Matt-KC
Jan 13, 08, 7:16 pm
I started using Priceline heavily this year as I found that saving real $$ was more important to me than earning points in many cases. As a result, from 1/1/07 through 12/31/07 I tracked my priceline wins along with the rates of booking the hotel directly to do an analysis on exactly how much I was saving, and whether it was worth the effort. I know many others have needed to make the same considerations and hope that by sharing my results, it may help others decide if using Priceline (or another opaque channel) is worth the time and effort.
Nights in 2007 booked via Priceline: 123
Star Levels: Ten 4*, One Hundred Seven 3*, Six 2.5*
Priceline total Before Taxes/Fees: $5320 (Avg 43.20/night)
Direct Booking total before Taxes/Fees: $14885 (Avg 121.02/night)
Total Savings: $9565 ^
Priceline total including taxes/fees: $6848.11
Direct Booking total including taxes/fees* (estimated): $16522.35
Note that I had to estimate the taxes on the direct bookings as not all sites listed them in the same manner or individually....however I was generous to the direct booking estimation by using an 11% rate...some areas are much higher than that due to the practice of cities over-taxing hotels to pay for their various arena's, infrastructure, museums, zoos, etc. By using only 11%, it actually favors direct booking in the comparison by lowering their total...so using the "before" comparison is more accurate.
Neither comparison includes any incidentals such as parking, internet, room service etc...but these items are likely charged regardless if you booked direct or through an opaque channel.
The rates used in the direct booking totals were the lowest rates available on the hotels own website at time of PL win, including pre-pay rates since PL is a pre-pay as well.
Not included in the totals above were two stays that were refunded by PL due to the property being under renovation and having no a/c or heat.
Out of the 123 stays completed, I only had one stay where I was treated badly for being a PL customer...and even on that stay, after the front desk MGR who was the one being rude and outright lying had left, another agent working the desk, who had over-heard the situation, came to my room and moved me to an acceptable room, apologized for the MGR's actions and urged me to write a formal complaint to corporate as the specific MGR has a history of doing this and the property GM looks the other way. So in the end, really no bad stays.
Also note that I do book hotels directly as well, especially if an area has a really crappy property I want to avoid...the key here is to do your research first so that you know going in what hotels you might get, and knowing when to forgo PL in order to avoid getting a dud.
For me, the $9565 savings more than paid for the value of points/rewards had I booked directly. I usually travel solo so getting top-tier in a program, and subsequently looking for suite/best room upgrades are really not high on my list. That said, I still often get upgraded to SPG/Club floors, concierge levels, Regency Club floors and occasionally suites even on a PL booking. Being polite and non-demanding goes a long way in getting a decent room from a front desk agent, whether on a PL stay or not. I have never specifically asked for an upgrade on a PL stay, but I do ask for a quiet room which usually triggers the upgrades mentioned above. I also occasionally received points/stay credit for PL stays without even asking...most came from the check-in agent asking for my reward card if I had one. Those points were enough to pay for 8 nights of award stays. I also book PL through ebates which has earned a few more nights via the cash back.
Sorry for such a long post, but I hope some of this helps others decide whether using an opaque channel is right for them....especially considering the $$ savings you can get if you research and plan accordingly.
Nights in 2007 booked via Priceline: 123
Star Levels: Ten 4*, One Hundred Seven 3*, Six 2.5*
Priceline total Before Taxes/Fees: $5320 (Avg 43.20/night)
Direct Booking total before Taxes/Fees: $14885 (Avg 121.02/night)
Total Savings: $9565 ^
Priceline total including taxes/fees: $6848.11
Direct Booking total including taxes/fees* (estimated): $16522.35
Note that I had to estimate the taxes on the direct bookings as not all sites listed them in the same manner or individually....however I was generous to the direct booking estimation by using an 11% rate...some areas are much higher than that due to the practice of cities over-taxing hotels to pay for their various arena's, infrastructure, museums, zoos, etc. By using only 11%, it actually favors direct booking in the comparison by lowering their total...so using the "before" comparison is more accurate.
Neither comparison includes any incidentals such as parking, internet, room service etc...but these items are likely charged regardless if you booked direct or through an opaque channel.
The rates used in the direct booking totals were the lowest rates available on the hotels own website at time of PL win, including pre-pay rates since PL is a pre-pay as well.
Not included in the totals above were two stays that were refunded by PL due to the property being under renovation and having no a/c or heat.
Out of the 123 stays completed, I only had one stay where I was treated badly for being a PL customer...and even on that stay, after the front desk MGR who was the one being rude and outright lying had left, another agent working the desk, who had over-heard the situation, came to my room and moved me to an acceptable room, apologized for the MGR's actions and urged me to write a formal complaint to corporate as the specific MGR has a history of doing this and the property GM looks the other way. So in the end, really no bad stays.
Also note that I do book hotels directly as well, especially if an area has a really crappy property I want to avoid...the key here is to do your research first so that you know going in what hotels you might get, and knowing when to forgo PL in order to avoid getting a dud.
For me, the $9565 savings more than paid for the value of points/rewards had I booked directly. I usually travel solo so getting top-tier in a program, and subsequently looking for suite/best room upgrades are really not high on my list. That said, I still often get upgraded to SPG/Club floors, concierge levels, Regency Club floors and occasionally suites even on a PL booking. Being polite and non-demanding goes a long way in getting a decent room from a front desk agent, whether on a PL stay or not. I have never specifically asked for an upgrade on a PL stay, but I do ask for a quiet room which usually triggers the upgrades mentioned above. I also occasionally received points/stay credit for PL stays without even asking...most came from the check-in agent asking for my reward card if I had one. Those points were enough to pay for 8 nights of award stays. I also book PL through ebates which has earned a few more nights via the cash back.
Sorry for such a long post, but I hope some of this helps others decide whether using an opaque channel is right for them....especially considering the $$ savings you can get if you research and plan accordingly.