Priceline.com
Jul 4th, 2008, 10:53 AM
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Priceline.com
Has anyone ever had good luck booking a hotel room with Priceline.com. I have never tried it, but I am going to Niagara Falls in a few weeks and would like to see if I could get a good price on a room. Do you know if you can get a room for 3 days at the discounted price. Also, do they reply with just 1 hotel or a choice? Any input would be helpful. Thanks
Jul 4th, 2008, 10:58 AM
#2
There is information about how to use priceline at www.biddingfortravel.com
Jul 4th, 2008, 12:54 PM
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As suze says, biddingfortravel
is an excellent resource.
I used it last spring to figure out how to work Priceline for the first time
and got a hotel for less than half the price on the hotel's own website.
If you really must have a falls view room or something Priceline most likely is not for you though.
Rob
Jul 4th, 2008, 02:28 PM
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I went on the Priceline website. I didn't like the fact that you have to put in your charge card info before you even accept a room. Also you don't know what amenities the hotel has. I like a hotel with an outside pool. I thought you would be able to tell them what you would like.
Jul 4th, 2008, 06:01 PM
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If you have specific requirements, Priceline is not for you.
And, signficiant study and research are required in order to use Priceline successfully.
As mentioned, a good place to start is www.biddingfortravel.com with the Hotel FAQ's.
I've saved a fortune with Priceline. It really is possible to stay in 4* hotels for 2* prices, even less.
Hotwire is another excellent resource for discounted hotel rooms. Hotel with pools may or may not be designated with a Pool icon. An excellent resource for using Hotwire is www.betterbidding.com. Sometimes you can narrow down the possibilities or even determine (not a sure bet, but almost) the various Hotwire offerings.
And, signficiant study and research are required in order to use Priceline successfully.
As mentioned, a good place to start is www.biddingfortravel.com with the Hotel FAQ's.
I've saved a fortune with Priceline. It really is possible to stay in 4* hotels for 2* prices, even less.
Hotwire is another excellent resource for discounted hotel rooms. Hotel with pools may or may not be designated with a Pool icon. An excellent resource for using Hotwire is www.betterbidding.com. Sometimes you can narrow down the possibilities or even determine (not a sure bet, but almost) the various Hotwire offerings.
Jul 4th, 2008, 06:06 PM
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Teriberi - that's the give for the getting of the great room rates.
When you bid on Priceline, you don't get to say "no, I don't want that hotel after all". You agree to accept whatever room and hotel they give you.
That's why it's recommended that you study on biddingfortravel first. There are strategies that can pretty much guarantee you a good deal at a great hotel.
If you have specific immenities that you must have (e.g., pool), then you're better off sticking with the hotel websites and paying the going rates.
For me, I need refundable lodging at an inexpensive rate, so I don't do Priceline. For others, doing Priceline gets them a 4 or 5 star hotel at a 2 star hotel rate, so the nonrefundability is worth it.
When you bid on Priceline, you don't get to say "no, I don't want that hotel after all". You agree to accept whatever room and hotel they give you.
That's why it's recommended that you study on biddingfortravel first. There are strategies that can pretty much guarantee you a good deal at a great hotel.
If you have specific immenities that you must have (e.g., pool), then you're better off sticking with the hotel websites and paying the going rates.
For me, I need refundable lodging at an inexpensive rate, so I don't do Priceline. For others, doing Priceline gets them a 4 or 5 star hotel at a 2 star hotel rate, so the nonrefundability is worth it.
Jul 5th, 2008, 11:22 AM
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Using both the priceline site
and the betterbidding site previously mentioned you can pretty well figure out which
hotels are likely to be the ones you might win.
A little research will narrow things down quite a bit.
But you are looking at getting maybe 50% off so yes, you pay first and then get your hotel.
And it may not have 100% of every little amenity you want... but that's the price
you pay to get half off.
Rob
Jul 5th, 2008, 12:29 PM
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I am an absolute Priceline novice, but I'm loving them more and more. I got 2 rooms in Boston and didn't feel that I got a great deal, but the hotel was really nice and we certainly didn't overpay.
I needed a room for 1 Saturday night in San Diego/La Jolla for July 19th and found it almost impossible to find one using the usual Expedia, hotels direct website, Hotel.com sites due to there being a 2 night minimum this time of year. I gave Priceline a try and got a terrific 4* hotel (Hyatt Manchester, right on the water at Shoreline Villiage) for $135.00 plus tax. The cheapest room on the hotels website is $249.00
If you have specific needs, Priceline is not for you, but for me, its wonderful, so far.
I needed a room for 1 Saturday night in San Diego/La Jolla for July 19th and found it almost impossible to find one using the usual Expedia, hotels direct website, Hotel.com sites due to there being a 2 night minimum this time of year. I gave Priceline a try and got a terrific 4* hotel (Hyatt Manchester, right on the water at Shoreline Villiage) for $135.00 plus tax. The cheapest room on the hotels website is $249.00
If you have specific needs, Priceline is not for you, but for me, its wonderful, so far.
