Discount hotel success story !

[ChanceMaster]

I've been expediting a bit over a year now, I got lucky and found an honest owner near my hometown, who I drove team with. The owner spent most nights in economy hotels leaving me alone in the truck while enjoying the hotel shower and breakfast. I would occasionaly share a room on the weekend or long layover, with my budget being $40 a night, it was an occasional induldgence.

I am now teaming with a good friend of 4 years, and things are going great ! While on layover in Tucson, AZ for the night after a longer run, we decide to splurge on a hotel.

I decided to try the newly downloaded priceline negotiator app on my smartphone. Using the app I named my price ( or call it a bid) of 40.00 a night, signed the contract, entered my CC number, and hit the bid button.

For $40.00 we got a 3 star Sheraton Suites hotel, Downtown Tucson. Heated pool, hot Tub, starbucks onsite, and beds with down comforters, oh and a big bathroom. Same success in San Fran area ! We stayed 3 weekend nights (Cross country load on Monday, great payer too !) at the HILTON (Santa Clara, california) for $60 a night ( consider weekend and location) what a bargain !

Just drove close to 5,000 miles this past week, now predispatched for monday, and laying over in Rochester, NY @ the Raddison for $40.00 a night (rack rate is over $100.00 a night). Free Shuttle service (anything 5 miles radius) and sleep number beds !

I am bragging a bit, but more importantly I really want to share my experience with others, I found that my attitude and energy level are up quite a few notches after recharging in a quality hotel room ! Im sure I'll take some flack from others on this site for "wasting" money on a room when I have a sleeper, but to me its a quality of life issue and an occassional indulgence.

BTW..not trying to plug a service here, just real world results from someone who is enjoying his job !

 

[Rocketman]

I've been expediting a bit over a year now, I got lucky and found an honest owner near my hometown, who I drove team with. The owner spent most nights in economy hotels leaving me alone in the truck while enjoying the hotel shower and breakfast. I would occasionaly share a room on the weekend or long layover, with my budget being $40 a night, it was an occasional induldgence.

I am now teaming with a good friend of 4 years, and things are going great ! While on layover in Tucson, AZ for the night after a longer run, we decide to splurge on a hotel.

I decided to try the newly downloaded priceline negotiator app on my smartphone. Using the app I named my price ( or call it a bid) of 40.00 a night, signed the contract, entered my CC number, and hit the bid button.

For $40.00 we got a 3 star Sheraton Suites hotel, Downtown Tucson. Heated pool, hot Tub, starbucks onsite, and beds with down comforters, oh and a big bathroom. Same success in San Fran area ! We stayed 3 weekend nights (Cross country load on Monday, great payer too !) at the HILTON (Santa Clara, california) for $60 a night ( consider weekend and location) what a bargain !

Just drove close to 5,000 miles this past week, now predispatched for monday, and laying over in Rochester, NY @ the Raddison for $40.00 a night (rack rate is over $100.00 a night). Free Shuttle service (anything 5 miles radius) and sleep number beds !

I am bragging a bit, but more importantly I really want to share my experience with others, I found that my attitude and energy level are up quite a few notches after recharging in a quality hotel room ! Im sure I'll take some flack from others on this site for "wasting" money on a room when I have a sleeper, but to me its a quality of life issue and an occassional indulgence.

BTW..not trying to plug a service here, just real world results from someone who is enjoying his job !

I use it often. It is a great tool. It will tell you what the median price is for the star level you select and I've found that if I offer 50%, I get a room. I used to offer 40% of the median price and it would work most of the time, but I've started just doing the 50% to be sure I get one since its a one time offer sort of thing.

My experience is similiar to yours. I have stayed in some very nice rooms for $40-$60. If I know I'm going to be laid over for a day or two, it takes me about 2 seconds to make the decision...lol.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I've been expediting a bit over a year now, I got lucky and found an honest owner near my hometown, who I drove team with. The owner spent most nights in economy hotels leaving me alone in the truck while enjoying the hotel shower and breakfast. I would occasionaly share a room on the weekend or long layover, with my budget being $40 a night, it was an occasional induldgence.

I am now teaming with a good friend of 4 years, and things are going great ! While on layover in Tucson, AZ for the night after a longer run, we decide to splurge on a hotel.

