Priceline Hotel: Avoiding a hotel 4/17-4/19

[vjacobsen]

I will be going to Vegas on April 17 weekend and would love to bid on a 5 star hotel on Priceline. However, I do NOT want to stay at the Trump. Do you have some suggestions for me?

thanks, V

[thereuare]

Use HOTWIRE instead where you can easily avoid the Trump by choosing a hotel with a Casino icon.

What are the actual dates of your stay?

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

Let us know what you decide and how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[vjacobsen]

April 17-19. I wonder, on HOTWIRE, you cannot actually bid on hotels right? (Like on PRICELINE)...if it says for example, $129/night for a 5 star then you would accept that as is and not have an opportunity to bid lower....?

Thanks, V

[thereuare]

Correct. You can read the following thread which outlines the similarities and differences between PRICELINE and HOTWIRE:

I've Never Used Priceline or Hotwire.

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

[cxb384]

I'm basically in the same position of trying to dodge the Trump. I'm wondering if I put in an aggressive bid for a 4* at Strip North (trying for Treasure Island) I might potentially get: "We upgraded you to the Trump!" Do you know if that's possible? I'd much rather have TI. The fact that Trump charges the undisclosed "resort fee" to let you check in and is labeled "On Strip" even though it's a 10-15 min, unlit, walk from the Strip is a rip off. Priceline's model is based on trust and fair dealing and that trust quickly fades when they collect money upfront and then don't provide what they originally offered. Trump should be classified as "Near Strip", otherwise it's a lie.

[vjacobsen]

I will keep checking Hotwire for prices to come down. Thanks for your help. And I will book through this site if I do...

Cheers, V

ps where would I check to see if Trump comes off of the Priceline list?

[thereuare]

I'm basically in the same position of trying to dodge the Trump. I'm wondering if I put in an aggressive bid for a 4* at Strip North (trying for Treasure Island) I might potentially get: "We upgraded you to the Trump!" Do you know if that's possible?

Yes, your 4* bid could be upgraded to a 5* property.

The fact that Trump... is labeled "On Strip" even though it's a 10-15 min, unlit, walk from the Strip is a rip off. Priceline's model is based on trust and fair dealing and that trust quickly fades when they... don't provide what they originally offered. Trump should be classified as "Near Strip", otherwise it's a lie.

If you check PRICELINE's zones, the official name of this zone is "Las Vegas Strip Vicinity North" so there is no lie involved and PRICELINE is delivering what they offered. If the predefined zones don't work for your needs, then don't use PRICELINE for this particular stay. (and use HOTWIRE if that does work for this stay)

As far as the Resort fee goes, that i'm in agreement with, but point the finger more so at the industry then at PRICELINE. I've stated before that any mandatory fee should be included in the room rate... otherwise it's just a way to make a hotel's rate appear less than it really is.

ps where would I check to see if Trump comes off of the Priceline list?

Nobody ever "announces" that a hotel is no longer offered thru PRICELINE or HOTWIRE, so it will likely never come off the list, for as long as it remains a hotel, it is a possibility in this zone. We have seen hotels reported to the board and then never be seen again, as well as hotels won and then never seen again for 2-3 years, so even if a hotel isn't won for awhile doesn't mean they're gone for good (and i suspect in the current hotel market there are a lot of empty rooms, and hotels are looking towards PRICELINE and HOTWIRE once again, in order to help fill them)

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

[vjacobsen]

thanks for your help!

[inspiration100]

Interesting thread... I always wonder why people did NOT want to get the trump (afterall, it seemed like a nice place).

Curious, on checkout couldn't you just ask not to pay the fee, saying that you felt that was a robbery? Most hotels are accommodating if you complain about extra charges. I remember one time I stayed in a hotel without a car and they wanted to force parking charges on me. I just said I felt this was unethical and they immediately removed it from my bill.

[thereuare]

Curious, on checkout couldn't you just ask not to pay the fee, saying that you felt that was a robbery?

