Economy car through Priceline for $12 a day!

[hope54 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hope54]

We needed a second car for next week while we are here on Maui. Just got a compact for $12 per day through priceline. I am very happy and surprised. We picked up a car last Saturday using alamo through priceline.

In December the cars were dirty and smelly when we rented from Alamo here on Maui. This time the cars to choose from were clean, no smells and the counter staff was super nice.

Hope

[zdxlc9p6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zdxlc9p6]

$14 savings just isn't enough to bother with for the loss of flexibility.

My thoughts exactly. I used PL to reserve a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale about 3 years ago for one night between TS resorts. Hurricanes Jean & Francis caused us to change our plans and go from Marco Island to Orlando rather than Stuart. Out the money for the hotel I had booked. That's why I generally wait until the last minute to try PL, and look for several $$ savings due to the locked-in policy. Result is I have never found a deal worth taking from PL.

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

My thoughts exactly. I used PL to reserve a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale about 3 years ago for one night between TS resorts. Hurricanes Jean & Francis caused us to change our plans and go from Marco Island to Orlando rather than Stuart. Out the money for the hotel I had booked. That's why I generally wait until the last minute to try PL, and look for several $$ savings due to the locked-in policy. Result is I have never found a deal worth taking from PL.

I use PL and HW regularly. There have been a couple of times when I've had to eat a reservation; I've probably lost a couple of hundred dollars as a result. But I've probably saved close to $2000 using them

I start checking PL and HW for rates as soon as I have firm travel plans. IMHO, if a person can use PL/HW regularly and knows how to work the bidding system to get the best deals, the risks of cancellation are far, far outweighed by the available cost savings.

Not using PL/HW because of the possibility there might be a last-minute change in otherwise firm plans is usually penny-wise and pound-foolish.

[zdxlc9p6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zdxlc9p6]

Iknows how to work the bidding system

Bidding? Obviously I'm ignorant on using the PL system.

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

Bidding? Obviously I'm ignorant on using the PL system.

I'm guessing you've just been using the function of Priceline where they show you a fixed price. There is also a button you can click that says something like "save more, name your own price". That is what you can choose to get into the bidding portion of the site. You might want to go to a site like biddingfortravel.com first and get some information.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

I'm guessing you've just been using the function of Priceline where they show you a fixed price. There is also a button you can click that says something like "save more, name your own price". That is what you can choose to get into the bidding portion of the site. You might want to go to a site like biddingfortravel.com first and get some information.

Very good point. The font is smaller and it's not as overt as the fixed price info. I almost missed that myself as it has been a while since I had ventured over (before Wacky's post) there.
And to your point, go to BiddingFortravel.com - The informed Priceline Travel Bidding Forum to see what about what $$ price point to start at.
I'm still thrilled (and I'm a seasoned traveler).
B.

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

I'm guessing you've just been using the function of Priceline where they show you a fixed price. There is also a button you can click that says something like "save more, name your own price". That is what you can choose to get into the bidding portion of the site. You might want to go to a site like biddingfortravel.com first and get some information.

Right, and the "name your own price" function is the one where you can really save serious, serious money. That's how I got the $12 a day car.

If you take Priceline's fixed price, do you have to pay in advance? I didn't think you were locked in UNLESS you went the "name your own price" route.

Also, note that when you name your own price for a hotel, there is an insurance option available through Priceline, $5 per room per night. If you aren't able to use the room, your money is refunded. Check the terms, though, I don't really know what the deal is there.

Yes, we've had to give up hotel rooms twice--both times because of back problems, once my DH's and once mine! Total there, about $100. We've probably saved that much ten or twenty times over using Priceline for hotels, though.

A word of caution to those who use Priceline for hotels! Some people don't know that if you do not show up for the first night of your reservation, they CANCEL your whole reservation.

It is infuriating, since you have paid in full for your entire stay. BUT I have seen people arguing with desk clerks and managers over this several times.

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

I'm guessing you've just been using the function of Priceline where they show you a fixed price. There is also a button you can click that says something like "save more, name your own price". That is what you can choose to get into the bidding portion of the site. You might want to go to a site like biddingfortravel.com first and get some information.

Right. The fixed price part of the site isn't any different from Orbitz, hotels.com, etc. The savings come only when you bid.

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

The only time I got burned on Priceline, and it was my own darned fault, was when I bid for only one room for our family of 4 in San Francisco. There are pretty clear warnings on biddingfortravel that both SF and NYC won't guarantee a room that will sleep more than 2. So, I gambled and lost.

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

Actually, if you look at the terms, when you bid on Priceline they only guarantee a room for two adults, no matter where you go.

I only had a problem getting two double beds in a room one time. But technically the hotels don't have to do it.

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

Actually, if you look at the terms, when you bid on Priceline they only guarantee a room for two adults, no matter where you go.

I only had a problem getting two double beds in a room one time. But technically the hotels don't have to do it.

Right. When I called the hotel before our stay they told me the room size we'd been assigned. So way to get a larger room or put roll aways in. I guess we "could" have snuck the kids in and have them sleep on the floor. But, we were going to be there for several nights and felt it would be a hardship on all of us.

[zdxlc9p6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zdxlc9p6]

Bidding? Obviously I'm ignorant on using the PL system.

OK, got my head outta the dark space and can see again. Yes, I use the bidding, but on cars can never find anything they will accept that saves me much/anything on the normal reservation I already have. As I stated above, I have a $134 reservation with Alamo for a week, I put in a $10 PL bid, and they responded with a "great deal" of $140. I played with different classes of cars too, and I have tried on previous FL trips, with no success.

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

OK, got my head outta the dark space and can see again. Yes, I use the bidding, but on cars can never find anything they will accept that saves me much/anything on the normal reservation I already have. As I stated above, I have a $134 reservation with Alamo for a week, I put in a $10 PL bid, and they responded with a "great deal" of $140. I played with different classes of cars too, and I have tried on previous FL trips, with no success.

I have my own "method" of bidding on Priceline. I bid what I'm willing to pay. I ignore what Priceline considers a "great deal". If I can't get a car for a substantial savings over the confirmed reservation I alread have (and can cancel with no penalty) I don't continue with the bid. I don't use Priceline a lot, but have had successes with car rentals and hotels (except for my one big goof).

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

The counteroffers from Priceline are dumb. Pay no attention to them. I've had situations where

I bid, say, $30 for a hotel room,

and Priceline told me that the bid had a very low chance of being accepted,

and I said I don't care I'm bidding $30,

and the bid was declined and Priceline said, "We have a hotel that will take your bid if you offer $50"

and I said no to that

and then rebid for $32

and got it!

Oooh, the thrill is in the chase!

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

Those messages from PL about a bid having no chance of being successful can be useful. If you don't get one of those messages, there's a very good chance your bid is too high. You should then consider backing up and lowering your bid.