Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Expedia/Orbitz Rates vs Priceline Booking

I'm not sure what others have been finding, but on my last 3 trips I've found Expedia/Orbitz rates when they have "sales" can be as low or lower than PL rates. In many cases if there is only a slight premium (~$10/night) over a possible PL bid I would rather see my hotel in advance off an Expedia type site than gamble getting an inferior PL property. Because of this my hotel bookings have shifted from 90% Priceline to <10% Priceline. Thoughts?

I honestly have not seen that... I have done lots of Priceline stays over the past few months... 7 different stays.... and have not found Expedia/Orbitz rates to be anywhere close to what I was getting on Priceline.

I'm not sure what others have been finding, but on my last 3 trips I've found Expedia/Orbitz rates when they have "sales" can be as low or lower than PL rates. In many cases if there is only a slight premium (~$10/night) over a possible PL bid I would rather see my hotel in advance off an Expedia type site than gamble getting an inferior PL property. Because of this my hotel bookings have shifted from 90% Priceline to <10% Priceline. Thoughts?

My experience this year has been somewhat similar to yours. In my travels, I've found myself using Priceline to a lesser extent as the price gap has narrowed between Name-your-own-price and the many conventional hotel deals that I've come across. I've booked 4-star hotels in San Francisco a number of times w/Expedia for under $100. Thanks to an Orbitz $73 rate vs Marriott's $145 I'll be at a Marriott next week for $58 (Marriott best rate guarantee program matches the lower price plus discounts another $25% - thus the $58 price). I don't think there is any way I could have gotten this Marriott hotel for $58 or less on Priceline. The deals are definitely out there if you look around. No two people will have the same story (such as wharvey, for example) as the price gaps may be wider in different locations than others.

I'm not sure what others have been finding, but on my last 3 trips I've found Expedia/Orbitz rates when they have "sales" can be as low or lower than PL rates. In many cases if there is only a slight premium (~$10/night) over a possible PL bid I would rather see my hotel in advance off an Expedia type site than gamble getting an inferior PL property. Because of this my hotel bookings have shifted from 90% Priceline to <10% Priceline. Thoughts?

Where were these trips?

In some places, Priceline is simply the undisputed choice if you want to save money on a good, well-located hotel. I'd put London in this category. In other places, Priceline is not very helpful at all.

I'm not sure what others have been finding, but on my last 3 trips I've found Expedia/Orbitz rates when they have "sales" can be as low or lower than PL rates. In many cases if there is only a slight premium (~$10/night) over a possible PL bid I would rather see my hotel in advance off an Expedia type site than gamble getting an inferior PL property. Because of this my hotel bookings have shifted from 90% Priceline to <10% Priceline. Thoughts?

If I am going to book a hotel, I usually run either Orbitz or Travelocity or I use Travelaxe (when I can get it to work). That becomes my absolute maximum price. If I cannot get a better Priceline price, that is what I will book.

Then, I head over to Hotwire and see what inventory is available. I assume that Hotwire inflates the ratings of hotels by a half star. That becomes the HIGHEST bid price on Priceline. If Hotwire is cheaper, at least I know the maximum that I will pay.

From that point, depending on the timing of the trip, I lowball Priceline and get the lowest possible price at the level I wish to stay at. On some trips, that is a 4*; on others a 2*.

My experience has been the following.

On one occasion, I found a $9/night room on Orbitz on a 3* property. I booked that one immediately.

On two occasions, I used Orbitz as there was no Hotwire or Priceline bidding.

On two occasions (in Nevada), e-mail offers were better than anything I could book using the on-line services.

On one occasion, a group rate was lower.

On two occasions, Hotwire had inventory for less than I could get a similar room for on Priceline.

The other 25 stays were made using Priceline. In general, for properties OUTSIDE the city center, I am getting a 3 or 3.5 star for the price posted at the local Motel 6.

I am not opposed to using Orbitz/Travelocity/Expedia. However, with the exception of the pricing error above, I have NOT been able to find all the screaming good deals that other people are finding.

My best example is probably last February in San Francisco, Expedia rate for the Hilton San Francisco Financial district of $68 CDN a night on a one off sale. I paid an extra $10/night to get a club room.

I'm looking at San Diego hotels atm for January to get away from the Canadian winter, with the Starwood sales the direct prices are getting fairly close to the PL rates from what I can see comparing with Betterbidding. It seems about $75 PL vs $99 direct.

I've got a cancellable Expedia reservation for $95USD. Problem with PL in downtown San Diego is the Sheraton Hotel and Marina is part of the downtown/harbour island zone but is a good 20-30 minute bus ride from the parts of San Diego I want to see. Given I won't have a car, not sure its worth the risk to save $20/night. Given that property has a rock bottom Expedia rate for my dates of $75CDN, it seems likely they would also have the lowest PL rates.