I have just been looking at some of the packages they have and they seem to really be good.

Has anyone had any recent experiences with bidding on these auctions?

Any tips for bidding on them? Is it like ebay at all?

Thanks in advance...
Debi

ttt

Debi, I have used Luxury Link several times and been very pleased with each experience. My only advice is to save your bidding till the very end of the auction period. That has worked for me.

I had read this at TA so I thought I'd pass it on so you'd be fully informed:


http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...alifornia.html

I've used luxurylink three times without problems, in fact I'll be using a luxurylink win two days from now for the Westgate Hotel in San Diego.

I read the linked TA comment above. Unfortunately the winner of the auction should have waited for a confirmation number for her reservation before booking airline tickets. Many of us know that someone's word means very little and that nothing is confirmed until it's in writing with a confirmation number.

As for that unfortunate poster turning to the Better Business Bureau for help, they're going to be wasting their time. Been that route before with a disputed Priceline hotel problem and they really don't do very much to protect the consumer at all. When I see a site that says "in good standing with the Better Business Bureau" I know it really means nothing. As long as a company has certain "keywords" listed on their website it is all up to their, the business's, interpretation. And their definition of a word is what counts, not what an average customer takes the wording to mean.

My advice would be to check pricing for the particular acution or "best buy" through a variety of different websites, some of their deals are widely overvalued or sometimes you can find better deals elsewhere through other online discounters such as travelzoo.com. Finally, don't overbid as many people do this and end up paying more than if they'd checked around a bit more.
Hope this helps.

Did it 2 years ago for a package at auction. Tips:
- call the property you're bidding on first to see if your travel dates or dates in your travel range are available (LL doesn't guarantee availability and they are open for a range)
- check the property's website itself to see what deals they offer. Often the LL price isn't that superior to what's offered by the property itself, as the extras in the LL package may not be of interest to you. Then again, sometimes it might be a good deal. If it's an auction, it's a good idea to calculate what price the auction can get to before the LL package ceases to be a good deal vs. the property's own specials.

I have been reading up on LuxuryLink since I posted this Q last night. It seems to be a mixed bag...some love it and some hate it. I guess it follows that if things work out for you...its love. If things don't work out for you...its hate.

I will continue checking on this. Any other input is much appreciated.

Suze -- thanks for the link!

Debi

We have used LL several times over the past few years and have always had a very positive experience.

I just read that TA post and if the writer didn't specify to the hotel that she needed a room through a Luxury Link bid, I think it was her mistake. Sounds like she just asked for a room. Hotels use these bidding sites to fill rooms they can't otherwise fill.

I love LuxuryLink... just back from a trip to France in which I used them for 3 days of the stay. The cost for room/breakfast/dinner through the auction was signficantly less than the place charged for dinner alone.

I've used their auctions for France, Scotland, Austria, New Zealand, Belize and South Africa and have always been extremely happy with them.