Priceline no longer what it used to be?
 

Recently there have been a couple of posts about Priceline, one in particular about Miami and not being able to get any real deals there in season.

I'm not a big Priceline user (OK, only once with mediocre success), but since we're looking at flying into Seattle one night earlier than our friends and need to pick up a rental car at the Hilton downtown, I thought it might be another good opportunity to try Priceline for just one night. Now, this isn't until July, so I realize that it is far to early to use priceline, but I started looking at Biddling for Travel. I had planned to book something on my own now at a good price, but make sure I could cancel in case I found something on Priceline within a month of arrival. There have been NO winning bids for four star hotels for less than $98 for about a year. There have even been posts from people mentioning that what they got only a year or so ago had more than doubled. Meanwhile I can find some of those same hotels (The Sheraton is the big "winner" on Priceline) for prices of about $129 now by going direct -- not prepaying a penny, and being able to cancel until day of arrival. So what is the advantage of going Priceline and only saving $10 or $20 and risking losing the whole thing, when you can deal direct and get an easily cancelable rate for hardly any more?

I started looking at Seattle three star hotels instead (I won't do that, because of some of the choices and locations) and actually saw many recent "winning bids" that are as high or higher than rates for those same hotels I can bring up on hotels.com, or direct from hotel web sites. I saw few real deals there in the last year, unlike looking back to 2003 when people were getting a $120 room for $39. Those days are apparently long gone.

Are Seattle and Miami unusual, or is this a trend that's happening? Fewer really great deals from Priceline?

There probably aren't too many people here who use priceline so extensively as to be able to form a broad-based opinion. But, I can say I've been very happy with it in Chicago, typically paying about 1/2 of what I could get directly through the hotel.

My advice - do exactly what you've said. Book a cancellable hotel now. As your trip gets closer (just close enough to be sure you won't need to cancel) start trying priceline. Set a limit. $39 for a $129 hotel is a steal, not just a bargain. But consider going up to about $75 for a good deal with still considerable savings. You can find deals several months in advance, all the way through last minute. If you're not averse to spending a few minutes every 3 days trying priceline, you could save some money. If it doesn't work out, you'll still have your backup room.

Good luck! :)

Hi Patrick.
I use Priceline quite a bit. I have noticed that the savings are not as great as the year before...which I assume means more people are traveling so hotels are not as empty as they used to be, especially after 9/11.
I think that yes it is too early to start bidding for July...however, I think you can always bid but set a limit to your bid so you don't overbid or feel like you paid too much. Set your limit by looking at what is the best rate on the hotel's web site. For me, it's usually 50% less. And I start bidding at about 60% less than hotel's web site. I'm a bit more flexible with the % closer to the trip if I see I'd still save a lot of money.
I agree with the previous poster. Book a cancellable back-up and keep bidding (with your set limit). You can't lose that way.
Regarding your question about just Miami and Seattle being unusual or a trend. I think it's a trend for the reasons stated above. I've noticed higher bids for the Caribbean as well.
Good luck!

Maybe I wasn't clear in my first post. Yes, I agree that $39 for a $129 room is a STEAL, but my point was that people haven't gotten those deals for over a year according to Bidding for Travel, instead they seem to only be saving an average of $20 on a room that is over $100. Big difference.
My other point was that yes, I will book now, and try later, but frankly if I've booked a four star for $129 and by June I see that NO ONE has won a 4 star on Priceline for less than $100 in over a year, then I really doubt I'd go to the trouble of all that bidding just to possibly save $29 and take my chances of losing more if I have to cancel?

Also I'm curious what you mean by starting bidding at 60% less. Less than what? Less than standard rates? Sure, but what I'm saying is that I'm already finding cancelable special pricing that is already 40 to 50% below those standard rates. Perhaps one advantage is that I'm now able to book senior or other rates because it is so far in advance, making the future Priceline bidding less advantageous than if they only had full price rooms left if booking direct.

I just got the Hyatt Regency in Miami for $50 when their website rate was $240. That's a steal!

>Also I'm curious what you mean by starting bidding at 60% less.<

caribtraveler said he/she starts bidding at 60% of the rate on the hotel's own website.

I think the explosion of internet commerce has squeezed Priceline out at the upper end of the hotel food chain, 4* and 5* places. As you know upper scale hotels often run their own internet specials or have email deals for frequent guests. And I agree with you that for $20-$40 more, I'd take the convenience of cancelling or amending my reservation.

I almost never (London being the exception) bid on PL hotels for a vacation stay. Don't want to take the risk on getting a dog room on holiday.

I do think, however, that there's a great deal of savings being had at the PL 3* level which I use frequently for business in the DC area. Paying $35-$45 a night for the McLean/Tysons Hilton is big savings. I'd even do a 2.5* if it meant getting a Marriott Courtyard.

Your post prompted me to look at the DC parts of BFT and it appears that the vast majority of the bids are in the 2.5-3* range for rates $50 and under.

So I guess PL isn't what it used to be, it's, uh, morphed into something else.

Patrick, I'm getting a sense you're right. I've been trying to book a room for the latter half of this week (3 days) in the FLL beach, or even Coconut Grove/Coral Gables via Priceline. Been following the biddingfortravel postings, and watching timelines, but wasn't able to come up with a 4-star accomodation at a comfortable price. Last year at this time it was relatively easy.

Finally went with FLL Beach Holiday Inn (3-star) via Hotwire for just over $100. Mixed reviews--I'll know more a week from now! I just ran out of time and the desire to keep juggling areas and the ratings of various properties therein.

Most assuredly, bargains are still available. Last month, got a 4-star at Heathrow for my wife for $55. And that was the second time in a year for that property at that price.

But the better properties, in season, do seem to be disappearing. My guess is a combination of more people traveling, and better yield management by the nicer lodgings.

Hi Patrick, one must be very vigilant when using Priceline. It takes a lot of work and energy, and not a lot of people have the time to keep bidding often.

Also, and most importantly, as mentioned above travel is back up again pre 911 levels. Americans are not leaving the US because of the weak dollar and many Europeans are visiting the US (especially Miami) becuase because their $$ is strong. I just used Priceline for the Drake hotel in NY 2 weeks ago at $130/nt and upgraded to a suite for an additional $75/nt when the website was showing $349, so we saved over $1000 for the week. The deals are still there.

We've been to Miami once/yr for the past 3 years, this last visit we noticed way more Europeans than the prior years. Not just the Brits but Germans/French and such as well.

I disagree about "getting the dog room" comments. Just this last year my family & I have spent more than 40 nights in PL rooms, never had a bad experience and have been upgraded to full ocean view rooms at the Royal Palm Crowne Plaza on 2 separate occasions. We paid $115/nt when it was $289 & $180/nt direct.

Over the years we have been upgraded to suite/concierge level 7 times (twice for week long stays) and received poor accomodations on 2 occasions. We have spent 100+ nights on PL rooms over the years. On the poor stays one hotel was since downgraded and the other has a long list of complaints on biddingfortravel.com.

The key is to do your homework. All the travel trends are also noted on BFT. I think I mentioned once before, I try to avoid zones where Hiltons are a possibility and they come up a lot. They are known to give the less desirable rooms. Marriott is fine, and Crowne Plaza and Starwood still upgrade when one is a rewards member.

Bookhall, how far did you go on Priceline for a 3* hotel room? In general Piceline will beat any Hotire hotel room by $15-20/nt. Also Hotwire's fees are higher. There is a section of BFT devoted to where Hotwire beats PL, and it is very rare when Hotwire ends up less.

I meant 60% less than the cheapest price I find on the hotel web site (and it could be an internet only rate).
So you weren't really asking questions then, you were simply making some points?
I think everyone is different, some people are fine with saving only $10 or $20/night. Whatever works for you.
Personally, If I can save over $40/night or 50% and over per night, Priceline is worth it to me.
For example, I did end up winning this morning the 4* Hyatt in Coral Gables for $95/night. $40 more than what I won it for in July, but then again the hotel's rates were cheaper in the summer. For my date this Feb. the hotel's web site rate is $279/night. That's over 50% savings. I had set a bidding limit and it took me quite a few tries. But I'm a happy camper.

