 "Special Price" meant paying $30 more for my hotel room using Priceline
I booked a hotel room in Charlotte, NC using Priceline.com. Usually I am able to get a competitive rate using the "Name Your Own Price" option, but after nearly 30 minutes of "gambling" for the best price, I opted to book a hotel room at the Crowne Plaza using Priceline's "Special Rate".
Well, the "Special Rate" ended up being nearly $30 per night *MORE* than the hotel's own published rate. I did not notice the significant discrepancy until I checked out more than 24 hours after I booked the room.
Here's my beef with Priceline: the company offers a "Best Price Guarantee", which essentially enables customers to report a better rate and receive a refund for the difference from Priceline. BUT THE CUSTOMER NEEDS TO REPORT THE BETTER RATE WITHIN 24 HOURS! By the time I booked my hotel and received a statement from the hotel showing their lower rate, it was 48 hours. So, essentially I got screwed by Priceline.
Refund me the difference between the published hotel rate of $161.50/night and Pricelines "Special Price" of $190.00/night: $28.50
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by Zan Posted Wed May 21, 2008 @ 4:10 PM
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"BUT THE CUSTOMER NEEDS TO REPORT THE BETTER RATE WITHIN 24 HOURS!"
So, now you know - the next time you use Priceline, make sure you
contact the hotel and find out their regular rates within 24 hours. Or
better yet, do that before.
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I don't know. I just used priceline to purchase a package deal. I got
airfare, hotel, and rental car for 5 days, 4 nights for $1200 in Reno.
I can't sing enough praises of this company.
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You deemed the room rate acceptable when you booked the room. You
don't get a refund because you didn't do your homework and contact the
hotel directly to find out what they'd charge for a hotel room.
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Hotel rates are like airline rates, they constantly change. I booked
a vacation on hotels. com last year and by the time I finished booking
it, the price went up some.
If you dont like playing the games, get the standard rate at every
hotel.
Good Day
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Before committing to buy, you might want to go to
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/home (Crowne Plaza's web
site) or calling 877-2-CROWNE. That way, you'll know the hotel's rate
and can compare.
"I got screwed by Priceline." Please don't use the word "screwed."
It's nasty.
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