This post is sponsored by Priceline.
Priceline is the travel deal-making site made famous by those commercials starring William Shatner back in the day and Kaley Cuoco more recently. Third-party travel booking sites like Priceline deliver rates from multiple options. For example, if you are booking a hotel, a search on Priceline would deliver options from all of the major chains and local hotels —
But is Priceline legit?
Yes, and we’ll tell you why! We will also lay out the pros and cons of booking your travel through Priceline so you can know what to expect.
The PROS:
- Established in 1997 – the company has a track record of delivering deals!
- Strong industry partnerships with major airlines, hotel chains and car rental companies
- Easy-to-use app with even more deals, available on Android and iPhone
- Secure transactions using encryption technology to protect customer info
- 24/7 customer service.
- Trust score of 2.8 on Trustpilot (71% five stars)
- Better Business Bureau rating A-
- Best Price Guarantee for VIP members
- Unique loyalty program that aggregates friends and family (up to 5) in one account to speed point accumulation
- Owned by Booking Holdings Inc., one of the world’s largest online travel companies
How is Priceline Different?
Three ways:
- Unique loyalty program
- Penny, an AI-driven trip planner that can actually answer unique questions and act as your personal travel concierge
- Deep discounts
1. The Priceline VIP Loyalty Program- Share Points and Rewards!
The Priceline VIP program gives you access to member-only deals and is free to join. There are Base, Blue, Gold, and Diamond tiers, with each offering more savings. The Priceline VIP Loyalty Program allows you to progress through tiers based on your booking activity. The more you book, the higher you climb, unlocking greater savings and benefits at each level.
But here’s where Priceline is different than ANY other travel brand: The Priceline VIP program lets you create a VIP group account with up to five members. Bookings made by all members are combined, enabling the group to reach the Platinum tier faster. Members don’t need to be related; they can be friends, coworkers, neighbors, or anyone who shares your passion for travel.
VIP Credit Card
If you are a committed points and miles person, you also can apply for the no-annual-fee Priceline VIP Rewards Visa credit card. You’ll earn 5 points for every dollar you spend on Priceline bookings, 2 points on restaurant and gas purchases, and 1 point on all other purchases. Plus, credit card users are immediately elevated to Gold-level VIP status.
VIP: Best Price Guarantee
VIP membership also entitles customers to Priceline’s Best Price Guarantee. If you find a better deal on your hotel, rental car, airline tickets or cruise, Priceline will refund the difference. In some special cases, Priceline will refund 200 percent of the difference, up to the total cost of the reservation.
2. Penny: AI Trip Planner with 24/7 Customer Service
The company prides itself on making travel booking more fun. (Just take a few minutes to read the history of the company to get the vibe. It will tell you, for example, that when founder Jay Walker approached airlines with his “brilliant idea,” one airline exec told him the industry would be “better off if Jay was ‘hit by a bus.’ Jay conceded that a bus might get him, but the Internet wasn’t going away.”)
The newest addition to Priceline’s product arsenal is Penny, the AI assistant that can help you book your entire journey and then tell you everything from the best cities to visit to where to find the best vegan restaurant close to your hotel. Priceline describes Penny as “the world’s greatest professional concierge combined with that all-star mind-reading front desk agent who always saves the day.”
Imagine this: your flight is canceled and you’re standing at the airport with three kids in tow, feeling stressed, wondering where you will stay the night. Penny is there to save the day. Simply ask Penny to find the nearest hotel to the airport that has a pool and availability. Penny will provide a list of hotels to choose from and can even assist with the booking. Where has Penny been my whole life?
3. Deeper Discounts
Express Deals and Pricebreakers
Express Deals offer the cheapest rates on rental cars, hotel rooms and airlines, with offers up to 60% off. The catch: You only find out which rental car company, specific hotel or airline you booked after you agree to the deal. For rental cars, the rating shown is the minimum guaranteed. For hotels, the minimum star rating, location and amenities are guaranteed. Before you book, you can see the approximate discount included below the Express Deal badge. Plus, you can filter based on neighborhood, amenities, and more.
Breeze, a frequent traveler with her 3 kids, uses Express Deals regularly. “I’ve relied on Express Deals from Priceline during multiple road trips, especially when my destination each night was uncertain. These deals were fantastic for securing great rates on quality hotels that matched my criteria. My girls and I found the mystery of discovering a new hotel each night incredibly exciting.”
Pricebreakers are hotel deals at up to 60% off retail rates. You’ll get a price that would be good at one of three hotels in the same area, with the same star rating and offering similar amenities. After you book, you’ll learn the name of the hotel where you’ll be staying.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Express Deals and Pricebreakers are non-refundable, so make sure it’s what you want before booking the deal!
Priceline App
The app often has deals that aren’t available on Priceline.com. And it can be the way to save your vacation, according to one user. When his international flight from London to New York City was canceled, he needed a hotel room for the night.
While he rode the airport shuttle, he opened the Priceline app, answered a few questions to narrow down his search — did he want a 5-star hotel? A hotel in a certain location? — and he had a last-minute hotel room booked before he got off the airport shuttle. All from his phone with the Priceline App – it’s available on both iPhone and Android.
Important Considerations
Most hotels are accommodating with reservations made through partner sites like Priceline, however, it’s worth noting that some may be less helpful if there are any issues with availability once you arrive. To ensure a smooth experience, consider the following tips before booking:
- Customer Service Access: Check the availability of customer support from the partner site before your trip. Priceline, for example, provides 24/7 customer service, which can be a lifesaver if issues arise.
- Mobile App Benefits: Many booking platforms, including Priceline, have mobile apps that offer exclusive deals and additional assistance. Having the app can sometimes make managing your reservations more convenient.
- Reservation Guarantees: Look for guarantees on your reservations. Priceline guarantees all bookings, which can provide peace of mind knowing your stay is secure.
- Hotel Selection Flexibility: If you have a specific hotel in mind, be aware that deep discounts might not always be available for your chosen hotel when booking through third-party sites.
About Priceline
Priceline is based in Norwalk, Connecticut. It’s part of Booking Holdings, the world’s leading provider of online travel and related services. In addition to Priceline, Booking Holdings owns Booking.com, Agoda, KAYAK and OpenTable. It also works through a network of subsidiary brands including Rocketmiles, Fareharbor, HotelsCombined, Cheapflights and Momondo.