Help. How do you use biddingfortravel

[samillionaire]

Hi All, a newb traveller
just wondering if someone can guide me on how to use this biddingfortravel which i hear so much about step by step looking to check in 17 september check out 22 september in sydney. looking to stay around the CBD 2 adults

any hints?

 

[moa999]

frankly better for US than Aus,

but basically gives a guide as to what others have paid for accomodation and whathotels have been won)

provides a better starting point for you to start a bid, and then (depending on the city) get free rebids by adding other zones where there is no hotel at that * level.
basically enables you to maximise your chance of getting a room at the lowest possible acceptable price.

But then yields and prices change regularly so YMMV.

Is also a fairly toxic site for newbies.

 

[samillionaire]

Thanks mao any good sites then to suggest? or good ways to get good hotel deals?

 

[moa999]

wotif wotdeals (you can normally work out which one by googling some of the comments)

 

[odysseus]

Is also a fairly toxic site for newbies.

Hehe. So true!

 

[openseat]

I think there a quite a number of threads on FT about the <edit> person who runs (or used to run) biddingfortravel. Think Sienfeld's soup naz_ episode.

The last time I visited it seemed to me that there was a lot less input regarding prices and some of the reviews are ancient history.

As has been said, better for the US. Usually a good place to get a cheap room at LAX.

 

[samillionaire]

Ace! thanks guys

 

[Sheryl]

I hope you will consider my website for Priceline,com (US) hotel bidding. We have a forum dedicated to Australia and I'll be glad to try to help.

I am by no means toxic. We just ask that you follow our rules. We are not a social forum but exclusively for Priceline hotel and rental car bidding.

As to lower activity, I was away with an illness for nearly two years until February of this year and our traffic has been restored since my return.

 

[Gold Member]

I would recommend www.betterbidding.com as a much better site for PL and HW bidding stats. I too have heard far too many horror stories and ill-tempered and childish treatment at B4T.

 

[odysseus]

I am by no means toxic. We just ask that you follow our rules.

Ah, but that's the thing. Your rules are more demanding than in the case of many sites.

And many who break them have been kicked off the forum without recourse, which is more severe than most other forums.

We are not a social forum but exclusively for Priceline hotel and rental car bidding.

i.e. it's more about revenue raising due to the commissions you get from referral links, as are posted each time a bid is discussed. And there's less opportunity to help others through alternative discussion which may be beneficial to that situation.

 

[Sheryl]

Never been so totally unwelcomed. Wish I never posted here. Bye.

 

[samillionaire]

lol.
my mate just booked a random deal w hotwire $118 pn after many failed bids on priceline got annoyed.
offered a 4 star hotel and got travelodge wyndham... i thought it was a 3 star??

thought it was mariott what a downer

 

[laffer]

Never been so totally unwelcomed. Wish I never posted here. Bye.

Now you know how you made others feel when they posted on your website.

Dont let the door hit you on the way out Shez.

 

[Mal]

There is plenty of interesting discussion over at Flyertalk about BiddingforTravel.com. All lies of course

 

[straitman]

Can we stick to the facts here please Ladies and Gents?

 

[straitman]

The last time I tried to use biddingfortravel was years ago when I was new to FT and AFF. Quite frankly I did not understand all the rules and methodology but that may have been my ignorance rather than a problem with the site.

To be fair to Sheryl I thought I would give her site another chance. After navigating my way around it was all starting to make sense until I decided to register. The problem is that the registration process takes me to a social media site called Yukuverse. :shock:

I have just spent 10-15 minutes Googling and cannot find anyone who says anything nice about this site. Combine this with my inherent dislike of such sites (including Facebook) that is as far as I'm prepared to go with this little experiment.

I did try though.

 

[Alanslegal]

Ive used Priceline quite a few times over the years, and I know the site can work well if you know what you are doing. I use it in conjunction with the assistance and tips from betterbidding.com and have managed to get quite a few good deals. One of my better ones was 10 nights in Hawaii (successfully won the Sheraton Waikiki) but I was 95% certain it was the Sheraton based on betterbidding's information, and paid less than $100USD per night (when the AUD was buying USD$0.75) and the hotel site wanted $229 or more. Also as I am a SPG Platinum and I managed to secure (luckily) an upgrade to an oceanfront room. Some other Priceline successes I've had including $70USD for the IC Chicago-Magnicificent Mile, USD$40 for Sheraton Heathrow ... these at the time were more than 60-70% off than direct from the hotel itself.

 

[albatross710]

I have used biddingfortravel successfully but as a read only resource as the priceline methodology is pretty straight forward. I do post my successful bids.

If i am going to be bidding on an overseas city I will always start at b4t to guage the likely local price and the likely hotel.

The main thing I have learned from b4t was how to work the free bids. The other point that works in my favour is that i usually have 2-3 months over which I can make the bids so I just start low and work up.

As for hotel deals in Australia I have not had very good value on the deals I have scored in Melbourne or Sydney. Usually the priceline deals ends up 10% below the Wotif price but with the priceline risk of not knowing the venue and no refund option.


Alby