I think Patrick is correct. In many cases, Priceline isn't nearly as helpful in getting a great deal as it used to be. In New Orleans, many properties no longer use it and those who do have cut back their inventory while raising the rates they will accept. This leaves the subpar properties (Radisson, mainly) to get nearly all the Priceline business.

travelinwifey: I had never heard that about the Hiltons, but that would make sense to me. We stayed in one in Puerto Rico with a Priceline win (Feb. "04). The room was just lovely. Not! :-)
In 2 weeks, we'll be staying at the Hilton in Curacao (Hotwire win). it will be interesting to see the room we get.
Frankly, we really don't care much about our rooms for our winter trips. We're rarely in them and the trips are solely to escape NJ's winter.
I have to say that I've had good room experiences with Hyatts/Omnis and a Westin with Priceline.

Hi Caribtraveler, yes, if you go to BFT's Hotel Misratings section there is a thread entitled "Hilton giving inferior rooms to Priceline customers". Check it out. I just try to avoid any zone that has a Hilton to avoid disappointment. Ditto the comments on Hyatt and Omni, good experiences on those brands.

BTW, The Sagamore Miami just started showing up on Priceline at $135/nt, one bidder got it when the room rates were $600+ per night.

Patrick, a couple of reasons priceline isn't what is used to be.

1) Priceline gained its popularity right after September 11th when the travel industry as a whole came to a grinding halt. Off priceline, you could steal a 4* hotel in Midtown for $85 per night.

2) The war on Afganistan, the begining of the war in Iraq, and the additional threat of terrorism kept the travel industry crippled (do a search on this board "cancel my plans" "afraid to travel" "terrorists attack Disney" etc).

3) Hotel occupancy across the board has returned to its bloated pre-September 11th levels.

4) Hotel companies are offering lower rates on their own sites and bypassing priceline.

5) The airlines are flying smarter and raising prices. In order to break even on most airlines, the plane must have at least an 85% pax load. The days are long gone when you could find an empty seat on a plane.

Of course there are other reasons but the bottom line is that people are traveling again and bargains are scarce.

The best way to combat that is to travel in off season or shoulder season.

I fail to understand why people accept these inferior rooms. I have always just gone back to the front desk and asked to be moved. Once a clerk gave me a hard time, I asked for the manager and explained that no one forced the hotel to take that rate and I would not accept an inferior room. Wound up being upgraded as an apology. I was nice and polite, but refused to "settle"

Good for you Carol!

Unless the hotel is full or oversold, there is no reason to accept a dismal room.

I'm still getting great deals but they're usually in less popular markets. I keep track of my bids, the hotel rates, hotel tax costs, Priceline fees, dates, etc. and what my percentage of savings is. I've been using Priceline for a little over 2 years now. According to my spreadsheet I've saved an average of 61% for 88 nights in hotels.

I stayed at the Hyatt Union Station in St Louis in December for a $40 per night bid. The hotel website best rate was $89. I saved 51%.

Though popular Boston isn't as much in the winter. I got the 4* hotel@mit for a $65 bid back in December. The hotel website had a rate of $119. I saved 42%. (This is for the Boston GTG next weekend. $155 for the hotel for 2 nights + $10 for my FF ticket makes it a pretty reasonable weekend getaway to Boston...until I get the bar bill. :-D )

I just won the Indy Omni downtown for a $44 bid in a couple of weeks. The Omni web site had a best rate AAA discount of $170. Savings of 70 percent. This is darn close to my all time best savings of 77% for the Indy Marriott in July '03.

