| Although I highly recommend using Priceline.com's | | | | a headache, but if you know you are going to take |
| "name your own price" option, it's been my | | | | the trip, I tell people not to let the fear of |
| experience that people to whom I've recommended | | | | cancellation stop you from trying the site. I will |
| this site generally ask the same questions and/or | | | | address these concerns later in the article with tips |
| express similar concerns. I have also found that these | | | | that I think will be helpful |
| same people, weary as they first may be, become | | | | Once you've submitted your offer, you will know (in |
| sworn Priceline loyalists once they've read their | | | | usually less than 60 seconds) whether your price was |
| confirmation pages and discovered just how much of | | | | accepted. Don't be too surprised if you started your |
| a great deal they've stumbled into | | | | bid too low and your first offer gets refused. This |
| Here's how it works: | | | | usually happens. |
| When you land on Priceline's main page, you will see | | | | If your bid is too low, you will get a notice stating |
| an assortment of links tagged with information | | | | that the site could not find any takers for your offer. |
| relating to whatever it is you want to do (e.g. book | | | | If your offer is not accepted, you don't need to be |
| an airline flight, a car rental, etc). In the middle | | | | concerned. It just means you have to start over |
| left-hand corner of the page, you will see the title, | | | | with a slightly higher price. The website will give you |
| "name your own price" with icons of an airplane, a | | | | a couple of opportunities to bump your price up and |
| hotel, and a car, all in little squares, all with the tags, | | | | re-try your bid. |
| "bid now" beneath them. If you click on any of these | | | | You will have to re-agree to the terms and conditions |
| links, a box opens requesting your destination city | | | | each time you start over. I like to raise my bid $1.00 |
| and your intended travel dates. It will also ask for | | | | each time. If you have your heart set on a higher |
| information more specific to the link you've chosen, | | | | star level hotel and you know you bid unrealistically |
| like where you intend to pick up your rental car, or | | | | low, then raise your bid $10.00. Don't panic and bump |
| how many airline tickets you will need. For this | | | | your price up too high.priceline 8 |
| example, I will use the hotel option. | | | | At some point, after too many unsuccessful bids, the |
| Once you've entered your destination city and dates | | | | site will know longer allow you to raise your bid in |
| of travel, it will ask (if applicable) what part of the | | | | slow increments. It will prompt you to change some |
| city you would like to be closest to. Some cities | | | | of the key factors of your bid such as your star |
| simply aren't large enough to warrant a choice of | | | | level and/or the area in which you would like to stay. |
| locations. If you are going to a larger city, like New | | | | Make these adjustments as best as you can, then |
| York or Orlando, the site offers you a map to | | | | start your bid at a dollar amount slightly higher than |
| consult if you are not sure where you want to be, or | | | | you last bid. |
| how close points of interest lie in relation to each | | | | You can go back to the beginning and disable the |
| other. It will also ask you what Star level hotel you | | | | cookies on your computer. By doing so, the site does |
| would like. Keep in mind, this will be all of the | | | | not remember your information, and will not keep |
| information you can offer regarding your choice of | | | | reminding you that your bid was not accepted. You |
| hotel. Don't bother looking for a list of hotels in the | | | | will have to re-enter all of your information and start |
| "name your own price" option. | | | | the whole process from scratch, but this pretty |
| You will be prompted to enter an amount you would | | | | much guarantees that you can increase your price as |
| like to pay per night at the hotel star level you have | | | | fast or as slowly as you like. You want to start your |
| selected. My recommendation is to start low when | | | | new price just slightly higher than your last amount |
| entering this price, regardless of what you think a | | | | (which you already know will not get accepted). |
| room may cost at the star level you've selected. For | | | | When you enter a successful bid, you will see a |
| example, if you have selected a 3 1/2 star hotel, and | | | | screen telling you that your price was accepted. On |
| have any idea at all what a standard room would | | | | this screen, you will see your hotel's name, website |
| cost in your destination city, I recommend starting | | | | and complete contact information. Once you've |
| your bid at 1/3 the amount you would expect to pay | | | | confirmed that you got the hotel room at the price |
| if you booked your room through the hotel directly. | | | | and the star level you've requested, you're done. |
| You may get a window that advises you what the | | | | Simply print out the confirmation page and bring it |
| average price is for a 31/2 star room in your chosen | | | | with you when you check into your hotel. I find that |
| city, which is usually going to be well higher than you | | | | it is easiest just to give the printed page to the |
| you entered, but go ahead and proceed anyway. | | | | receptionist upon arrival along with your driver's |
| The worst thing that can happen is that you don't | | | | license. All of the information they will need to check |
