Priceline Questions

[sap1227]

I did a search and read about a million posts about Priceline but I still have 2 questions.
Do the peolpe at the front desk know how much you paid, or do they just know you are prepaid through Priceline (or Expedia or Hotwire)?
Is it worth emailing or faxing a room request? I have visions in my mind of the person getting the request thinking "you want a high room with a view, for the price you paid you deserve the ground floor with a view of the dumpster", and then getting that room.
Regardless of where my room is I am prepared and I will not let it ruin my time (we are staying at the Wydham starting on Tuesday).

Thanks for any help!

 

[Emerald31]

I have stayed at several hotels won through priceline. The front desk was aware that it was a priceline reservation but they always have told me it was a 'prepaid'. In most cases they were aware of the price paid. It is worth it to email/fax your request to the hotel, there is no guarantee that you will receive it. The hotels I have been to have tried to meet my request depending on availability.

 

[peg2001]

Yes and no. The hotel clerk is aware of what they received from Priceline for the room, not necessarily what you paid. For example, if you've overbid, the hotel still gets the amount they agreed to with Priceline and Priceline gets to keep the margin.

You can make your requests, but no more than a room for 2 at the quality level you bid is a given. There have been instances of hotels giving the worst rooms to Priceline guests but this doesn't typically happen.

Be sure to become familiar with www.biddingfortravel.com before you bid.

Peggy

 

[Pat_Elliott]

FYI, although I've heard bad stories from places like the Grosvenure, we've had good luck getting request fufilled, based on availability. Examples: Last fall at the BW LBV, we were given our exact choice of room, a DTD view, corner room (the decks are bigger), between the 8th and 10th floor. Likewise, the previous October we were given a pool view at the Courtyard at Marriott Village. However, these were during slow seasons. My take on the front desk people is they couldn't really care how you ordered your room, but when given six people wanting upgrades and only five upgrades available, the Priceline guy is going to get the short end of the stick, with good reason.

Pat

 

[DisneyBrat]

My recent experience with Priceline.. We stayed at the Wyndam in Roanoke Virginia. When I checked in I didn't get the compimentary breakfast as I would have gotten if I had booked it through the reservations number. Our room was nice but we were given a room ALL the way to the BACK of the buiding.. It was late when we checked in and had to walk forever it seemed to get to our room. I was told that the only thing you get when booking through priceline is a room no perks.


Lew

 

[Gillian]

I've never faxed or emailed room requests to a hotel (even Disney) but I have called 2-3 days before to ask about things like a non-smoking room or king bed. A non-smoking room has always been requested for us by Priceline (as the say it will be) but I have heard that this is not always the case. If it matters, it pays to check.

Sometimes the clerks are very helpful, even after mentioning that the stay was priceline. At a 4* hotel in Pittsburgh we asked for a king bed. We were advised that we could have one if we wanted, but the rooms were very small. Instead, we got a room with 2 beds (doubles? queens? can't remember) that was huge! It even had a walk in closet!

I've always been treated well on Priceline stays, but my expectations weren't high. We had no problems getting a pack & play when needed. The only breakfasts we've encountered were the buffets like Hampton Inn & they were included.

 

[TINKTWINS]

We got the Hilton through Priceline. We did not like it all. We checked in the early afternoon, just DH and I. I had read on some site that if there are only 2 traveling you would end up with a king bed. We didnt. Having being our first time away for a couple of days without kids, I was really looking forward to the king. When I asked at the desk, they told me to check for another room after midnight Ok yes ill stay up that late in hopes that what, at 2 am I can switch

We were very dis satisfied with the Hilton, ( there were other instances with very poor CS) I liked trying Priceline but would never use it again to stay in Orlando for fear of getting the Hilton again. Good luck

 

[CarolA]

I have to post a counter point to the Hilton. I stayed there on Priceline and had no problems. I did get the two beds which was fine with me. That is actually the norm in Orlando. I found the hotel find and I would stay there again. Let's get real, I am paying less than All Stars for a much nicer hotel. I have never found the treatment at any hotel to be different then normal.

 

[robinb]

I have stayed at many hotels using Priceline. How you are treated depends on the hotel. I just returned from a fantastic trip to Hawaii where I stayed at the Moana Surfrider on Waikiki Beach for only $115 per night. The best available rate was $100 per night more. We were treated very well and received a room in the oldest section on the hotel which was built in 1901 ... exactly what I wanted! I love old, historic hotels. I have stayed at the Wyndham Palace, the MOWC and the Swan ... all on PL and was treated very well. The only time I was treated poorly was at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.

I think it's worthwhile to call the hotel directly and make your requests. Some hotels will change your reservation to reflect your requests and some will not. I think it's always worth a try.

 

[Gillian]

I don't think the Hilton really has that many king bed rooms. I stayed there on Priceline & wasn't able to get one either. But I was treated well & got the HHonors gold perks.

I would be very happy to get it again on Priceline, especially for only $55/night!

 

[punkin]

Robin... The Palmer House treats all guests that way. I had problems with them while travelling on business and paying rack rates. I do have to second that I had a great time at the Hilton in Orlando for a whopping $60 on priceline. Paying that price, they would have had to put me in a broom closet for me to be really unhappy! Instead, I got a great room with a pretty nice view of fountains. Not too shabby!

 

[CarolA]

LOL! I agree with the Palmer House treating all guests badly. I stayed there and valet parked my car. (Which cost a fortune!) The next morning the valet hands me my keys and tells me they don't bring the cars around you go to the garage to get them. The ONLY reason we used valet was to avoid the garage (this business trip was all women and we really did not want to hang around this parking garage! ) I found that just unbelivable!

 

[megnsamsgrace]

I wanted a 2 1/2 * hotel and picked my areas carefully (I didn't mind a drive as we had a rental car) my friend works at Disney and gave me some places that weren't bad areas. I got the Fairfield Inn off Sand Lake Road (off I-Drive). I paid $20 a nite and got treated AWESOME! I called ahead of time to check on my reservations. They had us with a king bed but with 3 kids, we had to have 2 doubles. They switched it for us NO problem! I also wanted down towards the bottom, we got that too! I also asked for a fridge and got that too! They were really good to us. I didn't know then that they could tell we used PL but obviously it didn't matter to them since we got all the requests we asked for! I would use it again. I would have this trip but we have 7ppl and don't want to do 2 rooms... so we got a condo instead! Good luck! Steph