Caviar for a hamburger price!
Written: Sep 03 '01 (Updated Jan 02 '08)
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The Bottom Line
If you don't mind a a "blind shot" at a hotel's location and quality, then try Priceline.com for substantial savings!
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I have used Priceline.com for hotel rooms several dozen times, and have received a reasonable deal each time! Just this past summer, I bid on a room for a 2 day weekend stay in the Chicago burbs for training I was attending. I always bid low ($25 or so), then bid higher of the price is rejected. To my surprise, my $25 bid was accepted, and the room was at the Extended Stay America. The room included a stove and microwave, and was extremely clean and modern. Over the entire summer, I managed to get the same deal at the same hotel, and my fellow classmates started using Priceline and got the same deals too.
Early last year, I traveled to Cleveland, OH, and stayed in an Extended Stay with a $40/night room rate from Priceline. Again, excellent service. My employer was impressed as well and happily cut me my expense check. :)
I have used Priceline off-and-on for the past 7 years, and have never been disappointed. There have been times when I have not been able to get a room for the price I've been willing to pay, which happened to me when I visiting another city this past summer. As none of my bids were accepted, I ended up staying at a $50/night (or $10/hour) motel, which I had to switch rooms once because the one I was given was inhabitable. In contrast, I have NEVER stayed in an unacceptable room through Priceline.
One of my early Priceline experiences was back in 2002, where I bid for a room near the O'hare airport in Chicago. I was attending a week-long class, and decided that I didn't want to drive a 3 hour round trip every day. I bid $45 for a two-star hotel, and was upgraded to a 3-star hotel room at the Doubletree. The regular room rate was around $100, so I saved about $50!
But the best memory about the Doubletree was the two complimentary chocolate chip cookies that the reservations clerk gives you when you check in!
A few months later, I bid again for a room near the airport. This time my bid was accepted for $35/night, and again at the Doubletree. But, the address of this Doubletree was different then the one I had stayed in before. It was still within a mile of my class, so that was fine with me. When I arrived at the hotel, I discovered that I had to pay $11 for parking. After grudgingly paying the substantial rate, I parked my car and then hauled my luggage to the reservations desk. What I was greeted with was nothing less than first-class service. They checked me in quickly, and I was off to my room on the 4th floor, walking through a chandeliered foyer filled with other guests with no less than the very best designer clothing. (And me, in my dockers, t-shirt, and loafers.)
My room was massive! Complete with King-sized bed, sitting area, large armoire with a refreshment center, and a cordless phone. The bathroom was quite large as well, with a 4x5 tiled shower and separate bathtub. Upon settling in, I whipped out my laptop and bid for one more night at the $35 rate. (Approved again, at the same hotel - yay!)
Oh, and the nightly room rate at this Doubletree? $199. I paid $127 for three nights, with tax. And, I paid for two nights of parking - making the total $149. (The parking attendant let me stay the last night no charge, as my "24 hour" pass hadn't expired yet.) Therefore, I saved a lil over $500. (And, had more of those excellent cookies!)
Out of the many experiences I have had with Priceline, I have had no less than an excellent experience. The last Doubletree had a $3/day energy fee, which I didn't have to pay as the room was reserved through Priceline. The site is very easy to use, and you know the outcome within minutes.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Hotel room
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About the Author
Member: Michelle Widell
Location: Machesney Park, IL
Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 4 members
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