Will Priceline work for this
 

I am researching hotels at Port Columbus Airport Ohio for 27th & 28th May for DD and SIL. They are flying NZ to LAX, arrive LAX 12.30pm then leave for Ohio at 3.30pm arriving Ohio 12.55am.

They want a hotel that has a 24 hour shuttle from the airport but I don't think this can be guareenteed using Priceline can it?

I have been looking at Biddingfortravel and Better Bidding but only seems to be 2 star hotels in the airport zone. The hotel list seems very old too, done in 2003, how can you get a current list?

Thanks for your help

The date of the biddingfortravel post on hotels is the date that it was originally set up; at the bottom of the list will be a note about when it was most recently updated. Those are the only lists there are.

Priceline gives bidders no say in whether the hotel they win has any specific services such as an airport shuttle.

It can work, and here's why.

Priceline has a 3* category for CMH-Gahanna. People have reported the Radisson, which is now a Marriott. It also has a 2.5 category, which has come up as the Courtyard.

No other hotels have been reported, which doesn't mean much, but I don't think there are other 2.5 - 3* hotels in that zone that is NOT an airport hotel from a major chain.

So, they should be fairly confident that it'll be an airport hotel with a shuttle.

I search for those dates, and cheapest airport hotel is the Best Western for $88. The Marriott is $195.

So, if they win a bid on 3* for say $60, and even in the worse case scenario that they have to take a taxi to such nameless 3* hotel, they'll still come out ahead.

I will definitely try 3* and 2.5* for this zone.

Thanks rwkkan, I will give it a try tonight.

If you have no success, do a bit of searching on www.kayak.com and www.travelocity.com.

Just tried priceline but live in New Zealand, seems I can only use it if I live in the US or Canada. Is this correct, or is there a way for international customers to book hotels using this method.

Arriving in Ohio at 12:55 AM - I am not sure, Priceline or not, you are going to find a hotel with a shuttle that operates at that hour.

The cheapest hotel at the airport is the Baymont Inn. We stayed there last year and will again in a couple weeks before leaving on an early flight. The shuttle is 24 hours - the staff was excellent and the rooms were ok enough for us to stay multiple times. Hope this helps.

Even if the shuttle isn't running, or if the hotel has no shuttle at all; if they're staying at the airport, they can take a taxi from the terminal to the hotel for a few dollars.

According to the very helpful web site, biddingfortravel.com (BFT), it is possible for non-US residents to use PL. They must have a major credit card, which in the US usually means Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. Check the PL web site to see if others might also be acceptable.

Another obstacle that foreign bidders sometimes encounter is (as BFT puts it) "making your foreign address look like a US one". In other words, our postal codes have 5 digits so that's what you must enter in the PL form, etc. The BFT FAQ has some specific suggestions:

http://p198.ezboard.com/NonUS-Reside...opicID=6.topic

nelsonian -

Try the UK site:

www.priceline.co.uk/nyop.html

or the Hong Kong site (see the blue box halfway down on the left):

travel.priceline.com.hk/eng/retailair/select.aspx

I've read that these two Priceline sites have "Name Your Own Price" that work with international addresses and credit cards.

Arriving into Columbus at that hour doesn't sound right. Are you sure it's Columus? It may be Cincinnati which is about an hour south of Columbus. You might check before you book the hotel.

Southwest WN95 LAS-CMH 5:55p-12:55a+1. It is definitely correct.

The OP is probably connecting from WN2907, which is now 3:40p-4:45p LAX-LAS.

Baynont hotels are now a part of the La Quinta chain.

If you can get a good price on this particular hotel from the La Quinta website, I'd definitely just book directly with the hotel website. Always cancellable 24 hours ahead of time.

http://www.lq.com/lq/index.jsp

The La Quinta Columbus Ohio Airport location is currently listed at about $75 a night.

While some airport shuttles may operate 24 hours, at non busy airports (Columbus, for example as compared to LAX), the every 20 minute schedule may dwindle to every hour or even less. So just miss one shuttle and wait another hour or longer to get the next? I'd take the advice of not worrying about getting a taxi in such an event, rather than give up the possibility of big savings.

Travelbuff, I'm curious why you thought it couldn't be Columbus at that hour?

Easytraveler:
You may be correct about Baymont being connected to La Quinta, but I think they are Triprewards and now affiliated with Wyndham. The website shows the hotel you are thinking of as being in Reynoldsburg with no airport shuttle. There is a Baymont on the site of Columbus airport that does have a shuttle. I can update after May 10th if anybody is interested.