I decided to try the newly downloaded priceline negotiator app on my smartphone. Using the app I named my price ( or call it a bid) of 40.00 a night, signed the contract, entered my CC number, and hit the bid button.

For $40.00 we got a 3 star Sheraton Suites hotel, Downtown Tucson. Heated pool, hot Tub, starbucks onsite, and beds with down comforters, oh and a big bathroom. Same success in San Fran area ! We stayed 3 weekend nights (Cross country load on Monday, great payer too !) at the HILTON (Santa Clara, california) for $60 a night ( consider weekend and location) what a bargain !

Just drove close to 5,000 miles this past week, now predispatched for monday, and laying over in Rochester, NY @ the Raddison for $40.00 a night (rack rate is over $100.00 a night). Free Shuttle service (anything 5 miles radius) and sleep number beds !

I am bragging a bit, but more importantly I really want to share my experience with others, I found that my attitude and energy level are up quite a few notches after recharging in a quality hotel room ! Im sure I'll take some flack from others on this site for "wasting" money on a room when I have a sleeper, but to me its a quality of life issue and an occassional indulgence.

BTW..not trying to plug a service here, just real world results from someone who is enjoying his job !

Don't worry about the cheapskapes around here....LOL...your quality of life is more important...and how the extra luxury recharges ya..after all you are driving hard and have earned it....I mean isn't that why we do this?....Our inheritance fund?....not likely....hahaha...

 

[ChanceMaster]

I use it often. It is a great tool. It will tell you what the median price is for the star level you select and I've found that if I offer 50%, I get a room. I used to offer 40% of the median price and it would work most of the time, but I've started just doing the 50% to be sure I get one since its a one time offer sort of thing.

My experience is similiar to yours. I have stayed in some very nice rooms for $40-$60. If I know I'm going to be laid over for a day or two, it takes me about 2 seconds to make the decision...lol.

Rocketman..ive also just been using betterbidding.com, It shows what people are succesfully bidding in what citys, and what hotel propertys they are getting. Its basically a research tool (and a good one). My new co-driver just downloaded the app, so now we will have two bids available, in case they dont accept the first ( you have to wait 24 hours to rebid, for those who dont know). If we dont get a great deal, its the local dive motel, or truckstop ! No problem with those either ! Just love staying in a 4 star for 40 bucks a night !!

 

[ChanceMaster]

Don't worry about the cheapskapes around here....LOL...your quality of life is more important...and how the extra luxury recharges ya..after all you are driving hard and have earned it....I mean isn't that why we do this?....Our inheritance fund?....not likely....hahaha...

its hard NOT to feel a little guilty ( while sleeping on 700 thread count sheets, watching HBO, and lounging in the hottub ! It does recharge you and makes life a bit easier out here. Took hotel shuttle to a bar near here with 150 diiferent taps of beer ! that was RECHARGING !

 

[cannedmeat27]

I use it for airline tickets I just bought a ticket out of Maine taking me home to Oklahoma it was 50%off

 

[ChanceMaster]

I use it for airline tickets I just bought a ticket out of Maine taking me home to Oklahoma it was 50%off

I did see that they offer discounts on airline tickets, and car rentals too. Have great trip !

 

[usafk9]

I hope one of those taps you tried wasn't Genesee Cream Ale.

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[ChanceMaster]

I hope one of those taps you tried wasn't Genesee Cream Ale.

Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

stayed away from the ales, went with the belgians ! Hoegarrden !

 

[Rocketman]

Cool....gotta check that out. I need to download the PL app too. I always dig out the laptop. Having a second bid option is great too.

 

[scottm4211]

I use priceline often for hotels. Better bidding.com will teach you how to get multiple bids by using free zones that don't offer that star of room. Also use it for car rental but never for flights as the amount of layover times you can be stuck with can be horrible.

 

[cannedmeat27]

Haven't had a layover more than 2 hrs yet

 

[ChanceMaster]

I use priceline often for hotels. Better bidding.com will teach you how to get multiple bids by using free zones that don't offer that star of room. Also use it for car rental but never for flights as the amount of layover times you can be stuck with can be horrible.

great info. I was not aware of free zones..I'll research that or you can fill us in here. I did get a low bid reject in fla. the other day but also a suggested rebid price, it was only a few bucks so I took it. Thanks again for the free zone heads up.

