PRICELINE - strategy to get cheap hotel rates?
 

I've read comments where people have received very low rates for booking airport hotels using Priceline. I've never been able to have my bid accepted. Is there a stategy that you use. In the past I've attempted to book rooms in the city where I'm going. Now I read of some tremendous rates at airport locations.

On average are hotel chains such as Hyatt, Hilton, Radisson, Marriott at airport locations considered two, three or four stars.

The strategy I suggest is to look on the upper right hand corner of your screen and look for, and click on the word "SEARCH", you will discover that this is not a new topic. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

If you would check, for example, just under the General Travel forum, no less then 65 listings when you search for the word "priceline"!

[This message has been edited by snake (edited 08-04-2000).]

I recommend the following web site: http://pub4.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding

I'll second that. Sheryl put together a great site!

Snake- Chill out man, that's some attitude you have...

Thank you very much PG and Eugene for directing me to her website! I've been very frustrated using Priceline before because it's such a cumbersome system. Looks like I'll be staying at some nice hotels.

Priceline is great for getting great rates at great hotels, especially on weekends. Sheryl's board that has been recommended is definitely the best resource I've seen for using Priceline.

It sure is! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Chill out?, me?, I'm a cold blooded critter!, a relative newbie, too.

[This message has been edited by snake (edited 08-04-2000).]

Actually I see nothing wrong with someone recommending "doing a search", no matter how arcane and slow this FT function may be. IMHO it was a good suggestion. The poster can easily narrow (or broaden) the search to his nice and/or specific requirements.

Yes, searches are fine, and there's nothing wrong with suggesting that. But too often, and I'm not necessarily saying it was the case here, FTers jump on newbies who ask about "old" topics. When an established FTer does the same, they usually get an answer. It's far from unheard of for newbies to get cold welcomes here.

Anyway, sure suggest a search, but at least try to answer the person's question, too. I think that's a good rule of thumb. If you can't answer other than to suggest a search, then let someone else suggest a search when they answer.

After all, these are discussion boards, and we need things to discuss. And, no, there is no rule in the FT user agreement that one must do a search before asking a question.

Come on, FTers let's be more hospitable.

Sheryl's site is absolutely fantastic! Seeing the link for months on an occasional FT post, I finally decided to try it for 4 separate days in three different cities. My results:

San Diego 7/17 Monday $45 Marriott Marina
7/26 Wednesday $45 US Grant Hotel (complimentary airport shuttle)
Tampa 7/24 Monday $40 Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport (complimentary airport shuttle)
Washington DC 7/25 Tuesday $52 Wyndham Bristol

I read through the forum and planned my strategy carefully based on the information that other people had posted. And don't forget to use the Bonus Money offers! And on the Sheraton in Tampa? I received starpoints, my gold 50% bonus, and a credit towards the Free Fridays promotion, all of which was a total surprise.

Good luck, jaguar!

Linda

Linda,

Great job! The rates you received are incredible.

Good info on that website, and I agree the post woud not have got this far if the "snakey" second poster had been taken notice of.

I posted on another thread a few hours ago about priceline and hotels. Someone booked the LAX Westin last wekeend for $US45 a night.

I just tried to book it with both Westin #800 and the hotel direct and got $169!

So the website above is very useful -- thanks! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/002125.html

Ling:

How were you able to get credit for your stay at the Sheraton? I stayed 2 nights at a Westin in Seattle with Priceline and didn't get any credit other than what I spent on extras.

------------------