Amy

Just for general convenience, I booked a night in a Harrisburg hotel for a few weeks from now rather than getting into 30th St Station at 10:30 at night. As I wasn't terribly concerned, I used Priceline's "own bidding" and got a 2 1/2 star for $40. All fine, even though this particular Wyndham has some pretty bad reviews on TripAdvisor.

But Priceline says that any requests such as a no-smoking room have to go through the hotel, so I signed up for the (free) Wyndham by Request service and requested the no-smoking room. (Considering how much of my info they got, I thought it was a fair tradeoff.)

Well, I got a (form) response that they don't give the WbyR privileges to those who book through Priceline (and a long list of other sites) and that I would always get the best rate by booking directly through the hotel website. They left a place for me to respond.

Finding this scenario interesting, I responded that it seemed a bit odd that they would thus discriminate against Priceline users, particularly if I could get a $40 room through their site. (Note: the cheapest one I saw there was $89.) I could see if they couldn't afford to do this for Priceline et al, but if you're telling me I can get the lowest price on your own site, well, what's the difference?

I wouldn't be bringing this here except that my carefully and concisely worded response was answered with...
the same form letter.

Thoughts?

P_M

I have used Priceline several times and I always got a non-smoking room when I asked via email. It sounds like you didn't contact the hotel directly, you got a national center of some sort? In either case, call the hotel directly (not the national 800#) and ask for a non-smoking room. If that doesn't work, ask the clerk very nicely when you check in. If you are checking in early in the day, your odds are better for getting the room of your choice. Good luck.

Neopolitan

Well, I'll speak up.

I've never understood why anyone would expect a hotel which is a business to "give away" a lot of freebies (free phone calls --even long distance, free high speed internet, bottle of wine on arrival, etc) to someone who is paying $40 a night for a room that they normally get $89 or more for.

As to the wording of their form letter that you will always get the best rate booking with them -- well, that may seem false -- but can anyone say that honestly? Wouldn't that preclude anyone from "giving away" a free room for mileage, frequent traveler points, or simply as a gift or prize?"

I just don't know how anyone can expect extra bonuses when you've already gotten a huge discount on the room.

Neopolitan

By the way, if my references to phone calls and wine didn't make sense, it's because those ARE free bonuses to every Wyndham by Request member.

This is not unlike a lot of hotels will not give their usual miles or points if you have booked with Priceline.

Christina

I basically agree with that, you are booking through Priceline so can't expect services that you'd get if you booked elsewhere. I agree the form letter was misleading, I suppose they mean they give the lowest regular rate. But Priceline isn't a regular rate, it's a bidding process for distressed merchandise, so to speak.

Amy

Darn, I really NEEDED that package of M&M's in my room... (insert pouting entitlement emoticon here)

Now, I don't have a problem with the concept that they don't give away the same freebies with a $40 room as with an $89 one; I have a basic understanding of economics. What I do have a problem with is their letter...'cause I got it twice.

And, thanks, PM, I probably will just email the hotel directly; I figured this might be an easier way to have everything concrete, but noooooooo...

Andrew

Amy, if it makes you feel any better, I have almost always gotten a non-smoking room when using Priceline for hotels - and I've booked dozens of hotel rooms with them. The few times where I did not get a non-smoking room occurred when I either hadn't called ahead or checked in very late.

I echo the other suggestion to call the hotel's front desk directly and ask them to add a "non-smoking" prefernce to your reservation, if they can. Some hotels will even guarantee it, others will usually at least list your preference.

If you will be arriving late to the hotel, you can also try checking in to the hotel over the phone (after 3PM or whenever checkin time is). Since your room is prepaid via Priceline, it shouldn't matter to the hotel. All they'll want is a credit card for incidentals - and you can give that to them over the phone. When you arrive, if you hate the room (even if it's non-smoking) you can then try to change it again. But I don't see how you can lose by checking in early over the phone.

Andrew

Neopolitan

All free phone calls including long distance for a three night stay: $30

Cost of free high speed internet for a three day stay: $ 35.97

Free bottle of wine (plus cheese and crackers): $ 13.99
___________________________________
Total Value: $ 79.96



Package of M&Ms: $ 1.79


Getting a non-smoking room when you want one: Priceless

GoTravel

Wyndham stopped letting priceline guests have access to WBR perks around 2001.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

Don't email the hotel, call the individual hotel directly and TALK to someone.