Jul 5th, 2008, 12:58 PM
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betterbidding.com
Do it a lot with great results.
You can figure out what hotel
you will probably get by checking
win calender.Always reply with
just 1 hotel.
Check priceline calender of wins
to know what hotels you get and
what bid will win start $10 below
that work your way up.I have won...
Seraton Suites Orlando-$35(7/9/08)
Meridien Etoile Arch Paris-$85(9/07)
Mariott Zurich 5*-$85(6/07)
Others always great sometimes amazing savings.My room in Zurich
was regularly over 500eu/nt!
Join all the hotel programs because
usually they will still upgrade you
even booking through name your own
price.
Yea Priceline!
Do it a lot with great results.
You can figure out what hotel
you will probably get by checking
win calender.Always reply with
just 1 hotel.
Check priceline calender of wins
to know what hotels you get and
what bid will win start $10 below
that work your way up.I have won...
Seraton Suites Orlando-$35(7/9/08)
Meridien Etoile Arch Paris-$85(9/07)
Mariott Zurich 5*-$85(6/07)
Others always great sometimes amazing savings.My room in Zurich
was regularly over 500eu/nt!
Join all the hotel programs because
usually they will still upgrade you
even booking through name your own
price.
Yea Priceline!
Jul 5th, 2008, 01:08 PM
#11
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If you can't find a winning bid
for Niagara start at $30 for a
3 star $60 for a 4 star and work
your way up by $10 till you snag it.
Cross check with hotwire.com calender.Never bid more on priceline
than you can get something similar
for on hotwire...
Happy Bidding,
for Niagara start at $30 for a
3 star $60 for a 4 star and work
your way up by $10 till you snag it.
Cross check with hotwire.com calender.Never bid more on priceline
than you can get something similar
for on hotwire...
Happy Bidding,
Jul 8th, 2008, 07:40 PM
#12
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I love Priceline! I have just returned from a road trip and booked almost all of my hotels through them. I stayed at 3 and 4 star hotels and never paid more than $60 a night. While it's true that you don't get to pick the particular hotel, I have rarely been disappointed by them.
Good Luck!
Pam
Good Luck!
Pam
Jul 14th, 2008, 01:40 AM
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If you do your research beforehand, by visiting Betterbidding and biddingfortravel, as well as knowing what the going rate is through a site like Expedia, then Priceline can save you a fortune on hotels. I use it all the time, and love it.
A few caveats:
1) It is not for saving big bucks on already cheap hotels. If you are bidding for 2-stars in a place where they retail for $59, you just aren't going to get much discount.
2) The real savings are for off-peak stays at business hotels. Fortunately, this works well for a lot of leisure travelers, as you can get into a city center 4-star hotel for a fraction of the cost when you are traveling for the weekend. I've stayed at the Intercontinental Boston for $100, various 4-stars in London for $100, several hotels in Montreal for under $50, and the list goes on.
3) You don't get to choose your hotel, but Priceline is generally pretty honest. If a hotel is really shoddy, then they have been known to downgrade it. That being said, you should review the hotel lists at betterbidding and biddingfortravel and look at the reviews. If there is a hotel in the zone/rating combo that you will not stay in, then you shouldn't bid that zone.
As for airfares, the general consensus is that it is not worth the uncertainty and hassle.
A few caveats:
1) It is not for saving big bucks on already cheap hotels. If you are bidding for 2-stars in a place where they retail for $59, you just aren't going to get much discount.
2) The real savings are for off-peak stays at business hotels. Fortunately, this works well for a lot of leisure travelers, as you can get into a city center 4-star hotel for a fraction of the cost when you are traveling for the weekend. I've stayed at the Intercontinental Boston for $100, various 4-stars in London for $100, several hotels in Montreal for under $50, and the list goes on.
3) You don't get to choose your hotel, but Priceline is generally pretty honest. If a hotel is really shoddy, then they have been known to downgrade it. That being said, you should review the hotel lists at betterbidding and biddingfortravel and look at the reviews. If there is a hotel in the zone/rating combo that you will not stay in, then you shouldn't bid that zone.
As for airfares, the general consensus is that it is not worth the uncertainty and hassle.
Jul 14th, 2008, 05:34 AM
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Just recently did my first Priceline booking. As other posters said, DEFINITELY read biddingfortravel.com before you bid -- you can get an idea of what hotel you may wind up getting. If you have the time and inclination to do some cross-referencing (and some finger-crossing) you can get a great deal. I paid $180 for the four-star Blackstone in Chicago -- it was during a convention week when rooms were going for $479, so we were thrilled. 
And of course, don't select a location or star rating that you wouldn't be happy with.
And of course, don't select a location or star rating that you wouldn't be happy with.
Jul 19th, 2008, 10:08 AM
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I've used Priceline many times after doing a lot of research. I've gotten rooms in NYC for 60% off, same in Newport RI and Chicago. You need to research, check out biddingfortravel.com, and be flexible. I have also not run into the snotty reception clerk because we'd booked through Priceline. It seems that's been some people's experience. Snotty clerks and tiny rooms. Maybe we've just been lucky.
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