Priceline Hotel: San Juan bidding

I have submitted 3 bids for certain dates on Priceline for the San Juan area within the past few nights. Tonight I submitted a bid for a stay involving a different date, whch was also rejected. However, this time there was a notation near the block where the bid goes that said something like Priceline guaranteed I would get a hotel "or we will give you $25".

I didn't notice that notation on my previous bids, although I guess I might have missed it. Can anyone tell me what the deal is w/that? I got the impression it would be some sort of special coupon to use the next time I bid that was worth $25 or something (although I don't know how they could offer that or people would be bidding ridiculous amounts to get the $25). FYI, my bid categories were all for resort level, except one incl. 4 stars. They were were within the lower range of many bids that have been accepted for those levels.

In some of the posts below I have seen comments w/reference to a $25 "bonus". Is that related? I thought perhaps the $25 mentioned was a bonus to use towards payment of a later, successful bid.

Can anyone explain what I am apparently not picking up on?

Thanks for any input.

Wondering if there is any evidence or anyone has any experience involving what time of day seems to work best for bidding?

In particular, does anyone feel they have had more success at a certain time w/regard to Puerto Rico wins? I'm skipping my

chance to bid again tonight as I have not had luck so far. Perhaps my luck will change if I try it during normal business hours.

I have answered you before about this: This link

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Yellowdog.

You are right, Yellowdog. Sorry! (I can't remember what I did 2 days ago, much less in 2009!) Thanks again.

I will answer my own ? just in case anyone else is interested. When I ran into this again today, I clicked on the work "Guarantee". It just pertains to IF someone finds a CHEAPER rate than what they win through Priceline, there is a form you fill out to get the $25. However, if you ask me, the IF should show up in the promise you will get a great price (as it alludes to the fact that you will when you fill in the box w/your bid beneath it).

There are true "bonus" rewards though. They don't happen very often, but are worth watching for. Sometimes you get an email notification that you are getting one. Sometimes they just appear in your account. When you are signed on to Priceline look in the My Profile area up at the top, and then in My Rewards. If you have one, that is where you will find it.

You still should click through this site to start your bidding, then click through the Bonus money.

They sometimes happen when one has been bidding unsuccessfully for quite a while. Other times they show up after you've gotten a bid and made the trip.

Other times there seems to be no apparent trigger.

Also, there is a coupon in the Entertainment Book that is good for $20 off a bid. You have to check the fine print on it. I seem to remember it was a certain star level and up and a certain minimum number of days.

Thanks for answering your own previous question, and saving somebody from looking up the answer and sending a response.

Romelle

There is no best time of day, or specific best time of the week. However, if your stay is a few months or more away, I'd pick a desired "ceiling" for the time being and bid up to that point once a week or so. As it gets closer to your stay (depending on how far off it is), then if your bid isn't getting accepted, move up the ceiling or consider alternatives.

If your stay is coming up soon (within weeks), then you could bid every day or every other day in an attempt to get something within your budget.

It also depends on star rating, time of year/specific date and other factors.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

I don't this is as complicated as you're making it out to be... if you win a hotel and then find a lower rated, PRICELINE will match the rate and also give you $25 (thereby in theory making your deal $25 better than the best deal you were able to find elsewhere... not including booking fees)

Full details and terms: Priceline Big Deal Guarantee

What zones, dates and star levels you bidding in San Juan and what bid amounts have you made?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Romelle, thanks for the info. on the bonus perks, etc., and how to watch for some types. Yes, I did see the Priceline coupon in the Entertainment Coupon book the other day, but our first stay is only for 2 nts. and the last is just for one.

thereware, no, it's not complicated at all - NOW. Initially, it didn't come across to me that it was simply a price guarantee. I was misconstruing it. At first, , it seemed to me mean that my BID was guaranteed to get a "win", OR they would pay me $25 (which I figured was a coupon or something to use for a future booking).

I have bid several amts. between $90 & $115 for resort level, and once incl. 4* as well for dates during the last wk. of Feb. w/no luck. Area was San Juan only. Carolina might be fine, except there is one hotel I really do not want to end up w/in that areathat might come up .

For this stay (the one discussed above) what are the date(s) you're bidding for?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.