Has anyone used Priceline Express Deals before?

[purbeast0]

I've never used priceline before, and there is a 4 star hotel I'm looking at that is a resort and casino that is $334/night that has a rating of 7.6.

When I click on the "Express Deals" where they don't tell you the hotel, I see a 4 star hotel in the same area, that is labled as a resort and hotel regular price per night is $334 down to $163, and has a 7+ rating.

So it seems it is the same exact hotel.

My question is, if you get these deals, do they give you the same room as if you booked it normally? Or is it some crap room or something? It just seems kinda shady to be so much cheaper but I know the site is legit, so just curious if anyone has experience with this.

 

[RockinZ28]

That's all I use for hotels, and name your own price on occasion. Never had an issue, travel for business frequently (typing from hotel ).

Unless there is a room choice presented on the express deal, it will usually book you a double queen room, and sometimes it's a handicap room. Couple times I got a double twin. Often times I'm able to request a regular king room when I get to the hotel if they have any available. So if you don't particularly care what type of room it is, you can save a lot.

 

[Xstatic1]

90%+ of our lodging reservations for vacations are done with Priceline Express Deals. You can usually figure out which hotel it is (like you have ) by doing a quick comparison of the deals.

And no, they're not crappy rooms. Hotels make money from rooms being occupied.

As RockinZ28 mentioned, they're usually queen-size bed or double queen. Occasionally, you're able to select a King bed for a few dollars more (it'll be on the page when you book the Express deal). But if you don't care what size bed or room type, Priceline Express Deals are a great way to save money.

 

[purbeast0]

Do they tell you the hotel and room type immediately after you purchase it? Or do you have to wait a bit until you find out?

 

[RossMAN]

I've snagged some pretty good deal on hotels but it's a gamble because the hotel isn't revealed until after your bid is accepted.

I would highly recommend using a site like http://www.betterbidding.com where people share bidding strategies.

Edit: I may have confused express deals with make a bid or whatever they call it.

 

[purbeast0]

Express Deals don't make you bid. It's a price already set but they don't tell you the hotel before you pay.

 

[Xstatic1]

Do they tell you the hotel and room type immediately after you purchase it? Or do you have to wait a bit until you find out?

Yes, you find out the hotel and room type right away after you've paid for it. We've had 2 instances of "Room Assigned On Check-In", but more often than not, it'll state something like this (copied/pasted from our Priceline account):

- 1 Bedroom Suite - 1 Queen Bed - Nonsmoking
- King Bed - Wifi
- 1 King Bed - Studio Suite - Free Internet
- 1 King Bed Suite No Smoking

 

[Fingolfin269]

I got Palazzo using that a couple of years ago. betterbidding.com is a good resource, or at least used to be. (just noticed Rossman beat me to it...)

 

[ponyo]

I read hotels give their worst rooms to Priceline and Hotwire bookings. I used the Priceline Express deal to book a hotel room before a cruise. I correctly guessed the hotel from the description and got the standard room with double bed.

 

[purbeast0]

I read hotels give their worst rooms to Priceline and Hotwire bookings. I used the Priceline Express deal to book a hotel room before a cruise. I correctly guessed the hotel from the description and got the standard room with double bed.

So was it "the worst room" like you said in your first sentence that you got when you booked it on the cruise?

 

[ponyo]

So was it "the worst room" like you said in your first sentence that you got when you booked it on the cruise?

I don't know. It was cheap 2 1/2 star suite motel/hotel. I just wanted a place to sleep the night before the cruise. The room was fine for the price paid and what I wanted.

 

[Kalvin00]

I'll find out next week when I check in..

I used it and got the Cambria Hotel in NYC, listed at $170/night but it was $86/night with Priceline express. Pretty decent deal for a hotel rated 9.2/10.. I was pretty much able to figure out what it was before buying it though.

 

[RockinZ28]

It's super easy to figure out what hotel you will get. I've probably done NYOP/Express deals over 100 times. Been wrong once. Couple times was only able to narrow it to 50/50 between two hotels.

I'd say the most important aspect is hotel rating. If it doesn't show 7+, 8+ etc. rating, you do not want to take the deal imo. I aim for 8+. NYOP does not show ratings, so you have to be careful there aren't any under 7 rating hotels that fit your bid criteria.

Do they tell you the hotel and room type immediately after you purchase it? Or do you have to wait a bit until you find out?

It depends. Priceline will always book express deals for two people.

My latest read like this:

Room Type: Room Assigned On Check-In

Max 2 guests. Hotels may charge for additional guests.

Was the usual double queen room.

 

[smackababy]

I haven't done the Priceline one, but I've done Hotwire. And have always had great experiences. Though, I do a ton of research and narrow it down to a few choices that the "hidden deal" will be.