Ok, hijacking this thread, but I really liked the idea someone in the "Vacation Home Scams" thread made about starting a sticky thread with people posting where they stayed and had good management/owner service and the house was great, etc. It would really help to have all the "been there loved it" in one place as I (and others) try to get up the nerve to rent a home sight unseen from a stranger!
I have seen several priceline threads recently, so I think its a great idea. I have never used them for Orlando, but have used them for the airports and many weekend getaways with great results.
I often use Priceline for stays near MCO on our late evening arrivals. I would be happy to share my bids, especially if it would help others get over a fear of using Priceline, and to help families save some money.
There is a review board- and we get a lot of reviews for condo's and rental homes. The board a lot of people wanted was an outright referral board- and that has some grey area's. It's in the question, but I don't know where we'll go w/ it right now.
So, for the time being we'll stick w/ just priceline.
I strongly suggest the first post in the sticky be a warning. Last year a few of the value resorts came up and some posters weren't happy when they got a different All Star then the one they were hoping for.
PL guarantees double occupancy, one bed qualifies. Although the vast majority of rooms in Orlando give 2 beds a guest that winds up with a K bedded room doesn't have any recourse. This is more of a problem in cities like NYC where some rooms have one double bed without room for an air mattress.
Many people are used to non-refundable, non-changeable airfare which can be changed if the passenger pays a change fee. PL really means it.
also make sure you don't pay more with priceline that you would going to the website of the company.
which you can in rental cars and sometimes in hotel rooms.
don't use priceline for airlines - fly SW and so far I haven't seem evidence that Priceline can be less than SW - flying from my area.
I agreed about Priceline when you bid for something. It is you get to see what you brought after your brought it. If anyone is uncomfortable with this - don't go with priceline.
but I think the big problem last time was not getting the Disney's All star - but instead Holiday Inn West (was 3 stars) which have converted to Home Suite home (not even 1 star). Holiday Inn neglected to tell priceline this information. This became such a problem that Holiday Inn had to take back the West and gave to Home suites the Holiday Inn along us 192 - Nikki Bird.
I think that before taking the priceline plunge- research really needs to be done. In no way shape or form will we have the vast database that biddingfortravel has, but it might be a more approachable forum. One where potetential bidders can start to gather some info on what others are getting.