johnp012001

Well, I think for PRICELINE I'd limit to the NMA area. The rates don't seem that high, do hotels here tend to release inventory closer to the date of stay?

Wow, I don't think I've ever asked for help before, but Chicago seems to be a tough town to bid in. Looking at all available sources, it looks like 4* can be won for $75+ with typical being around $110-$120. Certainly don't want to bid $110 if I could have gotten it at $110! Add to that, it seems this is one city where Hotwire and Priceline zones barely match up! So, I'm going with a friend for a weekend in Boystown. Have a definate preference for 2 beds, but could live with a King, and survive with a Queen. Westin Michigan Ave $275 Westin Chicago River North $259 Sheraton $229 Drake $219 Intercontinental $260 Holiday Inn Mart $179 HOTWIRE 4* NMA Fitness/Pool/Restaurant/Business Center/High Speed/Spa $204 3.5* NMA Non-smoking/Fitness/Pool/Restaurant/High Speed/Business Center/Tennis $185 3* NMA Fitness/Restaurant $205 Thanks in advance for any help!

thanks for the information. seems they have covered themselves pretty well, as the few times I have seen these situations has been on last minute deals. They certainly have many ways of protecting themselves!

Ok, don't put too much effort into this. Just got a call, and had a friend admitted to the hospital this morning. Time to go be a friend, and not head to Vegas! However, I am still curious about this, as I will be going soon, and should this situation present itself again, I would love to take advantage of it!

Thanks for the quick response! It's actually for tonight, 11/17.

So, thinking of a last minute trip to Vegas. Hotwire has a 5* North strip for $479. The Venetian has a Venetian Luxury Suite-1 king bed for $239. There are other rooms that are more expensive. When qualifying for the double difference guarantee, do they look at the best price available at the hotel? Or could they say they are selling the Venitian Prima View, which is $619, and would be a savings? Could I really stay at the Venetian for next to nothing?

What have I done? I jumped on a great airfare deal, no struggling to get a good hotel deal! Don't know the area very well, but it appears that the nicest hotels and best tourist areas are downtown. ALL 3* and 4* are showing sold out, except they Wyndham Union Station, which is $179/night. Hotwire has a 3.5* for $53/night, which based on amenities, I think is the Millenium Maxwell House Metrocenter. (Hotwire amenities were: Airport shuttle, restaurant, swimming, fitness center, business center, and laundry. Millenium website is $78/night) This hotel doesn't have the best reviews, and doesn't seem to be in the ideal tourist area. I've bid upto $50 for DT 3*, $55 for 4*. I know this is early, and hopefully availability will improve as we get closer. Any suggestions for other bidding strategies, including other acceptable areas would be appreciated. Also, is this typical for Nashville? Before I bought the plane tickets, I searched online for anything going on that either I shouldn't miss, or that could cause hotel issues, and all I found was Octoberfest on 10/8. Thanks in advance!

Ok, I'm not understanding the multiple rate thing. Wouldn't there have to be some sort of different criteria for each of the rates? Different rooms, different dates? Otherwise, why post 50 different rates at $1 increments? The one hotel who's rate card I was able to see showed they had 3 different priceline rates, but they were applicable during different times. It was $31 for slow periods, $33 for normal periods, and $37 for above normal periods. Someone help me understand this multiple rates for the same day concept!

I agree with a previous poster, that a very WISE property manager would realize that some priceline customers are in fact also customers who book their rooms conventionally. As a matter of fact, I think the biggest mistake most hotels make is not offering SOME sort of benefit to their frequent stayers, even if it's not the normal welcome gifts and points. At least if they did this they would KNOW who their guests were. Today since they don't offer any benefits, they dont' know if you are a once a year vacationer or a road warrier on a weekend with the wife. That being said, there is a "cost" to the hotel to put you in a more popular room. They do need to spread wear and tear across all their rooms. Imagine if you sat on one end of your couch, but never sat on the other. I always assume I'm going to get the worst room in the place, then I'm plesantly surprised if I don't. The one time I had a clerk say "since your reservation was with Priceline we've reserved a smoking double room for you." I just replied in a slightly louder than normal voice, "Oh well, I guess I can't complain since I only paid $XX for the room anyway." I figured I'd made the next few minutes of her day a bit more uncomfortable, as I'd gotten the room for about 60% off the lowest internet rate I could find.

Priceline is definately the place to get a better price on a 5* in Vegas. 75% of the time when I've looked Hotwire's price has been higher, or within $1 of venetian.com rates. I still think this is deceptive, as hotwire is setting their price lower to satisfy their low price guarantee, but your overall cost is greater than booking direct. Then I'm sure that since they are selling a posted rate, they are probably getting a comission from the hotel as well. Now they're making more than another travel agent making the same booking.

Bid up to $36 on Thursday. Bid $37 today, counteroffered $47, added rebid zone, $39 and got the Holiday Inn Portland Downtown. 1441 Ne Second Ave Portland, Oregon 97232 503 233 2401 Your Offer Price: $39.00 Number of Rooms: 2 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $78.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $17.58 Total Charges: $95.58

so, does Hotwire have any objective standards for star ratings like priceline does? Without it there really is not disputing the ratings, as they really are subjective. Also, how do they ensure that the rooms the hotel actually assigns actually meet the rating? There are plenty of stories of hotels offering up rooms that don't meet the quality rating, even if the hotel may have rooms that do.

Thanks! When I have some time, I'll try and post some priceline results. An interesting thing, I called the Boardwalk and asked which type of room I had been booked in. They indicated it was the "Steeplechase" rooms, which is a 6 story portion of the hotel still attached to the Casino area. The hotel also offers "Luna" rooms, which are in a 4 story motel type building, and Tower rooms, in the main tower. I asked what the rate for this Steeplechase room would be if I booked directly with the hotel, and she indicated they don't sell those rooms direct, they are only available through wholesalers. So, I'll post some results after the trip, but this sounds like it could be a classic case of the "Priceline/Hotwire Room". Incidently, I'm still pissed that the overall cost was more than booking directly with the hotel, though now it's hard to know, since I could be in a superior room :) or an inferior room. I talked to my credit card issuer, and since Hotwire now bills with a description of "Hotwire - Sales Final", they will not take a chargeback request, even in the even of contract violations. Interesting view on the Fair Credit Billing Act. I guess they are hoping you'll just go away, but if you're really persistant, and believe there was a contract violation, the bank has now opened itself up to litigation. OH well, they've got plenty of lawyers.

Didn't see this one on your list: Casino, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Tennis, Business Center, Laundry, "Best Value". Best Value my ass! Hotwire total price, $114.95, hotel website $109. Of course, no double difference, as the base rate is a dollar less. Amazing thing is they won't do ANYTHING for me! I think it's a contract breach myself, since their website says "Are you ready for travel savings? We get substantially reduced prices on airfares, hotel rooms and car rentals. You choose your destination and date of travel - we'll show you the best deal available." Wouldn't be so torqued about getting this hotel if I had actually realized substantially reduced prices or even "the best deal available". Oh well, back to Priceline.