Question about Price Line

[MaryH]

I checked their rules but did not see an answer to this.

I am planning to travel to Boston with the kids in March. If I place a "Name your Own Price" request now, is there a time limitation on when they have to accept or decline the request? Or does it stay open (and potentially chargeable to me) until the travel dates?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[marys]

When you do a name your own price, they charge your credit card immediately if they find a hotel that will take your price. So you are committed.

We actually got a great deal through them for Boston a year and a half ago. $75 at the Park Place (I think that was the name). It was in a great location.

You should also check out a message board called biddingfortravel.com. People post what prices and hotels they are currently getting on Priceline. It's great.

Just a heads up, that the hotels have expensive parking fees (around $20 per day), so figure that in with your price. Although, the valet who parked our car made calls on my husband's cell phone that he accidentally left in the car, so our parking was free. (After we made a big deal about it!)

[Grace]

Yes, when you do the name your own price thing, they tell you pretty much instantly whether it was accepted or declined. If they decline it, you either have to change something significant about the bid (like a completely different date or something) or you have to wait 3 days before you can bid again. You cannot just try bidding again with a higher bid. They won't let you do that (otherwise people would start really low, and just bid higher and bid higher and bid higher until it got accepted). They want people to come in with a reasonably good bid the first time around - not low-ball bids.

But I always low ball bid anyway and just wait the three days if I get declined. I have had several times where my bid was accepted, so as long as you're planning far enough in advance, it's worth it to try and see if a low bid will fly.

That said, thanks Marys for the info about biddingfortravel.com. I will bookmark that for when I need to use Priceline again!

[MaryH]

Thank you.

My plan was to bid the airfare because I have three free nights at the Hyatt Regency. My concern is that my travel dates aren't until March and I did not want it "hanging out there" and getting charged at the last minute (when I would have already purchased tickets elsewhere.)

Maybe I'll put in my lowball bid and see what they say.

[armel]

Yes, when you do the name your own price thing, they tell you pretty much instantly whether it was accepted or declined. If they decline it, you either have to change something significant about the bid (like a completely different date or something) or you have to wait 3 days before you can bid again. You cannot just try bidding again with a higher bid. They won't let you do that (otherwise people would start really low, and just bid higher and bid higher and bid higher until it got accepted). They want people to come in with a reasonably good bid the first time around - not low-ball bids.

When they first started up, you could turn around and increase your bid. So that is what I did. Sounds like the rest of the folks were doing the same thing. I'll have to keep in mind that if I want to use this, I will have to bid early so I can wait 3 days and then increase it.