Anyone ever use Priceline?

[Nice Guy]

Greetings all!

I'm thinking of using priceline to reserve a hotel room (I need two as I have three children), but am a bit leery of doing so for the obvious reason that you don't know what you will be getting until after you've paid. However, it is a good way to possibly save alot of money and get a four/five star hotel.

Anyone use this service before and what was the outcome?

Many thanks.

 

[momof2inPA]

Sure, but I researched the hotels on biddingfortravel.com, first

You can get some real bargains if you do your homework.

 

[Beth76]

I've used it once for downtown Chicago. We got the Millenium Knickerbocker for $90 a night. Very nice 4- or 5-star hotel. Check out www.biddingfortravel.com. It will give you lots of tips on using priceline.

 

[mum4jenn]

I LOVE priceline!! Do as the others said and check out the bidding for travel website but make sure if you post any questions that you do lots of reading about how it all works because the administrator can be very snotty. Lots of good info though and you can get an idea if how to bid and what hotels normally come up just by reading and not posting!!

 

[golfgal]

You can select the quality of hotel you want. If you put in a 4 or 5 star, you won't end up in a flea trap motel. We had some friends use Priceline for a trip to DC last summer and they ended up in a 2 bedroom suite for $50/night in Washington DC. A lot of people use them here for off site hotels around Disney.

 

[Nice Guy]

Another question: I have a family of five. Does that mean I have to bid on two rooms?

 

[minnie56]

As the others have mentioned...research on 'Bidding for Travel' first...know what area you want and select 4* or better to be sure you will get a nice hotel.

I was in NYC this past November and had a lot of trouble finding a hotel to suit my budget, they were all $400 plus and we needed 2 rooms. Ended up using Priceline getting the 'Intercontinental-the Barclay' for $156 per night and it was fabulous!!!!! Great huge rooms, 2 Queen's in each, location was awesome and it could not have been more perfect! I also used it for Miami once getting the Hyatt for $40 per night!

Good Luck! Once you've tried it....you'll be hard pressed to pay full price again!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Another question: I have a family of five. Does that mean I have to bid on two rooms?

that is actually one of the problems with Priceline. If you bid on two rooms there is not guarantee that the rooms will be next to each other, connecting, or even on the same floor. You can call the hotel and request, most of them will do their best to help you out but they aren't required to honor your requests.

Also, even with one room there is no guarantee that you will get a room with two beds. Most hotels will accommodate that just fine, but the only thing the hotel is required to give you is a room with a double bed.

 

[kbkids]

What' the advantage of Priceline over Hotwire? I used Hotwire a couple of years ago to get the Dolphin at a great price. Bidding For Travel had them on their forums then, and I saw that an individual had won the Dolphin for the exact time frame, same price, same amenities, so I was pretty much 99% sure I was getting the Dolphin when I bid. How come Hotwire info isn't on there anymore?

We're going to Valdosta in the spring, and this thread got me looking around again. I've already got a good hotel reserved at a decent price, but all there is in Valdosta are 2 star hotels, so I'm not really assured of getting a decent place, I guess. ? ? ? Some of their 2 stars I wouldn't stay at - others are fine. Sounds like Priceline and Hotwire are kinda iffy in this situation, huh?

 

[GeorgeG]

If this works for the Dolphin, is it also good for all the other resorts at WDW?

 

[kbkids]

If this works for the Dolphin, is it also good for all the other resorts at WDW?

I've only seen Dolphin and Swan ever show up.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

As someone mentioned Priceline is great when you dont have "requests" but if you do and they are big ones be advised you may not get them...

Priceline guarentees you a room with a bed- It does NOT guarentee one with non smoking, 2 beds etc- If a hotel can accomodate you they usually will but when push comes to shove and occupancy is high the priceline people get the least desirable ones because they'd rather put a person paying rack rate in the better rooms.

I've personally never used them but I work front desk and so deal with them on the other side

 

[DawnCt1]

Another question: I have a family of five. Does that mean I have to bid on two rooms?

I have bid on a room before and if you are concerned about bidding, as soon as you get your confirmation, call and request two double beds so you don't get a king. I got the Marriott hotel I wanted in Ft. Lauderdale and they were very accommodating.

 

[mum4jenn]

Sometimes the Downtown Disney hotels show up but none of the regular ones. DTD hotels and S&D are not Disney owned.

 

[powellrj]

We use them a lot, but if you want certain things like a pool or free parking you would be better off booking it yourself.