Mark

I am interested in peoples experiences in the quality of the rooms that that winning bidders received.Did you find that you were treated like a leper and given the basement? Or were the rooms of the same quality as if you had paid the rack rate? Or somwhere inbetween . I am esp. interested in London feedback,although all locations are welcome. Thank You..

Betsy

Have only used PL in the US, and have always felt the quality of the room to be the same as if I were a full-paying customer. If you use PL for London, please report your experience here when you return.

Leslie

I agree with Betsy, and have successfully bid on rooms in Priceline's inventory in the US and Canada. I have also successfully bid on airline tickets from the US to European destinations. However, one thing I have learned is to join every airline and hotel affinity/loyalty program. As long as you have joined the hotel's affinity/loyalty program, you get the freebies offered to members, such as early check in/late check out, complimentary hotel upgrades to the concierge floor, if available, morning newspapers, free coffee, and free movies.<BR><BR>Sometimes you're even credited frequent flyer and frequent stay points, but this doesn't always happen. I also have not been upgraded on a flight when I have used an airline ticket through Priceline.<BR><BR>I have only had positive experiences with Priceline, but I also suggest that you do your homework by reviewing the information provided by Priceline bidders on the adjunct site, www.biddingfortravel.com.

natalie

Both times I've used priceline I still received room upgrades with my hotel rewards card. Best deal was the concierge level at the JW Marriott in DC. I paid $70 for the room/nt (vs $329 website) and had free snacks all day = )

Benditlike

Mark - <BR><BR>In London - I PL'ed for 73 USD to the Thistle Bloomsbury and got upgraded... I also PL'ed Copthorne Tara at 69 USD and got great rooms away from the Tube.<BR><BR>Prices were last July - but I have found IMHO that priceline.com was more successful than priceline.co.uk - I don't know if they are sister sites with an exchange rate or that they carry different Inventory - I did get great luck thought in a car for France out of CDG through priceline.co.uk which cover all insurances and VAT unlike US site. Canada is not a savings vis PL since the exch rate already is so favorable - US is great in large cities but it takes time to get the right price. But have never been looked differently at a hotel front desk as a PL customer - but a smile and cheery attitude goes a mile

John H

Mark,<BR><BR>Used PL domestically last month and got a superb rate ($47 for a 4* hotel). Theroom I had was perpendicular to where the elevators were, but there was no noise at all from them. So, it was a great room and deal.<BR><BR>There are a few folks here who used PL to get a $100 hotel deal in Rome, Italy. Might check in with those folks. <BR><BR>John H

Kris

I've used Priceline 3 times for hotels. We stayed at the 4* Copthorne Tara in London in July for $75 US and had a wonderful room, away from the tube. I didn't feel like we were treated badly at all but it is a large hotel with lots of rooms (800+), maybe if the hotel is fuller than they stick you in the basement.<BR><BR>Got the 4* LA Airport Westin for $45 per night, once again the room was great and we didn't feel like we had gotten different treatment. They even gave us adjoining rooms when we checked in.<BR><BR>The exception was the Sheraton in Hong Kong which was booked via www.priceline.com.hk. Although the room was OK and the staff treated us well, it certainly didn't strike me as one of the nicest hotels in Hong Kong or a 4* hotel. I think they are in the process of renovating and we got one of the rooms that hadn't been done yet.<BR><BR>Do check out www.biddingfortravel.com as suggested above for London hotels.

carolyn

Mark, I answered you on another thread about the Thistle Victoria in London. Our room was on the fifth floor and it was on the back side of the hotel (no street view), but it was large and comfortable and had a large, full bath. The hotel clerk said they weren't allowed to tell us what PL paid for the room.

