Priceline?

Originally Posted By Leggyb

I am so grateful to redlegtwo for suggesting Priceline to find cheap hotels around DL.. I have been messing around on there for a while now and I am finding some good deals. However, I heard somewhere that if you do "Name your own price" on their that you can get a 3 star hotel for like 50 bucks a night! Whoaaa. Is this too good to be true.. I am getting so scared to gamble like that (since you have to put in your cc info and are basically locked into the hotel they give you).

Can someone explain to me all the little secrets and quirks of this "Name your own price" system?
Is it worth it?
Can you cancel your reservation?
How do you make sure that you won't get slammed with "extra person charges"
(the disclaimer on the bottom says the room is for 2 adult accomodations.. there will be four adults in my group so how do I get around that?)

 

Originally Posted By Ursula

Hi, I use Priceline all of the time. You can't cancel a priceline booking. They only allow two people per room (although a lot of people get away with three or so, BUT you are only guaranteed two to a room). I've heard the horror stories over people who try to cheat their system and I'd never do that. (One person reported that the hotel saw that they had three people and cancelled the entire booking on the spot).

Go to biddingfortravel.com to see the reported deals on Priceline for the DL area. I have gotten Hilton and Hyatts for $42 in the past, but currently it is around $50-60 depending on dates.

For four people, I'd just bid for two rooms at the same time. Even at the discounted rate times two rooms, you are better off having two bathrooms.

Is it worth it? Yes. I got a lovely room at the Hyatt Newporter over memorial weekend for $110 a night. The cheapest rate I found for the same room was $269 on expedia or hotels.com. I also have gotten the super tall Hyatt in San Diego for $80/night.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

I am staying at the Marriott on Convention Way 6/21-6/24 for $55 through priceline. I have used it three times and have liked all three hotels and they were all considered mini suites. For three stars I have gotten
$50 Hilton next to Angels Stadium
$55 Marriott on Convention Way

Two and half stars
$55 Courtyard by Marriott (beach Blvd) that was over Pirate Premiere Weekend.

I would also check
Lastminutetravel.com as I just booked
Raddison Maingate 7/27-7/30 for $218 for the whole trip - that was for four people.
Lastminutetravel.com is cancelable by calling the 800 number on the website.

 

Originally Posted By Leggyb

The thing that bugs me about priceline is that you are stuck with the hotel they give you.. for instance I would love to have a continental breakfast or a free shuttle to disneyland and you can't choose that with pick your own price. Also it scares me because some hotels have parking fees a night (20$) ! I would hate to get slammed with some unknown fee. Someday I will try priceline when there aren't as many variables to consider... It is so tempting though...

Thanks for the tip about Lastminutetravel.com... it's my new favorite. I love all these travel sites!

This is kind of off topic... but I don't feel like making a new post.. but is it true that you can enter DL though the Grand Californian hotel... by going through downtown disney?? If so that just opened my eyes to a whole new side of the park to stay on

 

Originally Posted By Autopia Deb

^^^yes, you can enter DCA from GC, BUT, when the park first opens in the AM entry is limited to hotel guests.

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

<<is it true that you can enter DL though the Grand Californian hotel... by going through downtown disney??>>

It is not. DL can only be entered one of two ways; either through the main gate, or from the monorail.

DCA on the other hand, does have a "private" entrance for Grand Califronian Hotel guests.

 

Originally Posted By Ursula

Leggyb, I highly encourage you to visit biddingfortravel.com

It cuts down on the guesswork of what you may get on priceline, and the people who write reviews there include resort fees and parking fees, so that you can take that into consideration on your hotel bid.

For example, for my recent Hyatt Regency bid, I knew that another priceliner bid $105/ night for almost my same dates, so I knew what range to try for. I also knew from reading the reviews what the parking was...so when I saw that the lowest non-priceline rate was $269, paying $110 plus $16 parking was still a huge deal.

It does cut down on the risk. Although, once I got a hotel I wasn't expecting to get. Granted. But, it turns out I also loved the hotel I won, so it is all good in the end.

 

Originally Posted By Leggyb

That biddingfortravel.com makes it all the more tempting to do priceline now! It shows how many great steals you can get! Holy smokes.

I just dislike the fact that I'd have to bid on two rooms.. when I know that a regular room (not to mention a 3 or 4 star hotel or suite) can easily sleep four... The one bathroom is not a problem for us seeing as we have all been roommates in the past and at one time we did share 1 bathroom between the 4 of us.. I just really wish I had the guts to try and cheat the system..but I don't, and I'm too afraid I'll cry and throw a hissy fit if they cancel our room.

