Yeah, I know all about the disclaimers via Priceline. But at least you know where all their money is (advertising) since you don't see many hotwire ads, do you? I simply made my post for those that may be new to the online reservations game. I, personally prefer to know what the hell I'm getting before I put my credit card up for sale and not after.

xx, you got a 3* that wasn't on "the list"? Is this "the list" at BiddingForTravel.com? If so, you didn't read the information that's clearly stated on The List. It says that it's only a list of hotels that have been received and reported by Bidding For Travel members. <BR><BR>There will always be people who don't read the information that is right in front of them and who are shocked and disappointed with an unexpected outcome. What it comes down to is: YOU chose the area you wanted to stay in, YOU chose the star level hotel that you wanted, and YOU offered Priceline what you considered a fair amount of money. <BR><BR>I myself wish I had a dollar for every dollar that Priceline has saved me over the past few years. Oh - I do! :)

Priceline treats me better than Delta Airlines ever has, that's for sure!

Ren hotel for 75.00, regular rate is 200.00. Hyatt for 40.00, reg rate is 189.00. Candlewood for 35, reg rate 120.00.<BR>Air for 216, reg rate 1,000. <BR><BR>Hotwire is almost as good, but I usually can beat it w/ Priceline. Just got a Toronto hotel for 35.00 on Hotwire, reg is 100.00.

At least Delta, even hotwire.com....has a real person that you can contact. That is the most frustrating part of priceline.com I'll resume using them when that part changes.

Good job Lori. YOU are guilty of just what you accused ME of! Go back and read my note. It "clearly stated" (sic)in reference to getting hotels that aren't on the list, "Now you know this going in, but you just don't expect it's going to happen!!"<BR><BR>Thanks for your valid input. Now, why are you so defensive about Priceline??

Regarding xx's description of how Priceline's star system works (10/16, 02:26 PM): Priceline's web site includes a very detailed and specific listing of the features that go with each star level. I suppose that they have to rely on each hotel to self-assess under these criteria, or to report which features they offer, but that's not quite the same as allowing a hotel to just say ,"Hmm, I guess I'd like to be a four-star hotel today!"<BR><BR>The PL web site says, "Like other well known rating systems, priceline evaluates each participating hotel based on criteria including available amenities and services."<BR><BR>http://www.priceline.com/promo/hotel...317a6140564796

Jen, ask them if they ever go to a hotel to evalutate, to determine whether updated, clean, anything. They can evaluate amenities and services as reported by the hotel, but they do not set foot in them. Ever. To say they evaluate like other "well known rating services" is an out and out lie at worst, or an intentional misrepresentation at best. The other two "well known rating services" are in the 3* and up hotels every single year rating them, and giving and taking stars or diamonds depending on that evaluation!

PL didn't say that they evaluate hotels the same way as other services. They said that, like the others, they use evaluation criteria that include available amenities and services. Given PL's low-budget, low-service approach, I'm sure nobody dreams that they're actually visiting the hotels in order to rate them. <BR><BR>So their ratings are based on more-objective criteria, rather than on-the-spot things like cleanliness. They never said cleanliness was one of their criteria, did they? This thread is starting to sound like an exercise in reading comprehension! <BR><BR>Frankly, I've always suspected that the ratings that are based on visits are very vulnerable to misrepresentation via bribery of the evaluators.

But they don't evaluate them like the other systems do, do they? They leave it to the hotel, and the others don't.<BR><BR>Here is their criteria for 3* and 4*:<BR><BR>3*<BR>The most recognized name brands and quality independent hotels in the industry, these hotels feature high quality hotel rooms and well-decorated public spaces. Along with all of the amenities of a moderate-plus hotel, 3 star hotels offer a higher level of guest service. In addition, most hotels will offer a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offer room service. A fitness center may also be offered. <BR><BR>4*<BR>These are the world's deluxe hotels, offering premium level service and amenities for the most discerning traveler. These hotels typically offer appointments, bathrobes, mini-bars, and comprehensive business services. Deluxe-level hotels offer top-level amenities and room furnishings. Many cities do not have 4 Star hotels.<BR><BR>There is nothing objective about this! The hotel tells them if they have "high quality hotel rooms and well decorated public spaces". "higher level" of guest service? Who determines that. Oh, the hotel? Now that's objective! Most (note the modifier) hotels will "offer breakfast etc". Not all, however! That is not how the other systems work. "Fitness center may be offered"--and may not be! Terrific. Do the same with 4*, point by point.<BR><BR>Now who do you believe, a hotel that rates itself or one that is rated by raters who visit it and have no stake in the rating. If you are such a skeptic that you believe hotels are bribing inspectors, how can you blithely believe they are going to turn around and be honest rating themselves? That doesn't compute.<BR><BR>