Baymont was sold to La Quinta in 2004, but it was then sold to Wyndham in 2006. Some properties that used to be Baymont had been converted to La Quinta and has remained La Quinta.

ccolor

What rate did you manage to get for the Baymont Inn. I still haven't been brave enough to try Priceline, some of the 2.5 star hotels don't seem to have 24 hour check-in which will be a necessity.

nelsonian:

We got 76.00 for one night, but I don't remember what site I went to to find it. It may have been through Triprewards with either a AAA or AARP discount. Sorry I can't be of more assistance.

I'm also surprised that a flight comes in to CMH at 12:55. That airport quiets down pretty much after 11-12 PM - or then again, maybe I have just been asleep by then and didn't notice. That's probably more likely.

All of those hotels will have 24-hour check-in. I have never stayed at chain hotel/motel in the US, no matter how crappy, that doesn't have that. They'll always have a night shift clerk.

Thanks again,for your advice.

Rwkan when I have read the web-sites for some of the hotels they say they don't have 24 hour reception. Are you saying they will still have someone on hand to book people in at that ungodly hour of the morning. If so I will have another try on Priceline.

I did try last night started off at $ 45.00 for three star, wasn't very hopeful, then tried the same price for a 2.5 star with no luck. I will raise the price today to $ 50.00.

Sorry rkkwan for mangling your name!!! Too early in the morning.

Where did you read that a motel/hotel doesn't have 24-hour reception? Can you point to examples? Did you email them for clarifications?

I've done plenty of road trips in the US, and often I stop at a motel 1am or 2am in the middle of nowhere, and I've yet been to one that can't give me a room.

I have stayed at some places - like some Extended Stay America - that don't have 24 hour reception (but it is rare). What usually happens is the reception is closed but there is a courtesy phone on the wall where you can reach the on-site manager who comes down to check you in. But I can't think of that being the case at a 3 star place.

If you decide go PL - then as soon as you get your booking, call the hotel and tell them what time you are checking in.

Also - I wouldn't worry at all about a shuttle. If there is one - great. If not, a taxi will not cost much.

Okay I blew it. I don't think anything can be done but just in case I will tell you what happened.

I have been searching the dates 27th-29th May for a couple of weeks now, and have been declined time after time. This was actually good as it turned out as my DD and SIL have had to put back their flight by a week so they can get all the paperwork done for thier work visas. They were able to change their fares for only an additional $ 100.00 so now are arriving LAX 3 June, travelling on to Columbus same time as before.

I went into Priceline tonight and changed the dates for the booking to 3-5th June bid $ 60.00 and was declined. I then added a zone and increased the bid to $ 65.00. Got the Courtyard hotel BUT then I read the dates, 27th -29th May not 3-5 June as I thought. It must have defautled back to the original dates. My own fault for not double and triple checking before I pressed confirm.

Is there anything all that I can do or have I just wasted $ 140.00.
Anyone want to stay 2 nights at the Courtyard on 27th - 29th May.

The usual answer is - you are out of luck. But PL actually does have reasonable customer service and it is not unheard of for them to fix things. They will have a record of your original bidding history so if you call them there is a (slim) chance they will do something. Throw yourself on their mercy.

No guarantees of course - but worth a shot . . . . .

Nelsonian -- Darn! That stinks. I'd give them a call anyway. I wonder if you could even plead insanity with the hotel itself? Let us know how it goes. Good luck!

I have got a friend in the US contacting Priceline for me, maybe I will be lucky and the dates can be changed, will let you know.

I would recommend calling Priceline. Many people have reported that Priceline has been willing to cancel your reservation and do a re-bid with you over the phone in similar circumstances.

Great news. My friend rang Priceline and they have cancelled the reservation, credited my with one night's accommodation, and when I rebook they will credt the other night less a $ 25.00 cancellation fee.

An interesting experience and a great result considering it was all my fault.

That is super - I've heard of other instances where PL went above and beyond. Just one more reason to use them.

I have found Priceline to be very reasonable. I've been booking rooms with them for many years.

One time, I booked a room for three nights, but then couldn't get flights those days. Our flights were for the day before and day after, so I bid for rooms for those two days, hoping for the same hotel. Got a different hotel, but that same one for first and last nights.

