luck with priceline?

[cookie7762]

It seems peolpe have been getting decent rates using priceline. I am tempted, ut scared to try it. I know that if you set your stipulations you will get a nice hotel, but I am afraid that I will end up far from the park or decide I dont like the hotel they give me. Does anybody have some reassuring experiences to share?

[Katlovett]

I have had better luck with the Entertainment Book discounts (for example $59 regular / $74 deluxe rooms, for 1-5 people at Howard Johnson Anaheim
http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/vie....php?f=13&t=14 ) than with Priceline.

One of the big concerns for me is that Priceline only guarantees a room will fit two people, whereas I always have at least 4 people and as many as 7 people. I have 5 children, ages 25, 23, 20, 5 and 3. Even if you book two or three rooms, there is no guarantee that they will be adjoining. Hotwire promises to accommodate at least 4 people. The hotels may voluntarily accommodate more with two queen beds, rollaways, whatever, but it is not guaranteed. Also, if your plans change, you cannot get a refund whereas hotels like Howard Johnson have a 48 hour policy where if you cancel more than 48 hours in advance, you can get a refund.

Priceline has some good prices sometimes, though. I guess it depends on your personal situation whether Priceline is a good fit for you.

[Bytebear]

I do priceline all the time, but only for San Diego (I live in OC). I usually save $50-$90 off the listed price. The nice thing is the way priceline works, it's great for 4-star hotels because there are three 4 star hotels in Downtown SD (The Omni, Manchester Hyatt and Marriott) and nowhere else. Because of this, you can bid really low, and then slowly raise your bid by expanding the area withouth ending up somewhere you dont want to be.

I have never had problems with Priceline and room size, or even getting nonsmoking rooms, but I don't push it by asking for perks like a higher floor or a view. I have gotten some rooms with bad views, but sometimes I get good views.

Look for online sites that discuss recent bids, and you can see what rates people are getting. In fact that might be a good sticky thread.

[Mark099]

Priceline isn't that much cheaper than other hotel sites. In the end, you might save $10/night over (say) Expedia. However, with that savings goes your loss of choice of hotels. For example, you may be too far away to walk to DL and have to drive and pay for parking or pay for the shuttle.

I would think priceline would be good for large cities where you are going to have to drive almost anywhere anyways, or in a place like Waikiki where all the hotels are within blocks of each other and the beach.

There is another site like priceline (I forget what it's called). The difference is is that this site posts the number of ratings from TripAdvisor for the hotel. You can then snoop the TripAdvisor site to see which hotel has the same number of ratings/reviews and pretty much know the hotel you'll get before you book.

[Carina]

Just talked to someone that got a SAWWWWEEEEEET deal for Seattle - but I Dont think I could surrender the choice... Also with a family of 5 its a moot point... I think the 2 person a room is rediculous!

[Malcon10t]

I've done priceline and gotten GREAT deals($100 a night LESS than any other site...) BUT, I am prepared for 2 person rooms. At the rate, I got 2 rooms to be safe.

[Darkbeer]

Have you tried Hotwire.com?

Basically the same as Priceline, but you input your date, and then Hotwire will show you the prices and the amenities of the nearby hotels for those exact dates. Now you don't know the exact hotel and address, but you get more info than using Priceline, and with no obligation, unless you decide to buy.