Priceline - Using it for the first time

[D-Roc]

I would like to use Priceline for my Ottawa trip in Feb. When I put a bid in say 100 for a 4 star in downtown Ottawa, what will happen if Priceline does not come up with any in that price range? Will it offer up lower rated hotels (3 stars) that meet my price or do I have to search again?

[Kris81]

First off, $100 is probably a higher bid, i'd go maybe $80.

If your bid is way off base, it'll just reject it & tell you to try something new. Either try from a new computer, or wait 24 hours.

If you are within the range, they might pop up a window that says "Your bid of $80 was not accepted, but if you are willing to pay $92 that can be accepted". If you are cool with that, you put it in & the deal is made.

[peano]

I would start at $60. $100 is way too high. You have lots of time. Every 24 hours you can bid again.

[need2save]

Better yet, if there are any Priceline bidding zones in Ottawa that don't have four-star hotels, you can take advantage of that to rebid immediately. Priceline will allow you to rebid without waiting 24 hours as long as you change at least one of your search parameters -- in this case, the areas you're willing to include. Just be sure the zone(s) you've added really don't have four-star hotels (so you don't accidentally end up in one of them) by checking sites like BetterBidding.com, where you'll also be able to see what rates other people recently scored.

I haven't looked at Ottawa personally, so if there's only one bidding zone there, or if all the bidding zones have hotels that are four star or higher, then this strategy won't work.

[D-Roc]

Thanks for all the info.


go to betterbidding dot com (http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showforum=162) and it will explain it all....

I did read through that site before I posted and that is how I saw someone getting a 4 star for under a hundred.

[Kris81]

Please realize that in Canada & USA there is not a big difference between a 3 star & a 4 star. I remember reading that the main difference is the hotel amenities, but not anything that would affect your day by day stay. Like a 4 star might have 5 conference rooms & 3 banquet halls compared to 1 for a 3 star. They might offer room service with a fee in a 4 star but not in a 3 star. You might get laundry service in a 4 but not a 3.


I have found a 3 star is usually the best value you can get.

[D-Roc]

That is good information. Thanks.

[Kris81]

Also, here's a bit more information. to get an idea of what hotels you would be getting on the "make your own price" just search priceline first for regular prices at the star rating. so put a 4 star in and see what shows up. The list that shows up there are more than likely the ones you will have a choice to bid on. So go down to 2.5 or 2 and if you are still satisfied lower your bid even more.

[D-Roc]

Is there ever a chance I would ever pay more than what is advertised on say hotels.com?

[Kris81]

Is there ever a chance I would ever pay more than what is advertised on say hotels.com?

You mean hotels.ca? There is always a chance, hotels.ca at times has pretty good deals. They used to always advertise the Fallsview Plaza in Niagara falls for $60 a night, which was a great deal! Much like anything, there is always a gamble. YOu can also try hotwire.com, it's not a bid but it will tell you "you can have a 4 star hotel for $86 a night" .

[matdwyer]

Is there ever a chance I would ever pay more than what is advertised on say hotels.com?

You choose what you'll pay, so you decide that. If it is cheaper on Hotels.ca, then do that, cheaper on hotwire, do that, etc. They might have packages directly at the hotel which may include tickets for other things you might want to do as well, so check into those (i.e. sens tickets, a concert, etc)

[D-Roc]

You mean hotels.ca? There is always a chance, hotels.ca at times has pretty good deals. They used to always advertise the Fallsview Plaza in Niagara falls for $60 a night, which was a great deal! Much like anything, there is always a gamble. YOu can also try hotwire.com, it's not a bid but it will tell you "you can have a 4 star hotel for $86 a night" .

Type in hotels.ca and you are taken to hotels.com

[TinyTank]

Please realize that in Canada & USA there is not a big difference between a 3 star & a 4 star. I remember reading that the main difference is the hotel amenities, but not anything that would affect your day by day stay. Like a 4 star might have 5 conference rooms & 3 banquet halls compared to 1 for a 3 star. They might offer room service with a fee in a 4 star but not in a 3 star. You might get laundry service in a 4 but not a 3.


I have found a 3 star is usually the best value you can get.

agreed. i used pricline for orlando recently. My choices were either the rosen center (4 stars) or the hyatt (3.5 stars) for around the same price. Hyatt- free parking, free internet, free breakfast!

