Tell me if this makes sense. (Priceline hotel rates)

[wmj]

Our unit is being tented for termites in two weeks, so we have to find a hotel for two days. I went to Priceline to check and see what is available. Among the options were these two:

1. Hotel specifically identified. Room for two queen beds, non-smoking, $113.05 per night plus $27.13 taxes and fees, for a total of $253.23,

2. An “Express Deal” where they do not show the location of the hotel until you purchase but where I am pretty sure it is the same hotel. Regardless, the charges for the same type of room are $102.00 per night plus taxes and fees of $72.96, for a total of $272.96.

Does this make sense to anybody, or am I still sane?

[mcarley]

Nothing about the hotel industry makes sense. They are all about hiding information, whether it’s the hotel name or the actual price you will pay.

There’s a web site somewhere that will allow you to put in a couple of pieces of info and they will tell you what your Priceline hotel most likely is.

[crparrothead]

@wmj

Does this make sense to anybody, or am I still sane?

They are counting on you not looking at the “fees and taxes”.
Unfortunately for them, you are a big follower of Clark Howard.

[crparrothead]

@mcarley

They are all about hiding information, whether it’s the hotel name or the actual price you will pay.

I don’t know if this is still true, but the “price” of the hotel used to be on the back of the door.
I remember looking at it and it being about 3 times what I paid.

[Wintermute]

It is possible it is another hotel with different fees.

The reason they charge fees is they don’t show up in the price. As such people typically look at the nightly cost and don’t notice the fees.

When I worked in Vegas, they explained how people often don’t compare resort feeds. They’ll look for the cheapest room and then get hit with resort feeds.

When resort feeds are increased, they didn’t see a decrease in bookings.

When room rates went up, you see a large reduction in bookings.

[wmj]

@Wintermute

It is possible it is another hotel with different fees.

The reason they charge fees is they don’t show up in the price. As such people typically look at the nightly cost and don’t notice the fees.

I don’t think that is it in this case. This area is pretty standard and none of the hotels would have any additional fees on their own. As I understand it, the fees are Priceline’s fees, not the hotel’s.

And, while I admit I am not up to speed on this recently, earlier a common complaint about Priceline was that it did not include resort fees in the amount it charged you and that you could get charged for those as well from the hotel once you get there. There FAQs include similar language about how these fees may be handled:
https://www.priceline.com/help-page/submenu/81/461/what-taxes-and-fees-will-i-pay?vrid=39e7064bd7fb051edf12f0de88289c60

[imabass]

I often book my hotel rooms direct with the hotel and typically use my AAA or member rewards price. The price is often the same but you get easier cancellations and reservation modifications if you book direct.

[wmj]

@imabass

I often book my hotel rooms direct with the hotel and typically use my AAA or member rewards price. The price is often the same but you get easier cancellations and reservation modifications if you book direct.

I usually agree. However, in this case I have a $50 certificate that I can use.

[Bears54]

Hotel pricing makes no sense, I’ve used Google Hotels with decent luck.

[imabass]

@crparrothead

I don’t know if this is still true, but the “price” of the hotel used to be on the back of the door.
I remember looking at it and it being about 3 times what I paid.

This is often the max pricing. This is the price that the charge for big events.

[jimtoo]

@imabass

I often book my hotel rooms direct with the hotel and typically use my AAA or member rewards price. The price is often the same but you get easier cancellations and reservation modifications if you book direct.

We do the same with AAA or AARP. You can often cancel up to 24 hours before your reservation with a full refund and we have all the hotel rewards cards for the occasional free room.

[kcflyer]

@imabass

This is often the max pricing. This is the price that the charge for big events.

I wouldn’t even believe that. Several years ago, my then wife and I booked a “staycation” night on the County Club Plaza in Kansas City. It was the weekend of the Big 12 Basketball tournament, which was a HUGE thing in KC. I was on Hotwire and saw a “boutique” hotel for $70 per night total. I booked it. IT was in a very nice hotel (Raphael) directly across from the Plaza and we had a two room suite that overlooked the plaza. For that time of year in that hotel, it was a huge deal.

[Bears54]

@imabass

This is often the max pricing.

It’s the rack rate or the highest price for a room. It’s like the sticker price on a car, but most people pay much less.

[imabass]

@Bears54

It’s the rack rate or the highest price for a room. It’s like the sticker price on a car, but most people pay much less.

Exactly. My uncle use to own a small motel/hotel thing in NW Arkansas. There was an annual event where they jacked the rates up to the max but the other 360 day in the year they only got 1/3 of the max rate.

[kcflyer]

I used to use the government rate, even for family vacations. IN a lot of cases it was a pretty good deal. All I had to show was my government ID…they never asked if I was on government business