Priceline Hotel: Priceline for South America

[AEmgee]

I noticed that Priceline now offers the "Name Your Own Price" option for select South American destinations.

In particular:

Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA = 3* and 2*

Lima, PERU = 4* and 3*

Any idea which hotels Priceline would have? I note that on their opaque side they list the following:

Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA

4* (not available to bid) Hilton Buenos Aires, Intercontinental Buenos Aires, Marriott Plaza Hotel Buenos Aires

3* Golden Tulip Savoy Hotel, Dazzler Tritone, Imperial Park Hotel, Colon Hotel, Aspen Towers Hotel, Dazzler Suites Arroyo, Feirs Park Hotel, Melia Recoleta Plaza, Dazzler Libertad, Esplendor De Buenos Aires

2* Howard Johnson Express Inn Buenos Aires Ag, Best Western Monumental Hotel & Spa, Abasto Plaza Hotel, Holiday Inn Express Puerto Madero

Lima, PERU

4* JW Marriott, Del Pilar Miraflores Hotel, Melia Lima

3* Sheraton Lima Hotel and Casino, Delfines Summit Hotel And Casino

It might be very risky being a guinea pig for these places (especially Lima), as having a hotel in a poor location could be downright dangerous!

[Dman]

Well I've been bidding for a place in Buenos Aires for the beginning of May. So far, I've not been successful, but I've really been bottom fishing, and have only gone up to $51 a night for a 3*. But according to the hint, the "median price of a 3* in Buenos Aires is $90" So, it would seem that something in the $60s should result in a winning bid.

BTW, there's a catch that I just discovered - Hotels in Buenos Aires include 21% VAT, which is is refundable at the airport if you present your receipts as proof that you spent the money in Argentina under your name. And the Taxes and fees for rooms in BA definitely includes this, as the overall fees added up to well over 25% of my bid amount. But if you spent it on PL, in the U.S., I doubt that you could get it refunded.

New Info: I have since upped my bid to $55 and then $60 for the first week in May, and still been rejected for a 3*. I don't think I'm willing to go any higher with an opaque site like Priceline, as I can get a known good 2* boutique place for $75-80 or so in a neighborhood that I want to be in, and I should be able to get the VAT refunded on that as well.

[eaglelip]

About the VAT, are you sure that you can get a refund of the VAT on hotels and other consumables? In Europe, you can not. You only get a refund on items that you can take with you. At the airport, you must show the item along with the receipt in order to get a refund. This means that you must carry-on these items as the VAT desk is after security.

[Dman]

About the VAT, are you sure that you can get a refund of the VAT on hotels and other consumables? In Europe, you can not. You only get a refund on items that you can take with you. At the airport, you must show the item along with the receipt in order to get a refund. This means that you must carry-on these items as the VAT desk is after security.

No, I'm not sure. But I have heard it from multiple sources that you can, including either Frommer's or Fodor's.

[maynard7]

Looking at the regular Priceline web site, all the hotels are either at the airport, San Isidro, downtown Lima or Miraflores. Lima is a huge city, and I would not bid on anything, as you have no idea which neighborhood you'll be in. Priceline really needs to break Lima into different districts. IMHO, Miraflores is the best neighborhood, which mosts tourists would want to be in, or San Isidro (more for business). In Miraflores you can walk to everything, and you are near the ocean. The Delfines is in San Isidro, which is a nice area, but not near the ocean, and nothing really touristy to do. The Melia is also in San Isidro. But the Sheraton is near the historic Lima downtown (which isn't horribly dangerous, but not nearly as nice as San Isidro or Miraflores. You run too much of a risk bidding here, unless you really don't care where you are. I've been to Lima 5 times, and I will only stay in Miraflores.

[jmrog]

Maynard,  well said. Totally agree. Priceline needs to divide Lima up into districts.  Most people will want to stay Miraflores unless you are very adventurous :)