moondoggie

Why anyone would use ANYTHING other than Priceline for rental cars is beyond me. You know exactly what you are getting, just not which counter you will be showing your driver's license to. Viva la Priceline!

Andrew

Well, moondoggie, there's a very good reason not to use Priceline for rental cars: what if you change your plans change, even by a day? Then you could lose every penny of your rental car reservation through Priceline; meanwhile, conventional rental car reservations do not even require a credit card and you can not even bother to cancel them (although I do when I am able to). Or what if you need to stay on your trip a few extra days? To my knowledge you can't merely extend your PL rental car a few days at the same price - you may be forced (if you are unable to return it on the due date) to pay a hefty premium for extending it.

Also, what if you are renting a car just for a day? In that case, saving 50% doesn't buy you much because you will probably eat up much of your savings with the Priceline service fee.

What if you arrive at the airport and Hertz has no compact cars (for hours), only SUVs? With a conventional rental car reservation, you can just walk over to another counter and see what another company has; if you used Priceline and got Hertz, you are stuck waiting.

I do agree Priceline rental cars are a great deal and work well in many cases but there are good reasons people wouldn't want to use them. There is some risk involved.

Budman

If, "what if" is a concern, priceline is not for you. So far, knock on wood (I'm tapping my head), I've been very happy.

4khansen

I've Pricelined alot of hotels some air and a few rental cars. Always, and I mean always with great results.

Only had to swallow one night's reservation in the last 7 years. So I think I am way ahead.

Properties all over the place -- and if there was a slight problem or so I have had good luck with Priceline getting some results from my complaint.

Some cities where I have used Priceline --

Chicago
Las Vegas
Kansas City
New York City
Niagara Falls, ON
Naples, Florida area
Miami Beach
St. Louis
Des Moines
Omaha
Iowa City
Syracuse
Key West
Orlando

If you are flexible it is all good, BiddingforTravel is very helpful too!

Biggest caveat, in a large city make sure that you only have two to a room, because many of the larger "older" cities (NYC, Boston, Chicago) have lots of hotels that fire code laws won't allow more than 2 to a room.

Don't be so cheap that you can't do TWO Priceline rooms per night for the family!

moondoggie

Andrew, while I am a careful planner, if 'what if' is a major concern for me, then, like you, I wouldn't use Priceline. Yet, at the ripe old age of 50+ I've never had a problem with Princeline or VRBO or purchasing cruises for 4 over the internet each year, or 'nonrefundable' air tix six to ten times each year. Only had to pay some fees when my dear MIL fell when visiting us from out of town, and was stuck in our city in the hospital for a month--we had to cancel a Hawaii trip and reschedule for a total loss of about $300. All in all, much cheaper than purchasing travel insurance--I like to think of me and Mr Moondoggie as 'self insured' like my employer.
So, HONK HONK for us!

kybourbon

Be sure to check Priceline's ever-changing map boundaries. I used them for years in Cambridge/Boston to get the Hyatt Cambridge which is one block from my daughter's dorm. It was the only 3 star that would ever pop-up, so I knew which hotel I would get. Last year, they changed the maps to include a small section across the river with another 3 star that isn't convenient. I've been using Hotwire lately to be sure I'm getting the Hyatt as it's the only 3 1/2 star on Hotwire.

Priceline is much cheaper than Hotwire. I would usually pay $60-65 for the Hyatt on Priceline(other booking engine prices are usually $315 for the Hyatt) and on Hotwire, it's usually $99.

JJ5

Yes, kybourbon, that is what happens to me, exactly similar but in other cities. So if the territory is changed OR the bid for acceptance becomes too high (as it has in some venues) then I go to Hotwire, as you did.

BUT the price at which I switch sites, AND the level of acceptance anywhere I crave is under about $90 per day. And I get it.

Like cd, most of this is fun travel and if I don't get it, I usually just don't go.

Actually, I do not find any of it gimmicky. What I find gimmicky is the city's promotion's (St.Louis' comes to mind especially) where they highlight hotel packages, or like Chicago's Winter Delights- give a combo that seems a great deal. BUT when you figure it out per day and see exactly what all the small print entails, you can determine that the Priceline deal is a much better value.

One time I lost $40 because of a blizzard. That's an iota of what I have saved. And spent on other activities during the vacation that I could never have budgeted for without the hotel bargain.

And it keeps me from getting in a rut of liking only small, only large, only B&B. Things change constantly, and I see the "other" side. Also the two best hotels in my life have been Priceline buys that were less than a quarter of their rack rates. No deal or special discount could have gotten me the stay for that price, and now they are in my memory bank. That bank counts as well.

If Priceline ever goes into demise, I will weep.

