Priceline allows users to bid on travel services, using the “Name Your Own Price” system. Users select their desired service, location, and quality level, and then make an offer. While there are some drawbacks, the service can save users up to 50% on travel expenses.
Priceline® is a company that allows users to bid on hotels, airline tickets, rental cars, vacation packages and cruises through its website. Priceline®’s slogan is “Name Your Own Price®” and users indicate the price they are willing to pay for unused travel offers in the interest of getting the best fares. Flexibility is required when using the service for travel planning, but it can be a great way to save money.
In most cases, the website works quite simply. First, select the service you are looking for. Then enter your arrival and departure locations, if applicable, your travel dates, the area you wish to stay in, the number of rooms you need, and any other desired parameters. The website will also ask if your travel plans are flexible. If they are, you’re more likely to get a cheaper rate, because there will be more options available.
For hotels, Priceline® offers “zones”. Instead of choosing a specific hotel, choose a “zone” where your hotel can be located. It is important to pay attention to the areas in relation to where you want to stay; some cover a fairly large area, which could significantly increase your daily commute time if you have to drive back and forth. In addition to choosing an area, you will also need to choose a quality level from one to four stars or an economy level to a resort. Each of these selections offers users options for saving extra money; a quality two-star hotel will, of course, sell for less than a four-star resort hotel. For each of Priceline®’s categories, there are questions of this nature.
After answering the questions, it’s time to indicate the price. This is essentially an offer for items not yet purchased, which the hotel, airline, rental car company, etc. are free to refuse. Starting with a low bid is a good idea; you can always raise your offer if it is rejected. Please note, however, that if your offer is accepted, your credit card will be charged immediately and Priceline® will, under almost no circumstances, cancel your reservation. Only after the price has been accepted will you find out specific details about your booking such as airline and flight times, hotel name and location.
There are some drawbacks to using Priceline®. Often, users who want to book flights find themselves scheduled on “red-eye” flights with numerous stopovers. Another often-voiced complaint is the distance of many hotels in various areas from tourist attractions, although this is an issue that can easily be prevented with some research beforehand. However, if you’re relatively flexible in planning your trip, it’s possible to save 50 percent or more on travel.
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