70 Park Avenue Hotel, New York City
I am a Priceline whore.
No. Wait.
I am a Priceline ninja.
I have been using Priceline for years to book rooms at hotels I otherwise couldn’t afford. Priceline’s name your own price feature allows me to indulge my champagne appetite on my RC Cola budget. I’ve stayed in a deluxe room at the 70 Park Avenue hotel in New York City for $170 a night. I’ve stayed at a 4-star hotel blocks from the Magnificent Mile in Chicago for barely more than $100 per night.
And yet, every time I suggest to a friend that they should try to name their own price on a hotel at Priceline, I get a terrified look of horror in response.
“But you don’t get to choose the hotel!”
“What if I end up in a dive?!”
“What if I have to pay for a room way out by the airport?!?”
Pansies.
Yes, Priceline’s name your own price feature comes with a certain amount of risk. You have to input your credit card number and agree to pay for whatever room is given to you by whatever hotel accepts your offer. There is, I admit, potential for disaster.
Unless you know what you’re doing.
How Not To Get Screwed Using Priceline To Book A Hotel
(And still save a ton of money on a fancy hotel)
1. Research neighborhoods in the city you’ll be staying in.
If you’re booking a hotel in a large metropolitan city like New York City, Chicago, or Los Angeles, Priceline gives you the option to choose from various neighborhoods or “areas”. Head to a site like UpTake.com and research “Things to do” so you have an intelligent idea of where the tourist attractions are that you’ll want to stay near.
Reading reviews of hotels in the neighborhoods you’re considering will give you a good idea of how safe the area is and how convenient it is to major attractions.
Then, when you go to “name your own price” on Priceline, you’ll see a map that shows the various areas available – and you’ll know which areas would be a good fit for your vacation.
2. Research prices.
The first step to getting a good deal on a hotel is to find out what everyone else is paying. Again, using a site like UpTake or Priceline’s main booking site will give you a good idea of the average price for a hotel in the areas you’re interested in staying in. Do not plan to pay the average price.
Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to start the actual bidding.
3. Choose a higher star level than you’re willing to settle for.
I assume that a star rating on Priceline is overly generous. Better to go in expecting a 4-star hotel and get too much luxury, than to find out that “continental breakfast” qualifies a hotel for a 3-star rating. Just to be safe, I almost always request at least a 4-Star hotel when I’m bidding on hotels in a large city – even though my frugal princess head could surely survive a night on a 3-star pillow.
4. Start with 1 or 2 areas and give yourself room to negotiate.
The trick to getting a great deal on a great hotel on Priceline is to give yourself room to go up. If your original offer is rejected, you have to make changes to your request in order to resubmit. One of the easiest changes to make is to add more areas to your offer.
So have 3 or 4 potential areas in mind that you’d be happy to stay in if you can save hundreds of dollars – but don’t tell them that unless you absolutely have to. Your first offer should be your dream scenario.
5. Start the bidding at 50% of the average price of a hotel.
Again, the key to negotiating with a computer is to play your cards close to your vest. And I might be mixing metaphors here, but you get the idea.
There are times when you’ll get your first offer will be accepted and you can do the “Ha, ha, common folk! I scored a great deal!” happy dance.
There are also times when your offer will be rejected and Priceline will be all “are you crazy? You do know the average price of a hotel in this area is two times what you’re asking us to give you, right?” Ignore these intimidation tactics. Bid low and hope for the best. If the best doesn’t happen, you’ll have plenty of room to go up and still walk away with a great deal.
6. Have a stop loss point.
Remember all that research you did ahead of time? Let it tell you when you’re no longer getting a screaming deal that’s worth assuming the risk of letting a computer blindly pick your hotel. Saving $20 a night on a $250 room is not worth it. Saving $50 per night over a 4 night stay? Something to think about.
The bottom line is that Priceline’s name your own price feature is essentially a marketing gimmick meant to attract budget travelers. But there is real potential there, if you book wisely, to save a considerable amount of money on a great hotel.
Shoot for the Ritz and plan to end up saving a little money on the Hilton.
*PRICELINE, PRICELINE.COM and NAME YOUR OWN PRICE are registered service marks of priceline.com Incorporated
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36 Responses
Totally agree. I know Madison, Wisconsin is not exactly a huge metropolis, but still, hotel rooms are pricey. By naming my own price on Priceline, I got the newly remodeled (since December!) Crowne Plaza for $50 per night. Quite a score!
