Priceline Bids/results

[ranman1973]

Question: Does anyone here who has booked on Priceline care about the fact that you're only guaranteed a room that will accommodate 2 people max? I'm travelling with more than 2 and thus leery about booking on Priceline. Although I'm a big fan and use all the bidding helper sites (HotelDealsRevealed, BetterBidding), I just can't bring myself to booking on Priceline with 4 of us.

Would love to know what your thoughts are on this.

 

[ranman1973]

This is exactly why I use Hotwire instead of PL. I can search for 2 adults, 2 children and get the bedding we need. Never had a problem.

I just posted a similar question (see above post), not realizing others were having the same questions / concerns as me. This post let me know I'm not alone in my thinking. Thanks to both of you for sharing.

 

[Lewisc]

I just posted a similar question (see above post), not realizing others were having the same questions / concerns as me. This post let me know I'm not alone in my thinking. Thanks to both of you for sharing.

Orlando caters to families. Most rooms, most hotels, have two beds. I only recall one "winning" bidder unable to get a room with 2 beds.

Many hotels in Orlando limit occupancy to 4. A family of 5 needs to bid on at least 2 rooms. It's not just a matter of comfort. The hotel would have been within their rights to keep the money and throw the family of 5 out. It's probably a fire code issue. PL guarantees double occupancy. In what world does a "bidder" think 5 is OK?

Many cities hotels have smaller rooms, only suitable for 1 or 2 guests, which are given to PL customers.

Hotwire won't let you request a room which sleeps 5.

 

[robinb]

Priceline's new Express Deals allows you to chose a "bed type" on some of their hotels. It's a lot like Hotwire with a list of amenities, star level and hotel location. It might work better than the Name Your Own Price method for families who want to be guaranteed 2 beds plus something specific like a free breakfast.

 

[cheerky]

I booked 3 1/2 * condo, Disney Main Gate/ Celebration for $46 night on Hotwire today. Dates: Jan. 16- 21: Mystic Dunes Resort. I have stayed at this property before and was very satisfied.

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

may I ask, when you bid PL or HW do you pay all up front when you win?

 

[wolf29]

may I ask, when you bid PL or HW do you pay all up front when you win?

Yes, your credit card is charged immediately. Resort fees (if any) will be collected at the hotel.

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

Yes, your credit card is charged immediately. Resort fees (if any) will be collected at the hotel.

Thanks!

 

[wolf29]

Just won my bid on Priceline for our first 2 nights in Orlando before our WDW package begins this August. Staying at the Westin Imagine Orlando (4 star)for $60 per night! We plan on going to Universal & Sea World, so it could not have worked out better.

 

[ge0rgette2]

I need to start looking at Priceline for Easter break. Sometimes i get nervous bidding.

 

[wolf29]

I need to start looking at Priceline for Easter break. Sometimes i get nervous bidding.

Use one of the sites that break the hotels down by star rating & area so you have an idea of what your are bidding on. Check forums to see what a realistic successful bid will be and don't think it's advantageous to wait until close to your date to bid...that's not always the better strategy. Be educated and there is nothing to be nervous about.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I need to start looking at Priceline for Easter break. Sometimes i get nervous bidding.

I like hotwire.com since we need bedding for 4 guaranteed which PL will not.
www.betterbidding.com keeps a list of all "known" hotels so you will know what you're buying before you buy. They have been correct for me & my parents many, many times.

 

[tlkgt76]

Booked a rental car for 13 nights at $11 per day on Priceline. After taxes and fees, we ended up with a four door Chevy Impala (bare bones car) through Hertz at $160 for two weeks.

To get a good idea of what the companies will accept I usually put in a bid totally lowballing, then Priceline will offer advice telling me what I should ask for. In the case of the rental car, I then tried $2 less than what Priceline suggested.

 

[CountingHippos]

Here is a great resource for kids.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Our bid of $95 for a resort in the Lake Buena Vista/Downtown Disney was just accepted for 3/29/13 to 3/31/13 and we got the Marriott Orlando World Center. Lowest published rate for this hotel was $204.

The lowest standard price for a resort in that zone was $174.

The priceline.com express deals lowest price for a resort in that zone was $119.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

I used Travelocity's secret hotels for the first time tonight. Just got the Rosen Shingle Creek for $52 per night for the first 3 nights of our stay, 3/30 to 4:/2. Cheapest rate on their website was $147 so I feel good about this buy.

 

[ilovevacation]

That is Score! The hotel is beautiful, i stayed there two years ago, Congrats!

 

[ChristineNic]

I used Priceline Bidding for a 4 star in Downtown Disney and/or Celebration Maingate. I bid $70 per night for 3 nights 4/12 -4/15 and I used a $10 per night code I found on hoteldealsrevealed. I got Sheraton Lake Buena Vista, formerly Sheraton Safari.

We are Sheraton SPG members and the best I could find for this hotel through Sheraton or other sites for those dates was $120 per night for Fri/Sat and $90 on Sunday.

I have stayed there twice before, once before the remodel and once during. I'm very pleased with my results.

 

[sb682]

I used Priceline Bidding for a 4 star in Downtown Disney and/or Celebration Maingate. I bid $70 per night for 3 nights 4/12 -4/15 and I used a $10 per night code I found on hoteldealsrevealed. I got Sheraton Lake Buena Vista, formerly Sheraton Safari.

We are Sheraton SPG members and the best I could find for this hotel through Sheraton or other sites for those dates was $120 per night for Fri/Sat and $90 on Sunday.

I have stayed there twice before, once before the remodel and once during. I'm very pleased with my results.

I am glad to hear that! I just booked the Sheraton through Priceline for $70/night from 7/18-22. The Travelocity reviews are meh but it looks nice and you can't beat that price during peak season.

 

[davinakb]

FYI did a PL express deal (similar to Hotwire, you pick your amenities) and got the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in KISSIMMEE. I capped that b/c the zone we selected was DTD/LBV. The place gets decent reviews, calls itself "LBV East" but it's not.. it's Kissimmee. Overall the deal at $46 wasn't bad (free parking, breakfast) it's just IMO, PL puts this place in the wrong zone.