I just got a response to my question to customer service at priceline.

AFter your bid is accepted you can call the hotel and make a request for a non -smoking room. BUT , the request is subject to availabilty and anon smoking room is not guaranteed.

And of course, once your bid is accpeted its binding.

If you need a non -moking room, use a site that allows you to guarantee non-smoking

Hate to break it to you, but you're NEVER guaranteed a bed type, smoking preference or anything similar at any hotel. It's always a request only, no matter what you think you "purchased."

That is ALWAYS the case, if you book online, with a travel agent, or with the hotel. Same as requesting two double beds or one king bed, or a room near the elevator. It is just that, a request and is never a promise.

How do they know which rooms they will have open on which day? They only know how many they have open, not the specifics of that room.

I am not a fan of priceline, and am actually a travel agent, but you need to have the facts correct.

When booking a hotel room, the only thing you can count on, is having a room. Sometimes that doesn't even work out. So don't blame priceline for something that is the industry standard set by the hotels, not the people who sell it.

HAve to differ with you two.

I just checked the hilton.com and they allow you to confirm non smoking as does Marriott...as I'm sure others do.
You can be sure if someone needed a handicapped room, it wouldn't be left to chance.


It's never been a problem with a hotel accepted confirmed reservations for non-smoking rooms unless they are low on rooms.

I've had a hotel tell me that they are low on rooms and can't guaranteed non-smoking.

Besides it's not only good business ( many non smokers would walk away from a room that smelled of smoke....but with ADA, they have to make a real effort to be in compliance.

I caution against pricleline becuase you must pay BEFORE knowing if a non smoking room will be available.

Sorry, Dick, but the others are right. I assure you that every day thousands of people with "guaranteed" king beds and "guaranteed" nonsmoking rooms don't get them!!! I work for a Hilton hotel on the west coast and we don't have enough nonsmoking rooms in our inventory. The people who check in late get smoking rooms!

I just tried a sample reservation at hilton.com. It clearly says

"Smoking Preference: Non Smoking" when I tried to book a non smoking room. Preference and guarantee are far different animals. I'm sure the hotel will do everything it can to make someone happy it's always a crapshoot.

Dan,

I just went to the Hilton site.

After I listed my smoking preference I went to the "select a rate" screen.

Next to the rooms was a no smoking sign.
On the bottom of the rate list was the following.
" Indicates that the room type may be confirmed as Non Smoking. "

Also, if I show up at a hotel that doesn not have a non smoiking room , I can walk without having to pay.

Priceline want me to pay regardless..that's the point of my caution.

Dick not all Marriotts, not all Hiltons. I have stayed in both and been told at different location I could confirm and yet other locations I could not. Also remember it is always best to reserve directly with the hotel and not some reservation service they frequently tell you things the hotel informs you is wrong info.

Sarah,

I have never had a problem reserving a non smoking room. If a non-smoking room is not available, I am told that by the reservations agent.

My point is that if the hotel, at check-in, doesn't have non smoking room...I don't have to accept a smoking room and will not be charged.

In addition, there are ADA issues that would encourage a hotel to comply.

Dick, you better stick to Hilton then. I work for Intercontinental and we never guarantee bed type or smoking preference. If you tried to "not pay" if your preference wasn't available I think we'd have a major dispute on our hands. And I don't think my chain is unique. We simply don't know on any given day how many of each room type or going to actually come available, as rooms are always put out of order, people stay longer or check out earlier, etc.

True, nothing is guaranteed, but we've used priceline several times and always requested non-smoking and room for 4 (with 2 beds and a rollaway). We've always had these requests honored. We've even been upgraded. I guess there's always that risk but as the others have said, that's the case with or w/o priceline reservations.

M, I've had mixed luck with Priceline as far as nonsmoking preference and bed type. Then again, I've saving so much money that I don't care!

Debbie,

If I had reserved a non-smoking room and there wasn't one available, there really wouldn't any "major dispute".

I would not accept a smoking room , for health reasons. While you might not want expect me to pay, I guarantee you that corportate executives would se eit differently.

The US has to be the only country in the world where people NEED a non-smoking room.

IMHO, dividing rooms into smoking and non-smoking is a very bad idea.

Let's say you have 100 rooms. All of a sudden you decide to make 50 of those "non-smoking". You clean them thoroughly, use a gallon of Febreze in each room, and now the room is "safe".

So instead of having 100 rooms where, in theory, 1 out of every 4 patrons will smoke, you have 50 rooms where no one will smoke and 50 rooms where, in theory again, each patron WILL smoke. I mean, if you don't smoke, you will ask for a non-smoking room, right?

So, now your smoking rooms are UNdesirable for many non-smokers (as this thread proves), and you have an excessive demand on non-smoking rooms.

Wouldn't it be better just to properly clean and aerate the rooms between patrons? Febreze and baking soda work wonders!

And, for God's sake, clean the bed covers once in a while!

Febreze and other chemicals only add to the smell ..they don't remove the smell of smoke.

The only thing that I have seen actaully be able to "clean" the smell is an ozone generator( not that sharper image stuff).

Many people require a non smoking room for health reasons.

Many people have been lead to believe that they need a non-smoking room for health reasons.

Just like many people have been lead to believe that they need a warning like "professional driver. closed course. do not attempt" on car commercials.

Just like an entire town (in Canada) has been lead to believe that fragances need to be outlawed.

Proper cleaning and ventilation are much better options than two room types.

Dick, Febreze really is more than just an air freshener; it does break down the odor-causing molecules to permanently eliminate the odors.

xxx.

For a person that is alllergic to cigarette smoke, ventilating the room doesn't work.

But as I said earlier, I've never had a problem in obtaining a room at check-in.

My complaint, is not with the hotels.
It's with priceline that doesn't permit someone to reject a room because it's a smoking room.

As for fragrances, you notice that no one in a department stores sprays you with perfume/cologne without getting permission first.

I'm not sure why you're blaming Priceline's "customer service," Dick. Priceline's FAQ CLEARLY STATES that you can always request a nonsmoking room but that's it. IN fact, if you read the FAQ before bidding then there should be no issue here as it also states that rooms are nonrefundable, regardless of reason.

"Can I request a smoking or non-smoking room?

Priceline always requests non-smoking rooms but the hotel that accepts your offer will assign rooms on a best-available basis.

Please contact the hotel that accepts your request directly to request a specific room-type. The hotel will be happy to accommodate you if the type of room you want is available."

Nan,

I'm not blaming priceline. They are a business and can set any rules they like. I found out when I was considering using priceline for the first time.

I was merely warning people of the risk of losing their money if a non smoking room isn't available.

It doesn't take rocket science to figure out that if it gets tight, the priceline rooms will be the first to be assigned smoking rooms. since the hotel is is allowed to put them in any room and the room is prepaid, it's an easy decicsion. After all, if I make a reservation direct with the hotel and they only have smoking rooms, I can walk away without having to pay for the room