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[kmc33]

From what I read on the biddingfortravel.com board, it sounds like a lot of the low bids are when it is getting closer to the date. I don't know if they are people making last minute plans. The advice they give there is to make a reservation that you know you can cancel at a hotel of your choice so that you have a back-up. Personally, I was glad to get the room through Priceline even though it might have been $8 or $10 more than if I waited until closer. If you want to try Priceline, it's never too early to try to bid, to see if a hotel accepts your bid. And if you don't get something within your price goal, then you can continue to try (no sooner than 72 hours later). The biddingfortravel.com site is very useful. The FAQ explains how to make multiple bids without compromising the zone you want (in this case MCO) and the quality level (I would stick with 3* to ensure a nice hotel and free shuttle). And they have a bidding assistance form that you can answer the questions on the form and post it to get help. Since your dates are set, and are spring break time, personally, I wouldn't wait until 3 weeks before. I am not that patient or risk taker. In fact, the room I got for September 3 weeks in advance was a last minute trip.

 

[HLFDZN]

I bid for a hotel in Tampa for February 6th and got a great price even though it was 3 mos out. Perhaps it was because it was not a holiday time or spring break. I am like you Kim, I want to have it all settled. If you do not book something, you will be stuck with a crummy hotel. I studied the biddingfortravel site for days before I placed a bid and it was accepted right away. I bid for a 2 1/2 star since most of the hotels listed on the 2 1/2 star list had breakfast included. I was upgraded to a 3 star hotel and got the Regency Hyatt in Tampa which was 3 minutes from the port. I looked up how much it would be to just book it...internet rates were pre-paid with no refunds and they were $189 a night. Refundable rooms were $200 a night....I bid $39 and was given a free re-bid if I bid $9.00 more. I figured, that is still under $50.00 for the night....I got it for $44.00. I was soo excited!!! I am sold on priceline now. I wil never pay rack rate again!!!!! Melissa

 

[Little Twin Stars]

Melissa: how can I learn more about re-bids?

kmc33: I went to priceline but cannot find where I can learn more about multiple bids?

Million thanks.

 

[kmc33]

My thoughts exactly, Melissa! To make a refundable reservation for even close to the price I paid through priceline would have meant sacrificing quality and possibly being further from the airport. And to make a reservation at one of the 3* hotels that I had a chance of getting through priceline meant paying much more than my priceline bid.

Little Twin Stars, go to Bidding for Travel to learn more about re-bids AND to see a list of Orlando hotels that have come up with winning bids. There are a lot of 'free re-bids' in Orlando if you are going for a 3* hotel. For example, if you bid $28 on a 3* hotel in MCO (one of the many Orlando zones), you cannot bid again until 72 hours passes UNLESS you change one of your parameters (i.e. date or zone or reduce quality level acceptable -- which you really don't want to do since you want a 3* hotel for a specific night at the airport). So, the way around this is to add a zone where the highest quality level available is lower than what you have specified. For example, in the West Disney zone, the highest available hotel is only 2*. Well, priceline can only give you a hotel equal or better than the quality level you have indicated NOT lower. So, even though you are adding West Disney, there are no 3* hotels in West Disney so you still can only get a hotel in the MCO zone. Thus, you can add West Disney and up your bid by a few dollars to re-bid immediately. In order to safely determine your free re-bid zones, go to Priceline and look at each zone for your dates. Select one zone at a time and hit next to see the star levels offered for this zone.

I hope this explanation helps. But, I can't recommend enough to go to Biddingfortravel.com to get a thorough explanation. I would have never gotten up the nerve to try Priceline if I hadn't found the Biddingfortravel site to explain how to bid and to give me an idea of what hotels in a given area are going for on Priceline.

Good Luck!!

 

[Little Twin Stars]

Hi Kim and Melissa,

Thank you so much for your great help. I understand how it works now and will try when it is a bit closer to our departure date.

 

[HLFDZN]

go to www.biddingfortravel.com somewhere in that site is a whole tutorial on free re-bids. This site has helped me greatly in learning how to not waste a bid. They explain everything very well and teach you how to use priceline to your advantage. I am sending you a PM with my email addy.....Melissa

 

[HLFDZN]

I am sorry, I can't send you a PM. If you want more information, pm me with your email addy. Melissa

 

[Little Twin Stars]

Hi Melissa, I can't send you a private message either. Anyway, I am now able to locate the tutorial for rebids at FAQ. I think I should be OK. Many thanks.