I use the luxury of flexibility to get better deals in Indianapolis. I decide I have an open weekend or two and want to treat myself to a downtown Indy hotel stay. (I have a nice dinner, drink one too many Manhattans, see a movie and crash. It's quality "me" time. :-) )

I check a few hotel rates in downtown Indy. If the hotel is sold out that weekend or the rates are really high I pick another date. Sometimes I'm shut out of 2 or 3 weekends due to high hotel rates. Once I find a slow weekend I start "bottom bidding." 4* at the least possible accepted bid of $40. I work up from there. If I get to $55 I stop bidding and figure it wasn't meant to be.

I have friends who say they don't get the same Priceline deals that I get in Indy. I keep telling them they make the mistake of saying "we have to have a hotel for this one particular night."

I do think some deals are still there on Priceline, but you have to work a little harder at it. Yes, there are more rockbottom rates other places on the internet, but many of the lowest rates on the hotel websites seem to require prepayment, with a $25 penalty if you end up canceling (though you CAN cancel).

Last year I seemed to get fantastic rates on Priceline in some locations without hardly trying. Example: $79 for JW Marriott in Mexico City, versus $249 on the hotel site, and that is a FANTASTIC hotel. Almost always I was able to get the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables for under $60, even in February(I go there a lot because daughter is at UM). I am not getting those deals this year. Postings on biddingfortravel also seem to be down--I know a lot of people got fed up with the moderator and stopped posting. For me the appeal of Priceline was staying at a nicer property than I would ordinarily spring for, at a reduced price. But when the price is not as reduced, and bidding on Priceline carries (as always) the danger of getting a property you wouldn't want if you knew ahead, that's when I think about going back to the Holiday Inn, where I have flexibility and at least know the drawbacks of what I am getting.

I'm not sure that "a lot" of people got tired of Sheryl but I'm sure a few people do get put off when she gets aggrivated with posters that don't do their homework. She works almost 24 hrs a day on that website, and I'm sure it can be very frustrating when people don't want to do the work and rather the moderator do it for them.

Sheryl took a sabbatical a while ago and she seems to be in a much better place now:) I almost enjoy her snippiness, shows she's got ((l)):)

"Message: I meant 60% less than the cheapest price I find on the hotel web site (and it could be an internet only rate).
So you weren't really asking questions then, you were simply making some points?"

Yes, I was asking questions. Thank you for answering that one. Your first response wasn't clear to me, maybe it's just my ignorance, but I didn't understand that you meant 60% below "special pricing", since for the most part B4T shows that most people have been winning bids which are at most 50-60% below full rack rates. From what you say, I guess you probably wouldn't use Priceline in Seattle then -- at least for 4 star hotels, because from Bidding for Travel -- no one has been saving that much ($40 or over 50% for the past year -- unless none of them have posted their results on B4T.)

It's nice to know it must still work in some cities, however.

And CarolA, regarding not understanding why people put up with inferior rooms, what part of "there are no more rooms available" do you not understand? That's what I was told when we were given a very awkward "handicap" room at the NY Times Square Hilton. I'm sorry, but after requesting to be moved and still being told there were no options, I guess I don't have the nerve you have -- to demand to see a manager and refuse to "settle". But then I'm not the one to demand a lousy dinner be taken off my bill either. Sorry, I just don't care to be that demanding! Don't get me wrong, I still don't think it is a policy to give inferior rooms to Priceline buyers, unless they hotel is totally booked. I still say anyone who thinks a hotel will boot out of a good room a full paying guest who booked direct to accomodate a Priceline guest when there are no more rooms, is just being naive. Or else maybe they will if you throw a tantrum in the lobby. No one likes a scene.

Patrick - I would use priceline in Seattle, even for a 4* hotel. Or, I'd try anyway. I guess it just depends on whether or not you're willing to put in some time trying. For some, that's a hasssle that's not worth worrying about and for others they don't mind spending the time for the chance at savings.

I'd try it, up to some set limit that is based on significant savings over the best price I could find elsewhere. If I never got a good enough deal on priceline, so be it. I'd just stick with my original reservation. But personally, I'd try. The potential for savings is worth it to me, even if I think the odds are on the lower end.

