Priceline, how to make it work
 

I bid on a hotel in Oregon recently and got a very good price $60 pllus tax. But when I got there, they only gave me a smoking room with one bed and I have to pay $30 plus tax extra to get a room with 2 beds and non-smoking. Is there anything I could have done to ensure a 2 beded room and non-smoking.

Well, you could have called the hotel after you booked through Priceline and made a request. Sometimes the hotel won't get your request the day before or day of your stay. I always call ahead and put in a request. If the hotel has a free membership club, it's not a bad idea to
take 15 minutes and join. That could help you too.

But they have no obligation to give you bed or smoking preferences.

I'm going to Montreal on July 10 with a male friend and we're staying at a hotel I booked through Priceline $81 vs $173.
I really hope we get two beds. Really hope. Bad.

I agree with DanB. I always email the hotel right away with my request. I follow up with a phone call. Keep trying. It also helps to be really really nice. For a short period I worked in a hotel, there is a lot of discretion. They want your return business, but since there is no gurantee you just don't know what you can get.

I just joined the Hilton Hotel program It took me a couple of minutes. I'll fax the hotel my request and put my Hilton membership number on it. Will it help? I have no idea. Worth a try.

Hi a,

Did you go to www.biddingfortravel.com before you bought your hotel room?

((I))

You can use Hotwire, and enter two adults and one child. That way you are assured of two separate beds, although one might be a rollaway or a sofa bed. Hotwire is often better than Priceline in these circumstances.

For the Oregon hotel, if you look at the reviews at www.betterbidding.com (very good for both Priceline and Hotwire) and biddingfortravel.com , you would likely see this sort of upcharge has happened before, if it's the hotel I am thinking of. So if you have the knowledge that this is a possibility, you can tailor your bidding strategy with this possibility in mind.