Question for Priceline users

[HookLine&Sinker]

We will be on the AOS in April 08 and want to book our room precruise through Priceline or a similar type company. I've never done it before so I'm unsure how it works and am wondering how to solve this problem . . .

 

We will be meeting another couple traveling from a different state in SJ. We are thinking of arriving on Friday and touring the rain forest Sat. Our friends will be arriving on Sat.

 

We would like to stay in the same hotel so I'm thinking that I should "bid" on 2 rooms for Fri/Sat. night and then call the hotel and cancel one room for Friday night since our friends don't really need it. Does anyone know if there is an easier/better way to do this?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

[Ephraim]

You can't do that. You don't own the reservation, Priceline does. You can ask the hotel if you can check in for them so that they don't release the reservation. But you must pay for the first night. Or you could use another service that offers you a description of the room and a price without telling you. The amenities they list would be the exact same and therefore you know you are getting the same hotel.

[Host Kewlguy]

We will be on the AOS in April 08 and want to book our room precruise through Priceline or a similar type company. I've never done it before so I'm unsure how it works and am wondering how to solve this problem . . .

 

We will be meeting another couple traveling from a different state in SJ. We are thinking of arriving on Friday and touring the rain forest Sat. Our friends will be arriving on Sat.

 

We would like to stay in the same hotel so I'm thinking that I should "bid" on 2 rooms for Fri/Sat. night and then call the hotel and cancel one room for Friday night since our friends don't really need it. Does anyone know if there is an easier/better way to do this?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

 

Bids won on Priceline are non refundable.

[masonpips]

Go to www . biddingfortravel . com (take spaces out) and do some research on Priceline.

 

Don't bid too high now for next April. I've been playing w/Oct and Miami and it's really too far out even for that to get the "best" deal. The website provides lots of info as well as comparisons on what people are winning so you have somewhere to start

[BethCarp]

Yeah, you can't do that. With priceline you make a bid and if it's accepted your credit card is immediately charged the full amount. And it's non refundable. You also won't know which hotel you're at until after the bid is accepted and paid for. I suggest you read up on priceline before doing anything like that. Some good sites for info on how to bid are betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com.

 

ETA: you might be better off trying to find a deal on travelocity or orbitz. That way you can choose your hotel and you and your friends can pay separately and for the exact nights you need. But know that those are also non-refundable.

[HookLine&Sinker]

Thanks everyone for the insight, it's really appreciated.

[JJ2sail]

I use priceline alot, and concur with the other posters. You could do two bookings. One for Friday night for one room, and one for Sat night for two rooms. You would most likely get the same hotel, but there is a chance you may have to change hotels for sat night. The best deals, are usually gotten a few days before your trip. You could start trying about 3 months out and see what comes up.

[firefly333]

ETA: you might be better off trying to find a deal on travelocity or orbitz. That way you can choose your hotel and you and your friends can pay separately and for the exact nights you need. But know that those are also non-refundable.

 

Orbitz says its only $25 to cancel or change my reservation. I assumed from that I could get a refund for the difference if I decided to cancel?

 

Hasnt Travelocity been making commercials on tv that you can cancel now too?

 

Im not sure both of these are non refundable as you say. Im booked thru Orbitz and assume you will get a refund for the difference since it said $25 to change plans if you called them within 48 hours or some such in the small print.

[Coralc]

Low $100+ is a good price for the Marriott in San Juan for April 2008. So we are actually taking your rooms. It is not too soon to bid for next April. The cost/bid is non-refundable...and you might want to do a little bit of research on the above mentioned websites before you try it. :)

[beach girl66]

I bid on priceline ( San Juan and Resort) for April 26 2008 just a few days ago and got the Marriott Stellaris Resort and Casino for 110.00 + tax and fees was 136.00 It's not too early. :D :D Which sailing are you on??

[eandj]

Always go to the hotels' web site to see what the going rate is before you bid. No use blind bidding...gotta know where to start. Also go to the bidding help sites to let you know what people are winning for the dates you want. Good luck.

[Coralc]

Since rooms at the Marriott Stelaris Resort & Casino start at $335/night, I really think the Priceline bids are a good deal. :)

[uksimonusa]

Since rooms at the Marriott Stelaris Resort & Casino start at $335/night, I really think the Priceline bids are a good deal. :)

 

Yeah, we paid $115 for our cuise last May thru Priceline, very nice hotel