Priceline Bids/results

[ruadisneyfan2]

Its probably the Best Western Lakeside - but I would register on betterbidding.com & make a post on that site to make sure. I don't think having a 1 year old would cause a problem of having more than 4 in a room - but you could call Hotwire customer service to make sure it is not a problem. Since people have different standards with hotels, its hard to say. I usually feel comfortable bidding anything 3* or above on either Hotwire or Priceline. I usually check the hotel lists on Priceline and Hotwire on betterbidding.com for the area I am interested & make sure that I am comfortable with all the hotels listed in that area for the star level I want. If not, I will look at the next star level up or possibly a different zone. Even with this check, there is not absolute certainity you will get a hotel from that list - a hotel may have just started to use the service or a star rating of hotel could have recently changed up or down. Now if I was pretty certain I could identify the hotel on Hotwire, I would purchase a 2-1/2* or 2* on Hotwire.

My guess is that HW would tell pp you can't have 5 guests in a room, period, as that would be their 'required' response. Also the hotel may say due to fire code regulations you can't have 5 in a room.
Do people do it? yes. Would I? With a 1 y.o., probably.
If pp wants to be 100% honest and reveal 3 kids, they would tell her to get 2 rooms but then hotel wouldn't guarantee connecting rooms via HW either.

 

[emh1129]

I went to the link posted above (for hotwire) and had trouble matching a few up.
Does this one look familiar to anyone?

3* Lake Buena Vista-Downtown Disney condo-
condo, resort, 1 bedroom suite, fully equipped kitchen, free parking, AC, children's activities, fitness center.
(recommended in 80%)

Edited to add: nevermind, finally found it! Blue Tree Resort.. off to look it up.

 

[momofsamandeden]

I just got the Regal Sun for 56 dollars may 11-18! Way cheaper than disney and even cheaper than Windsor Hills so my trip total is 700 air on priceline, 184.94 for midsize Hertz on Hotwire, and 455 plus resort fee for Regal Sun. All that I have left is disney tickets and I think I can stay within my 2000 budget!

 

[emh1129]

I just got the Regal Sun for 56 dollars may 11-18! Way cheaper than disney and even cheaper than Windsor Hills so my trip total is 700 air on priceline, 184.94 for midsize Hertz on Hotwire, and 455 plus resort fee for Regal Sun. All that I have left is disney tickets and I think I can stay within my 2000 budget!

Congratulations! Keep us posted.. I like to hear how other DISers are keeping to budget!

 

[momofsamandeden]

I think the real test will be how bad that hotel is. I told dh we are taking an "insurance" in case the place is deplorable. I got a hotel on priceline last year that was so bad I walked into the room and walked back to my car, to a mcdonalds with wireless and booked on hotwire a much better hotel!

 

[emh1129]

I think the real test will be how bad that hotel is. I told dh we are taking an "insurance" in case the place is deplorable. I got a hotel on priceline last year that was so bad I walked into the room and walked back to my car, to a mcdonalds with wireless and booked on hotwire a much better hotel!

It actually gets pretty good reviews on trip advisor.. lots of mixed ones, but on the whole there are more good reviews than not. I think the only thing to be prepared for is the parking & resort fee- $15 per day, I guess? (but you already mentioned that).

 

[momofsamandeden]

I actually canceled my trip on Priceline and did it with no fees after I let the priceline rep listen to the three voice-mails I got from the hotel staff regarding a crib in the room. These people are not friendly there that is for sure so there was no way I was chancing it!

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

We spent one night over President's Day weekend at the Extended Stay Deluxe Lake Buena Vista on palm parkway. Won it for $25 bid + $10 in taxes and fees on Priceline, 2 stars in the "Lake Buena Vista - Downtown Disney" area. This was my first Priceline experience and I was thrilled!

 

[MomofKatie]

We spent one night over President's Day weekend at the Extended Stay Deluxe Lake Buena Vista on palm parkway. Won it for $25 bid + $10 in taxes and fees on Priceline, 2 stars in the "Lake Buena Vista - Downtown Disney" area. This was my first Priceline experience and I was thrilled!

We stayed there in May 2008- got it on Hotwire for $32/night, I believe. We really enjoyed the hotel.

 

[momofsamandeden]

I ended up getting Sheraton Vistana Villages for 69 a night on hotwire tonight and I am much happier with that choice and it cost us less than if we had stayed on one room at the Regal. I was just way too nervous about the reviews of that hotel!

