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RP: Anyone use priceline name your own price?
I need to get a hotel in Napa for a wedding that dh, dd and I are all in. Either the bride or groom needs a place for everyone to get ready so I was thinking of getting a room that has a living room and a bedroom so the birdesmaids or groomsmen can get ready in it. I was going to see if I could get one cheaper doing the name your own price but have never used it before.
So questions are
If you name a price and they dont take it can you leave it at that or do you have to ask a differant price at the hotel or another hotel?
How much for a 3 star should you ask? How much at a 4 star should you ask? If not by star how much do I take off the hotel price?
Do they charge you right then or after you check in? I know hotels.com charges you right then not when you check in?
Any advice you can give me about the site would be great.
TIA
Re: RP: Anyone use priceline name your own price?
I love priceline and have gotten some amazing deals. That said, you have to be flexible, and I wouldn't use it in your situation.
First, you have no idea what hotel you will get, so you likely won't end up with a room that has a living room and bedroom. Second, while you can pick the general area of the hotel, you can't pick the exact location. It might not be a convenient enough location for the wedding party to get ready.
If you name a price and they don't take it, you have to change one of your criteria to bid again. For example, you can change the star level or the location.
How much you should bid depends on the area and time of year. Check out www.biddingfortravel.com for tips.
Your credit card is charged for the total stay as soon as your bid is accepted and it is not refundable (but travel insurance may be an option - I'm nont sure).
To answer one of your questions I usually start at 50% of the rates that priceline gives me. So if they say hotels in this area are going for $150, I bid $75.
And I wouldn't do it in your situation b/c all they can guarantee you is a room. No suite. And chances are even if they have the room they won't upgrade you b/c they know you paid very little through priceline.
If I were you I'd do a search on Kayak.
Priceline only works if you are flexible in terms of what you want, and it appears that you are not in this case. The only criteria you can give them is how many stars and what area(s) of the city you prefer. Beyond that, you have to take whatever they give you. And yes, if your bid is accepted, you are charged right then, no ifs, ands or buts. My advice to you would be to NOT use Priceline in this instance.
In the future, if you want to see what hotels people are getting for different prices on Priceline, you can check out betterbidding.com - it's really helpful.
If your bid is not accepted, you can walk away. You will be asked if you want to increase your bid ($10 minimum, I think) but you don't have to.
The site will give you average prices for hotels in the area at the level you're looking at. You can use those as a guideline. Honestly, I always just start low figuring I can go up if I want to, and I might get lucky. Two weeks ago we got a 3 1/2 star in Orlando for $65 including taxes/fees, and a few days ago I got my mom a 4 star in NoVA for around the same...both are approximately half the rate quoted directly on the hotel websites.
Your credit card is charged at the time the bid is accepted. You must show that CC when you check in.
If you're flexible on location, specific hotel, and available amenities I think this is a great way to get a deal. We didn't book a second night in Orlando via Priceline only because we *had* to have a hotel with an airport shuttle, and they can't guarantee that. But it worked out really well using it for the night we'll be there when that didn't matter because we'd have a rental car. Since you seem to have specific requirements, I agree that you shouldn't use it in this case.