vanclan

I have often benefitted from reviews posted on Better Bidding about the hotels won in priceline bids. I'd like to post a review of a recent stay...but cannot find the spot to post reviews. Please advise...

Started at $37, went up in increments of $2.00 til got a win at $41.00 Quality Inn and Suites 1120 Dearness Drive, London ON N6E 1N9 Bid Won $41.00 Taxes etc. 12.22 Total 53.22 US Used SavingsBarn.com Other priceline wins for this hotel have mentioned it also includes a continental breakfast.... Another Hotel to add to your list :) Thanks again for this site and all your help.

Another question....thanks for being SO patient!! We are planning to bid on a priceline stay, however, since we can't leave home til nearly 10 pm, we won't arrive at our destination until around 1am-1:30 am. I would, of course, phone the hotel directly after we won the bid and inform them of this. However I read one post on this board that indicated that, even after phoning the motel, a person's reservations for remaining nights were cancelled when they didn't show the first night. Is this a common problem? Will I risk losing my reservation due to this extremely late check in? I'd hate to arrive and find at that hour that I didn't have a bed :) Thanks for your advice...

I KNOW I've read the answer to this question somewhere on this forum....but I can't locate it when I now need it! When bidding on Priceline, do you start with the higher star level (ie 2 star) and, if rejected, move down a star level (to a 1 star) OR do you start with the lower level and move up? If the policy is to start with the higher level, do you tend to leave your bid the same when you move down the star level, or increase it for the lower level. I just need a room to sleep in so really don't care what level I win at. Thanks for your help.

Through the Barn....last minute booking. Probably could have got it for less, but didn't want to risk not having a room. Decided to stay in Oshawa rather than fighting the traffic from cottagers returning to Toronto on Thanksgiving Day. Worked real well. Continental Breakfast included without any extra charge. Your Offer Price: $45.00 (US dollars) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $45.00 (US dollars) Taxes and Service Fees: $10.16 (US dollars) Total Charges: $55.16 (US dollars) This will add an listing for Oshawa....hope it helps someone else.

Just returned from our stay at Pickering comfort Inn. Glad to report that at check in we were given a Non smoking room with no additional charge. Desk attendant was very kind and accomodating. by the way the Choice hotel site lists this motel as having a complimentary breakfast. This is not correct as breakfast is $2.99. We didn't need it....so i can't comment on it. Great Stay! Super deal.

Glad to hear this isn't a common occurrence....I've only used priceline a few times so I wasn't sure. I think I'll follow your advice and not pay for the non smoking unless it is really necessary....and as was stated earlier ... perhaps it was a non smoking guest previous to me too. No matter....it's a night away at a GREAT price and I'm happy!!

Just an update to this thread. The day after I won the bid, I placed a call to the hotel to request a non smoking room. Sure enough the room was a smoking room....BUT, they stated it will cost $11.00 to upgrade to a non smoking room. They stated priceline rooms were non smoking with two double beds. Interesting...I'd never run into an additonal charge for a non smoking room before....I left the reservation with the smoking room...hoping I can negotiate something when we get there. Unless someone has another suggestion?? Just thought those bidding in this area might want to be aware of this.

Comfort Inn Pickering, ON (2* in the Scarborough/Pickering area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.) I've never run across this additional charge in any Canadian hotel I've stayed in before.....perhaps because it was purchased through Priceline??? It's only one night...and probably won't be that bad...

Yesterday we bid and won a room on Priceline. As I have always done in the past, I then phoned the hotel today to request a non smoking room. I have never encountered an additional charge for this. I was told that there was an additional charge of $11.00 for a non smoking room. Is this normal? I was very surprised. And from those non smokers who have been in smoking rooms...how much smoking odour might I encounter?? Thanks for any input or help.

