Priceline

[Hillary329]

As anyone ever used Priceline and purchased nights at an unnamed hotel? I am tempted to try it but it makes me nervous! Any feedback would be great!

 

[JavArmy]

As anyone ever used Priceline and purchased nights at an unnamed hotel? I am tempted to try it but it makes me nervous! Any feedback would be great!

We did it when we were in Chicago. It was just me and my husband, I think we could pick the area and how many stars we wanted. It turned out pretty good. We stayed at the Whitehall in Chicago. It is a nice hotel, but very old. It was the type that you could tell was super swanky way back in the day, but now was just kinda nice. All in all, it worked out just fine, but i'm too much of a control freak and I don't know if I could do it again! Good luck!

 

[julieheyer]

I've never done DL area. But we did SCal and Phila before. Cheaper for nicer hotels, but if you go 3 stars and up you're usually in a really nice hotel that charges for parking and resort fees. Kinda negated the good deal. Also you can not request room type. For our family of 4 that means no guarantee the room will fit us all.

We got the LaQuinta near e John Wayne airport for about $50/night. Good deal and ok stay. Bfast included, but kinda yucky. We want to walk easily to DL this time, so we're not doing it.

Risky but can really save you $ if you're flexible and can narrow your criteria to limit your options.

 

[ccbayly]

We booked about a week ago on Priceline "Name your own price" and got the Sheraton Garden Grove/Anaheim South for $75.00 a night. We are going Oct. 8-13. The only thing you need to make sure you are

 

[ccbayly]

(sorry, posted before it was done)

Make sure you don't HAVE to be next door to DL and that you are ok with any room type.

 

[blutes]

Have used priceline 3 times for DL..did 3 stars or better and got Holiday Inn Anaheim Resort all 3 times...make sure you only need one bed as that is all priceline guarantees and a lot of hotels will not change..

 

[jeremynandrea]

Between my sister and I, over the last several years, we have probably booked at least 30 rooms on Priceline using the name your own price method. Most of those (well, actually all but maybe 5) have been for our trips to DLR and not one has been a bad experience. In fact, it just seemed to make us a bit more picky since we get nicer rooms for way cheaper than if we'd paid retail for them. We have gotten hotels with a 3 plus star rating for as cheap as $35 before. Prices do seem to have gone up a bit since then, but the most we have paid is probably $75.

 

[DSNY4ever]

(sorry, posted before it was done)

Make sure you don't HAVE to be next door to DL and that you are ok with any room type.

Yes, it is unlikely that you would get a hotel in walking distance. We have done it many times for various cities (including Anaheim) and have always been happy. Make sure you read everything and understand the benefits of researching before you bid on Betterbidding.com or another equivalent site.

 

[mariners1999]

I agree with the above poster as I have used it for business and personal trips for years. To see what hotels fit what star level I would visit bidding for travel dot com and review the hotels and see what others have paid before you bid.

Good luck.

 

[DisFan84]

I used Priceline name your price for our trip in December. We are going 12/1-12/7. I chose the 3 1/2 star option and started out the first bid for 65.00 a night and surprisingly got the Anaheim Marriott Suites on the first try. It may not be as close to the park as we wanted but can't beat 65.00 a night for a Marriott Suite. I've also used it for a trip to Seattle and was happy with those results as well. Good luck!

 

[PigletSeeker]

After getting tired of paying $130 night for mediocre (at best) rooms on Harbor, we started doing Priceline and have now successfully used it for 4 DLR visits this year. We always do Name Your Own Price. Lots of tips on the better bidding site mentioned. We do not do less than 3.5 stars, and have always been in the Garden Grove area. 2 stays at Doubletree, and 1 each at the Courtyard and Anaheim Marriott Suites next door to Courtyard. The shuttles are very easy to use and were free at the first two places mentioned, and like $4 person/day at the Suites. The only shuttle issues we've had was catching the one right after fireworks, when everyone leaves.

Our usual strategy: Choose 3.5 stars in the Anaheim South area. Bid $56. (sometimes we get greedier, and bid lower, but only once did we get anything lower). If that doesn't work we rebid on that area plus add in Anaheim North (knowing there are no 3.5 stars in that area). You have to add an area or change star level to rebid within 24 hrs. Then we raise our bid 5 or $10. This usually yields something. If not, we will try the next day or add in the Fullerton area, which also has shuttles from the hotels there, but we've never ended up in that area. Never paid more than $75 on Priceline, but keep in mind, these nicer hotels have parking and wifi fees.

 

[PigletSeeker]

Oh, and about the one bed thing....just call the hotel 24 hours after you book on priceline and tell them you need 2 beds (if that's the case). They have always accommodated us.

 

[princesscinderella]

I love Priceline!!! I use it wherever we go. There is a website betterbidding.com that has the lists of the hotels and their star ratings so you can see what you will possibly get. I only bid for 4 star or resort properties which are always nice. I just did Hotwire for the first part of our trip to la and got the Weston bonaventure for $133 a night. I got the intercontinental in la for $120 for a night after we leave Disneyland before we fly home on Priceline. I think it's great for big cities and use it when ever we go some where. I have gotten the Gaylord palms just outside of Disney world for $65 a night last dec. I would not take the chance on anything less than 4 stars though as I feel the price savings would not be as dramatic or worth being locked in and not able to cancel.

 

[jeremynandrea]

Oh, and about the one bed thing....just call the hotel 24 hours after you book on priceline and tell them you need 2 beds (if that's the case). They have always accommodated us.

That's been the case with us as well. We always call plenty ahead of time and put in our bed requests. They always tell us that they will note it on our reservation and that it is not guaranteed and based on availability, but it's always worked out fine for us.