How do you determine when to pay for hotel vs. using priceline?
 

Ok - I feel stuck sometimes -- I love getting points - but at the same time, I love the idea of paying less.

How do you determine when to use either?

For example:

NYC Hilton - $239 rate to earn points
$165 for priceline

any advice is appreciated.

I would go with Priceline and save some $$$$. I would still get Starpoints for charging ... However, how do you know you get Hilton with Priceline? You can get any **** hotel in an area in NY.

How can you be sure you're getting the NYC Hilton for that price with Priceline. You could end up in a wide variety of hotels. Priceline is an opaque system, meaning you don't learn the name of the actual hotel until after your bid is accepted.

For a list of hotels in each category for each Priceline zone check out [URL=http://www.biddingfortravel.com]. Would you be happy with all of those hotels in that category or would some be objectionable to you. If you wouldn't want to stay at some of the hotels on that list I'd suggest paying for the room and earning points.

Maybe there's a posting on B4T that is listing the Hilton on his dates for $165...

How many points???
 

How many points will you get for $69????? Thats the only question in my mind. And are they worth that much to you. My history tells me usually not. The only time I don't use priceline is when I'm driving cross country and don't know when or where I'll be tired.

I choose saving money over points unless it's a negligible amount. If I get 1 point per dollar and spend $100 for no points or $130 for 130 points then my "Free" 35,000 mile (Airline) ticket would actually cost me $10,500. (The 1 mile per $ was used to make calculations easier)

Or better yet on Betterbidding.com ;)

1) Who's paying - me or employer (yes, I know, shame on me...)

2) What's the price difference. I consider cash to be much more valuable than points, even at the "what's a point worth" value. The flexibility of cash doubles or triples that theoretical value when I'm making the decision.

Another consideration is if you're are trying to (re)qualify for status this year and what your alternatives are to get to that goal.

I'm going to be in Arizona in a couple of weeks. Hotel rates during the summer are very low. After reading up at www.betterbidding.com and bidding for travel, I can see that everyone is 'getting' 3 and 4 * properties for next to nothing. Not that much of a price difference compared with what's out there.

The reason why I'm staying at *woods is because I was targeted for a bonus program. Then, throw in some bonus points for using my second ;) *wood card, and I'm reaping a mini-bonanza in the point department. So this time, I'm paying a little more, for a big return on investment (depending on how you value your points. @:-)

Another consideration is that most direct-bookings are cancellable, often up until the day of check-in. With Priceline, you're locked in, nonrefundably.

This is the first time I've heard of www.betterbidding.com
Is this now a better site than Sheryl's board, which I used a lot in the past?

These are the factors I consider in deciding whether to priceline or book directly with a hotel, in order of priority:

1. How much do I care which specific hotel I get? (particularly an issue in certain PCLN zones that have wide geographies or lots of hotels at a given star level)
2. How certain are my plans? (most reservations directly with hotels are cancellable--priceline is not)
3. How many points am I giving up? (usually not that many)

Then I compare the potential savings and decide whether it's worth it. Usually the points are worth a lot less to me than (1) choosing my hotel, and (2) cancellability.

No, not shame on you. I travel for work and we are encouraged to book mid-level hotels with refundable rates. Based on the type of work I do, I usually have 2-3 weeks notice and my travel plans don't change much once they're set, so every now and then I eyeball an internet only rate. About 2 months ago, I used an internet only rate and stayed at the Westin Chicago for much less than the 4Points down the block. But last week I had a project where the client decided to spend one night in the city instead of in the suburbs. We were sharing a car, so had I been locked into my suburban hotel through an internet only rate, it would have saved them some money but been mighty inconvenient.

I do all my mileage earning on my own dime, so I tend to be very price-sensitive on hotels. None of the hotel programs have made any headway with me, though I think I got autoenrolled in HHonors somehow and signed up for Radisson to do the now-infamous Valumags-Goldpoints fiasco.

Usually on Priceline I'll go for 3* topping around $43 or 2* up to $33 or so in the 48US, with $15-20 extra allowed if Alaska or Hawaii. Hard to get even Motel 6 at that these days on regular rates.

I suspect the answer is to go with Priceline unless you get a good stream of points from business travel and need to top off to an award.