PRICELINE

[stamboy 0]

Has anybody ever used Priceline to book hotels and are they good? I know you don't know which hotel you'll get before booking but can you narrow it down based on the rating and area?

 

Does it work out any cheaper? I guess they have to take commission too so am a bit sceptical

[Rex7777 0]

I've used the Priceline Hong Kong site to bid on 5 star hotel rooms in Bangkok. There's another site out there that analyzes the Priceline site. People post their bids, the prices that were accepted, the participating hotels in each region of the city, etc. Once you've got it more or less figured out from that angle, then start your bidding low and increase as necessary. It's easy to do, and for me, everything turned out OK. My room was was always waiting for me at midnight or so, when I arrived. Normally, I like to stay the first few days in Bangkok, and so I treat myself to a 5 star hotel for a few days before moving to Pattaya or Phuket or wherever.

 

I'll try to find the link to the other site I mentioned.

 

Rex

[Rex7777 0]

I found the Priceline Asia Discussion site:

 

http://p197.ezboard.com/bpricelineasiadiscussions

 

 

Rex

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

I've used Priceline many times in the US & Asia, and have usually paid around half-price for 5 star accomodations in Bangkok and Singapore. Some things to consider are the no cancellation policy, and breakfast is not included. The bookings are good for two people. Two years ago, I was staying at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, Westin, JW Marriott, and Shangr-La for $65-$80 USD per night, including taxes and fees. However, I don't believe those kind of deals are available currently.

Edited May 15, 2005 by RhinoTusk

[Hub 203]

Stamboy:

 

I have used priceline extensively for both work and holidays. Priceline is great for deals if you know how to manipulate it properly (i.e., hotels available in each star level in each area, winning bids). There are also bidding strategies that increase your chances and savings.

 

I have stayed in both the JWMarriott and Westin (both 5*) in Bangkok several times for around $70 US. The westin is available now for around $70.

 

Later this month on a business trip I am staying at a new Courtyard by Marriott in Toronto for $30. Also, I rented a premium car for $42/day via priceline.

 

IM me if you want more information or have questions when you try and use for firat time.

 

Hub

[Dungheap 243]

Used Pricleine HK on several occasions and found it great value. Usually get the Marriott Spa on the river in BKK for US$40-45, which is unbeatable.

 

In theory you can't pick your hotel but if you email their help desk and tell them you want a selected hotel, for an extra 5 percent, your wish is their command.

 

In off season anyway...

[SunnyValentine 173]

In theory you can't pick your hotel but if you email their help desk and tell them you want a selected hotel, for an extra 5 percent, your wish is their command.

 

In off season anyway...

That's interesting! Do you do this before bidding? Or after you won a successful bid but want a different Hotel?

 

Sunny

[Dungheap 243]

Before bidding.

 

In this day and age of computerized responses, the Priceline HK help desk is surprisingly helpful. Or was for me anyhow.

[ericg1953 1]

Go to biddingfortravel.com.........it is a cheat sheet for priceline bidders. You go to hotels and look at the city list at top of the page to see what hotels you are bidding on. You can see what other people have bid and if those bids were accepted or rejected.

[Greg_B 306]

stamboy..

Hub is a "master" at priceline.com, he gave me some advice on it last year and it came in very handy before I bid.

 

It was biddingfortravel.com, that he told me about and I used that to my advantage when needing a room in LAX before going to BKK. It was a last minute deal that saved me at least $50, but if it wasn't for him, I'd have never known about it. In turn I told some friends about it also...

[stamboy 0]

Thanks guys I've emailed Hub, I'm sure he'll be helpful and not sarcastic like Poskat!!

[SunnyValentine 173]

Before bidding.

 

In this day and age of computerized responses, the Priceline HK help desk is surprisingly helpful. Or was for me anyhow.

Just to understand that correctly:

You contact help desk and tell them you want to place a bid of say 60 US-$ for a 5star Sukhumvit Hotel, and would be happy to pay 3 $ more in case they make sure you get the Westin (or whichever it is you fancy)?

Or do you use the guidance figures for bids they give you at the Webpage? As these are very often far higher than a succesful bid, and usually you end with a price that you could have gotten elsewhere, I doubt that that would make sense.

 

Sunny

[carcareers 0]

Thanks guys I've emailed Hub, I'm sure he'll be helpful and not sarcastic like Poskat!!

I'm tellin...........you started another thread!

 

Keep asking questions and and before you know it all the good boardies will help you out....as they have.

 

You owe the board one hell of a trip report with many pictures of your adventures. And the obligitory

Edited May 19, 2005 by carcareers

[Dungheap 243]

Just to understand that correctly:

You contact help desk and tell them you want to place a bid of say 60 US-$ for a 5star Sukhumvit Hotel, and would be happy to pay 3 $ more in case they make sure you get the Westin (or whichever it is you fancy)?

Or do you use the guidance figures for bids they give you at the Webpage? As these are very often far higher than a succesful bid, and usually you end with a price that you could have gotten elsewhere, I doubt that that would make sense.

 

Sunny

Sunny, contact the help desk and tell them you specifically want to stay at XXX hotel and ask how much? It has to be one of their regular hotels, i.e. Marriott Sukhumvit.

 

She'll inform you about availability and price and then book your favorite hotel for about 5% more than the succesful bid price.

 

That's my expereince anyhow on 4-5 occasions, always in low season.

 

And then for icing on the cake, if you're a member of the Marriott miles program, contact the hotel once your booking has been confirmed and request a decent room, e.g, looking up the river from the Marriott Spa rather than the side wall! Not bad for $40-50

 

PM me if you need the girl's direct email address. She luv my dreadlocks loooong time.

Edited May 19, 2005 by Dungheap

[SunnyValentine 173]

Thanks Dungheap, I'll give it a try next time!

 

Sunny

[ericg1953 1]

Sunny, try out the biddingfortravel.com site. If you click around you can get a good feel for what is going on in the travel auction biz. I find it is best for hotels. All in all it is interesting for people who travel extensively. Hoe this helps.

 

Eric

[Hub 203]

Sunny, try out the biddingfortravel.com site. If you click around you can get a good feel for what is going on in the travel auction biz. I find it is best for hotels. All in all it is interesting for people who travel extensively. Hoe this helps.

 

Eric

Good advice, but it's my understanding that the HKpriceline and standard priceline are a little different, for example in the case DH cites and Sunny may be better off getting his info from DH relative to the HKpriceline options.

 

Hub

[misterc 0]

Had a look at the Priceline site but can't find any reference to Pattaye so assume that they have no association with hotels there. Is this correct?

[SunnyValentine 173]

YOu can get Bangkok Hotels at Priceline Hongkong, but no Pattaya!

 

Sunny