Wamprat: Priceline -anyone get lucky?

[Wamprat]

I was considering using priceline to get a hotel on the strip. I was going to lowball (around $30) and wondered if anyone had done this and had gotten accomodations at a quality property or had been sent to a dive.

Any recomendations on what to bid and previous results would be appreciated.

[pat]

> I was considering using priceline to get a
> hotel on the strip. I was going to lowball
> (around $30) and wondered if anyone had done
> this and had gotten accomodations at a
> quality property or had been sent to a dive.

> Any recomendations on what to bid and
> previous results would be appreciated.
at the sheraton off priceline for 35 bucks.i dont see why you couldnt get a room on the strip during the weekday for 30 or 35 bucks.priceline is the best.

[Sonny]

> I was considering using priceline to get a
> hotel on the strip. I was going to lowball
> (around $30) and wondered if anyone had done
> this and had gotten accomodations at a
> quality property or had been sent to a dive.

Just be careful! Since Priceline automatically makes reservations for you, you may end up with a dirty room at the Golden Spike right next to the industrial air conditioning fans. That's one thing in Vegas that I would NOT gamble on.

-Sonny-

[dpm123]

They seem to have the best prices for Vegas. I recently came back from a trip where I stayed at Lady Luck for $20/night. Nothing fancy, but clean. No need for luxury, since I'm only in my room to sleep and my expenses come out of my bankroll. Recently I found rooms at El Cortez as low as $10/night!!! I'm going back 4/28-5/2 and am staying at Las Vegas Club for $17/night!!! You do have to prepay, but only after you select the hotel and rate of your choice.

http://www.travelworm.com

[Parker]

> I was considering using priceline to get a
> hotel on the strip. I was going to lowball
> (around $30) and wondered if anyone had done
> this and had gotten accomodations at a
> quality property or had been sent to a dive.

> Any recomendations on what to bid and
> previous results would be appreciated.

I've used Priceline for airline tickets, but I'd be reluctant to use them for a hotel. The major airlines are all pretty much alike these days (crowded, late, bankrupt), but the same cannot be said for hotels. I'm definitely not comfortable with the idea of not knowing where I'm staying until after the money is spent.

Another problem is what happens if your plans should change? Priceline rooms are non-refundable, and there is no provision for cancellations.

Travelaxe (www.travelaxe.com) is a free program that was developed by an advantage player. You install it on your computer and it then simultaneously queries about 15 different online travel agencies. The results are displayed in a spreadsheet format, with the lowest prices for each hotel highlighted. You then click on your choice and make your booking.

You always know exactly where you will be staying before you buy. There are even links to maps and the hotel websites.

A nice feature when booking Las Vegas rooms is that a calendar of most of the upcoming big conventions is displayed. In addition to Las Vegas, Travelaxe can be used to search over 475 other cities worldwide.

Should your plans change, policies vary somewhat depending on which online agency you are dealing with, but most will let you cancel up until two days before your arrival date, charging only a modest service charge - usually around $20.

If your level of play will not get your rooms comped, Travelaxe is the next best option. I've included a link below.

Travelaxe

[pat]

> I've used Priceline for airline tickets, but
> I'd be reluctant to use them for a hotel.
> The major airlines are all pretty much alike
> these days (crowded, late, bankrupt), but
> the same cannot be said for hotels. I'm
> definitely not comfortable with the idea of
> not knowing where I'm staying until after
> the money is spent.

> Another problem is what happens if your
> plans should change? Priceline rooms are
> non-refundable, and there is no provision
> for cancellations.

> Travelaxe (www.travelaxe.com) is a free
> program that was developed by an advantage
> player. You install it on your computer and
> it then simultaneously queries about 15
> different online travel agencies. The
> results are displayed in a spreadsheet
> format, with the lowest prices for each
> hotel highlighted. You then click on your
> choice and make your booking.

> You always know exactly where you will be
> staying before you buy. There are even links
> to maps and the hotel websites.

> A nice feature when booking Las Vegas rooms
> is that a calendar of most of the upcoming
> big conventions is displayed. In addition to
> Las Vegas, Travelaxe can be used to search
> over 475 other cities worldwide.

> Should your plans change, policies vary
> somewhat depending on which online agency
> you are dealing with, but most will let you
> cancel up until two days before your arrival
> date, charging only a modest service charge
> - usually around $20.

> If your level of play will not get your
> rooms comped, Travelaxe is the next best
> option. I've included a link below.
i dont use them for airline tickets because its cheaper to go to southwest.com and get a free trip.hotels on the weekdays are never 100% occupied so they will take a sure thing like priceline with a no cancel policy.

[bond trader]

[Parker]

> i dont use them for airline tickets because
> its cheaper to go to southwest.com and get a
> free trip.hotels on the weekdays are never
> 100% occupied so they will take a sure thing
> like priceline with a no cancel policy.

Southwest is great - I use them all the time. But what if you want do go somewhere that Southwest doesn't serve? Memphis, for example.

Or how about a trip on short notice, and all the cheap Southwest tickets are sold out?

[Arundo]

Hi Parker,

I looked at Travelaxe, but it seemed to be a PC thing. Is there any way to use it with MacOS?

Thanks,

Arundo

[Parker]

> Hi Parker,

> I looked at Travelaxe, but it seemed to be a
> PC thing. Is there any way to use it with
> MacOS?

Sadly, no. It requires some flavor of Windows and Internet Explorer.

As a Linux user, I feel your pain.

I keep a Windows partition on most of my computers for running blackjack programs such as Casino Verite and BJRM 2000, so that is where Travelaxe resides.

I suggest that you drop an e-mail to the Travelaxe people telling them how you really wish you could run the program on your Mac.

Alternative operating systems are growing in popularity. I have a dream . . .