For hotels you start your bid low, but within reason. Don't fill in all the stars for hotel ratings & do not pick all the areas you would like to stay. Why? Because you must add an area or hotel star everytime you increase the bid. Take your time! Be careful not to bid yourself into a corner.
I once stayed at the Hyatt Regency (embarcandero) in San Francisco for $29.00 per night! Off course it cost $35.00 to park my van across the street.
Bottom line is priceline rocks for hotels. But if there is a major event in town you will need to book elsewhere.
This travel-trip tip was bought to you by the world wide web. Stop staring at that monitor & go see the world! Don't become a mouse potatoe (like me). Well at least go to the next page and view some world pictures.
bon voyage!