How much do I bid on Priceline?

[SpaceAce]

How much do I bid on Priceline?
Specifically, if you enter a dollar amount that is low, it says, "based on recent data, your price has only a small chance of being accepted."
Once you reach a dollar amount high enough, that sentence goes away. So, some simple entering of numbers, going up by 1, each time, reveals that you are now high enough not to get the warning - please let me call this amount the "set point."

So...how close should I get to the set point...should I go right at it? Do they put the set point too high so that they get more profit? should i count on getting a hotel deal at any amount higher than set point?

Thanks!

 

[rdsx28]

HI, you may want to check out Bidding for travel.com they offer some help on bidding. Good Luck!

 

[seashoreCM]

Find out what similar flights or hotel rooms or whatever are going for on deepest discounts.

Then bid insultingly relative to that.

This way, if you run into resort fees or other things that are not included, you will still be below the nearest walk up prices.

Ignore the sentence "Based on ... small chance". They're just trying to tease you into bidding higher.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[tinaluis]

Are you bidding on a rental car, airfare or hotel room? When I bid on a rental car, I check for the lowest rate that I can get using the various discounts listed on mousesavers.com and make a cancelable reservation (usually thru Alamo). Then I bid $14 a day for a mid-size up to $20 a day for an SUV on Priceline up to the time of my trip. If my bids are rejected, I still have the backup reservation at Alamo, but if they're accepted I can save a few $$$. Priceline will always give you a final screen that includes taxes and fees before you bid, so you have to compare the two. I will only do Priceline if I can save at least $25 because I may get an off-site car rental counter.

Also, I second the recommendation of www.biddingfortravel.com for hotel room information.

Finally, I've never had any luck with Priceline for airfares. Too many variables for me. We've always been lucky and gotten direct flights through SWA so I don't want to chance a connecting flight with Priceline.