 

[emh1129]

I've been looking at the betterbidding list of Priceline hotels and the categories, trying to decide which zones and which categories I'd want to book in.
I decided to give it a try and we got the Best Western Orlando Gateway for $50. I think I'm happy with it.. looked ok on TripAdvisor.

Have any of you been there?

 

[erwende]

Last minute bid for resort at 80 $$ I got the Hyatt Grand Cypress for one night. Lowest rate online with AAA was 170$. Was just happy that I didn't get Hilton DTD!

 

[momofsamandeden]

After my experience with Priceline I am terrified to bid in Orlando! I think I will do four star and nothing less from now on with them. I think the Best Western is a good choice and great price and the Hyatt is fantastic!

 

[taliategan]

After my experience with Priceline I am terrified to bid in Orlando! I think I will do four star and nothing less from now on with them. I think the Best Western is a good choice and great price and the Hyatt is fantastic!

I use Priceline and Hotwire frequently, but I always research the area first before getting a hotel from either service. For Priceline, I'll check the list of reported hotels on a site like betterbidding. I will pick a star rating and bidding zone in that area based upon the reported hotels. If there is hotel in a zone I do not like, I will either move up a star rating or look at a different bidding zone. If it is an area where there is not a lot reported hotels, I will move up a 1/2* to a 1* from the star rating I would normally bid before I make the bid. Once I get to the hotel, I take the attitude that I probably paid less for my room than anybody else that is staying in the hotel. I do not expect to be given a great room, have any requests honored or receive any extra service. I am just grateful that I was able to get a good deal on the room. I have not had any bad experiences with Priceline or Hotwire, but I am sure at some point I will. I do not think Priceline and Hotwire are for everybody. I would not recommend them to people that expect a lot of service from the hotel or are very picky about the hotels they like to stay.

 

[rebecca06261]

what's this? can anybody discuss this in plain and simple...

Discuss what, in particular?

 

[NorweJenNY]

I just got Embassy Suites for a $59 bid on Priceline!

I checked betterbidding.com and found that the most recent 3.5* bid (within the last week or two, I believe) in the Downtown Disney/Lake Buena Vista area was $59 for this resort. That winning bidder got several responses of "wow, that's a great deal."

So I hoped for Embassy Suites, but I checked the list of past 3.5* resorts in this area, and I decided I'd be happy with any of them, so I went ahead and made my first ever Priceline bid - 3.5* DTD/LBV for $59, and it was accepted! It's for one week from now - Friday, April 2 for one night.

After taxes and fees, it came to about $74. The cheapest rate I could find from a TripAdvisor search of various discount sites was in the $170's. So I'm happy!

And apparently this includes "complimentary breakfast made-to-order" as well as some complimentary evening drinks and snacks (not that I care, but others might like to know that alcohol is included in those complimentary drinks).

 

[emh1129]

I just got Embassy Suites for a $59 bid on Priceline!

I checked betterbidding.com and found that the most recent 3.5* bid (within the last week or two, I believe) in the Downtown Disney/Lake Buena Vista area was $59 for this resort. That winning bidder got several responses of "wow, that's a great deal."

So I hoped for Embassy Suites, but I checked the list of past 3.5* resorts in this area, and I decided I'd be happy with any of them, so I went ahead and made my first ever Priceline bid - 3.5* DTD/LBV for $59, and it was accepted! It's for one week from now - Friday, April 2 for one night.

After taxes and fees, it came to about $74. The cheapest rate I could find from a TripAdvisor search of various discount sites was in the $170's. So I'm happy!

And apparently this includes "complimentary breakfast made-to-order" as well as some complimentary evening drinks and snacks (not that I care, but others might like to know that alcohol is included in those complimentary drinks).

That sounds like a great deal! Congrats! Be sure to come back and let us know how it was

 

[rebecca06261]

I've gotten Embassy Suites 3 times in the past 6 mo using Hotwire. It's fantastic

 

[NorweJenNY]

I've gotten Embassy Suites 3 times in the past 6 mo using Hotwire. It's fantastic

Interesting... what types of bids have you placed? And did you get Embassy everytime you bid, or did you get anything else as well? (Not sure how many times you traveled.)

 

[rebecca06261]

^I only use Hotwire. I don't have the patience to use priceline. I'm a frequent traveler to LBV (once a month.)