Comments on: Why Hotels Hate Priceline Guests & Other Dirty Little Secrets

By: allen

allen — Wed, 13 May 2009 07:10:56 +0000

I will never use Priceline again. When I used them in the past, I would always stay at a four star hotel. It never failed, nine times out of ten, I would get the worst room in the place. And when I mean worst, I mean, the worst! Here are some of the rooms I have encountered: No air conditioning, smoke damage, water damage, filthy rooms, rooms that had not been serviced( dirty linens on the bed and dirty, wet towels in the bathroom.) Each time I would call the front desk, the clerk(s) would say something to the effect, ” It’s not our problem, call Priceline to make your complaint.” Look, what it comes down to, if you’re a college student, go for it and use Priceline. If you’re a professional, act like one and pay the hotel’s full rate, or you will get Pricelined.

By: Taryn

Taryn — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:15:44 +0000

The first rule is partially not true. Maybe some hotels give you crappy room. But when you work at a hotel that doesnt even have crappy rooms, like me. It really doesnt matter. Also which is really not true is that if we are over sold, priceline and travelocity will not be walked. Because there all pre charged.Its more of a hassle for us hotel workers to walk them then to not. The only reason why its not good to book with them are to reasons. There is a good chance you might get double charged if the hotel doesnt catch that your resvation is booked thru travelocity or priceline. 2nd they need to get paid too, so the rate that they give you might not be the best rate the hotel has to offer.If it is then all means go ahead. But its best to check with the hotel first. Useually the hotel has the best rates.

By: Lydia

Lydia — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:17:13 +0000

Well said. Lydias last blog post..Tom Condit for California Insurance Commissioner - Workers'

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:05:47 +0000

I will never use Priceline again and I will tell everyone I know about my negative experience with Priceline. There is zero - zero - customer service. They cannot help you in anyway. The advertisements of no cancellation fee and other promises are totally false.

It is a horrible website. Never use them unless you want to be cheated out of money.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:31:59 +0000

I have done the Pricline thing for almost two years straight and now negotiate directly with the Hotels. Time is money and getting a hotel 15 miles away from where you wanted to be and having no restaurant to eat it , the extra calls to the hotel to TRY and request a specific room . And just the stress of spinning that Roulette wheel when booking only to say ” oh crap, they gave me that place again” Id rather spend another 25 bucks speak to a friendly agent and stay exactly where I want , in the room I want , and the bed I want .

By: juliemarg

juliemarg — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:35:02 +0000

I’m told that the method priceline uses to tell the hotels that you are booked is a fax. If the fax goes missing, too bad.

By: robert erwin

robert erwin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:39:30 +0000

recent horrible experience with priceline.com. Was booked at “Crossland”. When we arrived, they wanted more money than the agreed upon price between priceline & I, for a non-smoking room. Am doing chemo for lung cancer, & smoking room would have been terrible. Called priceline to ask if they could supply a non smoking room. Priceline cancelled the contract, not at my request. Then when I got the credit card bill, was charged $75.00 by priceline. Terrible company.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:18:31 +0000

I’ve used Priceline many times over the past 10 years. They’re not as good as they used to be, but you can still get some very good deals. I’ve booked 3 star hotels for as little as $35.00 per night. It’s more difficult to get the really low prices today, but I recently booked a 3 star hotel for $40.00 per night. Admittedly you don’t get your choice of hotel, but you get to choose the area, and quality of hotel.

By: John

John — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:39:54 +0000

Better book directly with the hotel. Third parties are having really bad reputation lately. Specially EXPEDIA (Source: http://www.expedianews.com ) .you will have a better service if you deal directly with the hotel.
Besides,

By: i work hotels, indianapolis

i work hotels, indianapolis — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:47:10 +0000

front desk 6 years, MANY different ones and nearly all major chains. Bottom line: you’re never really getting a great deal. travelocity/priceline/orbitz/etc all have a surcharge, we pass that on you to, even with your “discount” we’re still way over breaking even (instead of 6x profit on a walk-in it may be only 3x boo hoo)as this article would have you believe.

here’s a real tip, call the hotel yourself, you can get better rates better availability, if you can convince someone who answers to like you will go far.. remember we do nothing but get screamed at by customers and managers all day.