biddingfortravel.com

[plutosmyfav]

This is too funny! I've been lurking just a couple of days and thought I was being too sensitve by perceiving such a strong "tone" from the moderator! I'm glad I'm not alone.

I have a PriceLine question. I've gone to the PL site and didn't see the answer. Do you pay to bid? is that why there's so much talk about carefully bidding and rebidding?

Another question: If you only put in the WDW area (not Kissamee or West WDW) are there any real "lemons" that might come up for a 3star hotel? Is $30 a reasonable bid for 3star for Dec 1-12th?

Thanks

 

[denisenh]

These are the 3 star hotels that HAVE come up in the WDW zone.
Sheraton Safari
Buena Vista Suites
The Grosvenor
Radisson Resort Parkway
Hyatt Orlando
Renaissance World Resort
Doubletree Resort Orlando-Villas at Maingate
Hotel Royal Plaza

As for your bid, I am NOT A PRO but it depends on the level of available occupancy. You do not pay to bid, unless you win. The charges that will be applied to you are clear before you submit your bid. It is not a surprise.
Your bid does not include resort fees, parking fees and such that are charged by the hotel that you end up with. You will be billed by the hotel when you checkout. Some hotels have these charges and some don't. You would pay them with or without priceline anyway.
Personally, as a "I am no pro" kind of person, I would think that a jab for a 3* could start at $30. You have plenty of time to work on your winning bid, it is still a few months away. Sheryl is really helpful, so you could get help there, just give her the info that she needs so that she can help you.
That would be a list of questions in the FAQ section titled "bidding assistance form".
I remember being totally confused by the BFT website. It took me several visits and a lot of reading to figure it out, but it was worth it. I have had some WONDERFUL stays at a price that doesn't make me sick to my stomach. And I really owe it ALL to Sheryl and her website.
good luck!

 

[disneyfan551]

plutosmyfav... Hi! Just wanted to let you know that I won a bid of $35 for a 3* for Thanksgiving weekend, and ended up with the Grosvenor. I am really happy with that price, since it is a holiday weekend! For the period you are looking at, here's a few tips... 1 - it is slow season, realize you're going to get a deal! 2 - you have plenty of time to win a great deal with PL for that period! keep rebidding! 3 - read the Hotel FAQ on bft.com, and watch the other bids 4 - understand your free rebidding area. 5 - sign up to receive email from PL, sometimes they send out free bonus $$, that they add to your bid (actually, I bid $25 for the above hotel, and they added $10 a night!) Can't beat that!

You asked about the hotels that come up, if you look at bft.com, the 1st thread on the FL-O board is "Orlando Hotel List". This lists the hotels by area, with links to the hotels, and usually customer reviews! It also helps you identify your free rebid zones. I would suggest again that you read the FAQ's, as it really helps!

If I can answer anything for you, please feel free to ask, and I'll try to help as best as possible! You won't get flamed here on the DIS for asking!

Good luck with your bidding!

 

[plutosmyfav]

Thans Denise and Tiffany

I spent more time at bft.com last night and feel more confident at trying priceline. I tried a bid and understand much more about the strategy of rebidding (you could back yourself in a corner real easy!). My bid was rejected ($40 for a resort ha ha ) but it was just a practice anyway. I can't bid again until Friday, but I'll try the $30 for a 3*. I think I would be happy with anyone of the hotels on your list, Denise.

I can't imagine planning my WDW trips without this board-- I'd probably spend twice the money! You guys are great

Sundie
aka Pluto's My Fav!

 

[disneyfan551]

You're welcome! FYI...you don't have to wait again to bid, unless there is nothing else that you can change. However, if you can change the * level, the dates, or adding a zone, then you can rebid. Usually they recommend that if you go to a lower star level, like a 3*, since you bid for a resort, that you start an entire new bid! So, you won't have to wait the 72 hours to bid again!

Let us know how it goes for you! You'll do fine!

