BUF hotels - priceline bidding with a family of 4?

[encinc]

I see that many people have been getting great deals on airport hotels through priceline bids (3* Millennium for under $40, 3.5* Marriott for $60-$70). Has anyone used Priceline with a family of four. There's no way to request two beds, so I'm wondering what other families have done in that situation.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

I haven't done this for BUF, but I have done this for at least 15 other cities in the US. I simply book it ... and risk it. Once, I need to pay an additional fee (Niagara falls Sheraton ... that was in Canada) and another, they had no doubles (Portland Maine).

I have used Hotwire to make sure I could get 2+2.

Ted

 

[michelle1]

I usually use Hotwire but it's the same idea as Priceline. Once I get the hotel confirmation from Hotwire I call the hotel directly to put in a request for 2 beds and non smoking. It's usually not a problem but people who have booked through Hotwire or Priceline are not guaranteed anything unlike guests who book directly with the hotel. The one time we had a problem getting our request was because we were checking in quite late to a hotel that had full occupancy so we would have had better luck checking in earlier in the day. The 3 stars at Buffalo are usually the Holiday Inn or Millenium...I just booked the Millenium through Hotwire for $49.

 

[encinc]

I usually use Hotwire but it's the same idea as Priceline.

I've used hotwire before because it is possible to list two adults and two children with hotwire. There's no such option with Priceline. Priceline rates seem to be a fair bit lower these days, so I'm going to give them a try first. Thanks for the suggestions to contact the hotel directly to put in our request.

 

[hockey mom]

I have used priceline about 30 times for my family of 5 and almost always got 2 doubles. Once I got a king so just went back down and asked to switch- no problem. Most of these were in Buffalo.

 

[encinc]

Just got the Millennium for $37 plus taxes and fees (comes to just under $50 USD total). Called and got a friendly reservations clerk who put the request in for 2 Queen beds. We'll see how it goes when we check in. We're not expecting much - just looking for a place to sleep while on a quick shopping trip. I'll update when we're back.

 

[DaniB]

For those using Priceline and Hotwire - has anyone been hit with "additional fees" once you arrive at the hotel?

 

[hockey mom]

Never with priceline.

 

[webworm]

I have used Priceline many times with family of 5 and have never had a problem getting 2 beds with a cot. They often tell you there is an extra charge for the cot but I have never ended up paying it. I think they forget since hotel is charged through priceline. I always call hotel directly after booking to ensure room has 2 beds. I have used the Marriott in Buffalo and Pittsburgh and they did not charge for parking even though I used Priceline and free shuttle to airport.

 

[encinc]

Thanks everyone!

Our stay at the Millenium in Buffalo went just as expected. Checked in with a friendly desk clerk who assured us we had 2 Queen beds. No extra fees. For all the terrible reviews this hotel gets on Tripadvisor, I'd say it wasn't that bad. Maybe I wasn't expecting much at $50 all inclusive, but it was well worth it. I'll definitely do that again!