Jen, I agree with the above and here's a perfect example, right off BFT own web site! Maybe the "fitness center" tipped the scale and put this Holiday Inn with through the wall airconditioning into a 3 star? <BR><BR>"Re: Priceline rating system<BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR> I've just returned from a one night stay at a Holiday Inn which is currently rated as a 3*. I'm totally baffled as to why one Holiday Inn is a 2* and another is a 3*. The one I was at has a pool and gym room, but no elevator (it's a 2 story structure). The ventilation units are the originals, I imagine, and are very noisy. This property simply isn't in the class of most Marriotts, for instance. <BR><BR>I really wish that they'd say exactly what their standards for each star level are so we would have realistic expectations prior to arrival. "

So how does Priceline stay in business? They have a $5 fee or something but that doesn't cut it.<BR><BR>Someone said they keep any $$ between what the hotel will accept and what we bid, but then my friend who works at a hotel says no, and swears by that. Hotel gets the full amount bid~or that's what they think! <BR><BR>Is someone lying? How do they get money otherwise? I heard Wall Street Journal did an expose showing bidding for travel and priceline were related somehow resulting in some sort of upheaval between the two. Anyone here know for sure? Sure sounds like this is fertile ground for big time cheating!!

Priceline adds on a $5.95 service charge. Not sure if it is per purchase or per night.

After the WSJ expose, biddingfortravel severed their formal relationship with PL.

Formal relationship. Now there's a loaded response. What remains now just an informal relationship? There are links there where it takes you to bid!<BR><BR>$6/night won't float that enterprise. Money is coming in somehow. I too heard Priceline takes anything between what the customer bids and the hotel's lowest acceptable and think I've read it too. If that isn't the hotel agreement and they don't know this, something illegal is going on. Talk about risky business.<BR><BR>Jen you seem to have the scoop. Is it true they take excess cash? If so, why wouldn't hotels be able to tell they were being gypped, unless sometimes they got the lowest rate and then Priceline threw a few crumbs their way in the form of some that were better? <BR><BR>What I don't need is to get involved with $$$ then find we have another Enron-esque type scandal or something!! That would be my luck (I'm still sitting on a pile worthless Enron paper-may be a toilet paper shortage someday). Is priceline a public company?

It is my understanding, too, that PL gets the rooms at one rate from the hotels and then resells for whatever it can get. Nothing shady or unethical about that, as far as I can see. They're buying at wholesale and selling at a discount below retail.<BR><BR>Hotel staff who are unaware of this arrangement might just be underlings who aren't privy to how the hotel manages its finances. Certainly, the hotels would rather sell the rooms cheaply rather than have them empty, so they deal with PL to unload the rooms. <BR><BR>That's why people often have much better luck bidding on PL late rather than far in advance -- PL just doesn't have many rooms far in advance of their occupancy dates.<BR><BR>Ben, there's no need to get all cynical or paranoid about the term "formal relationship." BFT's link to PL used to net them a flat rate every time anyone used it; now it's just a regular helpful link, like most of the links on the internet.<BR><BR>Since PL does indeed make some sort of profit on every room it re-sells, their $5.95 fee is certainly plenty to keep them going. As we have seen, they have very little overhead for phones, offices or staff!

This is a very disturbing conversation, gang. Need I say more? Count my husband among the group that thinks he's getting all the customer bid. He's not an underling Jen--he sets the varying Priceline rate and determines the number of rooms they'll get out of his inventory!!<BR><BR>Absolutely, no one wants dead inventory, so it's a nice symbiotic relationship, however he was laboring under the apparent misconception that he was paid the rate the customer bid. :&lt;! Are you certain of your facts Jen and how so?<BR><BR>By the way, yes, Priceline is public and considered very high risk. 52 week high-6.89, low-1.05. Currently at 1.64 with a P/E of 81.50! Yowser. Just what I don't need. Been there done that. Not fun.<BR><BR>Meantime, the above seems kind of serious...IMHO! What am I missing??

Easy enough for your husband to ask a couple of PL customers what they paid to PL, isn't it?

Not sure what the formal relationship btwn biddingfortravel and Priceline is currently, but the moderators sure nag at you to go to Priceline via their links - so there must be some financial compensation if people do so.<BR><BR>While I continue to read biddingfortravel, I will not use Priceline via their link because of the consistent rudeness and condescending attitude of moderators/owners of the board.

I have to have some sympathy for Sheryl, the notoriously snippy moderator at biddingfortravel. Imagine what it's like dealing with all those people who are asking questions that are answered in the FAQ. Must get pretty boring dealing all day with people who can't read instructions. <BR><BR>And then the people who DO follow thru on the FAQ and make their requests in a reasonable way often just disappear into the woodwork with no final report on their results. I might get cranky, too!<BR><BR>