Would you like to be able to book a nice hotel and stay on budget? If you'll be reserving rooms this upcoming holiday season, consider using an online auction such as Priceline. It's not for everyone, but once you get a good hotel deal, you might not go back to conventional bookings. The key is using their own rules to your advantage. Here's how it works.
Would you like to be able to book a nice hotel and stay on budget? If you'll be reserving rooms this upcoming holiday season, consider using an online auction such as Priceline. It's not for everyone, but once you get a good hotel deal, you might not go back to conventional bookings. The key is using their own rules to your advantage. Here's how it works.
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Thanks for all the bidding tips on Priceline. I’ve used Priceline about 25 times, and nearly every time I’ve gotten a room that is not desireable. Either the room is for smokers, or it’s next to the ice machine or elevator, or has a view of the parking deck, or is otherwise flawed. Trying to change rooms usually results in being told “well, the hotel is full, so I can’t offer you another room.” The hotels set aside these rooms for people who book on Priceline and Hotwire, so even though you’re getting a 4-star hotel you will get one of the worst rooms in that nice hotel. I guess the savings are probably worth it, but it’s nearly always been a disappointment for me when I’ve used Priceline.
There are a lot of people who say the same thing, Maynard. I haven’t had that much misfortune (I’d say at least 75% of my experiences have been good) but there are times when bidding sight-unseen on a room is not a good idea. You have to weigh the risks. Personally, I’m not too concerned if the furniture is out of date or I have to walk a little further down the hallway…but those things can be important to other people. Just don’t put up with a lot of noise, dirt, etc. You’re still a paying customer and should expect a basic level of service, discount or not. I’d also recommend complaining to Priceline directly each time you have a bad experience.
I’ve been using priceline for more than a decade, and in probably 80 or 100 uses, I’ve been seriously disappointed only a few times. A view of the parking garage is something I can live with when I’m paying one-third the price paid by the person with the view of the lake/ocean/whatever. I’ve also found that, except in cases where the hotel is really full, a friendly, warm attitude toward the front desk clerk will often win me a prime room–sometimes even a suite–even if the room was won through Priceline. As for the non-refundability, well, I’ve only been unable to use my Priceline hotel room once. Yes, I forfeited the money I paid, but averaged out over 100 uses, I’m still way ahead.
Granted, for extremely fussy people, Priceline may not be an option. But if you’re not upset by having a room near the elevators (horrors!), you definitely should consider it. It takes a while to get the hang of bidding smart, but it’s time well spent.
Gotta add a comment, although it is rare for me to do this. We have used Priceline quite a few times. We are willing to overlook some things, but one thing that has made us mad is when hotels add extra charges on top of the Priceline cost for things like routine room cleaning, water use, the safe even when we never touch it, etc. All a way to gouge the customer. Protests get one nowhere, as did a complaint to Priceline, so we never use it any more.
Another warning: we tried Hotels.com and were most unhappy as they promised us a couple of non-smoking rooms which the hotel receptionist confirmed, then later they changed the reservation to a smoking room–the receptionist showed the record of the change to us on her computer. We have discovered it is best to deal directly with the hotel.