 

Originally Posted By redlegtwo

I have always been able to get 2 beds for my winning bids through Priceline. I know that's not the case for everyone so it's a gamble. Once when I called and requested 2 beds I was told no. I called back a couple of days later and was told I would be able to get 2 beds. I've only stayed at the Hyatt and the Hilton Suites through Priceline.

 

Originally Posted By crazycroc

My experience with priceline biddding and bedding has been this:

The higher star quality the hotel, the less grief you are given about your bed request.

Now, when I've stayed at 2 and 1/2 stars or lower, that is when you get the Priceline bias nonsense.

Read this about my experience with a certain 2 and 1/2 star in the Anaheim area.

<a href="http://www.elliott.org/archives/2007/04/a_50_upgrade_fe.php" target="_blank">http://www.elliott.org/archive
s/2007/04/a_50_upgrade_fe.php</a>


I hope I'm not violating a policy about links to other websites. I thought this was appropriate.

 

Originally Posted By iamgoofy

Ursula I dont think that Priceline only allows two people it is they only guarentee that the hotel provided will be acceptable for two people. From what I have read at the Priceline site it would seem that more then two people is acceptable.

 

Originally Posted By LuLu

^^ That was my understanding also. However, I found this:

"All hotel rooms purchased through our Web site are guaranteed to accommodate two adults. Be sure to check with the hotel if you plan on having more than 2 people stay in your room - the hotel may not allow extra guests due to fire safety laws.

If your hotel does allow extra guests, keep in mind that there may be additional charges. These charges vary and will be payable directly to the hotel - most likely at checkout.

If you are traveling with more than two adults, we recommend that you book more than one room."

So the hotel COULD say they only allow 2 people per room.

 

Originally Posted By practicallyperfect

I use Priceline on almost every trip we take to DLR--I like to find a room on a 'transistion night', either coming or going. We are a family of four and I have never had a hotel say a word about more than two people. I have also never called ahead to ask for two beds--have always had the option offered to me upon check-in (of course, it sounds like I've been lucky!).

I never bid for less than 3 stars and sometimes it does take a couple of trys to get a cheap price. I have stayed at Marriot Suites, Crowne Plaza, Hilton, and DoubleTree. Again, not once did someone give me a hard time about using PL.

On another note, I have used Hotwire as well. That website gives you a bit more info about the hotel before you book (i.e., parking fees). On Hotwire, I have booked the Crowne Plaza and Arabella.

 

Originally Posted By mickeynewe

I tried bidding at Priceline once and was never successful. I can always use this as a last minute alternative possibly. Is it good to wait until the last minute? I hate having to pay up front and then not be able to go because of medical reasons!

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Priceline does have an option on the bidding page for $5 you can get medical insurance - don't remember if it was a one time fee or per night.

 

Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove

I have used Priceline successfully many times.....until today.

And now, I'm so upset, I can hardly type or think straight.

Instead of going with a known (albeit higher-priced quantity) on another site, I threw caution to the winds and came up with a real dog:

Candlewood Suites in Garden Grove (!) Yeah, Garden Grove is apparently in the "Disneyland Area".

I've read multiple reviews and it's in a scary part of town; smelly; maid service is WEEKLY (we'll be there four "glorious" nights, unfortunately) and there are multiple complaints.

I am heartsick. My birthday/anniversary trip will be tainted because I was just trying to save a few bucks.

 

Originally Posted By Ursula

^ Call Priceline.

I would complain not because of the location as it is in the "area" given on Priceline, but because of the cleaning service. Once a week is NOT acceptable to me.

But, Garden Grove is literally a few blocks from DL.

 

Originally Posted By Ursula

And although you don't want to hear this, you can also apply for a refund after your stay if the hotel is smelly doesn't live up the the rating listed on Priceline.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

How many stars did you request? The reviews that priceline had for this hotel was nice. I have stayed at a TownPlace suites by marriott before (by the Angels Stadium) and it was the same way with cleaning only every 4th day you were there. We were able to get clean towels every day by request and we left the dirties outside the door or gave them to the maid when we got our clean towels. You do have a full kitchen - if that is not something you wanted - I too would call priceline and complain.

 

Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove

Ursula and gottaluv, thank you for your great advice.

I'll take it most gratefully and will let you know how it goes.