I was always told that when you get a hotel thru Priceline, the main desk at the hotel doesn't know, they only get a reservation name.
This weekend I checked into a Hilton in the Washington, DC area and my registration/invoice had PRICELINE clearly printed on it.In fact, the Priceline was much larger print than my name.
I have no complaint to the accommodations except they said parking was free to guests and it was $13.
Any comments??

I work at the front desk of a major hotel chain. We are always aware of a Priceline Reservation by a "Market Code" that is attached to your reservation. This alerts the front desk that your room and tax has been pre-paid by Priceline but that you are responsible for all other incidentals such as parking, room service, movies...We ask for a credit card for incidentals and if the guest decline, we turn off their phone (for long distance calls, in-room movies, and the guest is unable to order room service. As for the charge for parking in DC, I think that's an average rate for that area, In other large cities such as New York and Boston, parking can cost $25 to $40 per night.

Thanks for the reply. Do you give an inferior room to a priceline reserver?
Do hotel people look at Priceline guests with disdain?
After 2 rooms are reserved thru Priceline, can you request they be adjoining or can you request a change in bedding?

I had 8 years experience in reservations and front desk with Hyatt. I can tell you that the rate you pay DOES affect the room you get . . . DEPENDING!

People with special low rates weren't singled out for the worst rooms--we just didn't give them the best. If they were paying weekend rate and requested non-smoking, king bed, high floor, and a view, they got it--if we had plenty of rooms available. If the hotel was full, we'd honor whatever we could. They did not get real upgrades (concierge floor, suite, etc.) And unless they gave specific requests, they were given a room randomly. However, frequent guest program members often were given nicer rooms than their rate might suggest. People paying the highest rack rates were usually upgraded to the concierge floor during sold-out times.

I can specifically remember being in the control room laughing and making fun of the guest outside who wanted a balcony room for $49. (You wouldn't believe what goes on behind closed doors in a big hotel.)

Having said that, I also remember times when somebody was really fun or really sweet (or we felt sorry for them) and we gave them a much better room than they might have expected for their rate. It does pay to be friendly and funny with the desk clerk. Or cry. One lady paying a miniscule rate changed rooms about 5 times because she claimed she "couldn't breathe." Suddenly, when she was upgraded to a balcony room on the concierge level, she could breathe. I myself always had a soft spot for the person who was sympathetic to MY position--"I'd love a king facing the river, but I know that I have a ridiculous rate. So whatever you can do."


A lot of modern hotels don't have much difference in their rooms anyway. It's just view or bed type. We reserved the REALLY bad rooms for the truly evil guests, who stormed in the front door bitching and acting like a diva.

I booked a hotel in San Jose last month through Priceline (turned out to be the Hilton, for $40/night). When I arrived, we had to present a creedit card for incidentals (phone charges, room service, etc.). The desk clerk knew that it was a Priceline reservation, but DID NOT know what rate we were paying(just that the room was pre-paid). She also upgraded us with Tower access (free continental breakfast, and a hospitality suite open all day). So clearly, in this case, a Priceline reservation did not equate to a lesser room or worse service.