Priceline.com Experience - Good or Bad?

[MikeUT00]

So what is the general concensus on using Priceline? I've used it before and got some great deals. But recently I've tried some last minute reservations and haven't had much luck. Anyone having the same problem? Any bad experiences out there? Is there a specific way of going about the bidding process that works well? For what it's worth, I really only try it for hotel reservations.

 

[WhoseHouse]

I used it almost every football game weekend to get a hotel in downtown austin and it was great. Lately it kind of sucks. I'm not sure why??
I've never had a bad experience with Priceline itself, except that it doesn't always tell you when hotels are under construction, which has the potential to be annoying.

 

[nycLonghorn]

Always use priceline when I am in LA. Most of the time I get the Roosevelt Hotel for less tan $100/night. Great party hotel!

 

[EuroHorn]

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[Benson32]

whats the problem everyone has been having? not getting an accepted bid?

if youre bidding austin, use the method below. larger cities create a problem because they have 4* hotels in many different zones. in this case you cannot rebid again for another 24 hours, so you have to set the price high on your first bid, or youre likely out of luck. one suggestion: if you have multiple credit cards with different addresses, use them, you can bid more than once in the 24 hour period with the same star-level and zone.

also, check hotwire and hotel websites before you bid priceline. this will give you an general idea of where to start your bidding. if the rack rate on the hotels website is higher than normal, you arent going to find a deal on priceline.

if you are looking to book a specific hotel, you will have better luck with hotwire. there are simple methods to accurately know what hotel room you will be booking, before you buy it.

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[Macanudo]

See what others are winning with.

We used Priceline when we went to Austin for games. Always ended up at either the SFA downtown or the Renaissance at the Arboretum.

 

[MikeUT00]

Thanks for the link, Mac. I forgot about that site.

Is there a specfic length of time out from the desired reservation that works best in getting the accepted bid? Does it work best on the week of, or further out, etc.?

Benson, it's not so much that there is a problem. Just seems that, in my recent cases, I haven't had some bids accepted. In the past, I've always seemed to get something decent. Just wodering if it has been bad luck or if something has changed or if I am doing something wrong.

 

[jrotten]

Another Priceline Help Site

 

[UTinBigD]

have had great luck/experience on hotel bidding the few times I have used it. For NYC and San Francisco plus Austin a couple of times.

Those websites help out a great deal and really the only way to judge what/where/how much it is going to be. Biggest score was the Hyatt in Union Square (SF) for $35 a night.