There is a new site available online called the Bidding Traveler http://www.biddingtraveler.com/ and it is a great tool to help get rooms on Priceline. It takes all the hassle out of it for you. You tell them where you want to go , how much you are willing to spend and they tell you what to do OR you can let them AutoBid for you! I tried it out and it works really well.
You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!
I looked at it, loved their prices.....but, it still has the same problem of Priceline, I can't choose exactly which hotel I want to bid on. They choose for me. I do like the feature that tells you what the winning bid was, and when it occurred. But, if they have a selection of hotels, I would like to choose which one to bid on. I'm picky on the fact that I want free high speed internet (so hubby can log into work without taking vacation days at a show), want free parking (high enough to get our van with topper in it), would like to have; a free fitness center, indoor pool, and free breakfast. I can get those things on some of the higher bidding websites.
I got an email from a promoter suggesting that I try Kayak (which I haven't looked at since last year), and the other site, checkinncard.com -they normally do corporate lodging. I do have a friend who has used that, and she does get good rates (well, at least last year she did).
So, now, it's back to the internet to do more hotel researching for the next show. Where's my secretary?? ;-)
Kayak is not a bidding site but just searches all the websites into one convenient spot. You really can't bid on low price unsold rooms and also pick the hotels that you want. That's why you need to do your homework at sites like Better Bidding and BFT first. To get everything you want you are better off shopping the individual hotel sites as well as all the travel sites and definitely join every frequent travel program. I was a road warrior for 15 years while my husband was the artist before we decided to do art shows together full time and I have booked more rooms than I care to think about. As for internet the best thing anymore is to just add a hot spot connection to your cell phone and remove the need for using any hotel connection. It's much more secure and you can stay connected in the car and at the booth.
Jay, are you serious? What gets you banned from the site, just posting your results? I thought they wanted people to be drawn to the site. Posting is good advertisement for them.
Jacki B
Jay McDougall > Jacki BilsborrowApril 7, 2011 at 9:51am
If you read any search on "banned from bidding for travel" you"ll get a feel for it. In my case, I think (I never got a reply so I really don't know for sure) I reported on all of my bidding successes, which is a good thing. There were a few times when I was in a hurry on the road that I didn't use the BFT link to priceline to start my hotel search. I reported my wins anyway and was reminded to use the link. The third time this happened I was banned. I now use betterbidding.com and use their link (whenever possible) and post my wins. I don't miss BFT at all, but it still kinda gives me a rash that I was banned. Lesson here: on BFT you are better off not posting results at all than to take the chance of being banned. If you must use it, stay invisible. This does rather defeat the purpose however. My advice, try betterbidding instead.
I'm about as easy to get along with as anyone I know ( and humble too). But I've been BANNED from bidding for travel for over 2 year now. For others with similar experiences just do a search for "banned from bidding for travel". I've been using betterbidding.com ever since being banned. Very similar site, much nicer, and equally valuable. Tread carefully at BFT, but if you must go there be absolutely sure to use their link for all of your priceline bidding. Or if you don't then just don't post your results. Yeah, my nose is out of joint.
Hello. Thanks for the info. Is there any chance of getting stuck with questionable or bad rooms? Are they priceline approved type rooms? I will have to look into that.
It works through Priceline and you log in with your regular account. It just does the negotiating for you once you tell it what you want to end up with.
Thanks for this great link! It should be useful to many. Over the years the only thing in the art fair business that has gotten cheaper is the hotel rooms. I am grateful to Priceline. Maybe we should send them a Red Dot?
Linnea Lahlum > Connie MettlerApril 4, 2011 at 2:19pm
Good idea! Priceline has been great for me this last year. Quite a learning curve before I got reasonably good at it, though.
Replies
I looked at it, loved their prices.....but, it still has the same problem of Priceline, I can't choose exactly which hotel I want to bid on. They choose for me. I do like the feature that tells you what the winning bid was, and when it occurred. But, if they have a selection of hotels, I would like to choose which one to bid on. I'm picky on the fact that I want free high speed internet (so hubby can log into work without taking vacation days at a show), want free parking (high enough to get our van with topper in it), would like to have; a free fitness center, indoor pool, and free breakfast. I can get those things on some of the higher bidding websites.
I got an email from a promoter suggesting that I try Kayak (which I haven't looked at since last year), and the other site, checkinncard.com -they normally do corporate lodging. I do have a friend who has used that, and she does get good rates (well, at least last year she did).
So, now, it's back to the internet to do more hotel researching for the next show. Where's my secretary?? ;-)
Jay, are you serious? What gets you banned from the site, just posting your results? I thought they wanted people to be drawn to the site. Posting is good advertisement for them.
Jacki B
I'm about as easy to get along with as anyone I know ( and humble too). But I've been BANNED from bidding for travel for over 2 year now. For others with similar experiences just do a search for "banned from bidding for travel". I've been using betterbidding.com ever since being banned. Very similar site, much nicer, and equally valuable. Tread carefully at BFT, but if you must go there be absolutely sure to use their link for all of your priceline bidding. Or if you don't then just don't post your results. Yeah, my nose is out of joint.
Hello. Thanks for the info. Is there any chance of getting stuck with questionable or bad rooms? Are they priceline approved type rooms? I will have to look into that.
Jacki B
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next