I want to use Priceline, but I'm scared!

[PinkRhombus]

Hotwire is the way to go...it tells you the amenities. That betterbidding.com site can help you narrow down what hotel it will be by comparing amenities from prior purchases.

 

[Cynt]

I bid on priceline regularly - 5 to 8 times a year. That's the only way I travel. As someone else mentioned educate yourself before bidding. Definitely check out betterbidding and biddingfortravel and tripadvisor BEFORE you bid.

If you are a scary cat - DO NOT USE PRICELINE!

If you are PICKY and have numerous requests - DO NOT USE PRICELINE!

Star rating - I only bid on 4 star or higher accomodations. This is the best advice I can give. These are usually well known chains.

Resort - some resorts charge an additional $25+ per day charge. So don't bid on these. This additional charge is not included in the priceline total amount. Priceline will not pay these resort charges. So buyer beware when you bid on a resort. My advice - do not bid on a resort. The resorts most likely to charge this resort fee is listed on betterbidding and biddingfortravel.

Smoking - I've never had a problem with this. I always get a nonsmoking room.

$10 - $20 upcharge for two beds - this happened to me once in Seattle. But I didn't have a problem paying the $20 because the room was like $229 and I got it for $50/night. So an additional $20 split in half $10 additional for me and my BFF was not a problem.

The first time bidding is the worst! The anxiety will drive you crazy. After that you will do it all the time.

Please do not expect the most luxurious room with the best view in the hotel. YOU WILL NOT GET THAT ROOM. It will be the room with the worst view most likely but as long as it's a 4 star hotel with the same amenities as the other rooms you should be ok.

As far as front desk attendants - KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS! Smile, compliment, smile, compliment, smile and then ask for your request.

HAPPY BIDDING!!!

O, once you start bidding it will be very difficult to pay rack rate or even booking online rate. It's like an obsession...you will always want the highest star accomodations for pennies on the dollar.

 

[Handbag Lady]

In my opinion, if you have these "must haves" then Priceline is not for you.

I was just going to type the same thing. I am a huge Priceline fan but we are just two people in my family and never have to worry about beds, etc.

Plus, Priceline clearly states it only guarantees bedding for two people per each bid. So, families of four would need to get two rooms. You are only guaranteed one bed (meaning, two people can fit in a queen or king.)

There are tons of exceptions and of course you can request beds and smoking vs. non-smoking and room locations, but those are just that, requests.

That said, I've bid on over 20 rooms with Priceline and only once was disappointed, and even then, I was made satisfied with another night's stay in the same chain to make up for it.

There are a lot of ways to educate yourself on PL, too, to make you feel better before you bid.

 

[alohamom]

I usually use Priceline but I just used Hotwire for last Dec in conjuction with www.betterbidding.com and got the Embassy Suites for 70/night which included the two double beds plus a pull out couch in the seperate sitting area plus complimentary cooked to order breakfast. I did ALOT of research ahead of time and decided that because we were going in Dec the possibility of the weather being cold was a factor. The hotels shown to be won for my time on www.biddingfortravel and ww.betterbidding.com for Priceline didn't always have heated pools so I went with the sure thing(sorta) Hotwire -hope this helps

 

[MrsPete]

I'm planning a road trip this summer and don't need to stay at any particular hotels, but I must have a non-smoking room with 2 beds and prefer a free breakfast.

Should I chance it by going through Priceline to save money?
Have you had good experiences getting your room preferences?

Thanks!

We did a driving trip out West last summer, and we -- a family of four -- used quite a few Priceline hotels. In EVERY situation, it turned out great for us.

Details on our trip:
-- We drove amongst the western national parks, and we stayed in hotels no more than 1-2 nights; thus, we accepted that some would be great and others not-so-great. If we were going to stay in one place for a whole week, I probably wouldn't risk it. The only loser hotel we stayed in the whole time was a non-Priceline choice.
-- We did great with Priceline hotels in larger cities, but it was a bust in rural areas (Cortez, CO; Keystone, SD). We figure that there's so little competition in those tiny places that they don't bother with Priceline; we never won a Priceline hotel in those spots.
-- I found great advice on BiddingForTravel.com and BetterBidding.com -- almost always, my winning bid was for a hotel that was mentioned on these websites.
-- Every time I "won" a site, I immediately called the hotel directly and nicely asked them to slate us for two doubles. They ALWAYS did it.

At this point, we've had such success with Priceline that I figure it's like eBay: I've had many, many positive experiences . . . if at any point I end up with a loser, I'm going to just write off that reservation, go spend money somewhere else, and figure that I had a bad one coming to me. And then I'll go right back to Priceline for my next purchase.

 

[MrsPete]

It is rare we have gotten free breakfast but that is because I usually bid 3, 4 or 5 star and those places don't usualy include it.