 

[denisenh]

I think that I would lower your bid and leave resort checked and also check 3* , if you WANT a 3*.

In other words, it may be advisable to start fresh if you are RAISING your star level, but if you are LOWERING it, you may still wind up with the higher star level.
Just be sure to bid lower, in that case.

BUT, if you want to try to get a 4 * or resort, you can check a zone where there are no such thing available and increase your bid (that is a free rebid).

If you do not understand what you are doing, don't do anything. GET HELP first. People are here to help! You have plenty of time, and you don't want to goof it up too early.
If you are going to goof it up, its better to goof it up with someone else. LOL

 

[robinb]

First, the disclosure statement . Many of you may already know that I am a moderator over at Bidding For Travel. Yes, Sheryl used to post here and she asked me to help her out at BFT about 2 years ago. I put together the very first Orlando Hotels list (!) and that idea was replicated for every area in BFT.

Bidding For Travel is not a "touchy-feely" site. There is little to no chatting and off-topic posts are removed. Sheryl runs a tight ship and because of that the website is stripped to the bare essentials of dates, rates and hotels. You do not have to wade through pages and pages of junk before you find what you need. It's right there.

We get both old and new users at BFT. Newbies always have the same questions, that's why BFT has a FAQ. The Hotels FAQ was re-written a few months ago by a professional writer and it is much easier to understand. I still recommend that people print out a hardcopy since there is so much great information in it. It explains how Priceline works and how to get the best possible price.

BFT also has a Bidding Assistance Form that asks all the questions that should be answered before bidding. Things like "What are the current rates?" "What are the free rebidding areas?". I ask myself these same questions every time I bid. For instance, if hotel rates are high or if hotels are sold out it is likely that you will pay more for your hotel than others have on different dates.

Sheryl or one of the other administrators/moderators are perfectly happy to help someone formulate a bidding strategy. That's why I am a moderator there ... to help people. Each bidding strategy is personally designed to the bidders needs and that takes time. Sheryl insists that the bidder provide the information in the Bidding Asst Form and that the form is complete. Why? Because the people who take the time to complete the form (1) Have read the FAQ, (2) Are aware of the current rates, (3) Know how to use free re-bids since they found the re-bidding areas, (4) Are ready to bid right away. These bidders have the best chance to getting the lowest possible rate v/s someone who bids willy-nilly.

Sheryl is amazing! She answers questions usually within an hour. I don't know how she keeps up with it all. Sometimes she is "short" with a poster who did not provide all the information needed or one that asks a question that is covered in the FAQ that they obviously did not read. She is busy helping so many people she just doesn't have the time to help those who do not help themselves.

I would really encourage the BFT lurkers to post their winning bids. If everyone was a lurker then there would be no data to check! IMO, if you use the site's FAQ, the Hotels list or the rate data the least you can do it contribute your winning bid. There is always someone looking for a hotel at the same level for your same dates. No one will bite you .

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by denisenh
I think that I would lower your bid and leave resort checked and also check 3* , if you WANT a 3*.

The reason why she would want to start a new bid at the 3* level and not just add 3* to the existing bid is because (1) she will be able to re-use the 2.5 and under free rebid zones she used on the Resort* bid and (2) she doesn't have any extranious 3* rebid zones (like the Airport) that would suddenly become "live" by adding a lower level. I have seen people get a hotel in an area they really didn't want and it's pretty sad .

 

[denisenh]

The reason why she would want to start a new bid at the 3* level and not just add 3* to the existing bid is because (1) she will be able to re-use the 2.5 and under free rebid zones she used on the Resort* bid and (2) she doesn't have any extranious 3* rebid zones (like the Airport) that would suddenly become "live" by adding a lower level.

Huh? I have read it over and over and I still don't get it. Thank goodness someone around here knows what's going on cause I sure as heck don't.
FYI, don't listen to me. I am sleep deprived

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by denisenh
Huh? I have read it over and over and I still don't get it.