Ann

Haven't used in London, but here's my list:<BR><BR>Liverpool: Marriott (twice) 45 pounds; Moat House, 50 pounds.<BR>Glasgow: Marriott, 55 pounds.<BR>Washington, DC: Hilton, $75<BR>Pittsburgh: Hyatt airport, $35<BR><BR>Rooms have always been nice (they even moved us away from a high school group at the Hilton) and have no complaints.

gio

hi,<BR>all my travels in the u.s. are thru priceline and i always get good rooms. i don't feel like i'm treated differently @ all. <BR>and one thing i learned, for flight+hotel combo, priceline is cheaper than expedia except that with expedia, you know what airline you're flying with even before you pay.

Jake

gio: How do you get the airline on Expedia? When I pull it up, it will only list the AL for the higher prices, not for the lowest. Am I doing something wrong? Jake

Steve

Don't know if this really helps or not, but both times I used PL, I was a &quot;member&quot; of the hotel chain (Hilton and Hyatt). I showed my card with my credit card. I knew I wouldn't get any credit for the stay, but I did want them to know I frequent their chain.<BR>All I can say is that although the rooms were standard rooms, at a 5* hotel, that's still pretty nice!<BR>We stayed at the Park Hyatt in downtown S.F. for around $60 and that was one nice hotel and one nice room. Front desk showed NO attitude about rate. I think they're happy to fill up a &quot;business&quot; hotel on the weekends.

Priceline

Just be polite at check in, and your treatment will likely be no different than it would had you not used Priceline.<BR><BR>I've used Priceline three times in Europe -- at the London Marriott Maida Vale, the Amsterdam Renaissance, and the Amsterdam Marriott -- and have been pleased all three times. The rooms have all been fine. The only generalization from my experience is that Priceline rooms are often situated nearest the elevator (for better or worse).<BR><BR>Be sure to visit biddingfortravel.com to make an informed bid.

Andrew

As others have said, BiddingForTravel.com can give you lots of info on the quality of hotels people get with Priceline. Look at the hotel reviews section near the bottom of the BFT web page...<BR><BR>I've used Priceline for hotels all over the US as well as in Paris and Amsterdam. Though I was never treated like a &quot;second-class citizen&quot;, I did not get the best rooms in the house, though all the rooms I got were comfortable and clean and well worth the money. Whether you use Priceline or some other discount, don't expect to get the same room as people paying top dollar.<BR><BR>In Paris at the Novotel Tour Eiffel I asked for a view room and the front desk clerk (looking at her computer screen) kind of laughed and said, &quot;Not for *this* rate!&quot; (she didn't mention Priceline) But I wasn't upset - I have gotten view rooms with Priceline reservations before. It's worth asking, at least.<BR><BR>I'm thrilled with the Priceline hotels I've gotten in the last year. Some were just average, some were great, but they have always been fantastic deals.<BR><BR>Andrew<BR>

Mark

Thank you everyone for all your responses. All the info has been very helpful and I'll let you know of my Priceline results.

Mark

A follow up to my follow up. Just finished bidding on Priceline for a 4 star hotel in London for the end of Feb begining of March. After two failed bids at $55 and $60 I succeded with a $65. Seven nights at The Royal Horseguards.With tax and Pricelines fee the total was $543.27.I'm a happy camper....

Ken

I love Priceline. I live about 3 hours south of Vancouver, BC in the Seattle area and twice I have booked a four star Hotel in downtown Vancouver and have been very happy with the results. I was told by a hotel clerk that they have no what I paid for the room, It only shows that I purchased the room from an outside broker. This is good becuase I paid $45 for a $200 room

John H

Mark,<BR><BR>Sounds like agreat rate on the Royal Horseguards -- congratulations!<BR><BR>I used PL for a hotel in New Orleans this coming weekend -- $65 for a great 4*. Will have to try for my next trip to London.<BR><BR>Have a great trip.<BR><BR>John H.

Betsy

Congrats Mark! Report in when you return. Tell all about the hotel and how you were treated as a PL customer there.

Angie

I LOVE priceline. Have used it in NY, once last March (spring break) Grand Hyatt on Park Ave for $75 and just booked for Dec. 21/22/23 .....got The Melrose for $99. Both 4*<BR>Oh yes, and I used it i ATL about a yr ago...The Westin at the airport, very nice for $49.