BidonTravel Travel Updates, Tips, & Commentary

Hotel bookings are significantly down in Las Vegas. Passengers coming by airline are significantly down too, in spite of large conventions.

In April, MGM Mirage, which operates 10 Strip casino hotels, announced 400 layoffs. During February, Strip gaming revenue fell more than 3%, in spite of an extra day in February this year. Last week, the owner of the Tropicana casino on the Strip filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

For Priceline users, these events mean prime opportunities for extra low prices.

See sample Priceline winning bids at
Name Your Own Price Hotel - See Winning Bids in Top Cities!

Posted by Don Nadeau at 01:53 PM | Permalink

On BidonTravel's hotel strategy page, you'll find out about making "Smart Bids" on Priceline, bids that allow you to rebid right away, without having to wait 24 hours.

Here's one tip: Always aim high. Don't start Priceline bidding at a low star quality level.

If you start low, let's say start by bidding on 2-star hotels, Priceline considers that a bid for 2-, 3-, and 4-star hotels. That means if your bid fails, you'll have to wait 24 hours before bidding again if you want only that neighborhood.

However, if your bid on 4-star hotels fails, you can immediately rebid in the same neighborhood on 3-star hotels and so on.

That means extra chances to save.

Posted by Don Nadeau at 08:31 AM | Permalink

Priceline.com now posts winning hotels bids at Name Your Own Price Hotel - See Winning Bids in Top Cities!

Can you sometimes pay less than these examples?

Yes.

However, be sure that you have time to rebid if your first one fails. Remember that you have to wait 24 hours before bidding on the same neighborhood and star quality.

Posted by Don Nadeau at 08:00 PM | Permalink

Since 9/11, Amtrak passengers have not faced the same types of security measures found at airports. After all, you can't hijack a train and fly it into a corporate tower.

Amtrak took a quieter approach, with the most visible component being reducing the amount of luggage that you are allowed to carry on board. (An important change, because you can't check bags to or from most Amtrak stations.)

Last week, however, Amtrak instituted mobile security teams to go from station to station inspecting passenger luggage. These random checks with explosive detection machines come without warning.

If pulled out of line for a check, you can refuse, but, if so, you won't be able to travel.

We like this new system, which preserves the ease of boarding for most Amtrak passengers.

Posted by Don Nadeau at 07:39 PM | Permalink

Got to watch Nebraska versus No. 1 USC on Tom Osborne Field in Lincoln last Saturday. What an awesome experience in that exciting and historic venue.

There were lessons to be learned by everyone. You stay number 1 by hard work and focus. You become number 1 by hard work, focus—and patience.

SC fans had an important travel lesson too: That using alternative airports can sometimes save you money--big money.

Last-minute travelers who unthinkably flew into Lincoln Airport from Los Angeles probably paid 2 or 3 times or more than what those who used Omaha Airport paid. Yet, Omaha is less than 60 miles away.

Why? Omaha has more airline competition. Importantly, it has budget airline competition, with service by Southwest and Frontier. This brings the prices of all airlines down.

Look for these situations when you travel.

For example, everyone has heard of London Heathrow and Gatwick.

But, have you heard of London’s Luton and Stansted airports? These usually have the cheapest fares, especially to points in Europe.

There are dozens of metro areas in the U.S. with similar situations.

Posted by Don Nadeau at 12:09 AM | Permalink

Priceline has extended its airfare sale through Labor Day.

That means special discounts on its "Name your own price" tickets, as well as no booking fees for travelers who prefer to choose their airlines and departure times.

With flights so full this summer, airfare bargains have been hard to find.

Posted by Don Nadeau at 07:41 PM | Permalink

Not since the dot com implosion have Priceline shares reached $79.73, as they did Wednesday.

Strong demand and earnings have more than doubled Priceline share prices during the past year.

It's interesting how companies like Priceline and Southwest that offer good values are making a profit, while many of those that charge much higher prices are not.

Posted by Don Nadeau at 07:29 PM | Permalink