First Bid on 1 star $35.00 was accepted and upgraded to a 2* Price $35.00 Taxes/SC 10.34 TOTAL $45.35 Perhaps I should have started lower....never dreamed I'd get a room in the Toronto area for under $35.00. I'm happy...all I need is a roof over my head for a one night stay. Glad to be able to add another hotel to your Toronto list!

I'm sure this is covered somewhere, but I need to post before leaving for work and don't have time for a good search....sorry.... Is the 72 hour rebid an actual 72 firmhours...or is it three calender days. ie if I bid tonight (24th) after work and am turned down completely (using all strategies) can I then rebid on Dec 27th am before leaving for my trip or do I have to wait til the evening to rebid. the opportunity came up for a quick trip and I have only used priceline a couple of times and both times I had plenty of time to rebid. Thanks for your help and have a great Christmas.

All bids placed through Savingsbarn.com First time bidding....$60, added Miramar $65, added Pompano bid $71.00 all bids rejected. 72 hours later... Bid 65.00 counter offer of 17.00 Added Miramar and bid 71.00 rejected Added Pompano Beach and bid 75.00 ACCEPTED (still only $10.00 more than the original bid rather than the $17.00 counter offer.) Hotel Received: Renaissance Fort Lauderdale (upgraded to a 4*) 1617 Southeast 17th Street Fort Lauderdale FL 33316 1 Room 1 Night $75.00 Taxes and Service Fees 15.56 TOTAL PAID 90.56 Theuerare I'm glad to have my final night established. the cost is less than the $124.00 for Amerisuites on Hotwire....that much difference does make a move worthwhile. I did consider trying hotwire FL beach for some of the hotels that were around 55.00-58.00 but had no idea what hotels they might be and how far they might be from Amerisuites. Looking at the map Renaissance is down 17th street from Amerisuites and there is a city bus right by the door-we shouldn't incur too much expense in the move and hopefully it will be quick and easy! Thanks again for your help...this site is awesome!

Tried and rejected...will keep trying for a few times and will post any success or further questions.

I have two a 2 night stay in Amerisuites Hotel in FL on November 3 & 4 /04. There is no vacancy in Amerisuites for my final night Nov 5th. Only place we have found inventory for Amerisuites for that night is through valuetrips.com at $124.00 per night OUCH! If necessary I'd rather move than have to pay that for one night. Please advise a bidding strategy for Downtown, or if necessary Beach for that final night. Thanks for your help.

Amerisuites accepted the bid of $51.00. Perhaps I could have got it lower-I had bid $50.00 before and didn't get it-as I said that was probably due to the Friday night problem. since inventory seems tight for that period, I'm satisfied with that. I'll start a new thread now and wait for your input. Thanks again.

Thereuare: thanks SO much for allyour help. On a whim, I decided to try Priceline for 2.5* for the first two nights and got it right off! surprise. I guess the completely booked Amerisuites on Friday night was preventing our bid from being accepted. So now I'm just looking for something for Friday night...likely downtown. any suggestions. If I bid 3* on Priceline what should I start out with and what should I do with my two free rebids (Pompano and Miramar.) (ie how much should I go up each rebid.) I've never rebid on Priceline before. A special thank you for all the specific advice that you give and for your patience...it shows. We use Savings Barn for bids and have noted the other supportive sites you mention.

Reader0108598 I understand it as you are that you can use it for anything charged to your room. The problem is the 2 night stay ... Marriot just costs a lot! We bought these vouchers using our airmiles for a very special stay at a Marriot. Airmiles didn't tell us we could use only ONE voucher at a time! So we had two extra ones. The only thing we've found to do with them is give them to a friend who is planning a visit to a Marriot. We gave one to my DH's boss and they used it.

Reader0108598 I understand it as you are that you can use it for anything charged to your room. The problem is the 2 night stay ... Marriot just costs a lot! We bought these vouchers using our airmiles for a very special stay at a Marriot. Airmiles didn't tell us we could use only ONE voucher at a time! So we had two extra ones. The only thing we've found to do with them is give them to a friend who is planning a visit to a Marriot. We gave one to my DH's boss and they used it.

