Anyone Need help w/ Priceline bidding?

[jtopicz1]

I've recently started a message board dedicated to Priceline.com bidding in the Orlando area. I realize there are other sites that do a very good job of this already, however they are often to broad in scope and have very picky/unnecessary requirements for users seeking bidding help.

I am doing this simply as a hobby. I've become addicted to Priceline and have been able to travel to places I never thought possible because of it. I truly enjoy helping people with all aspects of the bidding process.

I intend to focus the site (at first at least) on bidding in the Orlando area. As a local to the area, I am very familiar with the hotels and their locations, and feel I can offer bidding advice the other boards can't. In the future I would like to start a full blown website, with hotel reviews, pictures, and a compiled listing of bids.

The board is easy to use. Just stop on by and post in the Orlando bidding section. If you seek advice, simply state your dates, the area you'd like to be in (or parks you are visiting), the * level you prefer, and your maximum budget. I have been helping some DISers with Priceline bids in the past few weeks, and everyone has been very happy with the advice/results.

Please stop on by to talk about anything Priceline!!

Jim

As always, if you feel compelled not to use my forum, feel free to email me as well!!

 

[sncbird]

Hi Jim,

What a great hobby!! I just recently been looking into priceline and have found myself addictive to biddingfor travel.com. This is a great site but it is VERY intimidating and overwhelming!! I do plan on checking out your site and will ask you for bid help!!! Good Luck!!! Chrisitne

 

[jtopicz1]

The response to my original plan to do a message board dedicated to saving money bidding on Orlando area hotels as actually been very good. I've already talked to a lot of fun people, helped a few get some great deals, and received many suggestions.

One of the suggestions I plan to impliment first is an associated website with basically a hard-copy of general bidding info, facts, and maybe hotel reviews/pictures. I would greatly appreciate and input on what type of features you would find helpful on such a site? Email, PM, post here, or post on my board ANY ideas.

I've also received a few angry emails asking why I am "ripping off" other similar sites. My answer is, I'm not! I'm simply taking a broad idea, targeting it to the Orlando/Disney area, and making it better. I've known many people who are intimidated by the moderating style on the "other bidding board" and this is for them.

Thanks for any suggestions,
Jim

 

[crazyme5kids]

Hey I would love to have more info on how to bid! We are a large family of 7, so I am afraid to try bidding because I need at least two rooms and the proper amount of beds. I would be grateful for any help and guidance you could provide.

 

[jtopicz1]

Priceline's policy is to only guarantee bedding for 2 people per room. That being said, in a family zone such as Orlando, as long as you bid 3* or greater, you shouldn't have a problem requesting 2 beds for each room. In all my stays with Priceline, I have NEVER been denied a request for two beds (not to say it couldn't happen).

Basically from there my questions are - What is your budget? How nice of hotel do you want? What are your dates? and What area did you want to be in? (Disney, Universal, etc.).

Give me a quick post on my board and I can give you a much more detailed bidding strategy. Hope this helps!

Jim

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thanks! I glanced at your board quickly, I will get back to it later today or tomorrow. Will you be adding info on other other bidding sites like Sky auction or Hotel Kingdom too? This whole bidding thing is such a mystery to me, so I really need something that can walk me through it step by step (sort of a biidding for dummies guide LOL!). Also being able to ask really stupid questions and get answers to them is nice.

 

[jtopicz1]

I will be adding support for Hotwire in the near future, beyond that however, I'm not sure. I found that there really isn't any other site that competes with Priceline as far as bidding goes.

I may add a section regarding Travel Kingdom and Expedia in the near future. While they don't provide rates near as good as Priceline, they are good for cheap rates and backup reservations in the small event that a Priceline bid doesn't eventually get accepted.

Thanks for checking out the site. Any questions or comments you post are appreciated. I'm really trying to get this to grow, as I believe a bidding site dedicated specifically to Orlando is really needed.

As always, too, if you post a request for bidding assistance on the board, there is never obligation / or pressure to bid. I do this as a hobby, and realize that sometimes people decide Priceline isn't right for them!

Thanks,
Jim

 

[kimmar067]

....I might need help in the future!!!

 

[jtopicz1]

Ask away whenever you do kimmar067 Again, thanks to everyone who has been stopping by. It's hard to begin to build a database or information, but we're already getting some winning bid posts. Now seems to be a great time to get $30-40/nt rates at the Sheraton Safari, Rosen Centre, Radisson Universal, and Hyatt Orlando for the Spring Break and Summer periods.

Anyone who hasn't done so already, feel free to drop by and say "Hello", makes suggestions, or ask for bidding help!

Jim

 

[Lexxiefern]

Hi Jim,

I have been hearing about people who have gotten the Swan or Dolphin for as little as $90/night through Priceline. Is there any way you can do that deliberately? I wouldn't want to risk getting an off site hotel. Thanks,

Rebecca

 

[CarolA]

I am not Jim, but the ansewer is No. Rumor (fairly good source) actually has it the glut of Swan/Dolphin rooms on Priceline has dried up.
With Priceline you must be prepared to take whatever they give you. In the WDW Resort Category, that includes DTD and two offsite hotels. If you can't live with any of them, don't do Priceline.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Swan/Dolphin has dried up on Priceline FOR NOW. I am sure it will return (as it always does, but for a short time with specific dates). BTW, the lowest rate for both of these resorts was $69 a night.

 

[imafanofdis]

Originally posted by jtopicz1
I am doing this simply as a hobby.

Since you asked for feedback, i would be careful about saying the above while having a revenue generating referal link on your site.

The "other site" that you refer to above as having too many rules and restrictions (to which i agree) got in a bit of hot water some time ago with some users as they were stating that they "volunteer their time", yet in reality, it's a money generating proposition.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Lexxiefern]

Thanks to CarolA and DeeCeeSW for the info. That is what I thought. It would definately be too good to be true if you could choose your hotel

 

[jtopicz1]

Originally posted by imafanofdis
Since you asked for feedback, i would be careful about saying the above while having a revenue generating referal link on your site.

The "other site" that you refer to above as having too many rules and restrictions (to which i agree) got in a bit of hot water some time ago with some users as they were stating that they "volunteer their time", yet in reality, it's a money generating proposition.

Just my 2 cents worth.

I agree with you. As of now the small amount of kickback I get from Priceline will not be anywhere near the amount I need to pay for banner-free board hosting and a website to house various FAQ's, reviews, etc. Whatever I get kicked back from the Priceline links will be reinvested into the site. I'm taking several webpage design courses through a local community college, and hope this project will be a good way to further develop my skills and share my knowledge of the Orlando area and Priceline with users needing help.

So for now, and hopefully always, it's a self sustaining hobby. I don't have time to do the scope of what the other site does, nor would I want to. I have my own job to worry about

 

[jtopicz1]

Originally posted by Lexxiefern
Hi Jim,

I have been hearing about people who have gotten the Swan or Dolphin for as little as $90/night through Priceline. Is there any way you can do that deliberately? I wouldn't want to risk getting an off site hotel. Thanks,

Rebecca

What the others have said is correct. The Hilton and Wyndham have been coming up far more than the Swan/Dolphin recently. You're never gauranteed a specific hotel and must be willing to accept any of the resorts in that area.

Jim