Hi I really would love to go to priceline.com and name my own price. However I am non-US and non-canadian but Eurpean and then you are not capable of booking! This is discrimination, I am really disappointed. Can priceline change this? Everyone with a credit card should be able to book at priceline.com.
My question is what if you have 4 in your party? How do they know that you need 2 beds when they do not ask how many people will be in the room? Do you get to choose the number of beds when the hotel is listed?
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I’m concerned about how priceline doesn’t ask for the number of people.
I’m afraid to bid for a room and only get one bed when I have four people!
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I just submitted a bid for a hotel in Sioux Falls SD. This is the first time I named my own price. Be sure to check your dates. I had actually changed my dates but didn’t notice that it reverted back to my original dates before I hit the button and it was accepted. The other issue I have is the “not being able to change anything.” I really felt I was screwed. I got a hotel that didn’t have any of the amenities that I wanted and did not accept pets. You have no control over anything when you name your own price. There are no hotel preferences, amenity preferences, just a price. When I tried to get them to change because I have a pet, nothing could be changed. There was no bending on the phone to the hotel or priceline. I will never, never, never do this again and I really do not recommend this method to anyone.
May I ask has this information been self researched and written or rewritten from somewhere else?
self researched and written
I have attempted to use Priceline several times. The only time I was able to get a successful bid was to bid the same price I could get when I directly called the hotel. The difference was I could not cancel the priceline reservation. When I call the hotel directly, I get a better price and can cancel if my plans change.
Postscript to my previous comment:
When I call the hotel directly, I can pick which hotel I want to stay at.
I have used priceline a lot to and my approach is a bit different from the one explained above, What I do is bid about 1/4th of what they suggest …. Or even less and take my time, increasing … that has given me great deals such as the millennium Hilton in NYC @ 80 $ US – when it was brand new!
In reply to those of you in Europe —- like my self – priceline.co.uk does also have the name your own price option….
If I absolutely have to be somewhere, I generally book a rack rate with a late cancellation just to be guaranteed a room. Marriott has the best cancellation policy in the industry, in my opinion (6PM day of departure).
A few hours before the cancellation penalties kick in, I strike. I have gotten the Omni Manhattan for $110 night (then got upgraded to a Madison Suite on check in), Fairmont in Chicago for $90, Westin Philadelphia for $70, W New Orleans for $60, etc.
It’s great for rental cars, too. I rented a premium car from Hertz in San Antonio later this month for $8.00/day. Crazy!!!!
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Great tips! This is exactly how I use Priceline too! I, too, am amazed when my friends look at me like I’m crazy because I use Priceline. I have saved so much $$$ using Priceline. I won’t book a room any other way! For those who complain because you can’t change anything – I understand, but it is the price of doing business on the cheap. In my opinion it is well worth it! Just make sure you have your ducks all lined up in a row before you click on that button that says \buy my hotel room now\. That final screen gives you a complete rundown of what you are purchasing. As far as not knowing the amenities – well that goes back to choosing your star level. Don’t choose a lower star level than you are willing to accept. And if I were bringing a pet I would probably book a room at regular price to ensure I get a pet friendly hotel. However, I tend to avoid traveling with my pet, as well as avoid pet friendly hotels all together if possible. Happy bidding!
Something I forgot to mention. Before doing the name your own price option. I always check out the hotels in the area that Priceline will sell you at their regular rate. For example I will do a search for hotels on Priceline in Savannah, GA. Once the list populates you can break it down by the area you want and the star level. So for the historic district I choose the area of Savannah and then I choose the 3.5 star level and look at the all the hotels available for 3.5+ stars. I see their exact location and decide if they are acceptable to me. Then I decide if I will use the name your own price option. I know Priceline says \you might get a different hotel than the ones they show as available in the area\, but I have not run into that yet (knock on wood).
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Agreed on all accounts! Start low and then you can go higher. I love this service as I can get great deals and don’t have to take out a ash advance loan online to able to afford a decent hotel, haha.
I didn’t see an answer to the question about how many people will be in the room. I would like to book 4 in a room, and don’t see that option. I’m concerned that the reservation, if taken, won’t fit my needs.
