Use priceline for anniversary trip?

[lunalibre]

Hi folks,

I have never used Priceline or Hotwire. DH and I are planning on spending a few days in New Orleans in June for a quick anniversary trip. I've already got hotel reservations at a good hotel, but it's not a great deal.

Would you use Priceline or Hotwire for hotel rooms for an important trip? Normally it doesn't matter that much where we stay, but this is our anniversary, one of the ONLY times we've ever managed to get away without the kids, and the hotel really does matter to us this time.

I wouldn't be looking to do this if hotel costs and parking weren't so expensive for the weekend we need.

One more data point: we absolutely HAVE to have a non-smoking room due to allergies.

Thoughts? Am I crazy to think about using priceline in order to save a couple hundred bucks?

 

[Marionnette]

Hi folks,

I have never used Priceline or Hotwire. DH and I are planning on spending a few days in New Orleans in June for a quick anniversary trip. I've already got hotel reservations at a good hotel, but it's not a great deal.

Would you use Priceline or Hotwire for hotel rooms for an important trip? Normally it doesn't matter that much where we stay, but this is our anniversary, one of the ONLY times we've ever managed to get away without the kids, and the hotel really does matter to us this time.

I wouldn't be looking to do this if hotel costs and parking weren't so expensive for the weekend we need.

One more data point: we absolutely HAVE to have a non-smoking room due to allergies.

Thoughts? Am I crazy to think about using priceline in order to save a couple hundred bucks?

IF the room were an important factor in my trip

AND IF this was for a special occasion instead of a casual last-minute trip

AND IF I had never Pricelined/Hotwired a hotel before

AND IF I had special needs with regard to the type of room that I get

THEN the answer would be NO! I would hate to have a special trip ruined because I ended up with a room I didn't like in a hotel that is not in an area that I want to be in. I would save Priceline and Hotwire for a time when the hotel holds less importance to me.

 

[KibbyCat]

There is a feature on Priceline that allows you to put your minimum Star Rating, so if you want a nice hotel, you can choose 3* or better (or even 4*) and you can pick which areas of the city you'd be willing to stay in. So, if you're afraid of getting stuck in a bad part of town, narrow down your limits to avoid it.

We've done Priceline for our anniversary several times and never been disappointed. One year, we got the Hilton on the Riverwalk for 85% off rack rate. Another year, we got a 4-star in Downtown Dallas for under $50. Although Priceline can't guarantee special requests per their site, we've never had a problem getting a non-smoking room. Just tell the concierge at check-in, or call the hotel beforehand and see if they can make special arrangements for you.
(I'm not sure whether the people at the hotel know you've used Priceline to pay for your room, since it shows as already paid in their system, but we've never been treated differently. Once, when we were given a room that smelled smoky, they gladly moved us to another.)

 

[CoP Luv]

The trick to Priceline is to do some research. Check out betterbidding.com for help. You can narrow down your selection of hotels pretty easy by using the star ratings and geographic location. Out of the hotels available then you can make your choice if you are OK with bidding on Priceline. If not, then don't risk it.

We were very lucky on our last trip and scored a 1 bedroom suite for $65/night in downtown ATL using Priceline.

 

[wnissen]

Absolutely do not use Priceline or Hotwire if you require a non-smoking room. If it's not a busy time, you could chance it, but Priceline absolutely will not give you a refund, even for a smoking room.

The guide on betterbidding.com is very helpful, but it's not absolute. Especially with Priceline you can get any hotel, including one that is not listed. The only exception is that Hotwire sometimes has non-smoking properties, in which case that will be listed as an amenity. The other advantage of Hotwire is that you can see the percentage of guests that recommend a hotel. Since it's an important occasion, you might prefer to avoid a hotel that only pleased 60-70% of its guests.

If it were me, I would look into a rental, since you'll be there for a few days. It takes more legwork, and obviously a rental apartment is not the same as a hotel. However, you can often find properties with character for much less than an equivalent hotel room. I won't recommend VRBO.com, which is a terrible website, but try Googling "new orleans vacation rental" and see what pops up.

Enjoy your anniversary!

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I have just started using hotwire this past year and have been amazed at the hotels I have been able to book. I tried using priceline once but ended up booking on hotwire instead. I also booked two hotels through lastminutetravel.com. Definitely use betterbidding.com to get started - do your research - know what you are willing to pay and go for it! I was able to stay on the Danube river in Budapest at the Intercontinental for $59/night (before taxes/recovery fees) - also at the Hilton Chares de Gualle airport Paris for around $75. I've booked the Hilton Heathrow airport/ London for $59 and the Sheraton Vistana Resort Orlando for $79 - all with hotwire and Hilton Bonnet Creek Orlando for $80 with lastminutetravel. You can really save a bundle and book something special - but do your homework. The advantage of lastminutetravel.com is that you can see pictures of your hotel and basically figure out which hotel you are getting - check the priceline thread on disboards Orlando Hotels and Attractions for more information. Definitely check out betterbidding.com! Good Luck!!