I called Priceline. They agreed to cancel all three reservations and rebid it with me over the phone. So, we were able to stay in one (of the two) hotels for all five nights and not have to move twice. And the rate averaged the same.

I think I am useless at using Pricleine.

Tried to rebook for the correct dates in June but this time instead of getting the Courtyard I got the Clarion Inn and Suites, this didn't appear to be in the 2.5 zone when I bid last time but obviously is now.

It doesn't have the greatest reviews I got it for $ 62.00 a night.

Has anyone stayed there? How long does it take to get there from the airport, is there a shuttle?

DD & SIL also wanted a cheap hotel for two weeks so they have time to find a house/apartment to rent. I got them 14 days at Baymont Inn Columbus North $ 32.00 per night. I really wanted Extended Stay Columbus North as it had a kitchen, I had read someone had stayed there a couple of times for between
$ 28.00-$ 32.00.

The Baymont Inn doesn't have the best reviews either but it's to late now.

nelsonian - the whole point about Priceline is you're taking a gamble. If the hotel comes out as the one you thought you're going to get, great. But if it doesn't, you just have to accept the fact. If you find out you don't like this, then Priceline is not for you.

What are the rates for the Courtyard and the Clarion Inn and Suites for your date - if you book directly from the hotels? Are the savings substantial enough for you? Say you have to pay an extra $30/night for the Courtyard, would you have been willing to pay that?

The same thing w/the Extended Stay. How much would it have been if you were to book directly from the hotel?

Sorry it didn't work out for you this time. Maybe Priceline is not for you.

Yes I realise it's a gamble but the research I had done just showed the Courtyard as a 2.5 in the airport zone and that is what I got when I booked the wrong dates. Luckily Pricleine cancelled them for me so no complaints there. When I went to rebook I just thought I would get the Courtyard again but got the Clarion Inn and Suites. Obviously it has moved up a zone.

<< Tried to rebook for the correct dates in June but this time instead of getting the Courtyard I got the Clarion Inn and Suites, this didn't appear to be in the 2.5 zone when I bid last time but obviously is now. >>

<< When I went to rebook I just thought I would get the Courtyard again but got the Clarion Inn and Suites. Obviously it has moved up a zone. >>

Again, I'm sorry that you are not happy with your PL wins. But your 2 statements I copied above are not correct.

The Clarion Inn and Suites is not reported on biddingfortravel or betterbidding. Perhaps it been participating w/PL all along but the price they set up is always higher than the Courtyard and hence no one has "won" the Clarion before. Or erhaps the Clarion just recently decided to participate with Priceline.

Either way, the hotel lists on both BFT and BB are foolproof - hotels can join in or drop out at any point. Perhaps someone had won the Clarion as a 2.5* in the past but didn't report on either website.

The key thing is PL didn't "trick" you by giving you a lesser hotel than you were supposed to.

What you got last time with the wrong dates had nothing to do with your new bid. What the inventory is available for those dates can be completely different than your new dates.

I meant to say
Either way, the hotel lists on both BFT and BB are <b>NOT</b> foolproof

What you are saying YK is absolutely correct, I am not really complaining, just a bit disappointed I didn't get the hotel I thought. But as you say it is a gamble.

If I was booking for myself I would have gone for 3.5, 4 star range but DD and SIL are on a tight budget. They are young enough to cope if the hotels aren't that great. I will post a review on Trip Advisor once they have stayed there.

Well, just make sure they have no/low expectation, then it won't be that bad.

For me, saving $ is important too, so when I use PL, I keep my expectations at a minimum. As long as the room is clean and the room temperature is acceptable, I'm content.

If you have used BFT for research, then you should post your winning bid on it so others will know about this &quot;new&quot; hotel for that zone.

Hmm it is getting even more complicated. When I checked the confirmation for the Clarion Inn (the second hotel I booked) it said my earlier bid ref number 536 838 581 68 had not been accepted but my new bid of $ 62.00 had been accepted ref number 629-216-731-02 for dates 3-5 June.

However I have a printout saying my bid of $ 32.00 for ref number 536 38 581 68 was accepted for the dates 5th June - 19th June. So now I don't know whether the Clarion Inn has been booked instead of Baymont Inns or in addition to it. The dates were different for both. hotels, but booked on the same morning.

It sould explain why I got the Clarion Inn which I think is actually in the Worthington zone, the same zone as the Baymont Inn, and not the airport zone.

I think I better give up.