Mary – I’ve only ever used Priceline based on double occupancy – although I have stayed with more than 2 in a room. What I’ve done is called the hotel after the reservation and requested two double beds.
This is NOT a good option for multiple rooms or suites, obviously.
Mary, adding to Britt’s advice, there are some markets, New York City and San Francisco, for example, where you absolutely cannot count on a hotel giving you two beds on a Priceline booking. A party of two should be prepared to share one double bed… or book two rooms.
marketing jobs can really earn you lots of dollars but most of the time, it is a difficult job -;-
I did it! The NYC hotel may be a bit further away from my ideal location but it saved me over $100.00! Thanks for the advice.
I just used this method to get a hotel in syracuse for $35 plus $12 in fees. I looked the hotel up on priceline and it was $130 a night for the same room. Thanks a ton!
Thanks for the advise. Just booked a hotel in Midtown NYC for 90 (117 after taxes) which on their website goes for 299 before taxes!!
Hotwire is superior to Priceline, because Hotwire lets you choose your desired amenities (in addition to star-level and location). With Priceline, you have no control over the amenities you’ll get or won’t get. Also, Priceline will “upgrade” you without your permission. Meaning, if you bid on a 2.5-star hotel counting on a free breakfast and free wifi, Priceline may automatically “upgrade” you to a 3-star hotel in which you have to fork over $10 extra for wifi, and $15 extra for their restaurant breakfast. Twice I’ve got scammed by Priceline’s “upgrade” policy (thinking I could get a great room for $50 but learning on arrival I’ll have to pay $30 extra for food/internet/resortfee). I decided 3 years ago I’d never use Priceline again. I only use HOTWIRE, which lets me choose the amenities I want, so I get the vacations I truly desire now. No COSTLY “upgrades”!
All these are great tips; and, they work. I once paid $45 bucks for the Hyatt Inner Habor Baltimore; but, if Priceline is software. If something goes buggy; and, it often will–if you typo a number on your card; or, try to use the site after 11 eastern; then, your hosed; because, software can’t answer the phone. You are screwed. They authorized me 3 time before I realized what was happening–which could wipe out any available credit you may have; and, still no room. You can call them; but, you won’t like it. It’s all software.
Six weeks ago I booked a room at a The Hilton Manhatten East and got a good rate and due to the UN and the Andrea Bocelli Central Park Concert the Hotel was quickly sold out. SO having a great Hotel at a great price 174 total, I was very content to have a romantic stay downtown for Bocelli’s concert. BUT When I confirmation the reservation with the Hotel they told me it was booked WITH 2 TWIN BEDS AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. I COULD HOWEVER WRITE A LETTER TO EXPRESS MY DISCONTENT (after the divorce)TO PRICELINE.
I have had some great name your own deals and more horrer situations. I wouldn’t use it again, if I was to share accomadations with someone I cared about. Researce or not they will sell you any room and not give a damn from that point on. Even at the best situation the front desk (unless empty) will save the best rooms for the higher paying guest and YOU ARE STUCK WITH WHATEVER BARGIN ROOM YOU GET. NO CHANGES, NO REFUNDS, AND NO CUSTOMER SERVICE.
ROMANTIC NYC TRIP IN TWIN BEDS. GET REAL
I’m having less and less success with priceline. They have more restrictions on the rebid process and their surcharge is way too much. In the past 2 years, I’ve bid at 50% and get nothing.
I call hotels and get 70% at the spot I want.
Hotels have caught on. They charge priceline customers for internet that the others don’t pay. They give you the shitty rooms by the highway with bad smells and no applicances. I even had one hotel take out a refrigerator and microwave when they realized I was on priceline. This site is not worth it in most cases.
I just tried out priceline for my first time. I was one of those who was too afraid to get a junk box for a room. I ended up with a very nice hotel in the area that I wanted and I saved 72% off the price listed on other hotel booking websites! Was listed for $180 and I paid $51. Priceline you are my new best friend!
Thank you so much for your helpful instructions. We saved 48% on a 3 star hotel in downtown Baltimore!!! Now we have more money for beer
I’ve used Priceline a lot and if you take the time to figure out the free bids part, and use the bidding message boards, you can get fantastic deals. Most people aren’t patient enough those and they lose out. Hotwire is useful too in cities with plenty of inventory (and therefore empty rooms.)