I've also had good luck with Expedia. Used them yesterday and today. Yesterday, I got a 4 star hotel in downtown Boston for the end of the month for $200 per night (fall foliage), when my $199 bid was rejected through Priceline. Lowest available rate elsewhere for same hotel was $295. And today, I got a 4 star hotel at the inner harbor in Baltimore for next week for $145 when the lowest available rate at that hotel through 3 different services was $244.

I'm sure both these bids could have been even lower at other times of the year, but it just so happens that both cities are heavily booked on the requested travel days. I checked extensively before bidding.

I know that Priceline was supplementing bids when they were new. I wonder if Expedia is doing the same thing. They surely have the financial backing to do so.

I looked at Expedia too (because of the $25 rebate), but they offer a very limited number of cities. I do not know how the number of cities compares with Priceline.

Beckles, I presume you used up your free Friday Starwood nights. I'm probably going to lose my remaining ones. Does anyone know if the free nights qualify for the stays towards preferred levels?

Expedia's biggest disadvantage to Priceline is their lack of coverage. Priceline literally covers the entire U.S. I recently checked for Tyler, TX and it was offered through Priceline.

Expedia just started this service last week. I can't help but beleive they will be adding cities quickly. Microsoft (Expedia's parent) isn't going to play second fiddle for long http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

After trying Priceline.com several weeks ago I decided to try the new service from Expedia.com

I'm leaving for Chicago later next week and
because of high rates on a Thursday night I kept my reservation with Courtyard by Marriott for 4 nights (Fri-Mon)
and decided to place a bid at Expedia for the "expensive" one - "$60"
The lowest rate I could find at ANY brand in this area was 110.00, I believe.

Had a good luck and bid was accepted, Holiday Inn O'hare/International ( rack rate = $179.95 )
I used to stay at Holiday's back home in Europe.
Comparing to Marriott's, Holiday's dont impress me much .. but for that price I'm not going to complain http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I saved at least $60
For a student that is a lot of money http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

BTW: Has anyone stayed at Holiday Inn O'hare/International in Chicago ?
What is your opinion about the hotel ?
Thanks


[This message has been edited by Damian (edited 09-16-1999).]

ppgupta011: Free Fridays do not count as stays. http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

On Friday 9/10 I placed a bid for $300 BOS-LAX ticket for my brother travel next Thursday as I cannot find a cheap non-stop (UA and AA were both priced about ~$2000).

After the bid, I received no e-mail confirming my bid. In fact, no e-mail came to me at all. Oh well, I thought, so brother got his ticket through an award with AA.

One day prior to the trip, Wedensday 9/15, I received an invoice in the (postal) mail from priceline indicating that I have won for travel the next morning at 6 AM on America West.

Not a happy man, I wrote an e-mail indicating that I had no indication that I won until a day before the trip. Received a standard boilerplate reply saying that it is non-refundable. I wrote back challenging them to produce that it had even made an attempt to contact me. More standard reply.

On top of that, virtually all flights were cancelled out of Logan on Thursday so my brother cannot get on his flight anyway.

So, I wil have to file a dispute with my credit card company regarding this charge.

Good going, Priceline.

Any suggestions for recourse?

[This message has been edited by kyklin (edited 09-17-1999).]

pgupta ~ I'm a Hyatt man http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

In all seriousness, I just did not have the opportunity to take advantage of the Starwood Free Fridays promotion unfortunately ... I am liking the Starwood program more and more lately ...

Kyklin, in my opinion, the burden of proof is on Priceline to provide documentation that you were notified of your winning bid. It'll probably take a few letters back and forth with your credit card company, but DO NOT GIVE UP!! It's doubtful that you are the only person this has happened to.

I was just reading the other day (can't remember if it was here or on another travel forum) where someone went to check in for their flight that was e-ticketed through Expedia. The airline's computer showed the reservation but that it was not paid for. After the traveler contacted Expedia, they admitted that they had numerous similar problems the day he purchased his ticket.

So computer glitches happen, and fortunately our credit laws favor the consumer. Good luck.

Now I'm curious. If you didn't hear back from Priceline after you placed your bid, why didn't you contact them? Did you not even get the e-mail saying your bid had been received and that you would hear back in an hour?

I've learned that when booking travel on the Internet, through either the provider's own website, a general travel site, Priceline, etc., it's always a good idea to reconfirm by telephone directly with the provider.