[TorontoEh]

agreed. i used pricline for orlando recently. My choices were either the rosen center (4 stars) or the hyatt (3.5 stars) for around the same price. Hyatt- free parking, free internet, free breakfast!

I'm on the fence too and was bidding for hotels in Orlando, mind sharing the benchmark in pricing I should start with Hyatt?

[TrevorK]

Is there ever a chance I would ever pay more than what is advertised on say hotels.com?

Absolutely. Because you do not know the name of the hotel ahead of time you might end up with a "crappy" hotel in your star range that routinely goes on sale. It's a little more work, but I always reference the Hotwire "Hotprice" (or whatever their hidden hotel name is) hotel. These hotels are usually very easy to figure out (with the help of betterbidding and that) and may give you more peace of mind when buying it blindly.

There have been times I booked a hotel through Hotwire because I didn't like one or more of the possibilities through Priceline. With Hotwire you can guarantee things like a pool, etc. that you can't with Pricelines Name your own Price.

[D-Roc]

What are peoples thoughts on Arc The Hotel? Anyone stay there before?

http://travela.priceline.com/hotel/hotelOverviewGuide.do?key=gxdav27c&propID=65556&jsk=721510ac5463010a20120113142524aec021576745&plf=PCLN

Trip advisor shows some really great and recent reviews.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g155004-d182981-Reviews-ARC_The_Hotel-Ottawa_Ontario.html

[sienna owner]

What are peoples thoughts on Arc The Hotel? Anyone stay there before?

http://travela.priceline.com/hotel/hotelOverviewGuide.do?key=gxdav27c&propID=65556&jsk=721510ac5463010a20120113142524aec021576745&plf=PCLN

Trip advisor shows some really great and recent reviews.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g155004-d182981-Reviews-ARC_The_Hotel-Ottawa_Ontario.html

try tripadvisor for reviews or any sort....course, always take with a grain of salt...

[D-Roc]

try tripadvisor for reviews or any sort....course, always take with a grain of salt...

I did check. That is why I posted a link to the reviews of this hotel.

[D-Roc]

I was able to score the downtown Marriott (4 star) for 90.00 US. Saved 41%. I am very happy with this. Total is 213.54 US

[kryton619]

I was able to score the downtown Marriott (4 star) for 90.00 US. Saved 41%. I am very happy with this. Total is 213.54 US

Good for you! At the end of the day if you are happy with the deal that you received that is all that matters.

[peano]

good stuff. priceline?

[D-Roc]

Good for you! At the end of the day if you are happy with the deal that you received that is all that matters.

Considering the area it seems that 2 and 2.5 stars were even starting around 95 to 110.00 on hotels.com and Hotwire seemed to suggest 90 to 94 for 2 stars as well. I do not think I did too badly, but then again this is my first time so I hope I did do well.





***Edit - well it looks like on Expedia and Hotels.ca Marriott is starting at 139 a night. I did save about 35 to 40/night, but not as good as I first though. Still, I saved and that is what counts.

[D-Roc]

good stuff. priceline?

You did read the thread title right?

[mannyb]

I got the Westin downtown Ottawa on PL a few years ago in the fall season for USD $80 + fees per night on a weekend stay.

[D-Roc]

Nice price, but that was a few years ago and considering this is during Winterlude, I am pleased with my savings.

[mannyb]

Nice price, but that was a few years ago and considering this is during Winterlude, I am pleased with my savings.You got a good price as well. My deal was on the Sept long weekend. Hotwire is also good.

[peano]

You did read the thread title right?

Yup. I thought you were considering using hotels.com or Hotwire too.

[nel602]

Looking for some help with my first time using priceline/hotwire/hotels.com.
I am looking for a hotel in Boston during Memorial day weekend.

Can anyone suggest a starting bid for 4* hotel?

Thanks in advance.

[mannyb]

Check out the appropriate section in betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com to see what people have been winning their bids at. It'll give you a starting point.

[FunSave22]

Also see what Hotwire is charging to find the maximum you should go up to.

[Da Jin]

Check out the appropriate section in betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com to see what people have been winning their bids at. It'll give you a starting point.

In all my years of using Priceline I have found betterbidding.com to be the most useful research site out there. I never use Priceline without betterbidding.com, as far as I am concerned the two go hand in hand if you want to pay the least possible on Priceline.