Question about Priceline.com - Page 2

LadyRev · #11 08-17-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamor

I need help with Priceline. I've never used Priceline.com but I know I've read some of y'alls posts where you get good deals. So help me out here. I need a room in Cleveland, TN. I have looked at the website and they have four 2-star hotels. They are priced at: $55, $64, $80, and $106. How much should I put in for a bid?

I don't want to bid so low that they don't accept my offer because I won't be able to bid again for 24 hours, but I want the best deal I can get!

Leave some options open, if possible, so you can re-bid right away if your offer is declined. Like, select an optional day of travel or something.

If you can't do this, subtract 40-50% off the regular price and make your bid.

If you are selecting PEAK travel days, you might want to stick with 40% as your chances start to diminish at 50%.

tamor · #12 08-17-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revrandy

Tamor.. DO NOT do Two-Star.. you will be disappointed...

Go to Hotwire.com... Seems much better than priceline.. and sometimes I have called the actual hotel and got a much better deal than going thru the moneysaver sites... without paying their fees...

Go at least 4 Star..

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyRev

Leave some options open, if possible, so you can re-bid right away if your offer is declined. Like, select an optional day of travel or something.

If you can't do this, subtract 40-50% off the regular price and make your bid.

If you are selecting PEAK travel days, you might want to stick with 40% as your chances start to diminish at 50%.

I don't have a choice of 3 or 4 star. It's a small town with limited hotels. But like I said, the hotels are Winngate, Holiday Inn, etc.

My night is not optional either, because we're moving Tabitha back to college.

LR, the only option I can leave open is to change it to a 1 star and I do not want to do that because there is one hotel listed that I would NOT want to get stuck with after reading the reviews.

SO - what is the general consensus? What should I offer if I'm gonna play?

Margies3 · #13 08-17-2007, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamor

I need help with Priceline. I've never used Priceline.com but I know I've read some of y'alls posts where you get good deals. So help me out here. I need a room in Cleveland, TN. I have looked at the website and they have four 2-star hotels. They are priced at: $55, $64, $80, and $106. How much should I put in for a bid?

I don't want to bid so low that they don't accept my offer because I won't be able to bid again for 24 hours, but I want the best deal I can get!

Tam, if the lowest available price is $55, and you bid $50, you are almost sure to get into that lowest price place. But you are not really saving much. So I wouldn't even bother. IF I was going to try it, based on the $55 price, I'd start my bidding at no more than $30.

On the other hand, is that $55 place really a good one to stay in???? I'd be worried at that price that the place is really a dive.

I think in this case, I'd be more inclined to check out one of the other places and see what kind of fixed deal I could get or else I'd call each hotel directly and see what they have to offer.

tamor · #14 08-17-2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margies3

Tam, if the lowest available price is $55, and you bid $50, you are almost sure to get into that lowest price place. But you are not really saving much. So I wouldn't even bother. IF I was going to try it, based on the $55 price, I'd start my bidding at no more than $30.

On the other hand, is that $55 place really a good one to stay in???? I'd be worried at that price that the place is really a dive.

I think in this case, I'd be more inclined to check out one of the other places and see what kind of fixed deal I could get or else I'd call each hotel directly and see what they have to offer.

Actually it is decent, Margie. My ex-husband and his wife stayed there last spring when we went for a parent/student introductory weekend at her school. We stayed in a place that was the same price and it was not real desireable. I didn't complain because we were only staying one night but I would not stay there again! Her dad said this place has nice sized rooms and is very clean and well-kept. Not five star hotel amenities of course, but they said it was very decent for the price.

I was thinking along the same lines as what you said though. I was afraid if I bid close to $50 and got that one, I would be disappointed since I've never done this. I can actually reserve that one for $51.99 over the phone because they offer a university discount. I know that's a good price at a guaranteed rate, but I just thought I would play with this because I read of the good deals other folks get and wanted to see what I could do!

Margies3 · #15 08-17-2007, 11:06 AM

If you already know that one is an acceptable place, then I'd bid the $30 and see what they say

ForeverBlessed · #16 08-17-2007, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamor

I need help with Priceline. I've never used Priceline.com but I know I've read some of y'alls posts where you get good deals. So help me out here. I need a room in Cleveland, TN. I have looked at the website and they have four 2-star hotels. They are priced at: $55, $64, $80, and $106. How much should I put in for a bid?

I don't want to bid so low that they don't accept my offer because I won't be able to bid again for 24 hours, but I want the best deal I can get!

It depends upon how much tourism or events in that area. I can book a 4* hotel in Downtown Indy for $50 any weekend when nothing special is going on... like the Indy 500 or races. Even in Black Expo last year, I still booked one for $50 on a Friday night. The girls and I do this for fun sometimes.

In Columbus OH for Youth Congress in 05, I bid and paid $50 a night for a downtown 3 star... so for Cleveland I wouldn't go over that.

I tried to priceline last week for Gatilinburg/Pigeon Forge area and couldn't get a bid for $50 a night on 1-2 Stars... so I drove on down and got a room in person for $44 a night. I know that Sun-Thur they put their rates down low.

ForeverBlessed · #17 08-17-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margies3

If you already know that one is an acceptable place, then I'd bid the $30 and see what they say

I think I would start out at $30 or so too... if it is too low, then wait until the next day, but with Cleveland, I wouldn't go over $50.

LadyRev · #18 08-17-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamor

SO - what is the general consensus? What should I offer if I'm gonna play?

40% less than the normal rate given will almost always be accepted. I generally check the hotel's own website for prices and/or any special offers going on and then bid accordingly. I've always had very nice rooms. Amazingly nice at a great price.

I use Priceline for airline tickets also.

tamor · #19 08-17-2007, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyRev

40% less than the normal rate given will almost always be accepted. I generally check the hotel's own website for prices and/or any special offers going on and then bid accordingly. I've always had very nice rooms. Amazingly nice at a great price.

I use Priceline for airline tickets also.

I've thought about airline tickets, but my concern is timing. I know you don't know what airline you will be flying but you don't have control over the time of flight either, do you?

LadyRev · #20 08-17-2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamor

I've thought about airline tickets, but my concern is timing. I know you don't know what airline you will be flying but you don't have control over the time of flight either, do you?

No, if you are going to "name your own price" then you must be flexible in regards to the time of day/night that you fly. You can pick the dates though. And you don't have to fly "red eye" hours unless you just want to.