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