Priceline for Night Before Hotel - Anyone Ever Had This Happen?

[inkkognito]

Just curious about other people's experiences with Priceline.
I use them all the time to get a hotel for the night before the cruise (we fly in a day early and stay near the hotel, then take Happy Limo over to the port...the hotels generally have free shuttles to pick us up from MCO). I've bid a couple of times for our January 4th cruise, offering $27 to $28 for a two and a half star hotel (I don't like one of the two LaQuintas, so that eliminates them). Thus far, my offer had not been accepted, but today I had an email from Priceline inviting me to bid again, since it had been a while. I did, and my $28 got accepted, plus we were upgraded to a three star hotel (the Marriott, in my favorite area where there are lots of restaurants within walking distance). My question is, did they send me the email because something was available and my bid was likely to be accepted? In all the times I've used them, I've never gotten an email inviting me to bid again till now...just curious if that's a good sign to try again.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[nuke]

That has never happened to me. They must have a good database for information on past bids and if you won or not. They probably got a big allotment for the Marriott and want to unload it.
It's great that you got this hotel for a nice price.

 

[aleishe]

Out of curiousity...I know you book a lot more than I do...what area do you request? Something more than the airport area?

 

[inkkognito]

Nope, we request the airport area only so that we know there will be a shuttle. We have never had trouble getting it through Priceline or at least through Hotwire (although they tend to be a bit more expensive...$33 vs. $28. On Hotwire, it's usually the Amerisuites). With the exception of one of the two LaQuintas (the one that does not have suites), those hotels are all in the same general vicinity, with lots of restaurants around and only a very short drive from MCO.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I think they've been "tweaking" their business model as of late. I used them recently and when my bid wasn't accepted, I was allowed to try again with a new bid price... I didn't have to change any other parameters. In the past, they made you change at least one other bid parameter besides the price... which ruled out my trying again. However the next time I used Priceline, this option was <i><b>not</b></i> available to me. My guess is they're trying to see what works.

 

[inkkognito]

Oooo...I would love that if they would allow changing the price only! I also liked receiving the email. I hate useless spam, but those are the kind of useful, targeted emails that I enjoy.
I suspect it's something else that they're trying out, and as Nuke said, they probably got an allotment of Marriott rooms. I have become a real fan of Priceline, despite those frightening William Shatner commercials. Tony says that I should expect no less from the Priceline Super Computer
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Cruise]

Barb,

I think it really is just a new feature. A kind of "come back again" type thing. I recently put in bids for international airfare and got an email later saying "Since it's been X days, you can bid again" or something like that.

Julie

 

[aleishe]

After the first bid I put in I got a notice that I could bid again if I increased my bid by $12. First time this had ever happened for me.

 

[my3kids]

You were sent the email because you had not gotten a room from the bidding for the January date. If you get the room, which you always have, then no email. If you bid and don't get what you have bid on, then after their window of time has passed, you get the "invitation" email. Their inventory changes daily. I don't think what they had have access to dictates the "invitation" to bid again. You just hit on a good day. Congratulations.

 

[Lisa7mike]

today I had an email from Priceline inviting me to bid again

I had the same thing happen after trying to bid for a car rental for our 12/05/2002 Wonder cruise. Business must be down or a better marketing department?!?

 

[atigeg]

In the past there were times that my bid was not accepted for other trips, but no "invitation" email. We have a few more to get hotel rooms for in 2003 (Feb., March., April, etc.) so I will see what happens for those. I checked the Marriott's website, and they have good really good rates for those dates, even without Priceline. I saved $40 based on their fall saver rates when you figure in tax. The Marriott will be a new one for us via Priceline.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com