Priceline is not for everyone. If you are very particular about your hotel variables and this is the point that makes or breaks your vacation- I don't think Priceline is for you.

One of the reasons I think I myself have had such extraordinary "luck" with Priceline, is that I don't really care all that much as long as I have clean and fairly quiet. Big hotel, small hotel, whatever. Sometimes I use Priceline or Hotwire without looking at the bidding for travel site. I feel like it is an adventure and a learning experience to make me stretch and learn a slightly different part of the city, town etc. I just make sure I am in the district / area I want to be, and am at the star level I choose to be for that stay.

Actually this year the hotel discounters are changing average price levels in quite a few of the tourist towns. But there are still great buys to be had if you are adventurous and don't have exact requirements like views, hotel size etc. One of the markets that is BETTER this year is St. Louis and Chicago is great also. And one son just got a tremendous NYC one for spring. Deals are still out there.

Patrick, I don't recall anyone in this thread mentioning www.biddingfortravel.com. I've never bid on priceline without using this great resource first. It took a little bit of practice to find the info I need (which hotels are likely to come up in certain areas and star levels, what was likely to be a winning bid, where to start bidding, etc.) However, the time I've spent has paid off in some amazing hotel rates.

So I guess the fee that bidding for travel charges is well worth it? H

BFT doesn't charge anything.

Patrick, I agree with jim_mi, you should give Priceline a try. Perhaps you didn't see my August '04 post on BFT - I saved $79/night at the 4* Westin using Priceline. I paid $110, the best internet rate was $189 for the nights I needed. Here's the link:
http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelinean...cID=1487.topic

However, if your one night is a Saturday, you may be out of luck. Apparently some hotels do not accept Priceline bids for one night Saturday stays...good luck!

mpmgm, no offense, but I guess you didn't read my original post or most of the ones following it. Basically this thread is all about Bidding For Travel (if you'll ignore my original typo where I called in Biddling. . .)
All my references to prices paid or won by bidding come from that site. And my references about bidding all relate to it as well, as I'm assuming the others do too.

I'm sure come June I will try bidding (following the current advice from Bidding for Travel) for Seattle. It's just that with current posts from obviously knowledgeable bidders who made as many as 10 bids (yes, that's what she said) to finally get a $110 winning bid for the Sheraton, I'm just not holding my breath for a good deal. But who knows? Anything can happen.

Oh Dan...I was able to get the Intercontinental (in New Orleans) for a friend in January (did the bidding in December) for $62 a night. Their lowest internet fare for that weekend was $329. Now that is a considerable savings.
I will be visiting NOLA in Feb, and got the Marriott (I know, it's a generic 4 star, blah, blah, blah) for only $46 a night. When the bid was accepted, the cheapest rate avail. through the hotel site was $199. (It has since sold out for my dates.) The Radisson has also been downgraded to a 2 star, so I will never have to worry about getting it. :D

1) It is not necessarily "far to early" to use Priceline. Contrary to all (it's changed a bit recently) advice on BFT, I've had fabulous luck with Priceline way in advance. (Early last year, I booked the Marriott Marquis in NYC over New Year's for the ridiculously low rate of $110/night, and we were assigned a HUGE corner room overlooking Times Square).

2) A "real deal" "in season" at any destination is hugely relative.

3) For sure, Seattle is probably not a "real deal" Priceline destination (only one downtown "area" with no "free re-bids"). You are quite correct that it's probably not worth the few bucks extra to be able to stay exactly where you wish with cancellation privileges.

4) You've apparently already booked your rental car? Can you cancel? Do you have to pick it up at the Hilton? More often than not, I've bid on Priceline for a hotel, and once "won", a car rental opportunity is presented at 30-40% of anything I could have booked elsewhere.

5) It would be more accurate to "suggest" that BFT is "not what it used to be". In my observation, way, way, fewer folks are bothering to post their winning bids due to the vitriol of "herself". Anyone who studies the "bidding assistance" posts can easily figure out how to bid, based upon all that homework you've done.

