Priceline Bidding Advice

debsjc

Thanks very much, I appreciate all your help.
I would normally avoid the 2 star, but as it has a swimming pool, it think it is the 'inn' property I think it is. No where else in town has a pool.

I'll try again this afternoon, and report back if I get anywhere.

herman2811

Am new to Priceline but am considering using it.

Question: am looking at New York, and would like a room with a view. Once I buy, am I able to contact the hotel to request such a room (obviously not guaranteed), in the same way i could when booking the traditional way, or do they only sell the "worst" rooms via Priceline? And therefore would be stuck with whatever they give me?

Thanks in advance

blindman

herman2811 wrote: »

Am new to Priceline but am considering using it.

Question: am looking at New York, and would like a room with a view. Once I buy, am I able to contact the hotel to request such a room (obviously not guaranteed), in the same way i could when booking the traditional way, or do they only sell the "worst" rooms via Priceline? And therefore would be stuck with whatever they give me?

Thanks in advance

Once you win the hotel the booking "should" be treated as any other.:cool:

So you can contact the hotel and "request" various amenities as you would with a normal booking.

All such requests (as is the norm) are only ever that, and are never guaranteed and TBHO are only ever honoured when you check-in.

So be nice to the clerk on the desk!

Some hotels may have "Priceline" rooms (near noisy lifts, overlooking the dumpster area.) But all hotels have these less desirable rooms and if you're the last one to check-in and the hotel is full, or you're rude cheek to the clerk, then you'll get that room.

I've never had a problem, but being reasonable, if you've paid a really low rate the hotel won't be going out of their way to upgrade you!

So do the research and if you get what you want you can only ask for a view -don't be too miffed if they say no.

BMcP

This seems like a total con. I booked a hotel in New York on Priceline. I thought I had a bargain. Then I got there and they said there was a $25 daily 'service charge' on top of what I agreed to pay. I contacted Priceline and apparently they're allowed to do this ... add whatever they like, and since they already have your money there's nothing you can do.

Has nobody else had this experience?

I won't book with Priceline again.

blindman

BMcP wrote: »

This seems like a total con. I booked a hotel in New York on Priceline. I thought I had a bargain. Then I got there and they said there was a $25 daily 'service charge' on top of what I agreed to pay. I contacted Priceline and apparently they're allowed to do this ... add whatever they like, and since they already have your money there's nothing you can do.

Has nobody else had this experience?

I won't book with Priceline again.

It's a "resort fee" and some hotels do charge this and yes I agree it's a con.

I believe it is flagged up in PL when you book

Depending on the property you stay at you may also be charged (i) certain mandatory hotel specific service fees, for example, resort fees (which typically apply to resort type destinations and, if applicable, may range from $10 to $40 per day), energy surcharges, newspaper delivery fees, in-room safe fees, tourism fees, or housekeeping fees and/or (ii) certain optional incidental fees, for example, parking charges, minibar charges, phone calls, room service and movie rentals, etc. These charges, if applicable, will be payable by you to the hotel directly at checkout. When you check in, a credit card or, in the hotel's discretion, a debit card, will be required to secure these charges and fees that you may incur during your stay. Please contact the hotel directly as to whether and which charges or service fees apply.

and if you had done any research on the forums as to which hotel you may win, there may be notes as to which ones charge a resort fee.

Which hotel was this?

pcg2001

Hi everyone,
I am trying to get back to priceline. It seems though that noone else is using it here on MSE other than faithful Blindman! I stopped travelling due to parenting duties but now wish to get back travelling! My first question is : is there an alternative to priceline (or where have all the travellers in MSE gone??)? My second question is how do you use the new (for me at least) express deals offers? they seem similar to hotwire... can you them as info on the deals you can get via bidding?
Thanks everyone.

blindman

pcg2001 wrote: »

Hi everyone,
I am trying to get back to priceline. It seems though that noone else is using it here on MSE other than faithful Blindman!

I have stopped too

My first question is : is there an alternative to priceline (or where have all the travellers in MSE gone??)?

I think it was a phase that has now subsided

My second question is how do you use the new (for me at least) express deals offers? they seem similar to hotwire... can you them as info on the deals you can get via bidding?
Thanks everyone.

I now stay in hotels using Hotel Award points (gained by CC sign up fees) so no longer need to use PL :eek: so maybe that's the alternative?

PL is still a good way to stay in 4* hotels at a 2* price. I think that's why it has gone quiet as it's not money saving as such but getting good value for money. It's also for the independant traveller, not the Spanish bucket and spade crowd.:cool:

Answer to your questions may be found at Betterbidding as I'm out of touch with the new PL deals.

Report back with your successes :cool:


Cheers.

johannalf88

A new alternative (atleast on Tripadvisor) appears to be lasminutetravel.co.uk. (Or .com) It is a secret hotel site, but if you view it on ioS (iPad, iPhone, mac safari) it shows the names of the hotels.
Hth.

pcg2001

Hi, blindman and johannalf88,

thanks for the reply. I actually liked the thrill of Priceline and even though I actually used it seldom I always prepared bids whenever I had to travel (but ended up booking it some other way).
Will look into your alternatives. Thanks.

song_of_calliope

We'll I'm clearly way behind the crowd as I've just used Priceline for the first time and I'm happy with my deal. I got the Holiday Inn Sheffield for about £44.50 per night including fees/taxes. The cheapest I found it elsewhere for my dates was £56.