[getbak]

If you're looking for a normal hotel and don't really care where you stay, Priceline's name-your-own-price is the cheapest way to go. There's also Hotwire's "secret" deals.

They both work the same way in that you select the general area of the city and the star-level of the hotel you're looking for, and it will give you the lowest possible price, but you don't know which specific hotel it will be until you've booked and paid (and you can't cancel for a refund after you've booked).

Hotwire just gives you the price, where on Priceline you have to bid what you're willing to pay and they can either accept or reject it. Hotwire is easier because you don't have to jump through the hoops of bidding, but Priceline will get you a better price.


The fact that you don't know exactly which hotel it will be can be a little worrisome (but there are sites you can search that will help you figure out which hotel it likely is based on the amenities available -- even that isn't 100% though).


I've used the Hotwire "secret" deals many times throughout Europe and the States, and didn't have any problems with any of the places I got. Most were very nice. I always stuck with the city centre area of the cities and went with 4-star or greater (unless there weren't any available, which can happen in a smaller city).

I didn't use them in New York because I found the deals weren't that much better than just booking the specific hotel I was interested in, but I got some really great deals in Germany.