priceline bids

[jilld11]

Just wondering if anyone has used priceline or hotwire for bidding for one bedrooms suites. I haven`t been able to find that as a condition or choice for the selections. Am I missing somethingÉ
Thanks,

 

[nsiordia]

Just wondering if anyone has used priceline or hotwire for bidding for one bedrooms suites. I haven`t been able to find that as a condition or choice for the selections. Am I missing somethingÉ
Thanks,

Nope, I've never seen that option. I was lucky and won the Marriott Suites twice, but I think that was pure luck.

Have you looked at the betterbidding website?

 

[Astylla]

Just as a heads up - with most of those "Third party" sites , you are usually NOT guaranteed a type , it's basically the hotel sells the rooms to priceline , hotwire , etc , and you are buying the room from them NOT the hotel anymore. So basically whatever is left , you get. So it can be very difficult to find exactly the type you are looking for. I know the prices are tempting but just a word of caution.

 

[Lissame]

And to piggyback on that...they only guarantee you a room that will sleep two people. I know many people have been able to get this changed to a room with two beds, but you run the risk of getting a room with only one bed. If you're going during any halfway busy season (ie summer) I wouldn't risk it.

 

[Huff]

Hotwire will guarantee you a room for 4 people. You know the price up front but not the hotel. Generally this price is higher than what you'd get on Priceline which guarantees only a room for 2. However, the hotwire price can be much lower than rack.

We have our own car and would rather save money by staying off-site a few miles away. We've been staying at the Radission Suites near Knotts 5 miles from DLR. Its on Hotwire quite often and while hotwire doesn't list the hotel names it does say Suite in the ammenities and the Radisson is the only Suite hotel in the area. When it does show up on hotwire we get it for $65-$75, about 1/2 of rack for a 2 bedroom suite with 2 queens in one room and a sleeper sofa in the 2nd room. Also included is free hot breakfast buffet and free parking.

The resorts along south Harbor we've gotten on Priceline for $45-$65. This has included Hilton, Red Lion and Crowne Plaza. All very nice resorts but all charge about $15/day parking. Red Lion and Hilton are close enough to walk to the Toy Story lot for free bus to DLR.

 

[Astylla]

Hotwire will guarantee you a room for 4 people. You know the price up front but not the hotel. Generally this price is higher than what you'd get on Priceline which guarantees only a room for 2. However, the hotwire price can be much lower than rack.

I can only speak for my hotel alone but this is how it works for us. Our max occupancy in ANY room is 4 people total. This is often confused however with bed type. At our property we have either 2 double beds or 1 kind bed - no suites and all rooms are the same. Either room type can fit 4 people , so when Hotwire reservations come in , yes they are being truthful by guaranteeing it for 4 people HOWEVER , that does not mean it automatically translates into a room with 2 double beds. It could be a single king bed - but the room itself still can hold 4 people , hence the need to call the specific property itself and ASK about it. I have nothing against using third party at all , just people often get upset at us at the front desk when they don't get what they were expecting. Also a request and a guarantee does not always translate. While Hotwire , Priceline , etc may guarantee something that does not mean the hotel can or will accommodate that same "guarantee". Some properties have different rules so when it doubt call the hotel itself to make sure. Just be prepared and ask lots of questions.

 

[nsiordia]

I have always been able to get 2 beds *but* I do go in bidding knowing I may not be able to get 2 beds and I am ok with that.

I think it is a gamble to use priceline but I never, ever bid below 3 stars and have always liked all the hotels I have stayed at and have never had any problems.

For now though I have settled for HOJO AP rates (although I really wish they would upgrade those TV's!, Yes I do watch TV while I stay there as my youngest is done at DL/DCA by 8:00 and I stay in the hotel room with him while the rest stay at DL). I've been very happy with HOJO but may look into the hotel by Knotts, sounds like it is worth it!!

 

[Huff]

Our max occupancy in ANY room is 4 people total. This is often confused however with bed type. At our property we have either 2 double beds or 1 kind bed - no suites and all rooms are the same. Either room type can fit 4 people , so when Hotwire reservations come in , yes they are being truthful by guaranteeing it for 4 people

I think it is reasonable for people who use Hotwire and select 4 adults that they will get at least 2 beds whether 2 doubles/queens or use of a sleeper sofa or rollaway. I think its misleading to such people when they get 1 king and nothing more.

