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