It's a heck of a lot easier to say "No" or send a prepared reply to an email than it is to talk to someone, especially if you might be talking to them face-to-face at a later date. email is too impersonal.

BTW - I work p/t at a hotel f/d and people booking thru discount agencies often call shortly after making the reservation to make requests. If I can honor it because of availability, I do, but I'm not going to overbook NS rooms for deeply discounted rooms.

It does not surprise me that you received the same letter twice. Isn't copy and paste grand?
It does not surprise me that you received the same letter twice. Isn't copy and paste grand? <g>

rkkwan

No hotel will give you an warranty for Priceline room. And best rate guarantees do not apply to Priceline/Hotwire. Simple as that.

rb_traveler is absolutely correct. Call the hotel directly and nicely request the type of room you want, not demand it.

When you get to the hotel, show whatever Frequest Stayer card you have. I have'd used Priceline for hotels >20 times, and have yet to get a bad experience or getting a smoking room. At many Starwoods property, I have been given rooms on the Preferred Guest floor, and I've never been turned away from using all the "preferred" lines when checking in at any hotel I booked with Priceline.

Amy

I do fully understand that this is a discounted price and that the fringe benefits don't apply. I'm cool with that; in fact, I'm about as "undemanding" a person as you can get. My only cavil here (and 'tis a little one, yet underlies such a vast problem in our society: misuse of communication) is what their message said...twice. (you know, they can't have it both ways.)

I rarely use hotels in the US. My experiences with Priceline abroad have been mixed, including a marvelous one just in July with the Thistle Marble Arch. This was really just a gentle rumination on the oddity of the response...twice.

I'll probably try calling closer to the time--partly as the hotel doesn't seem to have its own email--and I won't be throwing a drama fit if I do end in a smelly smoky room. It won't be the first time, and at least it (probably) won't have a rat in it...so it won't be the worst!

Neopolitan

Amy, since you are still complaining about their letter saying they give the best price and since several people have indicated that it is normal that those guarantees don't apply to discounts like Priceline -- what is it that you still don't get? Clearly their guarantee does not apply to special discounters. Isn't that the total answer to the problem.

Amy

The same letter said that their service does not apply to Priceline (and many other) discount lines, and then stated that it was always cheaper to book by their website. If their price guarantee does not apply to Priceline, then why would they respond by saying that it was cheaper to book on their website, knowing that they were responding to a Priceline customer?

I am sorry if I was not clear in this; it's merely a curiosity, and, as I have made abundantly clear, not a problem with not being able to use this service. My whole question is, IF it is always cheaper to book by the website, THEN why would it make a difference? (since this is, in fact, what the letter stated: that the hotel does not extend this courtesy to Priceline etc. customers, and that, in the future, I should book by the website as they "always" have the cheapest prices.)

Sigh. I'm not asking for anything but clarity in communication...and my further "complaint" (my apologies if that is the tone) was simply a re-wording of my original question, which is not about the service not being offered, but rather a somewhat bemused wonderment that both pieces of information would be in the same letter.

sylvia3

I'm curious about the reference to bad reviews on tripadvisor. I also booked a "3 star" Wyndham in southern CA, and then read the reviews, which were either glowing (a few) or scathing (many). A couple were plugs for Hampton Inns. I wonder whether the hotel is getting bad press by design, or should I look to Comfort Inn or other?!

rkkwan

Amy - The letter as well as its best-price policy are targeted to travelers who intend to stay at their hotel. That doesn't include Priceline/Hotwire customers because those people (i.e. you and I) only care about price, not what hotel we got.

That's why none of those perks/benefits/whatever apply to Priceline/Hotwire. They don't need to give us anything because we didn't book their hotel. We paid PL/HW for a hotel at a particular star level, and it's PL/HW that chose for us. We are technically not that customers.

Neopolitan

Hmmm. Interesting literal translation of their message. Carrying it further -- the cheapest way to book that specific hotel IS directly with them through their website. When you use Priceline -- you may end up with that hotel -- but technically you DID NOT BOOK that specific hotel that way.

Amy

Hey, sweeties, don't harsh my mellow... Fascinating translation, rkkwan, but if the best price policy thingy doesn't apply to PL customers why SEND it to a PL customer? (just askin', that's all...)

rkkwan

I know. They shouldn't. But perhaps they're trying to get to book directly with them the next time.

At least they didn't send you a nasty letter that says "What do you expect"?

rkkwan

I mean "try to get you to book directly".