6) It is often useful to check out the packages (even though you have no intention of booking) with Priceline for your dates. Just to see which hotels are available (just deduct the Priceline airfares, for which you shop independently). Same goes for Hotwire.

7) Best BFT advice is to book something now that you can cancel, keep shopping and keep bidding. Though, I, personally would probably not expend all that effort over $30. And, why not just book the Hilton?

8) In answer to your original inquiry, I've continued to have fabulous results with Priceline - for NYC, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans - and NOT within a month of arrival.

9) For you, obviously, there is not advantage of only saving $10-20 and risking losing the whole thing.

10) If you are sure you are going, and have done your homework, and know what you're doing, Priceline can still result in considerable savings.

But, in the overall, I, too, wouldn't bother for "only saving $10-20".

djkbooks.....who would bother with priceline.com if they were only saving $10-$20 dollars. I surely wouldn't. I have saved moucho(sp?) dollars when using this service, and don't care if people are TOO scared to try. I feel like it has provided me with a window of travel "opportunity", otherwise overlooked.

djkbooks, if you can find me an SUV that I pick up in Seattle and return to Medford, Oregon two weeks later for a grand total of $750 including an extra driver (non family member), please let me know and I will be HAPPY to cancel my reservation. And I will be forever grateful. Yes it is completely cancellable.
But please don't tell me to drop it off somewhere else of just get a compact or something else. The things I've mentioned are CERTAIN. And yes, I've looked into doing two shorter term rentals and picking up and dropping off in one week both in Seattle then doing a second. So far nothing else compares. So be sure to let me know if you can find something better.

By the way, unless they've recently changed, Priceline DOES NOT do one way car rentals so they are NO good to me there.

Some very interesting comments here about recent savings with Priceline in other places including as always New York and also New Orleans. As others are admitting, I guess Seattle just isn't one of them -- at least any more.

I've used Priceline a great deal over the years and the good bargains continue to be out there. "September 11" had little to do with the ebb and flow of Priceline's usefulness as good rates have been had since and before.

Few are really "saving" much of anything with Priceline but the beauty in it is trading your flexibility for nicer accommodations than you would have otherwise been able (or willing) to afford.

In return, Priceline hotels get access to those who come from families where dad drives the tribe into town after 9pm and cruises the hotel/motel strip for a "Vacancy" sign. (They need a low rate and barely care where they stay)

About Biddingfortravel:

The whole website is a catch-22 where its main usefulness is the posts of others who willingly share their successful bids. Unfortunately the (person, lets say) they have running the site is the reason that only fools would go there and register to post.

About Seattle hotels. It doesn't make much sense to deduce that "there have been no winning bids for four star hotels for less than $98 for about a year" based only on the tiny sample size that would bother posting on biddingfortravel.com.

Seattle tourism peaked in 1999 and has been down ever since, clearly not having "Sept. 11" as a direct cause.

Patrick, if you are merely picking up the rental car at the Hilton, and if your friends are "flying in", couldn't you take a room near the Seattle airport rather than stay near the city center?

The airport area has yielded a couple of great Priceline scores for one of my travel partners during the past 10 months and he had only nice things to say about what he found at those locations.

Biddingfortravel, in summary, "should be seen and not heard". The info there on bidding strategies is very helpful to the uninitiated but the board need not be interactive to offer that.

They could solve biddingfortravel by putting a sock in the host's (typing fingers) and removing the registration requirement that serves only as an obstacle to more people who would happily post anonymous winning bids for the good of all.

What do they think would happen if they removed the registration requirement:

People would get in internet fights as they insisted that (the OTHER guy) couldn't possibly have scored that hotel for "only" $42 per night?

Biddingfortravel should have a "form" that you fill out which offers room only for winning bids, dates and locations, and it should allow for anonymous postings of such info. There could be a separate section for written reviews.

Finally, Patrick, DON'T use Priceline if only likely to save $20... just don't do it. Make other plans.