Elizabeth

One more vote for Priceline. I've used them many times in London and Los Angeles, never had a really bad place, and more than once had palces I absolutely never could have afforded.

djkbooks

I do not find Priceline "gimmicky" at all, but it's definitely to your benefit to do all that "homework" recommended on BFT.

Some years ago, I preferred Hotwire over Priceline - though paying a bit more, the hotels were nicer. But then, bargains vanished on Hotwire, which definitely became "gimmicky". Especially those e-mails...

I've scored some amazing bargains (though fewer seem available nowadays) with Priceline. The Marriott Marquis (in a HUGE, CORNER, room with views to Times Square) over New Years, for the ridiculously low rate, thanks to a winning bid post on BFT, for $110/night), the Drake in Chicago one September for $140/night, the Waldorf Hilton in London for $100/night, an amazing "package" to London for a week, $1400 for two, convenient flights, room at Millennium Bailey's...and many, many more.

You can be assigned a smoking room or beds not to your preference booking any which way.

You can hardly go wrong, if you know what you're doing and are willing to spend considerable time and effort...

We've never, ever, noticed any "Priceline rooms" or "attitude" when checking in.

More often than not, if the hotel is not fully booked, we've been offered terrific "upgrades" for just a few dollars more (and well worth it) a night.

For sure, you do have to pay attention. The "areas" do change, and you do have to select all areas, one by one, before bidding.

AND, those 4* hotels also have pricey room service and parking, but you can get around all that.

All in all, though, any complaints or quibbles about the room or the location of the hotel are far overcome by the ridiculously low rate, again, IF you know what you're doing.

caribtraveler

djkbooks: Very well said.

Since some are sharing their favorite deals, I'll share my all time best deal.
A suite at the Hyatt in Grand Cayman during Easter week this year. The suite usually goes for $850/night, went on sale for $550/night, but I got it for $205/night, thanks to Priceline.
Our suite view:
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...r/cc16f397.jpg

Need I say more?

BTilke

Priceline is virtually useless for people who travel with pets (like we do). If they added an option where your bids would only cover hotels that accepted pets, then we would consider using it.
In Europe, where we live, the chances are weighted in our favor that the hotel WILL accept pets but there are some that don't.
So even though we do "know what we're doing" PL just isn't for us.

WillTravel

If I were traveling with a pet, I wouldn't use Priceline either.

I've had very good luck with Priceline, in numerous cities in North America and Europe, and I've stayed in places from 1* to 4*. I wouldn't bid for 1* in most places, but I think it's a safe bet in Victoria, BC, based on the good-quality properties I've gotten. Every time I have gotten a satisfactory bedding arrangement for myself and one child.

In my experience, Priceline provides better deals than you can possibly get anywhere else in many North American metro areas (so far every one I've investigated), and also in London. Elsewhere in Europe, the equation is more dicey.

The other "drawback" of Priceline is that one starts to get acclimated to hotels with nice lobbies, fluffy towels, room service, etc., at a budget rate, so when this isn't possible, and either price or quality has to give, it feels like a let-down.

OldSouthernBelle

caritraveler: Congrats on the great deal, and thanks for the peek!

paradise411

Another honk for priceline - this past February we were able to stay in a $500-$600/night room at the Sheraton on Maui for $200/night - ocean view room! Great deals to be had.

enjoylife

To avoid getting a smoking room, call the hotel in advance to request a nonsmoking room. Also, if the hotel has some type of free membership, join it on line before you call. Then call informing them of your membership and request. They are more inclined to honor request of folks with membership and sometimes they give you a nicer room.

kfusto

Another fan of Priceline here. I have used them in many cities in Europe as well as the states with only one negative experience, two weeks ago in Tampa.

JJ5

Wish me luck, everyone. I'm trying for a whole week in D.C. and I want to get spoiled too.

I'll post here, when and if I get what I get. I could get one of 3 and really would prefer 2 out of that 3- but this is where luck comes in. It may not happen as the period I want is rather long. We'll see.

Anonymous

I'm puzzled, what do youmean by "I could get one of 3 and really would prefer 2 out of that 3"? You're right, bidding is usually more successful for stays of 3 nights or fewer. No harm in switching hotels -- you second hotel will hold your luggage, or perhaps even give you an early checkin.

JJ5

I mean that in my category there are 3 possible hotels, any of which are fine. But I would prefer 2 of them over the third. But at 7 days, I'll be lucky to get any of the three.

You are right. I might have to switch.

joan

HONK HONK!

And DOUBLE HONK because just last week I had booked a Priceline room for my parents (about a week in advance). Mom broke her foot - and I called Priceline and they refunded most of the money, with the exception of a $25 per night fee. Very very fair - the charge went from $512 to $75.

I only use for car rentals, and 4 star hotels, because there are so many mis-rated 3 stars...