 

[mpalmieri1203]

If you have any preference at all in regard to your trip you basically sacrifice thT using Priceline. I was debati using it for our upcoming Christmas trip but I'm scared I'll get stuck last row on an Alaskan flight and I don't really want stop overs. Better to just pay outright for what you want you'll end up happier at least that's what I'm going with!

 

[Astylla]

I think it is reasonable for people who use Hotwire and select 4 adults that they will get at least 2 beds whether 2 doubles/queens or use of a sleeper sofa or rollaway. I think its misleading to such people when they get 1 king and nothing more.

While I understand and agree with this , this isn't always feasible hence my warning. In a perfect world all requests by all guests would be honored. I'll use this weekend at our hotel as an example - we are completely sold out of of all rooms. We have contracted groups through sales that signed a contract guaranteeing them double beds - taking up over 90% of our inventory. With that said that other 10% still needs to be sold - and unfortunately it's all up for availability to whats left. We always offer a rollaway bed for a king room for those requesting a double bed room if it's available ( we only have 20ish but try to borrow more during peak weekend times as we are primarily a business hotel) It's very hard to balance everything - unfortunately we have to prioritize things. Third party , for us , get last priority. It's not personal it's just how things are.

The hotel business is a tricky one and it's the ultimate juggling act.

 

[Huff]

If you have any preference at all in regard to your trip you basically sacrifice thT using Priceline. I was debati using it for our upcoming Christmas trip but I'm scared I'll get stuck last row on an Alaskan flight and I don't really want stop overs. Better to just pay outright for what you want you'll end up happier at least that's what I'm going with!

Thats true for airfare. I dont want a red eye flight with 2 stops and long lay over no matter what the price. But with hotels its fairly easy to know which hotels you're likely to get using Priceline. The biggest advice I can say is to NEVER pay full rack rate for a hotel unless you must have a particular one and don't mind the cost. There are too many ways to find a nice place lower than rack.

 

[Huff]

Third party , for us , get last priority. It's not personal it's just how things are.

The hotel business is a tricky one and it's the ultimate juggling act.

Thats easy to solve. Do not list rooms for 4 adults on Hotwire or elsewhere when you have none for them available. Many times I have used hotwire and noticed hotels drop off the list when changing from 2 to 4 people when other days those same hotels are available for both.

 

[Astylla]

Thats easy to solve. Do not list rooms for 4 adults on Hotwire or elsewhere when you have none for them available. Many times I have used hotwire and noticed hotels drop off the list when changing from 2 to 4 people when other days those same hotels are available for both.

I don't disagree with you trust me..sadly those of us working the front desk have zero input on these things..if only. It's one of those things out of our hands , we just get stuck being the "bad guys". I just was offering personal experience as advice and a guideline of complications that *might* happen because I truly would hate for anyone to have their trip ruined or start on a frustrating note because their pre determined expectations or requests for whatever reason could not be met. It's why I just suggest with ANY reservation asking questions to the hotel directly. Including if they charge a security deposit or hold which many people come into not prepared for. It should be clear that the above doesn't just apply to third party reservations either.

 

[jilld11]

I think people do misunderstand requests vs. guarantees. As a travel agent, when we book hotels with a tour operator, we say all requests are on requests. If everyone requested a king bed or certain floor, obviously that can`t be accommodated. I think people have to realize this with hotwire or priceline. I just thought there might be an option to search or bid only on one bedroom suites, but if there`s not, then I `won`t use them. I no longer want to stay in the same room as my kids.lol. Love them, but I want my own space. If it`s just me and hubby, i would chance it.

 

[Astylla]

I think you are right , along with others when they say there is a way to search for types and number of people , and in that case that would definitely help narrow the choices down. I think the key to that is making sure the person booking makes sure to account for the correct number of people also. I know I have been guilty in the past of forgetting to change the number of people from the default "1" to "4" when planning trips and though an honest mistake and we lucked out with a large room , it could have been an issue lol.