1st timer with Priceline.com-have questions please
 

(I apologize if this message appears twice...I though I had posted it but it's disappeared) <BR>My only concern is if you need to cancel your hotel (cancel your<BR> whole trip, say) they will not allow you to cancel. Is it best to try priceline.com<BR> right at the last minute when your plans are very firm?? If your plans do<BR> change, can you resell your room on ebay (or similar) to recoup some of your<BR> money since everything on priceline.com is non-refundable??? I'd appreciate it<BR> if someone can enlighten me on this. It's for these reasons I've never used<BR> priceline.com.....Carrie

Carrie, it's for these reasons you will generally find the lowest hotel rates on priceline, as well. Go to biddingfortravel.com for to learn everything you ever wanted to know about priceline, including lists of hotels in certain cities that sell through priceline. You will find posts that recommend if you should bid at the last minute or not, and also find the going rate in a particular city for a particular class of hotel. <BR><BR>Personally, I would only book when you are absolutely firm about your travel plans. Some people have had success with reselling hotel rooms on ebay, but I think it is risky. I have booked rooms in Paris before and had to eat them because plans changed, but I certainly "ate" the lowest rate possible! Good luck!

Why is it risky to re sell on ebay? Is this a Priceline.com thing saying you're not allowed to transfer the name from one person to another? Marcie

Have had two very successful PL bids, one hotel checked my ID against the reservation, the other one didn't. Check the PL site for their transfer policy.

It's risky to sell on ebay because priceline's policy clearly states your reservations are nontransferable. If you make a sale on ebay and the person who purchases it has trouble getting their room, you could face fraud charges.

Priceline is very clear that only the person who's name the bid indicates can check into the hotel. I've used them several times in fact just tonite. Got a Radisson that other sites show as $99 for $30 and a Doubletree which goes for $159 for $55. And these are for THIS Fri and Sat. If you have to forego might as well be a cheaper price. I've lost out before tho, waiting too long to book. It's a gamble either way. Just check several sites before you bid, to be sure you are not bidding too high.