Voucher is a Bonus Bucks...can only be used in a Marriot or (Renaissance I think) not in the budget brand of Marriot. Can only be used when booked for a two night stay. Can be used for anything charged to the room. I had not thought to use it because 1. Marriot doesn't have frig, m/w landry etc. thus forcing us to eat out a lot more 2. If I use Priceline to get Marriot can't use it on the cost of room One question with your vast experience...if I reserve with Value trips for the first two nights. They don't require a cancellable back up UNLESS you need a guarantee of the room for after 4 PM. We don't get in until after 11 pm. If I give me credit card number-would it be a problem to cancel. I'm, thinking not...but just being cautiouus. Do you think E.S. would be over 124 even on a Priceline bid? I'm only antsy to bid since finding out the rooms were all taken for Fri. night. (We've had the cruise booked for months...but I held off bidding because I thought there was more inventory closer to day...look what I learned!) Some other hotels are showing full on that night too....I may like to camp, but a cardboard box on the streets of FL wouldn't appeal to me :) LOL

Yes, our stay is 11/3 to 11/6...I'm just making it more confusing! :) according to website, Value Trips was $69 for 11/3 and 11/4...but nothing open for 11/5. I'd rather move than pay $124 for the final night. Thanks for suggesting checking into taxi fares...I am doing htat now. 3 *Embassy Suites is less than 1/2 mile away and Marina Marriot about 4 miles if my calulations are correct. If I have to split the bid-that might be the way to go since I know how far away those 2 motels are. Original budget was low-we were hoping for 150-175US for the 3 nights. (We jokingly say that since we are from Canada-our dollar is worth-less....but it does mean that we are paying about 35% more in exchange. Now that amerisuites is booked Nov 5th, we will have to up that some-would love to keep it under 200 US if possible. IF you think I will HAVE to split the bid...I wondered about bidding Amerisuites for the first 2 nights...what should I try to bid for it. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. another thing to throw into the mix (and stir it up a bit.) I DO have a coupon for $100.00 off at least a 2 night Marriot stay. I hadn't planned on using it since 1) it could only be used for meals or something since it isn't for Priceline and 2) Using Priceline I could not be guaranteed to get the Marriot. Looking foward to your opinions on all of this!

Need 3 nights precruise Nov. 3-5th. Tried priceline numberous times for 2.5*. Was hoping for Amerisuites=like the idea of frig, microwave, breakfast and self landry facilities (Doing this stay on a budget :) will not have vehicle so will depend on taxi/city bus-plan to explore downtown/beach area while in Fort Lauderdale. We are two adults who are used to exploring on our own. Always rejected on Priceline for the 2.5*. Decided to book cancelable backup Amerisuites on Valuetrips.com. Found out Amerisuites is totally booked for Friday Nov 5th. Should I try Priceline for the first two nights and plan to move somewhere? Where would you suggest if I were to move? What other options might you suggest. Open to any suggestions. Thanks for your help!

Can you give me the dates for the boat show? I'm trying to get 2.5* (Amerisuites) for November 3rd-6th. Hopefully boat show is finished by then???

Just returned-had a great stay. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Note Location-it is just off I 75 Exit 198. IF you use mapquest, or yahoo, and map this address, it will map another location in Toldeo. Staff say every weekend they have folks calling them who are "lost" due to the fact they followed the internet mapping directions-be sure and call the hotel if you need further info. Continental Breakfast was Eng. Muffins, 3 types of muffins, donuts, bagels, orange, and cranberry juice, hot/cold cereals, coffee, tea, hot chocolate. It is true they replentished the tables often-even 10 minutes before breakfast was finished. Great deal on priceline.

The report on the possibility of a nice breakfast is encouraging-especially at these rates! Our stay is tomorrow and Saturday night...I'll report back what I find!