| Rick Archer sat down with Don Nadeau, the
| |
| | on three or four-star hotels. That's
|
| president of BidonTravel.com, which
| |
| | where the real savings are.Second, look
|
| provides Priceline bidding advice.RA: Why
| |
| | up the best prices for the star quality
|
| would anyone want to use Priceline? DN:
| |
| | and neighborhood you want on a site like
|
| You'll save a lot of money.RA: Yes, but
| |
| | Knowledge is power, and that way you
|
| who wants to get up in time for a 6:00
| |
| | won't overbid.Third, find out what
|
| a.m. flight? You can't pick your
| |
| | charges. Hotwire is Priceline's main
|
| departure times or airline or anything
| |
| | competitor in the 'you don't find out the
|
| like that.DN: Well, just use Priceline
| |
| | name of your hotel until you pay
|
| for air tickets when you're going to
| |
| | category,' and it's prices are usually a
|
| Australia or traveling at the last
| |
| | bit higher than Priceline's.Therefore,
|
| minute. You'll save hundreds of dollars.
| |
| | bid 10 - 20 percent below Hotwire's
|
| When you can plan your U.S. travel well
| |
| | price.See BidonTravel.com, though, if you
|
| in advance, Priceline may not be your
| |
| | want to refine this process to maximize
|
| best bet.But always bid on Priceline
| |
| | your savings.RA: What if I still
|
| hotels. That's easy and you don't have to
| |
| | overpay?DN: Priceline has a best price
|
| get up at 4:00 a.m.RA: Sure, but I don't
| |
| | guarantee. If you book a room on
|
| want to stay in some crummy place.DN: No,
| |
| | Priceline, and then find a lower price on
|
| no, no. Bid for three or four-star
| |
| | another website for the same type of room
|
| hotels. You pick the quality.You'll end
| |
| | at the same hotel or resort on the same
|
| up at a Hyatt, Hilton, Holiday Inn Crown
| |
| | dates, Priceline will refund you the
|
| Plaza, Sheraton, Marriott, or
| |
| | difference. There's some small print,
|
| Doubletree-someplace like these.And, over
| |
| | such as "this rate has to be available to
|
| a few days, you'll save hundreds of
| |
| | the general public and you have to make
|
| dollars. In fact, I predict you'll save
| |
| | your claim within 24 hours of booking,"
|
| on average at least $100 a night over the
| |
| | but you really can't lose.RA: There must
|
| prices you get on Expedia, Hotels.com, or
| |
| | be some drawbacks to using Priceline for
|
| similar discount hotel sites. Priceline
| |
| | hotels.DN: There are.Most importantly,
|
| hotel savings average some 40 percent
| |
| | you'll get no refund if you cancel. You
|
| over these sites.RA: What about
| |
| | won't be able to change dates.Also,
|
| location?DN: You pick that, too. In the
| |
| | you'll usually end up with a standard
|
| Orlando area, you have a choice of 11
| |
| | room. At some hotels, these may not be
|
| neighborhoods, in or near San Jose,
| |
| | large enough for more than two people.
|
| eight.RA: So you can't pick a specific
| |
| | RA: What about smoking or nonsmoking?DN:
|
| hotel, just a general neighborhood?DN:
| |
| | This is never absolutely guaranteed
|
| That's right. That's why hotels use
| |
| | regardless of where you book. When using
|
| Priceline to sell excess inventory at
| |
| | Priceline or other online sites, I
|
| prices they don't want their regular
| |
| | usually call the hotel directly to make
|
| customers to find out about.RA: So would
| |
| | sure it has me on its nonsmoking list. I
|
| it be correct to assume that if there's a
| |
| | also try not to show up too late, when
|
| big event going on in the area and hotels
| |
| | the hotel may have run out of certain
|
| are heavily booked, rooms won't be
| |
| | types of rooms.RA: Thanks. I'll try
|
| available through Priceline?DN: Actually
| |
| | bidding next time after reading the tips
|
| not. Groups can book large blocks of
| |
| | on your site.Rick Archer is President of
|
| rooms at hotels, then find out not as
| |
| | SearchSummit, a Search Engine Marketing
|
| many are traveling, and release some
| |
| | company.An extensive world traveler, Don
|
| rooms back to hotels. I once got a
| |
| | Nadeau, president of BidonTravel.com,
|
| Priceline discount at the headquarters
| |
| | taught world geography for many years in
|
| hotel of a huge medical convention at the
| |
| | both Canada and the United States, and
|
| last minute. Priceline tells you if
| |
| | developed the first high school level
|
| rooms are available before you bid.RA:
| |
| | Urban Studies program in the U.S.Don
|
| How do I know what to bid?I have an
| |
| | loves helping people travel "on the
|
| entire site devoted to that! Go to the
| |
| | cheap," and frequently uses the advice
|
| Priceline Hotels section of RA: Just give
| |
| | found in BidonTravel to make his own
|
| me three main tips.DN: Okay. First, bid
| |
| | trips more affordable.
|