| get the room and you bump your offer price up. | | | | you in can be found on the print-out. The best part |
| The next screen will prompt you to fill in all of your | | | | is, that when you budget your trip expenses, you |
| contact and billing information. This is the same | | | | know your hotel is already paid for. I like that |
| information you would fill out if you were to book | | | | because it means that I don't have to set aside |
| any type of reservation online: Your name, address, | | | | money for the hotel when I check out. |
| phone number, etc. You will have to give your credit | | | | I want to make it clear that you will always get a |
| card number in this field. If your bid price is accepted, | | | | price accepted. Here are some tips I give to |
| you will be required to pay for your room | | | | first-time users, or those who are too concerned |
| immediately; therefore, your card will be billed | | | | about getting scammed, or getting stuck with |
| automatically right on the spot. Before actually placing | | | | reservations they can't use: |
| your bid, you will see a screen displaying your | | | | 1. Don't plan a trip with too far in advance. Waiting |
| itinerary, along with the total charges for your room, | | | | until your departure date gets closer lessens the |
| including all applicable taxes and surcharges. This is the | | | | chances that something will come up to prevent you |
| final amount your card will be billed. You will only pay | | | | from taking your trip. I have booked hotels through |
| additional charges if your destination hotel requires | | | | by 12:00 in the afternoon and checked into the hotel |
| additional deposits at check-in. | | | | by 3:00 pm that same afternoon. I recommend |
| You will have to agree to the site's terms and | | | | maybe booking a day or two before your scheduled |
| conditions, and you will have to initial a box stating | | | | departure, especially if you're driving. |
| that you have read and understood the site's terms | | | | 2. Try for the first time when you are going on an |
| and conditions. Once you do all of that, you click on | | | | extremely short trip. If you are going away for a day |
| "buy my room" and wait a few seconds to see if | | | | or two, book a hotel (a day or two before you |
| your offer was accepted. | | | | leave), get your price accepted and see what |
| Here's where most people I've spoken with have a | | | | happens. I find that people are a little more willing to |
| problem: | | | | try if they are not perceiving that they will be losing |
| Several people are still concerned about entering their | | | | much in the event that something goes wrong. |
| credit card information into an internet site, mainly | | | | 3. Book a rate that, if you lost it, you wouldn't mind |
| because fraud is so prevalent. Usually people prefer | | | | so much that you lost money. I am not implying that |
| to speak to someone directly because somebody is | | | | you stand a good chance of losing money, but if you |
| present to at least re-assure the potential buyer that | | | | think you will, then use an amount that won't hurt |
| the website is not a scamming people out of their | | | | you to lose. I have gotten rooms for $20.00 per |
| money. You won't get a live person on priceline when | | | | night. Although I have never needed to cancel a |
| you choose the "name your own price" option | | | | room, I was not concerned if something came up. I |
| because: | | | | could stand the $20.00 hit. The point is: don't let the |
| 1. the system is automated and it draws from a | | | | fear of what may happen interfere with the fact |
| database of hotels who have agreed to participate in | | | | that you will get a deal for a room, and it will be a |
| the program. | | | | deal which will be much better than what the hotel |
| 2. a live person would not be able to tell you who | | | | would have offered you. |
| among their list of hotels will be willing to accept your | | | | 4. Once your room is approved, go to the website |
| price for a room per night. | | | | of the hotel which accepted your offer and see how |
| Another problem people have is that they don't like | | | | much they would have charged you for a room on |
| surprises. If you bid to pay $100.00 night for a room, | | | | the same nights you plan to travel. You will see at |
| usually you want to know as much about the room | | | | least a 50% savings (if you didn't panic when you |
| as you can before you pay. At least that's how I am. | | | | placed your bid). You also can see the hotel and the |
| It seems to be instinct that if you enter blindly into a | | | | room amenities from the link at |
| transaction, you will come up with the short end of | | | | I have stayed in 3 1/3 star hotels for as low as |
| the stick. I usually find this to be people's biggest | | | | $35.00 per night. I have rented cars for $12.00 a day. |
| hurdle to leap. The third problem is that you pay in | | | | I never plan a trip without checking first. I had a |
| advance and you cannot cancel or change your | | | | friend who I'd have to tell time and time again the |
| reservations once they've been made. | | | | deals I'd get on Orlando hotels, and compare them to |
| You actually can cancel, however there needs to be | | | | the deals he was getting, and it still took years for |
| reasonable cause to do so, and it will usually require | | | | me to convince him to try it. Now he would tell you |
| you to pay a cancellation fee equal to one day at the | | | | to try it too. |
| price you bid. I have gone through this, and it can be | | | | |