Priceline Hotel: What to do?

[Willow Branch]

I'm not sure if I can bid, or if I should just book this conventionally.

Two families will be meeting together.....one family will be coming on Thursday night & staying thru Sat. night. The other family will be coming in on Friday night & staying thru Sat. night as well & of course want to stay at the same hotel.

How would I do this? Would I Bid for 2 rooms starting on Friday night & hope to get an "extend your stay" on the acceptance page? BUT then, I believe that I would have to extend my stay for both rooms, right?

Is there any creative way that you could suggest?? I'm thinking that this probably will not work.

Any advise would be appreciated!!

[thereuare]

There are a few ways to play this... is this for Chicago?

What are the actual dates of the stay(s), your desired star rating, and maximum budget?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[Willow Branch]

Yes, it is the Chicago area.....meaning that we need to stay in the Palos Heights area (the closest that Priceline has hotels is in the "Tinley Park" or "Matteson" areas. Unfortunately, 2.5 is the highest star rating available for this area. One family is going to check in on Thursday, Sept. 18 & we are going to meet them & check in on Friday, Sept. 19.

I had a feeling you had creative methods, but I also realize that this probably will not work since we do have specific perameters!

If you are unable to help, I certainly UNDERSTAND!!! HOWEVER, I sure would be interested in what you would beable to do if we were staying in another area. You must have something under your sleeve that I do not know about. :) :)

THANKS in advance for all your friendly help!! I LOVE this site!!

Willowbranch

[thereuare]

I would forgo PRICELINE for this stay and consider HOTWIRE and there would be two main ways to pla it:

1) you could see if the same hotel (based upon the star rating and amenities) are offered for both stays (not the prefered method for if there is only one room available, it may appear on a search for both sets of dates, but then once the first purchase is made, may not longer appear for the second purchase). However, if not changing hotels is more important than both groupsstaying at the same hotel then this may be an option)

2) search for one room for 9/18 and then 2 rooms for 9/19-9/21 to see if the same hotel appears (again, based upon the amenities and star rating) This would be the prefered method since it guarantees the same hotel for the two nites which overlap, and hopefully, if all goes well (

Doing this for your dates does what appears to be the same 2.5* and 3* hotel(s) appear for your dates. However, the savings don't seem too great vs. conventionallyl booked rates at similarly rated properties (when i checked thru Expedia)

Let us know your thoughts and whatever you end up doing for this stay or if we can be of further help.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. (or if you do end up booking direct, please check our support page for a link)

[Willow Branch]

WOW, you are incredibly QUICK!!! I just posted my response & there you had an answer already!!

I am just such a Priceline fanatic --I'm so use to getting a room for a fantastic price that I just hate the thought of paying retail! However, after looking at Hotwire, I figure that I might just as well bite the bullet & book my room like "most" people do--conventionally!! Then at least I can hand-pick my hotel.

I haven't book conventionally for the last 5 - 6 years--OUCH!!!!

Thanks for ALWAYS being sooooooo helpful!!

Willow Branch