Priceline

[rmb]

I am inexperienced about Priceline and have a question about my experience with this service. I have bid and won stays in Orlando and Nashville and each time was give a room with one bed upon check in. When I ask at the front desk I was changed in Orlando, but in Nashville was told they are not allowed to give Priceline customers rooms with 2 beds. Could someone please tell me is this normal and do you usually get a room with one bed when going thru Priceline? Also, do you know if Hotwire is the same.

Thanks, Robyn

 

[TINK61]

Priceline does not guarantee a room w/2 beds. However, when I show up w/my family of 4 at the Radisson (which I won on Priceline) in December, I hope they give us a room w/2 beds.
It's a small gamble, but it usually works out in the customer's favor. I think the same applies to Hotwire. I'm going to call about a week prior to our stay and politely submit my requests for two beds and a non-smoking room.

 

[CarolA]

Priceline only gurantees you one bed. The "not allowed" was a hotel rule, not a Priceline rule.

At most hotels in Orlando you will not have a problem getting two beds since a higher majority of the rooms are two bed since they have more family travel then business travel. That is not true in the rest of the country and you could have a problem like you did in Nashville (where were you?)

I think Hotwire is the same way.

 

[Lewisc]

PL and Hotwire only guarantee you a room that will sleep 2 and specifically tell you a room with one bed is a possibility.

Most hotels in Orlando cater to famlies, the vast majority of the rooms have 2 beds and PL customers rarely post having any problems getting 2 beds.

Hotels in other cities have smaller rooms with only 1 bed and no room for a rollaway. PL and Hotwire customers may get booked into those rooms. If the hotel isn't full the hotel may be able to work with you BUT some hotels charge a fee for the upgrade.

Biddingfortravel.com lists some of the cities where this is common (NYC) but it can happen in any city.

I see Carol already gave you the same answer.

Hotwire will tell you if the hotel is a suite hotel. I'd think that would generally at least give you a bed and a sofa bed.

 

[dgaston]

I have used Priceline for rooms in Orlando, Philadelphia, and San Diego. When we showed up in San Diego, the desk clerk saw the 3 of us and quickly changed our room to one with two beds. You could also call the hotel after winning a bid, and request two beds. I guess you're already familiar with www.biddingfortravel.com That's the website that first gave me the courage to bid.

 

[rmb]

Thanks for the info everyone! When I use this service again I will call ahead and see if I can request a room with 2 beds.

-Robyn

 

[DianeV]

That website probably gave you the courage to bid but have you had the courage to post there??? LOL JUST KIDDING!! I am sure she probably reads here too ))

Honestly the rules say that you are bidding for double occupancy but whatever the hotel decides to give you is their call. Priceline even states that room and bed requests are to be made to the hotel so they must acknowledge in a way that it can be done.

The problem starts when hotels think that they are not "allowed" to make any changes like beds or anything, like they would get in trouble or something..or some hotels routinely give Priceline and HOtwire customers the smallest worst rooms anyway. Personally I think the not allowed thing is just an excuse to give you a crappy room.

Luckily we have only run into one hotel that couldnt give us 2 beds and that was because the hotel was obviously full. For the most part we have had good luck and in fact, were treated super good at the Dolphin!

 

[tweetylori]

I have used Priceline and Hotwire a bunch of times and never run into the bed problem. For hotels, more often than not I get a better deal with Hotwire than Priceline. For airlines, Priceline is almost always better.