You could ask... but you'll still end up paying the fee. :)

Years ago it was easier to get resort fees waived, but it's been becoming increasingly difficult in the last year or so.

As i've stated before, i think this is an industry problem (not PRICELINE or HOTWIRE issue) and any mandatory fees should really be included in the room rate.

[dahammer]

Curious, on checkout couldn't you just ask not to pay the fee, saying that you felt that was a robbery?

PRICELINE hides behind the catch-all warning that there may be fees added by the hotel. I've got no problem paying for things that I use, such as a parking fee or high speed internet. But to tack on a fee that all guests are required to pay is really a shady business practice as it would allow a hotel owner to accept a lower bid than a competitor yet receive higher revenues per winning bid.

Even some of the lesser properties such as South Point casino charge a $10 resort fee and Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch charges a whopping $25 fee per day. If I book this directly, then I'm going in eyes wide open, but I can't exclude a specific hotel through PRICELINE biddng. :)

[INDTim]

I am in the exact position. I want to avoid the Trump. The primary reason I want to avoid the Trump is that it just doesn't have the facilities of other 5* places such as the Wynn or Venetian such as gambling and dining. As far as the resort fee mentioned, I didn't know the Trump even had one and I do hate that it is not a part of the price on PRICELINE.

[vjacobsen]

4-star hotel in Near Strip South

This hotel features the following amenities:

Casino

Casino

Property offers a full-service casino accessible from the lobby.

Fitness Center

Fitness Center

Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply.

Restaurant(s)

Restaurant(s)

Property offers at least one restaurant on the premises; hours and days of operation may vary.

Business Center

Business Center

Guests have access to business equipment and services; an additional charge may apply.

High-speed Internet Access

High-speed Internet Access

Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply.

Golf Nearby

Golf Nearby

Property is located within walking distance or a short drive of at least one golf course; an extra charge typically applies.

Please note that Hotwire cannot guarantee the level of services offered at a property and/or if services are operational at the time of visit. Services may be closed due to seasonality reasons and/or may be closed for renovation.

[thereuare]

Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread, and for future posts, post only the amenity name, not the descriptions, as we know what each represents and it without the descriptions it makes your post easier to read.

The 4* HOTWIRE property above is a match for the South Point so that would be our best guess.

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

Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[cjk999ca]

Though the resort fee at the Trump is annoying, it includes use of a decent gym, pool, and parking. I believe the use of the gym at Palazzo/venetian/wynn is $40 a day! As far as the rooms at the Trump, they are far nicer than TI and even Wynn. Location is a pain in the neck, but it helps to walk off the buffets and clear the smoke from your clothes

[SUPERJ]

If you select 4 star North Strip, which should be Treasure Island, does the system automatically 'include' 5 star hotels or only 4 star? Just curious. Thank you!

I also want to avoid the Trump.

[dahammer]

When bidding, you select the minimum acceptable star rating, you could get upgraded to the 5* Trump. If you proceed, please start a new thread with your dates of travel and please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

[vitasoy1437]

great thread.... interesting in how every1 tries to avoid the trump :) (including myself, after seeing ppl avoiding it and even though i havent stayed there be4 :) )

seems like its easier to get a decent rate thru HOTWIRE?

is the mandalay bay on PRICELINE's list as well coz i dun see it listed when i just searched the rates regularly...

[thereuare]

seems like its easier to get a decent rate thru HOTWIRE?

I think it's more so that it's easier to avoid the Trump.

is the mandalay bay on PRICELINE's list as well coz i dun see it listed when i just searched the rates regularly...

The Mandalay Bay has been reported thru PRICELINE, but see the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ regarding using the "retail" version of PRICELINE to determine what you will get thru the 'name your own price' side of their service.

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

[vjacobsen]

I ended up not booking a hotel through HOTWIRE or PRICELINE for this trip. thanks.

[yellowdog]

vjacobsen

Thanks for the follow-up and closing this thread.

Next time would it be helpful if you post what you did for your stay... it could help other users if/when they have trouble finding accomodations for their own stays. That is what the board is about :)

Yellowdog.