Corporate Rates: How Do You Get One?

After you place a bid you know within a minute or so if it's been accepted. It's rather quick.

I used Priceline for a hotel stay Sunday night in the suburban Chicago area.. got a Country Inn and Suites for $34+tax. It was rather nice, especially for the price.

 

So if I put in a bid for a 2 1/2 star hotel and there isn't one available, do they reject it or go up to a 3-star?
And what would be a good bid for a 2 1/2 star, usually in the 100-120 buck a night range?

 

If you put in a bid for a 2.5 star it automatically includes anything higher than that in the zone you are bidding for.

And it's hard to say what a good bid for a 2.5 star would be... you'd need to check biddingfortravel.com to see what other people have bid in that specific area.

 

Have to think about this... the three-stars in the general area I want arent in the specific area i want.

 

Well, I used priceline.

I just got the Sheraton in Santa Monica for $150 a night, arriving Thursday and leaving Tuesday morning (five nights, over the weekend).

Good? Bad? Otherwise?

Seems like a hell of a deal to me, but what the hell do I know?

 

I've used priceline, including getting my parents a room in the Sheraton here in my town for like $40 a night. However, they were given the shittiest room...it smelled and it was next to the laundry room with lots of noise. They asked to move, and the room they got had a hole in the wall instead of an a/c unit. When they called to be switched again, they were finally given an actual room.

So know the people placing you in a room will know how much you're paying. You're going to get the last pick of rooms.

 

I immediately called the hotel after booking and the guy on the phone said I "did the right thing by calling." He then noted "please upgrade room" on my account.

I'm a tall guy and need a king bed, that was my reason for calling. I also asked for a view. That he said he'd "try to accomodate."

 

I've never had a bad experience with Priceline. Got a room at The Skydome last year for $70 and got one for next week across the street from Maple Leaf Gardens for $65. Stayed on Bourbon Street once for $50 and on Pennsylvania Ave. for $70.

 

Just got the Westin downtown San Diego to complete my booking for the week.

It cost me $150 a night, too. But it's rated four stars on priceline.com.

However, when I called to ensure I get a king bed, the receptionist was a MEGA-BIATCH. And said something like "well, I can't even begin to gaurantee that. That's why we prefer you book online with us or on the phone with us."

I felt like saying, "I prefer to not pay $300 for a room!"

 

Priceline is GREAT for hotels. Always get a great deal. Staying in a very nice hotel this weekend with my g/f and it's only costing $71 a night.
But Priceline sucks for flights and rental cars. I haven't been able to get a good deal on either of those for years. But back in the day, I used priceline all the time for air travel. But that was like when it first started. I'd end up saving like $150 a flight. Those were the days.

 

I used priceline to rent a car for my mom a month or two ago. It was fine. Flights, I never trust because I like knowing flight times before I sign up.

 

As for corporate rates, the Marriott Athletic VIP card I got from the FWAA has been worth about 10x the FWAA's annual dues for the past two years. If you cover college football, it is worth it.