Priceline's Name Your Own Price?

[enwar3]

I'm going down to Disneyland this weekend and I'm thinking about using Priceline's NYOP feature for a hotel in the Anaheim area. Anybody tried this before?

 

[JS80]

Priceline/hotwire bible: http://www.betterbidding.com/

 

[Scouzer]

You can get great deals but keep in mind many hotels you'll get the Priceline Treatment. This means you'll get the lamest room in the whole place. Stuff like a window facing a brick wall, awkward room design, unrenovated, etc.

But with all that said.. you can get 4* hotels for less than $80 in many places.

 

[ThePresence]

I've used it many times. I've gotten great deals, some fantastic deals on hotels, never experienced "the priceline treatment".

 

[OutHouse]

i looked at using priceline/hotwire for my upcoming trip next week. and honestly i get a better discount using my AAA number.

 

[JS80]

You can get great deals but keep in mind many hotels you'll get the Priceline Treatment. This means you'll get the lamest room in the whole place. Stuff like a window facing a brick wall, awkward room design, unrenovated, etc.

But with all that said.. you can get 4* hotels for less than $80 in many places.

"$20 dollar trick"

 

[ThePresence]

i looked at using priceline/hotwire for my upcoming trip next week. and honestly i get a better discount using my AAA number.

He's talking about using the name your own price option on priceline, which is where you can really get discounts. Not the Priceline listed price.

 

[Gibson486]

I used it for New York City. I stayed at the Best Western for $80 a night. It was only a block or two from time square, but the area definitely was not as rich as Time Square itself. It is amazing what one or two blocks can do. Still, for $80, I was not complaining since $80 usually got you a college style dorm room with a shared bath.

 

[ThePresence]

I used it for New York City. I stayed at the Best Western for $80 a night. It was only a block or two from time square, but the area definitely was not as rich as Time Square itself. It is amazing what one or two blocks can do. Still, for $80, I was not complaining since $80 usually got you a college style dorm room with a shared bath.

I paid $120 for a room in the Le Parker Meridien in NYC. I love Priceline.

 

[kami333]

I used it for New York City. I stayed at the Best Western for $80 a night. It was only a block or two from time square, but the area definitely was not as rich as Time Square itself. It is amazing what one or two blocks can do. Still, for $80, I was not complaining since $80 usually got you a college style dorm room with a shared bath.

Is that the one where the lobby is on the second floor? I got rooms there in the spring of 2006 for like $50/night.

I love priceline/hotwire, but definately use betterbidding or similar so you know what to expect.

 

[Gibson486]

Is that the one where the lobby is on the second floor? I got rooms there in the spring of 2006 for like $50/night.

I love priceline/hotwire, but definately use betterbidding or similar so you know what to expect.

Lobby was in basement. It was next to all the cabs. Price really depends on on when you go.

 

[joutlaw]

I got a 3 1/2 star downtown in Asheville, NC for $50/night. I then booked a 3 star in Charlotte, NC near the university for $50/night as well. I'm looking to book another couple nights in Charlotte near Ballentyne pretty soon.

 

[kalrith]

I've used it many times. I've gotten great deals, some fantastic deals on hotels, never experienced "the priceline treatment".

Same here. In fact it's been just the opposite. Most of the times I've used it have been for 4* hotels for my anniversary. I tell them, "My wife and I are celebrating our anniversary. Could we get a room on a high floor with a nice view and king-sized bed." It's worked about 5 times for us. I never lied with that statement, but I'm sure I could say that and get away with it.

I've stayed at really nice hotels in Chicago, Toronto, Denver, KC, and St. Louis for $80/night after taxes, and the above request has always landed me a nice room in the top 3 floors of the hotel.

Edit: I did have one employee at a 2 1/2* or 3* hotel in the Colorado Springs area mention that I checked in with Priceline and had the look on his face like, "We're getting paid with peanuts for you to stay here," but I was otherwise not treated rudely even at that stay. Every other stay has been no different than if I had paid double the price through the hotel's website: no mention of Priceline and treated with respect and a nice room at every hotel.

Edit2: I once stayed 10 days in Colorado for less than $400 (I think it was more like $330) after all taxes/fees for 2 1/2* and up hotels by using the name-your-price Priceline feature. I've never paid over $80/night after taxes/fees even at the 4* hotels in the afore-mentioned cities.

 

[enwar3]

Wow! Good to hear Priceline is a good experience for most folks. I've been looking at Hotwire and the deals seem comparable as well.