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