Maximizing Your Priceline Hotel & Car Bookings

You’ve booked a Priceline “Name your own price” hotel room and car rental. Hopefully, you’ve paid a lot less than others for these. But, does that leave you vulnerable to whatever comes?

Well, yes and no.

At the rental car counter

If you’ve reserved a car or better hotel, I urge you to present its frequent traveler card or at least its number.

With the rental car, you probably won’t get points or the ability to bypass the counter, but you may receive special service with the card.

For example for a recent “Name your own price” Priceline Hertz reservation, the agent appreciated being able to use my Hertz #1 Club Gold number to pull up easily my credit card and other personal information. He then assigned me a vehicle in the #1 Club lot that was nearly new.

At hotel check in

You may find the same with hotels. You may not be upgraded from the standard room you normally receive with a “Name your own price” or Hotwire reservation, but you are unlikely to receive an inferior room last on the list to be renovated.

In addition, the guest clerk will probably try to do more to fulfill any special requests you may have. (See “Hints to help your hotel stay go smoothly” below.)

Dressing for success

I also believe that you should dress appropriately for these interactions. Like it or not, the people who monitor the gateways to the best establishments judge us by our appearance.

That does not mean that you need to dress in a business suit to check into the New York Hilton, but you shouldn’t arrive looking as if you just hiked the Appalachian Trail—for 10 days.

Even Ewan McGregor, the actor who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in three Star Wars films, insists he was turned away from a Holiday Inn Express in Oklahoma because it didn’t recognize him in dirty motorcycle garb. If he can be treated like that, what about the rest of us hoping for a little more comfort as we travel?

Presenting a “power” credit card

The credit card you present represents you. An American Express card, the Citibank AAdvantage® MasterCard, or similar card indicates, rightly or wrongly, that you are a frequent traveler who will likely return if satisfied.

See additional tips, such as how to get a free upgrade, at “Hints to help your hotel stay go smoothly.”

See actual Priceline winning bids:

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