Priceline Rooms
 

I was wondering if people who book rooms through Priceline find much difference between those rooms and others that they book through various rates. Or do you feel that you are treated differently because they are Priceline Rooms?

This is a continuing debate. If the house is full, I would expect people who have paid the most deeply discounted rates to be given the least desirable rooms. And I have heard complaints about certain properties, for example the New York Hilton, apparently discriminating. In my experience, I have not noticed a difference, and I have used Priceline in New York, Miami, Mexico City, Coral Gables, Jacksonville, Detroit, Washington, etc. In fact, we've been given executive level rooms at several properties, and on our last trip to Coral Gables the Hyatt Regency gave us an oversized room--couch, two chairs, huge foyer, divided bathroom, etc.--overlooking the pool.

Don, your question has been debated to death here. Do a search on "priceline" within the forum, and you'll get all your answers.

I personally have never had any trouble with attitude or product. Maybe once or twice someone has commented "You really got a great price." I really like Priceline when I have no hotel preference, and they have accommodated smoking and bed preferences 6 out of 7 times. (The one time it wasn't, they changed it agreeably.) I generally book no less than 3* properties, however, and only in US cities. If you are considering using PL, I highly recommend you read biddingfortravel.com inside out.

don, let's put it this way. If you have two gets checking into a full hotel at the same time and one has booked on priceline and the other through the hotel at a much higher price; who do you think gets the broom closet?

On the other hand if you are a priceline guest checking into a half full hotel, you'll get a decent room. It's in the hotels best interest to lure you back as a full paying guest.

As I am the one who has mentioned the New York Times Square Hilton, and I've never seen anyone else mention it in regards to Priceline, I hope my posts haven't been misinterpreted. I have never said I was mistreated there. Just as GoTravel mentions, the hotel was totally full. There were no more available rooms. When I mentioned how "uncomfortable" our "handicapped" room was, particularly the bath, I was told that since I was there one night only and because I had booked on Priceline, that's why I got that room. Of course! They even clearly told me they'd move me if they had other rooms, but they didn't. Why would they give me a great room and give a full paying guest that room? It only makes sense. Now if they had dozens of empty rooms and still refused to move me that would have been another matter. I doubt that any other hotel would have moved a full paying guest to the undesirable room so that I could have a deluxe room either!! Why on earth would they?

To add to Patrick's post, I have stayed in the NY Hilton through priceline and had a lovely room. Again, hotel was not full.

I don't think it's made much of a difference. SOmetimes booking directly I've been put in smoking rooms by mistake, or noisy locations. The same has happened with Priceline. In either case, we request to be moved and are accommodated. We've also been upgraded for free with Priceline reservations so much may depend on the mood of the hotel clerk upon check-in more than the source of the reservation.

I agree, if the hotel is full and if you check in late in the day you may be given a less than choice room. Otherwise, if you are nice and kindly ask for what you like we have had great results.

Only once have we been denied two beds for a family of four and the hotel was full, great King room but a little crowded with two teens! :-).

My impression that the NY Hilton is not kind to Priceline guests comes from stuff I've read on the biddingfortravel site. As I've said, I've had great luck with Priceline--sometimes it feels like stealing the room is so cheap! and usually a very nice room.