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

Hmmmm - just checked out lastminutetravel.com for New Orleans - looking like four star hotels in the French Quarter are $200 and up - but worth a look.

 

[jsmla]

We've used Priceline for NOLA hotels many, many, many times-at least 7 or 8 times a year for many years. We opt for a 4* in the French Quarter district and have almost always "won" the Marriott New Orleans on Canal St. at the edge of the Quarter. Recently the Westin Canal Place has been coming up in this category as well. Both are fine and well-located for a touristy trip.

We've only bid on the 4* category. There are a few dogs that could pop up if you go lower.

NOLA is pretty busy (and hotel prices can be high) from the week of Mardi Gras until it gets really hot-usually after Jazz Fest in early May.

 

[KCMiller]

Biddingfortravel has lots of good info on Priceline hotels and what people are bidding and winning at, but the mod there is a terror, so don't post anything - I posted a question once and had my head bit off.

I used Priceline exclusively for travel, unless I'm staying onsite, and have NEVER been disappointed in the room I received. Also, to clarify the smoking room question, this is straight from the Priceline FAQ:

Can I request a smoking or non-smoking room?
Priceline requests that our hotel partners provide non-smoking rooms to our Name Your Own Price® customers; however, as is standard hotel industry practice, room assignments are based on hotel availability and are at a hotel's discretion. Some hotel properties may even be smoke-free. If you require a non-smoking room or a smoking room, you may contact your hotel directly. All special requests are based on availability and at the discretion of the hotel.



KC

 

[ChiCat]

I have had horrible luck with Hotwire, where afterwards I check how much I would have paid for the same room through the hotel's site and it's exactly the same, so I didn't save any money at all using them.

I've never stayed in NOLA before so I can't tell you for sure but I almost always do the name your own price on priceline for all of our hotel stays and I've never had a problem and always save a good deal of money on the rooms so I highly recommend using them!

 

[cmjaffe]

Only bid 4*, and be happy with "whatever" otherwise don't go with either Priceline or Hotwire

 

[dismichelle]

I've used Priceline twice for NOLA. First time I got the Marriott used above, second time I forgot the name, but it was still a nice hotel.

I'm pretty easy to please as far as hotels go, and as long as it's really clean, I usually don't care. I have never gotten a bad hotel with Priceline. If you think you would be unhappy for any reason, then don't use Priceline. BTW, I usually save at least 50%.

 

[twinglesmome]

IF the room were an important factor in my trip

AND IF this was for a special occasion instead of a casual last-minute trip

AND IF I had never Pricelined/Hotwired a hotel before

AND IF I had special needs with regard to the type of room that I get

THEN the answer would be NO! I would hate to have a special trip ruined because I ended up with a room I didn't like in a hotel that is not in an area that I want to be in. I would save Priceline and Hotwire for a time when the hotel holds less importance to me.

Ditto. I use Priceline when I travel but know I won't be in the room that much. I have had hit or miss experiences. Mostly hits, but a few disappointments as well. I have always called the hotel directly after my bid was accepted to request nonsmoking and bed type, though these aren't guaranteed.

 

[lunalibre]

Well, I gotta admit -- y'all are making me think pretty seriously about trying Priceline. If we could go the weekend we want to go (and currently all the rooms are too high-priced that weekend due to a festival), for even the same price we're paying for our second-choice weekend -- I think I might try it. My biggest concern was location (well, that and a non-smoking room), but now that I've read through the priceline info, I see that I can choose the area within the city. For my chosen hotel class, a lot of the hotels are completely non-smoking, which is great.

I'll go check out betterbidding.com and see what other folks get for my area/hotel class/dates before I make an offer.

Also, I probably ought to confirm childcare with my brother before I make non-refundable hotel reserverations.

I'd love to hear about other folks' experiences with priceline!

 

[RangerPooh]

We regularly use priceline when traveling (outisde of WDW property that is) and it can be hit or miss. But then that's what pp are saying. We always go for a 3* or above, and the majority of the time the hotels have been fine. We pricelined a room in NO back on 2008, the hotel was a 4* at around $100 a night, the roomw as nice, but the bed was terrible...broken terrible. If it was 1am when we checked in, and were there for more than 1 night I might have complained, but having been ont he road for 12 hours I was in no mood to.

When we use priceline we check out what other sare posting on biddingfortravel to see what the going rates/hotels are. This helps us to gauge how much to bid and what we might get. We've used Hotwire, and typically go to it if our bid for a 3*+ in a certain region has been declined. Honestly I'd probably use it as long as I got a 4* or above.