Have you used priceline.com?

I think their definitions of the hotels usually err on the lower side, so that is good. However, there are other things to be aware of - often, hotels will treat you worse because you are a priceline customer - e.g., no breakfast when everyone else gets it, etc. - also, no hotel loyalty program points (e.g., Hilton Honors or Starwood Preferred Guest).

Since I don't have a US-based credit card anymore, I cannot use Priceline, even though I enter the "security code" on the back of the card. It's really bothering me.

You can find a lot of information on what hotels to expect for certain regions at www.biddingfortravel.com and www.betterbidding.com . Another page for great travel information, but not very much specific to Priceline is www.flyertalk.com.

 

Oh, and if anyone here ever trusted me enough to do a bid for me when I really need it (since I don't have a U.S. based credit card) and then let me pay him back by bank transfer or Paypal, that would be really cool .

 

Dunk and SJC - try Travelaxe, a very cool program that is great for cheap/reduced price/specials good quality hotels.

www.travelaxe.com

 

This thread is just what I'm looking forward to seeing, ...I miss the familiarities of Houston already...

 

I know some people who love Priceline. But we don't use it because you can't control what kind of room you get. For instance, no specifying a king-size bed or anything else (e.g. dataport) that might be important to you. Do they even let you choose a smoking preference?

 

I've always preferred "Hotwire", but that is because they give you the price before you have to pay.

I like Hotwire over all of em.

 

I emailed you throught the board.

 

I used Priceline a few years back.....once.

I was trying to get a nice hotel room in Vegas.....I was thinking I'd get the Bellagio, Venetian, or Mandalay Bay.

I got Bally's.

I was so pissed, I called up Bally's and asked to reserve an identical room on the same night. They gave me a better price over the phone than what I paid Priceline.

Then I was really pissed.

So I set off to work to get my money back from Priceline. I won't go into details, but that was the hardest I've ever had to work to get satisfaction from a company before. I had to reach deep into my bag of tricks and whip out the threat of treble damages from DTPA.

On a sidenote, their home office is in Norwalk CT, and I used to stay at a Hotel right across the street from them when I was travelling to Stamford all the time. Every time I saw that big Priceline.com sign on the building, I'd get pissed.

I don't like priceline.

 

Thanks...somehow it doesn't work. I just sent a test e-mail to myself as well through the board and nothing arrived. I know the e-mail address is correct, though...

 

I agree. I do alot of traveling and I use Hotwire for all my Hotel Bookings and have never had a problem. A few examples

Dallas Hilton @ Six Flags $50.00
Denver {Downtown} at the Hotel Monaco $64.00 for a suite
KC Airport - Embassy Suites $64.00 {Bfeast included}

 

I have no knowledge of this incident, but if you want a free breakfast, fill out the breakfast cards with bogus stuff and put them on everyone's door in the Hall. The next mourning call the front office saying someone put a bogus breakfast thing on your door and you will get your free breakfast. Very bad. very bad. very bad....but guranteed to work.

 

I used it last Memorial Day. I was kinda just playing around to see if they'd take a lowball offer on Memorial Weekend. I got the Sheriton Suites for $50 a night - the internet room rate for the same hotel was almost $200.

One thing though - You don't get to make specifics on your room. And they only guarantee you a room for 2 so if you have a family, you're taking a chance.

 

yes, i've used priceline.com... and of course when i use it, i use it "responsibly" with my low interest rate "credit card".

credit cards are programs written to control the financial standing of all of those who are plugged into the matrix. credit cards are the devil!

oops... wrong thread

 

I used it for hotel bookings a few times. Both times I was happy. You can specify what type of hotel you are looking for (star rating) and I always ended up with a Marriott Courtyard, or Ramada or something of the like. Never been disappointed. Always shoot low, because you never know what they will accept.

Funny I once saw the receipt from priceline to the hotel (you arent supposed to see it apparently). Priceline paid $65/night for my hotel when I was paying $100/night (still a good deal for me - downtown Dallas). But damn thats a pretty nice margin/night.

 

Just make sure the surveillance cameras don't catch you .

 

This is alllll you need.

They tell you what hotels fall under each star ranking and which hotels are available for each zone in the city. You can also start a thread and ask for advice on bidding and techniques. They are awesome.


I love Priceline. I just got back from a 3 night stay (Sun-Wed) on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. A regularly priced night at the Hyatt Regency (located in the center of the RW) is $149 a night, I got it for $55. This is probably the best location to stay on the RW.

Priceline rules, if you know how to use it.



Also I went to Vegas in Oct 01 and got $59 a night from Priceline at the Venetian, one of the top hotels in Vegas, if not the top.

 

If that's true, things have OBVIOUSLY changed with them. They're still in business, so they must be doing something different than the way they used to work.