Anyone use Priceline?

[Deleted]

DH and I go to Des Moines every couple of months to visit DS, DDIL and our granddaughter. We stay overnight but like to get a hotel room since their house is small and we like to have our own space.

I shop around for the best rate and usually end up getting one that's non-cancellable and doesn't give loyalty points (e.g. you pay in advance directly to the booking site).  I just realized this is pretty much Priceline's model except you don't know the hotel till you complete the reservation.

We pretty much know what we want- downtown and a decent star rating.  Typically we reserve a month ahead.  What's your experience with Priceline and what's a good price to name as a % of the going rate? 

[wvugurl26]

I've only done express deals for hotels. I knew the area well and picked a star level. It worked well enough.

I would look around at hotels or a similar site for prices. And then I'd probably cut some amount off that and bid. If they don't accept your bid they do tell you how much you should increase it by to be successful.

[bean29]

Feb 19, 2016 9:43:43 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I've only done express deals for hotels. I knew the area well and picked a star level. It worked well enough.

I would look around at hotels or a similar site for prices. And then I'd probably cut some amount off that and bid. If they don't accept your bid they do tell you how much you should increase it by to be successful.

Do you bid on a particular site, or do you go to the hotel chain in particular?

When we went to Georgia 4-5 years ago I used priceline or expedia to book into the Hilton in downtown Atlanta.

I had reserved 2 nights.  We then went to visit my BIL for a few days and returned to Atlanta four our flight home.  The reservation clerk confirmed we had access to wifi and then told us to go back to our room and book a room through expedia b/c she could not even come close to the rate we were paying.  I felt we were pretty safe booking blindly on the **** level.  I think I went for 4 stars on a five star scale.  I asked the clerk how I would know it was the same hotel if I was booking blind, and she told me it would be.    It was though - so all was good.

[wvugurl26]

I used priceline for the express deals and my failed bids. That was nice of the clerk.

I do a combination. I go on price/location and I also have status with Marriott. I visit friends regularly and switch between hotels and staying with them. Plus if I have an early flight I can get Courtyard for $75 total with prepayment.

[justme]

I've used price line once. But the hotel I wanted was the only three and a half star in my search area so I knew I would get that hotel or nothing.

I've used hotwire a lot more with their mystery deals. If you take some time to search you can figure out which hotel it is most of the time. Ya gotta look at resort fees, amenities, and reviewes.