Priceline Hotel: newbie What if only one hotel has a 2* hotel

[johnthelineman]

Hope you guys can assist with my bidding. First time I will be bidding on Priceline. Going to Cooperstown to visit the baseball hall of fame. Looked at priceline for hotels and only one hotel has a 2* rating (holiday inn, a hotel we like)

Does this mean that if I bid on a 2* hotel and my bid is accepted it would be the holiday inn because there are no other 2,3,4 or 5* hotels listed on priceline?? the only other hotel with a rating is a 1* and there are 4 with no rating at all. what do you think?? Should I assume that if I bid on a 2* it would be the holiday inn??? Thanks

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site. The retail side of PRICELINE is not the same as the bidding side. While bidding on a 2* might get you the Holiday Inn, it may also get a different property in the area. As you noted though, there are VERY few hotels in this area (kind of surprising, given the baseball Hall of Fame.) Given the few hotels in this area, I do wonder if there's going to be much in the way of PRICELINE inventory (and also, if there's really going to be much in the way of discounting done on rates.)

Please use the site's HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links, and let us know more details (dates, budget) if you need assistance with bidding.

[johnthelineman]

While bidding on a 2* might get you the Holiday Inn, it may also get a different property in the area.

My question is if there is only one 2* hotel in Pricelines circle of choices, am I to assume that my bid would be for THAT HOTEL?? They couldn't send me to a hotel not LISTED or RATED can they???

[dahammer]

My question is if there is only one 2* hotel in Pricelines circle of choices

where do you see the circle of choices?

What are your dates of travel?

[johnthelineman]

I was calling the 'Name your own Price Area Map' the circle of choice. We are traveling 5/13/09-5/15/09 2 adults and 1 12y/o child. I don't have a problem staying at the Holiday Inn (2*) but I don't think we would like the Red Carpet Inn (unrated) . If I am bidding only on the Holiday Inn (only 2*) that would give me an advantage I think.

[thereuare]

My question is if there is only one 2* hotel in Pricelines circle of choices, am I to assume that my bid would be for THAT HOTEL?? They couldn't send me to a hotel not LISTED or RATED can they???

How do you know there is only one 2* rated hotel in this zone? It sounds as if you're using the "retail" product (where the hotel names are shown before purchase) to determine what you will get thru the "name your own price" (bidding) service. If this is the case, the two sides of their service use a different universe of hotels. See the related link in our picelinefaq for additional info on this subject.

Also, note that PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy (it appears you'll be triple occupancy)... see one of the other related links in our PRICELINE FAQ.

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

[johnthelineman]

I used the 'name your own price' service. Only ONE 2* hotel (the holiday inn exp.) and there are no 3,4 or 5* hotels. Only other RATED hotel is a 1*. I like the Holiday Inn. Has nice amenities.

We would see if we could upgrade our room if we get a good deal. Hopefully they would only ask we pay the diffrence between the cost of the discounted room and the price of the upgrade. We are going mid-week (wednesday and thursday nights) so I don't think they will be even close to being full.

[thereuare]

How do you know there is only one 2* rated hotel in this zone?

I used the 'name your own price' service.

Since the "name your own price" service doesn't give the name(s) of the hotels, how do you know that the Holiday Inn is the only one??

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

[johnthelineman]

Aren't the hotels listed and rated on the hotels retail site the ONLY hotels that would be involved in the 'name your own price' site. I would imagine that the 'name your own price' hotels would have to be within the same distance of Cooperstown and they would have to have a * rating.

[dahammer]

Aren't the hotels listed and rated on the hotels retail site the ONLY hotels that would be involved in the 'name your own price' site.

Not every hotel that participates in the retail "shop and compare" site participates in the bidding "name your own price" site. You should take a look at Expedia or Orbitz and see some of the other hotels that might fit into the PRICELINE map.

[thereuare]

Aren't the hotels listed and rated on the hotels retail site the ONLY hotels that would be involved in the 'name your own price' site.

NOPE! See the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

In fact if you do a PRICELINE "retail" search, then click the "name your own price" link on the top left corner of the "matrix" of hotel offerings, a message appears that the hotels thru the Name Your Own Price may or may not be the ones you saw on the previous page.

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

[johnthelineman]

Thanks so much thereuare. We are going to book at the Best Western down the block. It has the same ammenities and once I use a 'promo code' I found on the internet and a $50 gift card I recieved from my credit card miles, the cost would only be minumum. Last thing I would want is to be in a unacceptable hotel that I knew nothing about. Thanks for all the info and posts everyone!!!

[thereuare]

Please note, as per our support page, that we're an affiliate of the Best Western, so please use our link for your hotel direct reservation.

Enjoy your stay.