Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Priceline help when your destination isn't popular?

So I'm taking a trip to Rochester, NY in a month (Sept 15-18). But the info on that is scarce. I saw a few cheap rooms in areas I wasn't considering, but both hotels had horrible reviews. The Hyatt Downtown (4* - $70) and the Airport Radisson (3 * - $34). The reviews were very bad for both, so I wouldn't take them even at the price, and they effectively make bidding in those areas useless.

I was looking at the Rochester South - Henrietta area which doesn't include either, but I can't find any recent prices at all for that on any of the bid listing sites.

So what do you do? Just hope for the best?

I made a bid of $50 and got a counteroffer of 61. I can't rebid, because that was 2.5 stars.

I tried 3 stars at $63 and didn't get anything.

Would waiting a few weeks get me a better price?

Welcome to Flyer Talk. Rochester is not so obscure and I go there often. It's better than Buffalo, which is not saying much. You can use Priceline's deal preferences to get some suggestions. The downtown hotels are fine but the area is not particularly nice. If I bid, I think I do 3* and get the Radisson downtown, which is decent enough. The Hyatt is a bit nicer and you can park on the street for free overnight on weekends. I also have been at the Radisson Airport and it's not bad either - the reviews are probably from people who paid a high price. It's clean and pretty convenient. The Henrietta zone is the busiest part of the city for shopping and the Radisson Airport adjoins that zone - the Northwest zone goes south as well. With Priceline biddibng I get either of the Radissons and have been satisfied. Otherwise, I suggest you go for the LaQuinta on the south side and get a good rate from their site. The place is modern and clean with a convenient location (there are lots of others too) and breakfast is included. The north side LQ is in a less popular area. There is no reason to go to Rochester as a tourist, so book something near where you have to be. Hotwire never seems to have anything better. Don't miss the Dinosaur Barbeque and make reservations or show up early and go back to the hotel to wait.

Thanks. I'm actually a native. Coming home to visit friends. So I'm familiar with the area. I just am looking for tips on how to get the best prices at hotels.

Have you checked out the PL bidding help sites? I personally recommend www.betterbidding.com, but there are others too.

Have you checked out the PL bidding help sites? I personally recommend www.betterbidding.com, but there are others too.

++^

and also Hotwire may work for you. The mods at the site lo2e mentioned are usually able to provide an "educated guess" as to what a Hotwire hotel may be, based on the offered amenities and other things.

Romelle

The reviews were very bad for both, so I wouldn't take them even at the price

Don't place too much stock in online reviews, especially if there are just a few of them. People's experiences vary a lot. Some people have one bad experience with a staff member and write a bad review for the entire hotel. Sometimes people are just in a bad mood for whatever reason. I wouldn't not stay in a hotel because of bad reviews, unless there are a large number of them and they are recent and consistent with each other.

I agree with cbn42's comments... you do not always know what is behind the review.

I lived in Rochester for many years... and have stayed at both the Hyatt and Radisson. Assuming it was not out of the way, I would be all over the $24 rate at the Radisson.

Both properties are fine.... I actually prefer to not be in the city.... but Hyatt is nice.

Thanks. I really struggled with the Radisson choice, but just about every review said the beds were horrible and there were a handful that mentioned bed bugs. Wouldn't risk it.

So I ended up winning $53 at the Best Western Marketplace. I've stayed there before and know it's clean and friendly, location is very good as well.

Thanks. I really struggled with the Radisson choice, but just about every review said the beds were horrible and there were a handful that mentioned bed bugs. Wouldn't risk it.

So I ended up winning $53 at the Best Western Marketplace. I've stayed there before and know it's clean and friendly, location is very good as well.
The BW is okay - not as good as the LQ. The stories about the Radission don't make sense. They have Sleepnumber beds at the airport location. The beds in the downtown location are quite nice too and things were renovated a year ago. The idea of bed bugs makes one suspicious of a competitive plant. Anyway, enjoy your stay. The BW will have free breakfast and internet.