Pirceline NYOP or Hotwire how does this work?

[Mkrop]

Dh and I want to take the kids away this weekend to either Knoebles (small park in PA) or Busch Gardens in VA.

I would love to save some money on this trip since DH's car died and tuitions are due this month.

Anyway I was playing around, Hotwire does not even acknowledge the Knoebles area but Priceline does but it is only 2 star hotels but when looking it looks like only a few qualify anyway.

Now Willimiamsburg seems a whole different story, it is so big that I am not sure how to go about this, they do offer 3 star places.

How do you do this, have your ever regretted taking the plunge? I dont if I am a too nervous a person for this.

Thanks for any insight and or help!

 

[Hedy]

We were not 100% sure about Hotwire, but we've used it 3x (on Long Island, Stamford and NYC) and been very happy. Just be sure (I'm presuming you're all sharing a room) you call to reserve a room with 3 beds.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

well, one huge advantage of Hotwire over Priceline is that you can specify a room for 4 people. Priceline will only guarantee a room for 2 people/1 bed and then you are at the mercy of the hotel to let you have a room with 2 beds. Priceline NYOP usually has a minimum cheaper rate that Hotwire however.

Both of them -- you specify the star level and general area of the hotel and then they reveal the exact name of the hotel after you pay, and the payment is non-refundable if you don't like what you ended up with.

There are two sites

http://www.betterbidding.com and http://www.biddingfortravel.com

which are devoted to helping you try to "guess" at what the hotel listings are and also help you with the bidding process on Priceline. If you use these sites to help you, it is courteous to book thru their links...they will then earn a small commission on your purchase.

I always look at Priceline bidding as kind of an adventure. If you are the type of person that gets hives from problems or things not working out the way you exactly planned it --- I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[autumnbaby9]

I have only used Hotwire once but it turned out great. We were going to San Diego and the cheapest place I could find was $60-70 a night. Hotwore got me a decent place for $35.

Nothing fancy, it was one of the long term places so we didn't get daily maid service, but it was clean and had a full kitchen.

If you are the type to freak out over little things then I wouldn't suggest either. If you are like me and only reguire a clean room, decent bed and a shower you should be fine.

 

[Mkrop]

well DH said to give it a try and so I booked on Hotwire for 136/night for 3 star hotel. Well I find out it is a Holiday Inn Patriot in Williamsburg. Ok so I go onto to Tarvelocity and they give it 3 stars as well but the customer reviews stink plus they only wanted 125/night. WTH??? So now I am worried sick, I have been crying and have been sick all night, didnt sleep a wink, that I ruiend our trip by booking this crappy room. I called Hotwire about the price and I am being refunded Double the Difference but this stinks. How can these place be 3 star if the customers dont like them?????

 

[Cindy B]

First off, remember how subjective reviews are. I take most of the hotel reviews I read online (and this includes the DIS) with a grain of salt.

We laugh at some peoples complaints such as "The ramshackle boat from POR to DTD was so loud-- I thought it would be quieter." to "My turndown was at 10:03 when I requested 10 pm".. those are what I call a "high maintenance complaint".

Some people vent at reviews. I think unless its valid (hotel safety, functional equipment, poor service are my valid points) I really don't read too much into reviews. If you notice most times the poor reviews don't really have to do with the hotel--its the highway next to the hotel, or some other external factor.

I've used priceline a bunch (just used it this week for a stay in Savannah next month) and it doesn't scare me. Only once have we as a family of four had a problem with bed size and that hotel quickly made up for it.

As for Knoebels--I've been there and its a very remote rural area. You will not find any hotels that aren't independent mom and pop motels anywhere nearby. You will have to drive about 20-30 minutes to "civlization" and national motel chains. It would be very risky to do any Knoebels type reservations online wth Priceline.

There's nothing to worry about.. it's just a hotel room. It's really not worth being that stressed over. Granted, I've gotten stressed over my onsite reservations sometimes and I keep on going back to this thought-- "It's vacation.. and I'm not at work.. it will be fine"

 

[autumnbaby9]

I wouldn't worry about it too much until you get there. The reviews seem to be on all ends of the spectrum on tripadvisor.com, you never know you may have a great experience. No point in giving yourself an ulser until you have too.

Go prepared:

have a couple of alternative hotel/motels (assuming the budget can accomidate the change) that you can call if this one is totally awful.

If it is only somewhat bad you can plan to spend alot of time away from the hotel, have extra activities you can fit in so you only have to go back at night to sleep.

 

[Mkrop]

Thanks.

Too funny DH just got home from work and saw that I was still so upset plus I had a million other things go wrong today (showed up w DS4 for swim lesson they cancelled, we didnt know, kid threw a fit, had to practically drag him out of there)
So anyway DH just got on Trip Advisor and read some reviews and jokingly called me over and said "this is for your mental health hon, please read we will be fine!" I just read that like 2 minutes ago.

Well here goes nothing, maybe I will get some pixie dust (even though it isnt Disney) and all will be fine!