Do you mean you don't get my explaination? I can try to reword it .

 

[Gillian]

Thanks for the update Robin! I'll have to check out the new FAQ. The old one was so hard to understand! I hated telling people to read it, knowing it would make their heads spin. I'd make friends & family read it and then try to explain what it meant!

I agree that it would be great if more lurkers posted their winning bids. I hate doing it myself, in case I mess up, but I know it's important to others. We haven't travelled much lately, but I'm itching to bid on something.

 

[punkin]

I would encourage everyone who lurkes on BFT to post their winning bids. It's not so important for Orlando because there is so much info already there, but for other cities it is very needed. I always post mine Sheryl's curtness (not rudeness-I don't think she's rude) never bothered me and I have had it directed at me once or twice.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I have to say that I like Sheryl. I think that her site is very different from this one.... she is business like.....post your winnings, dates etc (.....no chit-chat). That site has helped me so many times. Those of you that are lurkers......please post your winning bids!! They are needed there.... after all, you went there for help on your bid didn't you????????? If you just state your winning bid in the format she uses, you will have no problems with her. She is offering a service to you free of charge, and that is rare now a days....(yes this board does that too.....which I am greatful for). I think she may question some of the posts becase she wants only accurate info on her site....no made up winning posts. She likes to check everything out the best she can so no one gets any wrong info.

 

[shamrock30]

Sheryl can be a bit abrupt, but she can also be very helpful. I think people sometimes take her comments way too personally. In real life, we all have to deal with people with different temperaments, so I expect the same to be true of the people I run into online.

 

[Scott MC]

Wow..this is an OOOOLLLLLLDDDDDd thread I'm reviving, but I just had to after my experience.

We're leaving for WDW in about 36 hours yay:) and due to a very early flight, wanted to stay at our local airport's hotel, but it was priced awfully high. I sought out advice on how to bid on priceline through google and came across BFT. I read my FAQs, previewed a few posts and went ahead with it.

I must say...Sheryl picked on almost every post I made saying that something was posted incorrectly or was difficult to understand. At one point, she sent me a *NASTY* email and was *incorrect* in what she was attacking me for. That email was followed up by an apology. I didn't mind her error...we're all human, but I'll say it again, her wording was *NASTY*. Nevertheless, I continued on, and today, 24 hours before our hotel stay, I landed what I wanted and was excited to post my win. She congratulated me and asked if I'd used her link in her posts. Rather than lie, I chose honesty and said that while I had on all my previous tries, on the try I actually won for, I didn't because knowing it was oing to be my final try, I had a whole bunch of websites open (travelocity, hotwire, lastminutetravel etc.). I thanked her again and assured her that in the future I would give her site credit and place all my Priceline bids through it.

Her reply? "I'm very disappointed in this. I think I helped you save a lot of money."

Really?


Really?

Wow...way to take the wind out of my sails. It was never explained why it was so important to use her links and ooooh! Just .....ooooh! How rude!

I googled her and found this thread and decided to post. From what I've read on other forums, I can expect either a nasty follow-up email from her or can expect to be banned....or both.

Geesh.

 

[4under4]

OK, 5 minutes on that forum was enough for me!! I don't think I've ever seen a more abrasive mod. I can't believe people actually *want* to click on her link!

 

[quirty30]

Alternate site:

www.betterbidding.com

Friendly, helpful advice without the attitude

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

I too received a "verbal" lashing from Sherry for not using the the biddingfortravel website. I never said I didn't and had in fact used it. When I posted that I had used the bidding for travel website her mistake was never acknowledged - no apology - nothing.

 

[keishashadow]

Alternate site:

www.betterbidding.com

Friendly, helpful advice without the attitude

and don't forget to bid thru their site

 

[dis-happy]

Can someone explain to me why it's important (to her) to use her link? Does she earn money or gain a commission from this somehow?