priceline veterans, help needed

[elainabelle]

After the last few days of researching this board, it seems like a lot of you use priceline.com to get good deals. I have not used them and am considering it. I need some suggestions and tips.

-We are going to be in San Diego and LA the second week in February, if I go with a 3 star hotel, what is a good bid for each city? I don't want to bid too high, but I also would like to get a room. (or should I go with a 4 star, I will have my 4 and 2 year old and don't want a dive?)

-How soon do you hear back from priceline? I don't want to bid and have them sit on it for too long.

- One thread mentioned that you may get just a 2 person room. I will need a room for 2 adults and 2 kids, any suggestions on how to make sure I don't get locked into a room without enough beds?

Any other tips and suggestions would be great! It sounds like great deals can be found, but I am really nervous just blind bidding!

 

[disneychrista]

I would take a look at biddingfortravel.com it is a great website for doing research. I would refrain from posting there, the mods are quite rude/rough on those who post questions such as yours. Read the FAQ's and then take a look at the winning bids that are being posted for the areas that you are loooking at, this will give you an idea of what is being accepted and where. If you do decide to post there, be sure to following the "bidding request" form that they have in their FAQ's.

You generally "hear back" within minutes.

Priceline will only garentee you a room to accomidate 2 people (in one bed). I have never had a problem with getting two beds though. I simply contact the hotel after recieveing a winning bid and ask for two beds, you can also give them any requests at that time.

Good Luck

 

[JKJK]

Check out biddingfortravel.com It is a wonderful resource for priceline tips and how-tos. As was previously posted, be sure to read the FAQ on hotel room bidding. Also, check out the posted winning bids.....you can learn alot! I have used priceline and have been very satisfied with the results.

 

[Elly]

A lot of people use the posted prices on Hotwire as a guide to help them bid on Priceline. You find out what rooms are going for on Hotwire and then bid slightly lower on Priceline for similar quality. I have heard that Priceline is a bit more conservative on their star ratings than Hotwire though, so it's not an exact science. You might want to consider Hotwire as well if you aren't sure what to bid.

Neither site guarantees more than one bed, but I have only rarely had a problem getting 2 beds. After you win your bid, call the hotel directly and request 2 beds and your smoking/non-smoking preference. If you aren't getting 2 beds, you will know it and can pack some sleeping bags for the kids! I have also had luck when told they didn't have 2 beds available by requesting that I get one should they have a cancellation.

Be careful that you understand all the terms, and that you know what taxes and other charges are or are not included in your price.

 

[MateasMom]

I LOVE biddingfortravel and priceline!!! I just got back yesterday from a 3 day trip to San Diego with my 2 and 4YO daughters! We used priceline and stayed at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla (4 star) for $50 a night!!!! I was a wonderful hotel!!!! We were more than pleased!!!! Parking is pricey ($14 a day) but opted to park on the street, which alot of others seemed to do as well.

If you end up there...there is a WONDERFUL italian restaurant next door called 'Sofias'. It was actually suggested by the hotel concierge when my husband asked if any of the restaurants within the hotel seved a macaroni and cheese that we could get to go (the kids had requested it...the mommy was too tired to go to a sit down restaurant). The concierge called over, asked, and ordered the macaroni, which ended up being SOOOOO ridiculously good! They used 4 different types of cheese and sprinked italian bread crumbs and a bit of ticed tomatos on top. DH and I ended up eating all the leftovers (and the portion was VERY large...so there was lots left over).

 

[c&m]

Hi: I am another fan of Priceline and Biddingfortravel. It's the only way we travel as a family. Like you, we have 2 small kids. We only bid on the highest stars for the location. No need to risk getting a dive, especially with small kids in tow. We've had wonderful rooms every time averaging about $50/night.

Like another poster here, we always call ahead to make sure that we get 2 double/queen beds in non-smoking rooms. And without fail, we always get it. We're going to DL and San Diego in March, and will be bidding again.

Good luck with your trip planning!!!