Priceline Question

[totalia]

I work in hotels. I know that the hotel web site and the hotel itself are not the most reliable way of determining the lowest rate no matter what the web sites say. Sites like Expedia have the lowest rate guarantee by contract. That means that the hotels and their sites cannot offer the lowest rates because they would be breaking the contract and could be subject to a massive suit. The only exceptions are group reservations and even then, it's only occasionally with few rooms.

So my question is, I've been reading up on priceline and their rates. But I don't know what to bid for what level of stars.

I will not bid below 3 stars.

What kind of rates can you be expected to win at? What kind of bids should I make? What bids should I start at for each level?

Well ok, maybe it was more than one question.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[TracyK]

You'll find all your answers on a wonderful website. Please read as much as you can before bidding. I have had great deals with Priceline but I've researched well.
www.biddingfortravel.com

Good luck

Tracy

 

[totalia]

I looked there. They just keep saying to look at the hotels web sites for the lowest available rate. It doesn't help much since I know that isn't the lowest available rate.

My fiance works for a hotel company that can get rates at $60 a night for the Best Western (during the off season) which is much lower than any of the lowest rates I've seen anywhere.

However, I'm thinking that we can still get lower than that with priceline but I can't find anywhere that suggests how much to bid.

 

[robinb]

I looked there. They just keep saying to look at the hotels web sites for the lowest available rate. It doesn't help much since I know that isn't the lowest available rate.

It is the lowest website for BFT purposes and it's a good way to compare rates. You need to compare apples to apples. Comparing a consolidator rate (like Expedia) at one hotel with a AAA rate at another doesn't work. Also, you can't use Federal Employee rates because the idea is that you use the cheapest rate available to anyone, not just a few people. If you want Sheryl (or one of her moderators) to help you, then you have to play the game her way. Looking up the rates takes no time at all since all the links are there on BFT. I usually make a spreadsheet with everything I need.

 

[d4est]

I looked there. They just keep saying to look at the hotels web sites for the lowest available rate. It doesn't help much since I know that isn't the lowest available rate.

My fiance works for a hotel company that can get rates at $60 a night for the Best Western (during the off season) which is much lower than any of the lowest rates I've seen anywhere.

However, I'm thinking that we can still get lower than that with priceline but I can't find anywhere that suggests how much to bid.

The reason you can't find "anywhere that suggests how much to bid" is because there isn't a place. If you follow the guidelines for bidding help, you will get "suggestions" for when and how often to bid/rebid, how much to start your bid at and a reasonable limit for your bidding. It can be a bit confusing, but I used biddingfortravel last year, followed their instructions and got an awesome resort for 83/night...a price we were VERY happy with for the beautiful resort we got.

If you are patient and go through the steps, you should be pleased. Good luck!

 

[DianeV]

You can also check www.betterbidding.com for info -

If you read both sites you should be able to see what hotels people are getting for what dates and for how much. That can give you a good idea of what you could expect to get and at what price

 

[robinb]

Here is the bidding FAQ for hotels:
http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelineandexpediabiddinghotels.showMessage?topicID=2.topic

Here is the Bidding Assistance Form:
http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelineandexpediabiddinghotels.showMessage?topicID=9.topic

If you fill out the form entirely and post it to the appropriate state/city board Sheryl or one of the mods will suggest a bidding strategy complete with opening bids and bidding increments.

I like www.betterbidding.com for Hotwire.

 

[totalia]

Thank you very much for your help.

 

[jdm]

totalia-

If you go through the website thoroughly, you will see the winning bids people have been getting. That will give you a very good idea of what hotels are going for how much$$. Go to the Florida hotel section, (WDW area), look at the hotel lists. This will list the hotels that frequently come up. Then look at all the winning bids. This website can be very confusing for the firsttimer but it has a WEALTH of information. I personally wouldn't play the "priceline" game without it. I have gotten incredible rates through Priceline. I wouldn't go any other way, especially if there are only 2 of you.

HTH
Jenn

 

[totalia]

Thank you. I'm going to spend more time going through both of the sites that were suggested and see if I was just missing something.

 

[yecats]

I have posted winning bids on biddingfortravel.com. I've won WDWvicinity resort level for DTD Hilton and Wyndham for $60-$72 a night back in 2003 for November stay. That was the average price that most were coming out with. Priceline's bids are usually cheaper than Hotwire's bids but with Priceline you won't know which hotel you've won until the bid has been accepted (no turning back at that point). With Hotwire, you can bid and may be able to figure out what hotel is coming up by the amentities list they provide but you'll generally pay $10 or more a night by bidding on Hotwire but you may know what hotel you'll get before they official state it.

In 2002, I bid on a 3* in WDW vicinity for $40 or $42 a night and ended up in Kississimmee right behind AK. The hotel was convenient to get on property and not a bad hotel but did lack the Disney fun aspect.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

I got an awesome rate of $70 a night for the Dolphin on Priceline last year. I bid in January "04 for dates in June '04 because I saw other bidders posting at Bidding for travel that they won the Dolphin for that great price - I knew I was taking a chance that I might not get the Dolphin but was excited when we did. Unfortunately I haven't seen the Dolphin come up on Priceline since then.