priceline for downtown austin

H

HenryGandorf

250+ Posts
really one of the better priceline situations out there. there are only a handful of 4-star hotels in downtown austin, so priceline can't really turn around and screw you, which i think they're kinda known for, at least in terms of ill timed flights.

so we'll be coming thru town mid august, and we're gonna stay there for 2 nights, so i went to priceline. they say the median price is $229 for the area and stars. i put $90, and got our rooms at the stephen f, which is my favorite hotel anyway.

holler.
 
i just learned about this in may. i'll never book downtown again any other way. we saved 100 off of the rack rate at the hilton. by the way, the "new and improved" hilton is really good, and remarkable service. i was shocked.

anyway, I believe that the only hotels in the 4 star category are the Stephen F., Omni, and Hilton. there may be one other.

so, you KNOW what hotels you'll get placed in. the usual drawback of priceline (nevedr knowing where you'll end up) is rendered moot in this circumstance.
 
www.biddingfortravel.com

Great link for pointers on how to get Priceline to work for you.

I booked 3 nights at the Drake in Chicago for August (4 star on North Michigan Ave.) for $135 per night. Regularly ~$300 per night.
 
they just choose not to participate - priceline can't force someone in there.

also, i believe the hyatt right across the s congress bridge falls under priceline's 4* bid-for-travel category.

as for the stephen f, i love the balcony bar - great place to start a night.
 
you can also go toThe Link

list of known hotels across the country and offers a message board with postings of recent known results. Also has a message board with strategies.

The best thing about the austin PL is that there are no other areas in austin that have 4 star hotels. So you have i think 6 chances to rebid. For example you can put in $45 for a 4 star Downtown (i have gotten a hotel on PL for as low as $41 for 4 star on the weekend) then if you dont win you can rebid say $50 and add another zone like airport. You know that since you are only requesting a 4 star and that downtown is the only areas that offer a 4 star hotel then you are technically only bidding on the downtown hotels. I believe without looking that you can bid up to 6 times if shooting for a 4 star in downtown using all the various zones.

As for the hotels i have gotten the Hyatt, Hilton, SFA, and Omni. Not sure if they have added any more. Got to use priceline a lot after graduation when i lived at home with the rents and the gf was still in school living at the sorority house...good times.
 
priceline is glorious. like goat said, the only 4* hotels in austin that currently participate are downtown, so you can start at $50 and work your way up to $100. you are pretty much guaranteed a room under $100 unless something big is taking place in austin.
 
My son generally gets the Hilton or the Hyatt on a weekend for $55 via Priceline. Almost as cheap as a cab ride home (Round Rock), and pretty convenient after an evening in the entertainment district.
 
A friend of mine uses priceline when she comes to Austin and she always gets the Stephen F. They always seem to stick her in a room with a view of the alley and the air conditioning units, though. I guess they get rid of the worst rooms through priceline.
 
here's a question. how do hotels work upgrades when you book through priceline? is it possible to get a suite or something, or does that screw it all up?
 
Gandorf,
It's possible, but you will have to either call the hotel directly and ask or ask at check-in. Any upgrades aren't done through Priceline, so you can't guarantee them unless you deal directly with the hotel after making your Priceline reservation. A lot of hotels will offer you an upgrade for anywhere from $20-$100 depending on what type of room you're trying to upgrade to and what's available. Some even give them for free if it's a slow night.
 
gandorf, slide the front desk person a $20 or $50 in between your credit card and id upon check in and ask if any complimentary upgrades are available. it works in vegas, never tried it in austin.
 
yeah, the sfa isn't the ideal place for that. i've stayed in suites there before and wasn't that impressed. i was just wondering, because i rarely use priceline. knowing me, i'll probably get drunk on the lake and pass out in the bus.
 
The upgrade has happened a few times randomly but never in Austin. I got the Marriott in NO, near the FQ back in '02 on a friday night for like $45 and when we checked in they actually gave me a free updgrade to a mini suite because of my rewards status. Actually would have rather had a normal room since the bed was a murphy bed, not so comfy. The funny thing about that trip was that is was $28 to park for the night. Unreal.
 
I have used Priceline many times and I have never asked for a room upgrade b/c I never wanted/needed one.

BUT for my Chicago trip, I got the Drake via priceline. Thing is it is an older hotel, 4-star but older. So for some reason they have 2 twin rooms. I don't want that, I want a king. Well King on their website costs more, so I called the hotel and asked for a room preference for 1 king as it is me and my wife. They said they put that in there and to call in the day before check-in as that is when they do room assignments.

It is next month. The thing with Priceline is that you pay ahead of time. My credit card already reflects the charge. I'm sure I'll need a CC to check-in but that will be for room damage or security purposes. So I will try to ask for a room upgrade. To them it might be gravy, who knows. I will try and I would be willing to pay more for the king.

Question: can you get points even if you book via Priceline? I didn't think you could.
 
You can't get points but some of the reward programs will credit you with a nights stay on your number. If they do that you can also get your bonus points from the airlines if you have them linked. Can't remember which ones do and which ones do not. I just always ask when i check in and again when i check out.
 
I have gotten some amazing deals through Priceline over the years. It is the only way the wife and I travel. Some examples:
$65 for Hotel Monaco in New Orleans. Website best was $180. Great freaking hotel. Free wine, awesome location. My personal favorite.
$105 for the Westin Resort in Whistler, Canada (suite). Normal rates at least $250. Wow, what a location!
$70 for Hyatt in downtown Vancouver. Normally like $180. Another really nice hotel.
$80 for a Westin in Boston. Best price available: $240
$55 for Red Lion in downtown Seattle. Surprisingly nice hotel in a decent location. Best rate was like $110.
$30 for an Amerisuites at DFW airport. Usually $70. Crappy hotel, but we left the car there for 6 days and probably saved $50 in parking.
Many, many other $60-$80 nights at Westins all over the place.
$55 at the downtown Hyatt.

Bidding for Travel might be my favorite website outside of Hornfans.
 
Had never used priceline but thanks to this thread tried it out. Was able to get the Omni in Austin for $75 for next weekend. Great deal.
 
the driskill is on board now.

got it for $85 the saturday night of the arkansas state game. i feel like im stealing.

i dont feel too bad though, none of these hotels in austin are worth paying over $150 for. the normal $250-400 rack rate is beyond absurd for what you get.
 
we just pay the overnight fee to avoid the hassle. i think its $21.

otherwise you can park in the pay lots behind the hotel.

every hotel downtown charges $15-25 for parking, you really cant get around that on a weekend (unless you find a free spot on the street). weekdays, you can park for free on the street after 5:30.
 
i am abusing this thing on our off nights on this tour.

so far, i got the sfa for $90, the renaissance in stl for $70, and the renaissance in nashville for $75.

seems like many cities only have participating 4-stars downtown. also, i haven't ever started low and gone higher. i've gotten my first price every time.

the amazing thing is that we get our hotels taken care of by the club when we're booked (wed-sat) and they end up paying the same amount for holiday inn express, hampton inn types as we're paying for ****.

i saw how priceline has a reward type of program, but i don't know how it works. anyone?
 
Has anyone had any luck for the Tech game weekend? Need a couple of rooms for friends. I'll pay rack if I have to, but thought I'd try priceline. I've tried 3-star and above for up to $101 downtown and haven't had any luck?
 
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