A Priceline Convert

Although I've known about Priceline for years, I've always been too timid to book a flight or hotel with the website for fear that I would become committed to a flight I didn't want or sequestered in a hotel filled with rats and rapists. But at Kristen's (my roommate) urging--and with her support--I used Priceline to find a last-minute hotel in Washington DC. To my surprise, I was able to specify the location and the star-level of the hotel. I selected three stars in DuPont/Woodley, figuring that even a worst case return couldn't be that bad. Having found nothing in a decent section of DC for less than $250.00 on Orbitz and Travelocity, I decided to bid $85.00. To my surprise, I got an immediate return, in under a minute, that not only matched my price but also placed me in a four, rather than three, star hotel. Total cost with taxes: a little over 100 bucks a night. Brimming with confidence, I used Priceline again to book a room in Eugene, Oregon. This time I snagged a fifty-five dollar room at a Hilton--forty dollars less than most of the other options I turned up on competing sites.

Am I giving Priceline my ringing endorsement? For hotels, yes--as long as you're careful about selecting star-level and location. For flights, I'm not so certain. My impression is people usually get stuck with middle seats and have difficulty rebooking when a travel glitch occurs. And, of course, all purchases are non-refundable, so if you're someone who frequently gets sick, avoid this option like the plague.