Since travel accommodations can be costly, discount travel sites like Priceline are attractive to budget-conscious travelers. Priceline makes it possible for you to bid on airfare, car rentals, hotels and vacation packages rather than paying full price. While bidding on travel accommodations may seem tricky, following some basic tips can lead to big savings on your next vacation.
Bid low on the accommodations of your choice. For example, if the hotel you want to stay in charges $150 a night, make a bid for about half of that. If you get something similar or a little higher in cost that your bid, you are still saving a substantial amount of money. Bidon Travel suggests checking out competitor sites to see what the same room or airfare goes for and then bid at least 15 to 30 percent lower.
Since you are trying to save money, use the opportunity Priceline gives in reducing rates on hotels that are a little more expensive than the average two-star hotel. If you want to bid on four-star hotels but the bid comes back too expensive, Priceline will make you wait 24 hours before allowing you to bid again. If you are willing to try out a three-star hotel, you can get around the rules by making a second bid, this time for a three-star hotel.
Waiting until the last minute to get hotel accommodations or airfare is never a safe idea. When making a bid on Priceline, Go Green Travel Green suggests that you make a backup reservation at a hotel or airline prior to bidding in case you can't find a lower price on Priceline. Bid in advance to avoid the hassles involved with last-minute planning.
