Thoughts on Priceline?

[jazellesmom]

What is the best rate you ever got on Priceline? Over all experience with Priceline? Which hotels have you stayed at though Priceline?

We got the Fullerton Marriott 3 1/2 star Hotel from 11/16-11/18 which is 6 miles from Disneyland for $55 a night w/ free parking.

Thoughts?

 

[nurse.darcy]

Well, I have stayed at the Anaheim Hilton using Priceline for $50 per night. I have also stayed at ESA a couple blocks away and the Anaheim Marriott. The stay at the Hilton was during the NAMM music convention this past January. Your deal is fine, just a little far away for my liking because you will HAVE to drive. You are too far away for Anaheim Resort Transit. When using priceline where you bid, you have to know that you may sacrifice proximity for price. And they never give you a choice of hotels.

Since I know Anaheim well, I don't have issues with using priceline. If I didn't know it well, I probably would not use it.

 

[momshadow]

In April we used PL and recieved Hyatt Regency Orange for 50 a night. What a dump! We will only stay on sight now. The shuttle stoped at two other hotels so you where 20-40 min from DL and it was always full. We also had to pay 15 a night for parking plus tax for this and that. The hotel was dirty and the housekeeping was so bad I had to make my own bed one night. Wont be back!

 

[CardinalsFan]

I used Priceline's "Name Your Own Price" to get a rental car at the Ontario airport this coming December.

Priceline's normal rates were offering a full-size car for ~$25/day, so I bid $17/day and was turned down. You're allowed to try again after three days. So, three days later, I tried $18/day, and Avis accepted my bid.

For a 5-day rental, after the taxes and fees were added, it was right around $125. That beat the rate quote on the SuperShuttle web site for a round-trip for four in a shared van ($136)!

I couldn't use Priceline's Name Your Own Price option for a hotel. I read too many stories about getting a not-good-enough hotel that's too far away.

Haven't tried them for flights before.

 

[jazellesmom]

I am kind of freaking out about my Priceline deal. I got the Fullerton Marriott hotel for $55 per/night. It is a very nice hotel, newly renovated and has great reviews but it is about 6 miles from Disneyland so we will have to drive, although parking @ the hotel is free so that is a plus! What i do not like is how you are totally locked in! It kind of freakes me out! What if it rains that weekend? Its just so final. Scares me. = (

 

[Vanvmom]

Ditto on the review of the Hyatt! Plus they charged quite a bit for nightly parking (which we didn't know ahead of time). Now there may be some good rooms at that hotel, but we sure didn't get one - it certainly wasn't the Hyatt quality I expect.

Our other priceline experience was before our 2005 DCL cruise to Mexico, and we ended up at the Hilton Suites (one freeway exit south on I-5 of DL)- not the Hilton across from the convention center. Our request was for a non-smoking room. Technically, it was non-smoking, but it reeked of smoke. The bedroom window was just above the outdoor smoking area, and even the bed linen smelled like it had been washed with the linen from the smoking rooms. The room layout was great, the people working the front desk were exceptional...it was just the room smell we didn't like (and the hotel was full, so there was no where we could move to).

For a hotel I had to stay at more than one night, I don't know if I would risk Priceline again.

I'll ask my DH about the Fullerton Marriott. He's been to Fullerton a few times for work (the town is literally down the street from DL). He might have stayed at that hotel.

Edit to add - yes, DH stayed there a few times. It is a pleasant hotel, nothing particularly special, but clean and comfortable - he'd stay there again.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I don't do priceline for hotels for that very reason. I don't want to get stuck int he wrong hotel. And the ratings system for hotels leaves much to be desired. It doesn't say how good a 3 star hotel a certain hotel is, just that it's 3 stars in price and amenities.

 

[DisneyPhreak]

I've done it here in Seattle and been very happy. Got a nice hotel for a very cheap rate. But thats because we were flexible and just wanted something downtown.


For Disneyland I wouldnt do it. Like everybodys already said, theres too much variable for the quality of room you could get and almost guaranteed you would get something that isnt very close. And you have no say...once its accepted you're stuck with it.

 

[got2travel]

I've had success with Priceline, but I do some research first. I used betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com to see what has come up for folks lately and also what hotels with what star level are usually used for Priceline and Hotwire.

I've gotten the Hilton Garden Inn in Garden Grove, Crowne Plaza Garden Grove, Holiday Inn Express Garden Grove, and Anahiem Marriot all for $50 or less. Each one either had their own shuttle or were on ART.

 

[NancyIL]

I got the Westcoast Anaheim in 2000 for $35/night, the Hyatt Regency Orange County in 2003 for $27/night, and the Doubletree Hotel Orange County in 2006 for $46/night. I thought the Hyatt Regency was very nice, but perhaps it has gone downhill in the 4 years since I stayed there.

 

[nurse.darcy]

One note, when using Priceline for Disneyland, ONLY pick the Disneyland area location. Do not add surrounding locations.

 

[daannzzz]

I will not use Priceline for my Disney trips as I like to be right across from the parks. I have used it for arrival night and got the Residence Inn for $35!!!
My best deal ever was the Westin Santa Clara (Now Hyatt Regency) for $29.

 

[CandCMommy]

Personally, my DH and I prefer hotwire over priceline. Using betterbidding.com we've booked our last three trips through hotwire and have gotten the Hilton Suites for the 60-70 dollar range. Love this hotel since all the rooms are suites. We've even been allowed to check in at 10:00 am and also have been upgraded to the rooms with a huge table in them 2 times. I don't think we'll ever go back to the Holiday Inn now that we've stumbled upon this.

 

[Master Mason]

What if it rains that weekend? Its just so final. Scares me. = (

Buy a few ponchos and have a blast with the low crowds.... Disney in the rain is a good time, and once your consigned to the fact your going to get a little wet it isn't a big deal. No worse than riding Grizzley Rapids.

 

[nurse.darcy]

Buy a few ponchos and have a blast with the low crowds.... Disney in the rain is a good time, and once your consigned to the fact your going to get a little wet it isn't a big deal. No worse than riding Grizzley Rapids.

Love your attitude. . .this is exactly when my son and I prefer to go to DLR. . .as So Cal Natives we know this is when the parks are the emptiest. . .