wanaflyforless – I understand the logic of using PL for business and also using it for vacation. I know it works well for you and many others.
My strategy has cost me about the same per night, and has resulted in a stream of "once in a lifetime" hotel stay experiences.
I use a combination of PL and discounted rates at Hyatts on business to earn free nights at Hyatts for vacation. I am much more selective about where I take my family on vacation than I am about my business trips. I want to know EXACTLY where I am taking my family on vacation, and PL cannot provide this, even with assistance from BFT.
My strategy is supported somewhat by my company which has a reasonable expense policy. But I still spend less per night on my hotels on business trips than many of the people I work with who don’t even participate in the hotel programs.
Originally Posted by wanaflyforless
Priceline works in all of these places!
I will have no difficulty buying a room at a four star for under $400! Try under $100!
You can't get the hotels I mentioned above on PL. For example, any four star Tokyo room you might be able to get for $100 on PL is not comparable to Park Hyatt Tokyo.
Originally Posted by wanaflyforless
For those of us who do not have access to corporate discounts or stay enough to have great buying power....I don't think we are going to get very nice stays for $250 (4 stays).
Am I wrong to assuming I am getting much nicer rooms (3 star atleast) for the same $250 using PL?
Sure, you can get decent 3* rooms for $65 on PL. But you don't have the $400/night hotels for free at the back end. Right now, you can earn a free night at almost any Hyatt worldwide by spending as little as $100. You need to check the Hyatt forum for details.
Originally Posted by wanaflyforless
Those rooms are not worth $800 to me. I can get similar rooms for so much less!
I have used Priceline extensively, and I disagree. The hotels I mentioned have few peers in their markets. They are 5 stars or boutiques. PL does not cater well to this market. You cannot get these hotels on PL. If you are looking for basic accommodation on your vacation, PL is fine. I want something more if I can get it.
There have been many times where PL makes sense for me. But there are also many times, even when I am paying out of my own pocket, that I will go for a qualifying stay at a Hyatt.
My reward at the back end is an experience that PL could never give you. I am talking about rooms that you couldn't confirm for less than $1,000 a night minimum. And I stay in them for free. I consider these hotel stays more memorable experiences in my life than when I flew Concorde.