by Stephanie
I love to travel and I love a good deal. When I can marry the two it’s like a symphony to my ears. Can you hear it? If not, I am here to help you with three tips for getting a great deal on a hotel room.
Watch my video on Expo and then come back for some more details. None of this will make sense without seeing the video.
1. Use Priceline to book your room. Look midway down on the left side of the page for the name your own price section. Click bid now under the hotels heading. Enter your information on your city and dates and click bid now. Check out the possible areas of the city you can bid for on Priceline.
2. Don’t bid blindly. Go to BetterBidding or BiddingForTravel.com to learn about successful bids in your chosen city. On both these websites travelers post their successful wins on Priceline. You can benefit from their experience.
3. Use free rebids. If your first bid on Priceline is unsuccessful, you have two options. You can either wait 24 hours and try again or you can bid again immediately if you change one of the following variables: dates of your stay, star level or location. Usually my dates are already set and I am fairly committed to trying for the star level I am bidding on. I can change my location using any free rebids available to me.
I will use Orlando as an example. Go to the Priceline name your own price area and input some dates for an Orlando stay and click the bid now button. I’ll wait. Go ahead.
You will see that Step 1 is to choose where you will stay. If you click on each area individually you will find that the Step 2 section, Choose the star level for your hotel changes to reflect the level of hotels offered in that area. I found the following for Orlando:
1. Disney World Vicinity – all star levels available
2. Downtown Orlando – up to 4 star
3. Kissimmee – up to 2.5 star
4. Maitland – Altamonte Springs – up to 3.5 star
5. Orlando Airport – up to 3.5 star
6. Orlando East – up to 2.5 star
7. Sand Lake Corporate Park – up to 2
8. Universal Studios – Sea World – all star levels
9. West Disney – up to 3 star
10. Winter Garden – up to 3 star
11. Winter Park – up to 2 star
I have learned that there are 11 areas I could stay in in the Orlando area. I want to stay in the Walt Disney World Vicinity. I know that others are getting a 3 star hotel in that area for around $40. I can bid for a 3 star in that area and if I don’t win I have 4 free rebids. Kissimmee, Orlando East, Sand Lake Corporate Park and Winter Park are all free rebids for me because they do not have any hotels available above the 2.5 star rating. That makes them free rebids because I can add them as an area I am willing to stay in, thus changing a variable and allowing me to rebid, but I know I won’t win a hotel there because Priceline does not have any 3 star hotels in that area.
My bidding strategy looked like this:
1st bid – I offered $35 for a 3 star in the Walt Disney World Vicinity – unsuccessful
2nd bid – I offered $36 for a 3 star in the Walt Disney World Vicinity and Kissimmee area – unsuccessful
3rd bid – I offered $37 for a 3 star in the Walt Disney World Vicinity, Kissimmee and Orlando East area – unsuccessful
4th bid – I offered $38 for a 3 star in the Walt Disney World Vicinity, Kissimmee, Orlando East and Sand Lake Corporate Park – unsuccessful
5th bid – I offered $39 for a 3 star in the Walt Disney World Vicinity, Kissimmee, Orlando East, Sand Lake Corporate Park and Winter park- I got it this time. I won 3 star hotel in the Walt Disney World Vicinity, the Radisson Resort Orlando – Celebration. I needed two nights and here is the cost breakdown:
Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $39.00
Subtotal: $78.00
Taxes and service fees: $18.02
Total charges: $96.02
By using Priceline, not bidding blindly and using free rebids, I got a great deal on a hotel room in in Orlando. I’ll let you know how our stay is when we return.
Thanks Stephanie,
Last night we got a 3 1/2 star in Atlanta for $40 a night for 4 nights on priceline.
Norma – Awesome! I love Priceline. Have a great trip.
thanks alot stephanie..looking on priceline for a trip to orlando.. its very helpful
Thinking about trying this but it only guarantees a room to sleep up to 2 adults. We have 2 adults and 2 teenagers. I know they said you can call and make room arrangements, has anyone been successful at this?
Need a room for 4, any luck with bed arrangements when calling the hotel?
Kris – I plan on doing a post next week on Priceline FAQ’s and I will address this issue, but you are right you are only guaranteed a room that will sleep two adults.
I knew this when I booked this hotel. I was travelling with my two daughters and was prepared with an air mattress if needed. When I checked in at the Doubletree they had me assigned to a room with one queen bed. They offered two beds to me before I could even ask. The hotel was very slow and had tons of empty rooms.
I find that most hotels are willing to give you two beds if they have them available. I have found one or two that refuse or offer to upgrade you for a charge, but they are few and far between. Most hotels are able to give you two beds if they have them.
If you absolutely need two beds, you may want to skip Priceline or book two rooms. If you are willing to gamble the odds are in your favor that you will be accomodated, but it is not guaranteed.
Thanks Steph! I used Priceline to book a hotel in downtown Indy during Spring Break (2 nights). We got a great price at the Hilton. We even stayed in a Deluxe Queen Suite. It was awesome!
Amy – Awesome! I’m glad the tips helped. I hope you had a nice stay.