Priceline... Have you ever been disappointed with your hotel?

[Charade]

I'm really reluctant to try them for fear of getting some flea invested roach motel.

Although I probably wouldn't request anything lower than a 2 or 2 1/2 * room.

 

[hercamore]

I htink I would stick with a 3* room bid, no lower.

I have never done PL in Orlando, but other cities I have not been disappointed.

herc.

 

[chucknjulie]

Try going to www.biddingfortravel.com

That sight will show you which hotels you are apt to get in which star zone and area and has links to reviews for each hotel.

If you actually want thier advice...you will have to do some research and spend some time with it, but the sight is quite a wealth of info and takes most of the mystery out. You also get to see what other posters are bidding for the same places and dates and which bids win and lose.

 

[Belle5]

Having bid on Priceline many times in Orlando I implore you not to bid lower than a 3*. The last 2 1/2 star I landed was rather dismal and did not give us a cheerful vacation feeling. That's putting it nicely. Have fun bidding.

 

[sk!mom]

I have used Priceline for several years and have never been disappointed. I normally bid the highest star level available for the area - that is usually 4* sometimes 5*. We love Priceline because we get to stay at hotels that are much nicer than what we could afford otherwise and we get a bargain rate. I have bid 3* on a few occassions when I wanted a super cheap hotel just off the interstate as we passed through. I was never disappointed on 3* either since my goal was only a clean bed and shower for a quick pit stop. I would never bid lower than 3*. I have not used Priceline for Orlando since we prefer to stay on site, but biddingfortravel is where I would start if I ever decide to.
You will be able to see what others have been bidding and what hotels they have been getting.

 

[BonnieA]

I have gotten a few 3 stars in the WDW area. I have been pleased with them all. I also got a 2 star once (and I only bid because I was pretty confident of what I would get). It was the La Quinta Lakeside and I got it for $22. It was worth the money and more.

 

[Allabtprincesses]

We've only used Priceline for a hotel room once, and were not disappointed. I did read Bidding for Travel before I bid and wouldn't have gone lower then a 2 1/2 or 3.

 

[tbuot]

I am really new to the priceline.com method so this may be a dumb question...when I have looked at the site it says that the rooms accomodate 2 adults. How do I get a room for 2 adults and 2 children. I haven't ever tried to do the priceline thing because I have been afraid of getting a room with just one bed. Any help or clarity would be great!

 

[chucknjulie]

They are only guaranteeing a room that would accomodate 2 adults. The huge majority of hotels have options (1 king, 2 queens, etc)

For a trip to WA D.C., I got a room, and needed a larger one. I got the rm for $66 per night, and when I got there, I had to pay a $30 per night upgrade to accomodate us... the rm ww got was normally $270 per night - it was actually an apartment/suite - very nice. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, but I will always go for the high stars.

 

[kilee]

Definetly stay 3* or above. We've been very pleased w/ the 3*'s. But completely disgusted w/ our one time 2.5*.

 

[Charade]

Ok. Now the question is what's a good price for a 3* in the Kissimmee area?

 

[glo]

under $100 a night. A few years ago I got the Swan for $69 a night, and people were getting the Marriot World center for in the $50's

 

[sk!mom]

The best way that I have found to get a room with two beds when our children are traveling with us is to contact the hotel directly. After my bid is accepted, I contact the hotel and request a room with two beds. Most of the time this is what you would get anyway, but I want to be sure. I've never had a problem with this either.
To decide how much to bid I would check biddingfortravel to see what some successful bids have been. If you have time for several attempts, then I would start low.
I checked biddingfortravel before beginning to bid on an upcoming trip to London. I went ahead and bid very low for a 4* in the area that I wanted thinking that I had months to try rebidding. To my delight my initial low bid was accepted for the hotel I was hoping for. You just never know!

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Thanks for all the great tips! We too are thinking of using Priceline for the weekend nights on our next trip.

 

[tbuot]

Thanks for the info.!!

 

[sweet maxine]

We just had a not-so-good experience at the Wyndham Palace in DTD during December. I would never pay rack rate for this hotel. We paid $62 per night on Priceline, and I think the only thing positive was the location to DTD. I'd say that's about all I would pay TOPS for this hotel. I think it is highly overrated as a resort, and their front desk staff definitely looks down on Priceline customers.

I guess it just depends on where you go and what you get. I probably won't let this one bad experience deter me from using Priceline.

 

[floridagirrl2]

Depending on the time of year--for a 3-star during Value season I wouldn't go higher than about $40 tops because you can usually get a Value Resort (with a discount code) for $49 during Value season. Plus if you stay on site at a Value Resort you get free parking at WDW (subtract 8 bucks right there).

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

We were very disappointed w/Wyndham Orlando (not the Wyndham Palace). The place was gorgeous on the outside and we were happy when we arrived. Then we found our room -- it was the most horrible, dirty, dumpy, little room we have stayed in. Actually had to move to three different rooms before we found one we would stay in. We would have left the property but arrived late at night using a towncar service and felt stranded.

That was our only disappointing experience. We have also been *surprised* a few times by extra charges for parking, resort fees, etc. that we didn't realize were not included in the bid. As suggested, use betterbidding.com or biddingfortravel.com to see what hotels may be available in the category you are bidding on. Call them directly and ask what misc. charges are required at checkout. That way you can adjust your bid accordingly and not have any unpleasant surprises.

 

[aero99]

I got the Sheraton Safari last year and LOVED it. It was a last minute trip and the DVC resorts were sold out. We paid $37/night and had a beautiful room with the new beds and were never treated any different due to being Priceline. (I'm an AP holder so we drove each day since we got free parking, so I can't comment on their shuttle service).

 

[disneychrista]

Yes. I have. The Disneyland area hotel that comes up the most/lowest usually gets you a dirty run down room in what is otherwise a very nice hyatt hotel. I have only used it for Disney trips, so I have no experience in other areas.