 

[ChanceMaster]

Cool....gotta check that out. I need to download the PL app too. I always dig out the laptop. Having a second bid option is great too.

You can use it without being signed up for priceline, but have to enter all your info. manually.

I signed up for priceline on my notebook, now all my info should populate when using my phone app. Phone app also has a "shake" feature, where you shake the phone for a hotel deal nearby..gimmicky, yes, but fun. Also animations of William Shattner always crack me up.

 

[scottm4211]

great info. I was not aware of free zones..I'll research that or you can fill us in here. I did get a low bid reject in fla. the other day but also a suggested rebid price, it was only a few bucks so I took it. Thanks again for the free zone heads up.

The strategy is finding out which areas of a city don't offer the same 4* or 3.5* (if that's what you want) and then you add those zones as you continue to re-bid without having to wait 24 hrs. It's pretty much foolproof if you look at the hotel lists on betterbidding.
btw I use it to get the 3.5* embassy suites DTW if we're staying in the area for the weekend. All rooms are suites, plus made to order breakfast (great omelettes), and a 2 hr "managers reception" in the front lobby/bar/restaurant area that includes free drinks nightly. We get our moneys worth

 

[blizzard2014]

I have a true discount Hotel story. I just purchased some legal software and finally got my Mother to sign a contract guaranteeing me free rent for the next 50 years. Nah, i'm just kidding, but I did show her the contract and she was not very happy about it!

 

[DannyD]

I think that's fantastic. I haven't read the replies yet but if anyone thinks you're wasting your $$ it's your decision on how you run your business. W/ showers at $10- ya might as well spend a bit more & get the full room. As ya said, the difference in the AM if you've slept in your bed vs a car is huge.

What I'm wondering here is you said something about an app. My phone is ancient, but we have to have em. So there's no way to have an app on it. Is there some sort of link or something that would enable us to use a laptop & download the same program?

Currently when I go on the road, which isn't a lot anymore, I stop at the rest stops & grab the coupon magazines. Some decent deals in those, but nothing like what you've mentioned.

This winter I'd be more open to hitting the road if I had some way of knowing I could get a decent hotel at those prices.

Thanx

 

[Rocketman]

I think that's fantastic. I haven't read the replies yet but if anyone thinks you're wasting your $$ it's your decision on how you run your business. W/ showers at $10- ya might as well spend a bit more & get the full room. As ya said, the difference in the AM if you've slept in your bed vs a car is huge.

What I'm wondering here is you said something about an app. My phone is ancient, but we have to have em. So there's no way to have an app on it. Is there some sort of link or something that would enable us to use a laptop & download the same program?

Currently when I go on the road, which isn't a lot anymore, I stop at the rest stops & grab the coupon magazines. Some decent deals in those, but nothing like what you've mentioned.

This winter I'd be more open to hitting the road if I had some way of knowing I could get a decent hotel at those prices.

Thanx

I didn't have the app myself until Chancemaster mentioned it in this thread. I've always just used Priceline.com | Best deal on Hotels, Flights, Cars, Vacations & more! You can go there, sign up and sign in, then use the "name your own price" function to do exactly what we're doing.

Chancemaster has also mentioned Priceline and Hotwire Forum I checked that site out and it is very informative. I would suggest you go here first and read up on the priceline bidding process. They have some very good tips and info.

The betterbidding website also has a link to priceline and hotwire right on the home page that you can use with your laptop. I may start using that just so that their website gets some benefit out of my purchases also. My only concern is that of security of my credit card info.

Check it out....it's well worth the effort, especially in the situation you describe.

 

[ChanceMaster]

DannyD : as mentioned above, you can access both priceline and hotwire through betterbidding.com on your notebook computer, no smartphone needed. If you go through betterbidding they get some income for you doing so. Lots of good info there too. In my early experience, it appears that 40 dollars, or more is likely to be accepted, don't think that your going to stay at the Beverly wilshire for 20 bucks.

I've used those coupon books as well, they definatly saved me some money.

Best of luck !

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[cableguymn]

I have got better deals from the hotels site than priceline at times. Never hurts to check.
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