Priceline help

[nicklinneh Member Find all posts View Profile Close nicklinneh]

I'm trying to get 2 nights in Key West (3 *) for Th-F Ju 5-7.
They say the average price is $249, but I can buy the Doubletree (3 *) outright from them for $159. Ibid $84, that's more than 50% of the DT and have been turned down twice. Do you think they'll eventually accept it, or will I have to come up? I can wait a little on this because it's 3 weeks out, but my wife gets edgy. -ken

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Have you tried looking at those dates on Hotwire? Sometimes that gives you an idea of what's available via Priceline. Also check biddingfortravel.com and betterbidding.com.

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

I don't bother with Priceline. Hotwire.com is a little more money but it much less hassle. ( ans still almost alway 50% less than the hotel rack rate)

[idahodude Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close idahodude]

I try to underprice Hotwire by a bit if I'm needing to get it more urgently, and then gradually increase my price by $5-10/night. Sometimes, if there's just not much availability, I have to bite the bullet and book directly. Typically, that's the case if there's still no biting at 75-80% of the direct rate.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Before bidding you should look on BiddingForTravel.com - The informed Priceline Travel Bidding Forum to see what that area has been won at, Also look at the hotel list for that area to see what hotels are in PL.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Before bidding you should look on BiddingForTravel.com - The informed Priceline Travel Bidding Forum to see what that area has been won at, Also look at the hotel list for that area to see what hotels are in PL.

Also learn the bidding strategies there. There are tricks to be able to get immediate free rebids.

When I use PL I usually start at a price that I'm pretty sure they won't accept and set my available free rebids to ladder between my opening bid and the maximum price I'm willing to pay. I usually use Hotwire to set my max price on PL, with my PL max bid being some increment less than what Hotwire has given me.

That way, if I'm successful with PL, I've gotten a better deal than HW; if not my worst case is the HW offer.

Of course, before taking any offer you need to verify that the HW offer is actually less than what you can get by booking directly with a hotel, using any available discounts you can dredge up.

[nicklinneh Member Find all posts View Profile Close nicklinneh]

Thanks to all: Wacko, Birthday-Boy, Steve, Bill, etc

Thanks for your suggestions. I was inching my way up day by day (Key West only has one zone, so can't use tricks) but finally just got tired of it. Got 2 addl days in MB (Bluegreen Solara Surfside) instead. We'll race down to KW Sat. and try to do old town before going to Marathon where we already had reservations 06/07. ---ken

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Sometimes you get great deals on Priceline, sometimes you don't. We need two rooms when we travel, and often I find it works out better (and less expensive) to go to a Residence Inn or a similar hotel, and get a suite that can be canceled if our plans change, rather than paying for two rooms at a hotel and having the Priceline uncertainty about getting two beds in each room, getting a non-smoking room, and on and on.

[buff Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close buff]

Sometimes Priceline is like booking airline tickets. The prices are cheaper certain days times. Can't say much more

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Sometimes you get great deals on Priceline, sometimes you don't. We need two rooms when we travel, and often I find it works out better (and less expensive) to go to a Residence Inn or a similar hotel, and get a suite that can be canceled if our plans change, rather than paying for two rooms at a hotel and having the Priceline uncertainty about getting two beds in each room, getting a non-smoking room, and on and on.

Priceline and Hotwire deals simply reflect the projections of PL's and HW's vendors about how much excess inventory they might have for the times you are bidding.

If a vendor expects that they will be able to fill all of their capacity at normal rates, they only release inventory to PL or HW at rates higher than what they would otherwise expect to receive. When that happens a PL or HW user who blithely assumes that all PL and HW rates are below market will wind up paying more money for the same room, with a non-cancellable reservation.

It's always important to check vendor direct rates.

[alexsmith Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close alexsmith]

Off course, time sharing priceline is most improtant while your are planing the your time share vacations and buying time share property. I think you have to got maximum help regarding your priceline issue.

Useful and professional advice will be very helpful in getting a affordable rates as well as it can be made very legal.

Alex


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