Does anyone use hotel discount web sites?
 

Does anyone use hotel discount web sites such as HotelDiscounts.com?

Since you don't get hotel/air miles for the stays and are charged for cancellations, I'm wondering if the sites are worth using.

I've used 1800usahotels.com

both the website (which is okay not great) and the 800 number (which is great)

I've been very pleased. They're not really ultra cheap. (I really like the same company's service 1-800 AIR TRAVEL -- you can get discounts esp. on full fare travel, not consolidator fares either, typically 10% - 15% on UAL for instance)

I've also used www.hotelwiz.com quite often. I like it, some of the rates are pretty good.

I just used www.priceline.com for the first time for a hotel. It allows you to select a general area for a property (cities are divided into sections) and then you are at their whim.

I selected their highest star rating and put in a ridiculously low bid. It bounced back an hour later as "no takers". So I re-bid just a few dollars more and this time...bingo! I was in at the DoubleTree for about half the price I could find it anywhere else.

Other than the sometimes "no points" and the uncertainty of where you are staying, it worked very well, I thought. But as long as you select at least 3 star places, I'm pretty sure you'd end up somewhere nice.

Very good, IMHO when budget, not points or absoulute location, are your priorities.

I use Quikbook frequently and swear by it. No prepayment required and the selection of properties is quite good. Also, you do earn frequent flier/frequent guest points for through some programs. E-mail me for specifics.

[This message has been edited by jmiyazawa (edited 11-10-2000).]

I can report the same experience as PremEx's. I've used them five times in the last 14 months. I always bid for the highest-star rating and have never been disappointed by the room or the discount. In two cases, I got frequent-stayer points (not at Hilton).

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 11-14-2000).]

I have used Travelscape without a hitch. Got a room at the Trump Taj Mahal AC for $100/nite and was upgraded to the presidential suite! I also got a $30 rebate to boot.

Hotelscentral.com works well.

Priceline.com about a dozen times over past two months. I've lost two bookings ($120) because plans changed, but am pleased to have finally figured how to work their system. Saving $100 a night is not uncommon.

No complaints with this service from me.

I have used Hotel Reservation Network (180096hotel.com) once in getting a room in New York a few years ago with good results.

Now I use Priceline.com almost exclusively. We are spending two nights next week in SF at the Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf for $50/night plus tax and $5.95 fee. At rates like that, points become inconsequential.

I have consistently found Hotel Discounts to offer HIGHER rates than what are often available on the hotel's own website.

I have found Quikbook to be a good source in offering great rates when you do not have the flexibilty required for using Priceline.

I think my views about using Priceline for hotels is well known here. I host a message board to discuss bidding.

Priceline amazes me. Stayed a couple of nights ago at Doubletree in Seattle for $32! Saved way over $100 on that. Same in LAX, same in Chicago.

You MUST read Sheryl's board tho BEFORE you bid to see what othere are getting price down to in same market. I did not need to offer $32 (my first offer) in fact as Terenz offered about $5 or $10 less and they took it! I was too lazy to read his post.

If you use Amex card to book, they add $20 to your bid right here:

www.priceline.com/hotels/itinerary.asp?free=amexsave



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~ Glen ~

Second Ozstamps AmEx $20/nt kicker suggestion for PriceLine (my first venture into using it).

Got the Doubletree SEA for $25 (<$35 inc. tax and fees - lowest pre-tax was $89 and I paid less than the going rate at the area motels!) and Wyndham MIA for $21 ($31.15 inc. tax & fees - lowest online rate for that period is $89) for last week.

Just booked in HNL (Waikiki) and got the Waikiki Beachcomber for $21, 23 and 25 in early December. Interestingly enough, my bids for multiple nights during the same period were rejected for up to $30/nt. Can't get rooms later in the week even when I offer up to $40.

Also got Royal Kona in Hawai'i for $70+taxes. Couldn't get anything for $40 at PriceLine.

[This message has been edited by terenz (edited 11-16-2000).]

I use priceline.com and only priceline.com for the U.S. and Canada. I occasionally check the others, such as HRN and Quickbook. HRN always seems extremely high and their reservations carry a stiff cancellation penalty.

For Asia, I use Planet Holiday. For Europe, I've yet to find a decent discounter.

I just returned from the US, having used priceline.com for three hotel stays and one car rental.

One night 3* in LAX (twice) turned out to be the Marriott LAX at the beginning of the trip and the Renaissance LAX at the end, both at $50. Sadly, I did not know about the Amex $20 offer, but hey!

Seven nights 3* in Palm Springs turned out to be at the Hyatt Regency Suites at $45. They added a 'resort fee' (not a tax?) of $7 a night, but still good value.

My offers were accepted first time in each case. Did I offer too much?

I have AA miles for the extras at the Marriott (probably also from the Renaissance) and Hyatt points for the extras in Palm Springs.

My nine days' car rental turned out to be from National. My initial full-size offer was rejected, and I finished up with an intermediate at $18 per day. I guess this was close to the minimum. They upgraded me to full-size anyway!

On this experience, I am very happy with priceline.com!

Roger, considering you didn't use any bonus money, you probably didn't overbid by much, if any. You may be interested in seeing what those who post to my board have gotten, and I encourage you to post your winning bids as well.
http://pub4.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding