I recently got a room through Priceline and am very happy with the price the only problem that I ran into was that I am travleing with my wife and 2 children and when trying to get a room that will accomodate my whole family it was tough. I am planning on checking out bidding for tavel but Has anyone ever gotten a room through priceline that is traveling with their family? and if so were you able to get the room changed through the hotel with no problem? I would appreciate any advice because I need to get a hotel in boston for this trip in october. I Called the Hyatt in New York and was told that I could not change the room due to booking through PL. I called Pl and a travel agent through Priceline called directly to Hyatt and worked it out. Maybe it is just the Hyatts.
Thanks
Soames

It's not becase it's Hyatt. Doing priceline for a room in a large city for a fmaily of 4 could be risky. Many large cities have 'business' type rooms which usual have only 1 bed. In some (not even all) cases, 1 rollaway can be added. Priceline states on it's site that it can only guarantee a room for 2. We've used priceline frequently for our family, but if we see hotels being awarded on Biddingfortravel that have 1 bedded rooms, we won't use priceline. That's an issue in Boston as well. I know people who have used PL in NYC and never got a room with 2 beds. You are lucky that priceline worked this out for you, they didn't have to.

Whenever I do use priceline, I call the hotel and make sure I get a double bedded room, but if it's too risky (after researching on BFT) I don't use priceline. I have had success in some of the larger cities (DC & Phillie) and have also been awarded some great resorts in AZ (all that could easily accommodate families of 4).

I've bid for and won the Grand Hyatt in NYC. I specifically called the hotel and asked for two beds in the room (I was taking a friend with me) and the hotel refused.

Priceline only guarantees accommodations for two people.

Hotel rooms in Manhattan are for the most part small.

I've stayed in plenty of hotel rooms in Manhattan that one bed barely fit in the room. These hotels were the Grand Hyatt, Park South, Hudson, and the W Times Square.

The room I had at the Hyatt would not have accommodated a roll away.

I suggest you call the hotel and ask to speak to a supervisor and see what you can do. You may have to pay an additional fee but that would be much better than four people in a queen sized bed.

Priceline rooms are only guaranteed for 2 people. If you need accommodations for 4, you shouldn't be bidding on PL. Both biddingfortravel and PL's own web site are quite clear about this.

Anonymous hit the nail on the head! Too many times I see people complaining about PL when they got exactly what they bid for. Unless you are prepared to get a room with one double bed, don't use PL because that is exactly what you're asking for when you use it.

alexusfr: the solution is to get 2 rooms with Priceline. don't know how old your kids are but if they're too young to be on their own, you can do one adult/one child per room. depending on hotel, it might come out cheaper than going through a regular booking. if not, then priceline is not the way to go for you.

Thank you all for the advice. since posting my original message I have been to BFT and am researching the website. I have read on BFT that alot of families have had success with calling the hotels and/or making due with what they get but that doesn't seem to happen to much. It is hard to beat the deals from priceline. thanks again.

Alex, in cities like Boston, San Francisco, New York, and South Beach Miami Beach, it is the norm and not the exception for hotel rooms to be tiny. In many cases the hotel could not fit two beds (other than singles) in a room.

On the other hand, places like Orlando, hotel rooms with one bed are the exception and not the norm.

It really depends on the city but I wouldn't chance four people in a room on priceline.

Alexus, you are right, it is hard to pass up a good deal, BUT you do have to be FULLY prepared to accept the terms. And those terms are clearly stated. You are only guaranteed one bed...period. Many people have written about how very fortunate they were to recieve 2 beds and there are so many success stories like that. BUT you do have to be quite willing to accept one bed. And can't really complain if it doesn't happen. Maybe you could take an air mattress or a foam pad just in case.

Air mattress or foam pad won't help if the group exceeds the legal capacity of the room. Due to fire laws, many hotel rooms in NYC and elsewhere have a legal limit of 2 people. Priceline isn't bidding for a room with one (or more) beds, they're bidding for a room for TWO PEOPLE.

Anon, thanks for the info. I didn't know that, so glad you pointed it out.
I have heard of people doing it and didn't realize there were reasons why they shouldn't.
I've had very good luck with priceline, but then have only ever bid for 2 people.

It is discouraging that folks, a party of more than two people, book rooms on Priceline, despite the stipulation CLEARLY STATED all about and thereon that the room is for TWO people ONLY.

A few weeks ago, we were in line to check in at the Hilton in NYC. A family of four (with an extensive array of "stuff" along with the two children) held up the line for more than 20 minutes arguing over accepting a "standard double" room with no space for additional beds (roll-aways), despite hotel and legal regulations regarding "maximum person occupancy" versus paying for an upgrade (which they SHOULD have deemed a fortunate opportunity).

Please know that the multitide of hotel rooms in Boston, and many major cities, are "compact" and designed for a COUPLE, not a "family". October is the very most busy hotel room month of the year in Boston due to conventions, meetings, and the fall foliage season, with the very highest room rates. No matter where you visit, a "whole family" would require more than one room, adjoining rooms, or a suite.

It should be obvious that the rock bottom rates one receives with Priceline do NOT result in the very best of room assignments.

If you insist on booking a room with Priceline, despite the "two person" clause, you MIGHT get lucky with an accomodating hotel, or you MIGHT be offered the opportunity to upgrade to a more suitable "family" room for an additional fee, or you MIGHT even not be allowed to check in due to local statutes regarding room occupancy and the fact that you disregarded the Priceline agreement when you booked your room.