SkyAuction... tell me about it, please!

[IloveWINNIEthePOOH]

I have been looking at SkyAuction lately as we are planning on heading to Orlando over Spring Break. Mainly just shopping, sight seeing, shopping, and maybe Universal (did MK and Epcot this previous spring break... wow! plus, going in the summer).

Nehoo, I am looking for fantastic hotel rates for a somewhat neat hotel (trying to stay budget-wise) and SkyAuction looks great!

Could anyone please tell me how it works, what you do if you win an auction (when it comes to booking the hotel) if it works, feedback from any of your times using it, hidden charges, things to look out for, is it easy/hard... ANYTHING! I am trying to decide whether or not to use it, I hope it is good and trustworthy!

Any help is wonderfully appreciated!

p.s. I am sorry if this subject has been brought up... I looked for a thread about it, but didn't find one! I also posted on the Budget Board.

 

[simpilotswife]

You can get some great deals on SkyAuction just be sure to read the descriptions of the items. I wouldn't say that there are hidden charges because they are listed but some may overlook additional charges listed in the description because they are caught up in bidding. As an example, plane tickets will contain an extra $100 per ticket that is not included in the bid price. If someone isn't careful they could overpay for their ticket.

 

[IloveWINNIEthePOOH]

Thanks!

 

[lawgs]

for the ready set go auctions which is your best bet for accommodations as far as cost goes....

you actually start out at 195$ service charge + 15$ processing fee thus any bid you make actually starts at 210$ then your bid

they usually go for 50$ or so......260$ for a two bedroom condo for the week is not bad ( although some timeshare owners are upset the general public has access to this inventory since they have paid big $$$$ upfront to buy their weeks or points

but even with rci exchange ( skyauction gets its inventory from the excess that rci steers their way ) there is very little showing right now for orlando in march ( spring break time )

 

[disneysteve]

We recently returned from our first Skyauction stay. Wow! I won a Ready, Set, Go auction for $51. With service charge, that made the total $261 or just over $37/nite. We stayed at Orbit One Vacation Villas in a beautiful 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo with a brand new kitchen and jacuzzi tub. I'd highly recommend going this route.

 

[IloveWINNIEthePOOH]

Thanks for the info!!

edited to say..... what are the service charges.... are they $15 a night or just per purchase?

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by IloveWINNIEthePOOH
what are the service charges.... are they $15 a night or just per purchase?

There are two charges - a $195 fee and a $15 fee. Those are both per stay, not per nite. So whatever you bid, they add $210 to that amount. For example, I won my auction with a bid of $51. The total I paid was $261. That included all taxes and fees.

 

[IloveWINNIEthePOOH]

Originally posted by disneysteve
There are two charges - a $195 fee and a $15 fee. Those are both per stay, not per nite. So whatever you bid, they add $210 to that amount. For example, I won my auction with a bid of $51. The total I paid was $261. That included all taxes and fees.

I hope you are bidding on a 7-night stay!

Can someone tell me what the ready set go auctions are and a link, maybe? I can't find them. Thanks, again!

 

[Mudd77]

Go to the Skyauction website and at the top of the page click on "search". Then use keyword "ready". With RSG auctions you basically pick the time frame you want to go and search the Skyauction inventory (under the RSG link) to see if there is any thing you like for your time period. You can choose from thousands of places around the world. You find the most listings in the inventory about 2 - 3 weeks prior to the date you've selected. Also, RSG auctions are for 7-nights and you can put a place on hold prior to bidding on the RSG auction. Or if you like you can win a RSG auction and use it at another time (check expiration date).

Good Luck!

 

[racorby]

I've never used Skyauction and have a question. I am interested in the Sheraton Vistana. The listing at the bottom says check in anytime between 12/19/04 and 12/16/05. But at the top, it lists specific check in dates and the only December 04 date is 12/12. If I want 12/18 or 12/19...am I out of luck?

Thanks.

 

[lawgs]

12/12 is probably the only dates they have open at the time, although they may have other inventory coming up later in the year...into next year....

you just have to keep watching...

doing a search on vistana will probably bring up any auctions having to do with the resort

 

[PhotobearSam]

You can try calling them to see if they have anything coming available. It's worked for us in the past. The only way to find the 1-800 number on their site is to go to the ready set go auction and search for a date then at the bottom of the screen, there is the number...Good luck.


Edited to say I founf the number...It's 1-800-929-9929

We have had luck in the past.

 

[lawgs]

after my post, i went to the skyauction site .....and checked out the vistana auction...

they had a lot of inventory listed for next year ....just not the date they needed

 

[HappyLawyer]

i won tonite a 7 nite 2 bdr suite total of 215.00 i was outbid on like 9 others so i was very excited to win this one.

 

[tednvon]

Hi..we have one bedroom from Sky Auction for Dec 31 to Jan 7. We may not be able to make the trip because of illness...We have a certificate for the dates. Can we give them or sell them to another couple?

Thanks for the help...

Ted

 

[lawgs]

if you call skyauction, i think they can work something out for changing the name on the "certificate" but there might be a cost involved....

 

[IloveWINNIEthePOOH]

another question!
there is usually a service/tax fee. Does the hotel or anything else add on any other taxes?

 

[disneysteve]

another question!
there is usually a service/tax fee. Does the hotel or anything else add on any other taxes?

The property does not add any additional fees except extras like phone calls or other charges you generate during your stay.

 

[lawgs]

additional fees depend upon the location of the resort....orlando does not add on any fees, but in las vegas we have seen them mention a "transient occupancy tax" that will be added on at the resort....

saw somewhere where orlando area was considering this type of tax too...another cash grab to add to other taxes already imposed..

but heh, they certainly do have a nice convention center thanks to all the visitors.....