiting.

An immediate rebid zone is a zone where the highest * level available is lower than the * level you are bidding.  For example, if you're bidding for a 3* property, immediate rebid zones would be those where the only hotels offered are 1*, 2* or 2.5*.  A zone with 3*, 4*, 5*, Resort or Boutique levels could not be used as an immediate rebid zone for a 3* bid.

If Priceline rejects your initial offer, you will be asked if you can change part of your bid.  Add a zone, change the dates, etc.  This is where you would use your immediate rebid zone(s).  Add one immediate rebid zone, increase the price of your bid, and resubmit your offer.  You can keep doing this as long as there are immediate rebid zones left in the city you're bidding.

Caution!  Before you bid each time, you need to verify the immediate rebid zones.  To do this, open a NEW Priceline window, select the prospective immediate rebid zones one at a time and click "Next."  A valid immediate rebid zone will be one where the only * level options are lower than the * level you're bidding.  Go back and check each zone one at a time to make sure you know the current, valid immediate rebid zones.  Don't rely on a check you did a few days ago--Priceline is constantly adding hotels.  If you don't check before each bid cycle (each day you bid), you could end up in a zone you don't want.

Rebidding Zones for Resorts:  Most of us would consider a Resort to be the highest level of hotel.  Not to Priceline!  They actually rate 5* properties above resorts when it comes to rebids.  So if you're bidding on a resort property, do not use a zone containing a 5* property as an immediate rebid zone.  You can only use zones of 4* or less without risking getting the 5* property in your rebid zone.