I've had breakfast quite a few times, but it's because I tend to bid 2.5 stars. That includes chains like Holiday Inn Express and Country Inns & Suites -- and that level of hotel tends to offer breakfast. I bid this way specifically to increase my chances of getting a breakfast, and I've always been very pleased. Right now there are MANY brand-new hotels out there in the 2.5 sta range.

Resort - some resorts charge an additional $25+ per day charge. So don't bid on these. This additional charge is not included in the priceline total amount. Priceline will not pay these resort charges. So buyer beware when you bid on a resort. My advice - do not bid on a resort. The resorts most likely to charge this resort fee is listed on betterbidding and biddingfortravel.

A related topic: The only time I've been moderately displeased with Priceline was in New Orleans. We "won" the Marriott, which was a wonderful hotel one block outside the French Quarter, and it was quite a steal at $60/night. What I didn't like was that once we arrived we were hit with a parking fee. Like I always do, I had called the hotel as soon as I "won" the bid to verify that everything was good, and they should've mentioned it to me then. I didn't like being blindsided with it. It's been a couple years, and I can't remember exactly, but it wasn't low. I'm thinking it was $20 or $25/night.

Please do not expect the most luxurious room with the best view in the hotel. YOU WILL NOT GET THAT ROOM. It will be the room with the worst view most likely but as long as it's a 4 star hotel with the same amenities as the other rooms you should be ok.

This is true. The Priceline rooms tend to be those near the elevators, those with a view obstructed by the logo sign, or those that're a long walk from the pool. Considering we usually pay about half the rack rate, this is FINE with us.

 

[snoodledoo]

OK, I'm convinced...Priceline is not for me. I've done a little bit of research on those sites with lots more to come. Thanks for the input!!

 

[daleswife]

We used priceline just last thrusday. I got a room at the marriott for two nights for $58 a night including taxes and fees. The particular Marriott we stayed at is about $200 a night. So to get two nights for less than one night was a great deal for us. Just be careful what area you pick and make sure your star rating you pick is where you want it to be and start out low. All they can say is no. Then gradually move up in price until one hotel accepts your offer. Good luck!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Another co-worker booked a deal on the Vegas strip several years ago, "won" a junk room at the Boardwalk (now imploded). It was a horrible room and should not have even been on the site .. below 2 stars, below ANY stars.

Las Vegas is probably the one place where it not only isn't necessary to use Priceline (except for maybe the five-star resorts) but probably downright cheaper to just book directly. If you know anyone going in the future, have them check the travel forums at fatwallet.com. TONS of advice.

 

[swilshire]

Hotwire is the way to go...it tells you the amenities.

I agree. I'd rather pay a bit more and get the amenities I want. I prefer Residence Inn / Homewood Suite type places even for short stays.

Sheila

 

[SamiL]

I've used Priceline twice--for a past reservation and then for an upcoming reservation.

I agree that you should check out http://betterbidding.com
It gives you an idea of what hotels you might get as well as an idea of where to start your bid and techniques to get the best price.

I also think if you're nervous it might help to try it for a short weekend getaway before you use it to plan a big cross-country trip.

I will say that both time I've used Priceline I got a rate so cheap that if I had had to purchase two rooms it would have been cheaper than the cheapest reservation from the hotels website.

On our past reservation I called the hotel and asked for a king bed (it was just my husband and I). They noted the request and did say I could pay the difference for an upgrade to a jr. suite to guarantee a king If I'd like (still much cheaper than the cheapest website rate). We ended up getting an accessible king, for no additional charge, which we were happy with.

 

[ceecee]

I've used it several times. I agree, if you have must haves call and book directly with the hotel, I got a great deal at the Radison doing that (they had the cheapest parking) I asked if they had any specials.
We got a really great room once but parking was $30 (in a city where it's usually $10 or less). We wanted a pool once too and got one without so it is a gamble.

 

[MrsPete]

I agree. I'd rather pay a bit more and get the amenities I want. I prefer Residence Inn / Homewood Suite type places even for short stays.

Sheila

I've won those multiple times. You need to bid in the 2.5 range.

 

[Leajess99]

I agree. I'd rather pay a bit more and get the amenities I want. I prefer Residence Inn / Homewood Suite type places even for short stays.

Sheila

We are staying at a Residence Inn in a 2 bedroom suite for $74 a night in the St Louis area. The reason we got a $189 a night room for so cheap is because I found the rate at $99 on travelocity and booked the room on the Marriott site. On the Marriott site you have 24 hours after booking to file a Lowest price guarantee claim form. They gave me the lowest price ($99) plus 25% off that. So I get the low rate and still get my points from marriott and know all of the amenties that I wanted to have are there.

I have had one experience with Priceline and no way will I use them again. We ended up in Downtown Columbus at a Double Tree and while it was a nice room it was not clean and Priceline was not interested in hearing about the cleanliness. Not even a month later I found a charge on my card from Priceline for another hotel. I had to dispute that one and they closed that card and sent me a new one. I have not been back since. I have read many reviews by people complaining of their experience so it is not for me.