P.S. - Why do you continue to challenge others to "find you an SUV..." without giving the exact dates for which you need it?

NorthwestMale, I've been posting for years on BiddingForTravel.com and have rarely had any issue with the moderators (yes, I know who you are talking about). I know that BFT has rigid rules that are enforced rather impolitely at times, but I don't care. The site is extremely useful and has helped save me hundreds of dollars by aiding me in getting good Priceline deals.

The BFT posting rules are very clear to me and apparently to dozens of others who post there regularly without issue. I'm not sure why you can't simply accept the strict focus of the forum and stop whining about it. If you have a post/comment to make that doesn't fit on BFT, post it elsewhere - there are tons of other forums on the web.

Andrew

Andrew, you have to admit djkbooks and Northwest Male's premise is correct: BFT would be much more heavily posted if not for the "vitriol of herself" (love that). I for one would post more of my winning bids if I weren't leery of getting scolded. I agree if there were a form, rather than composing a paragraph that S may or may not like, posting would be more appealing.

Patrick, apparently you still never saw my September winning Seattle bid, or my post on this thread (1/24/05) where I report a winning 4 star bid of $110, for a downtown room going for $189. Surely that kind of savings would qualify as a bargain?

Andrew: What you just said. I'll just add that I wouldn't dream of using a site to get valuable from other travelers and not return the favor.
Northwest Male: You obviously had a run-in with her.

I look at BFT before placing any bids on Priceline and I do post my winning bids. I do not however ask for bidding advice, I simply do my own research. I've never been "blasted" by her, but have seen some interesting lectures she's given others! It really is a great resource for booking Priceline rooms.

Joan, yes I did see your bidding post. As I mentioned there were numerous bids for $100 to $110 for four star hotels, but NONE lower than $98 and that's been a while. My point was that I can already get a $129 senior rate (maybe you didn't have that "luxury" option, LOL) at the Sheraton which seems to be the winning 4 star about 75% or more of the time. Your savings were significant. But for me it would only be a $19 savings from what I can book myself -- especially not knowing what hotel I would get -- probably that same Sheraton. That was my point.

Well, Joan, you won't get scolded on BFT if you simply post a winning bid. Most often I've seen people get scolded when they ignore advice ("dumb question" "please read the FAQ" "OK dumb question again"...), posting in the wrong category, etc.

I agree that one of the moderators is a bit impolite, but I just deal with it, and for some reason, I find the posting rules on BFT very easy to understand so I never have any problem with my postings. A few times I've even posted comments that I thought would get deleted but weren't.

The benefit of the strict moderation policy on BFT is that the forums are full of precise information, not junk you have to wade through. Maybe there would be more posts on BFT otherwise, but would it be more useful?

Andrew

Was it Durgin Park in Boston where service came with an attitude? Or Dick's Last Resort (several cities)--Herself would make a great wait person at any of these! She is astoundingly rude and abrasive at times, and it need not be over a serious offense. Honestly, her responses to some people leave my mouth hanging open--I can't imagine treating customers as she does!

Anyway, here's my take on Patrick's question regarding a trend. The travel industry slump began before 9-11. It started with a business slump/recession and was exacerbated by 9-11. Companies were intent on cutting costs pre 9-11. Cutting back on business travel was an easy means to an end, so that segment of the travel industry slowed drastically, then personal travel did as well as job security was threatened. Then along came 9-11 and all travel came to a grinding halt. Now, with the economy perking along nicely, both business and leisure travel are on a roll as well. There no longer is a large inventory of rooms going begging, and hotels have become more competitive with their own websites. Priceline rates have close to doubled from the darkest days at the hotel I'm most familiar with, and the # of rooms released to Priceline has decreased dramatically. It's not just perception that Priceline deals aren't what they used to be...they really aren't. Generally speaking, discounts aren't as steep, and although there are some nice bargains out there still, they aren't as common as in those dark bleak days of a few years ago and they've vanished almost entirely in some markets.