About Priceline
Priceline is a major online travel agency known for pioneering the "Name Your Own Price" negotiation model in 1998, where travelers bid below-market prices for airline tickets, hotel rooms, and rental cars without knowing the specific provider until after purchase. Now part of Booking Holdings (alongside Booking.com, Kayak, and OpenTable), Priceline has expanded beyond its original auction model into standard travel booking while retaining Express Deals and VIP pricing as core differentiation tools.
Their travel booking covers flights, hotels, rental cars, vacation packages, and cruises through both transparent pricing and their discount-oriented product lines. Express Deals show verified discounted hotel rates (with star rating, neighborhood, and amenities visible but the hotel name hidden until booking) that deliver genuine savings of 20–50% below retail for flexible travelers. VIP access (earned through booking history) unlocks additional exclusive rates on hotels.
Priceline's discount products are most valuable for flexible travelers who can accept ambiguity about specific providers, arrival times, or hotel brands in exchange for meaningful price reductions. For fixed itineraries with specific airline, hotel, or timing requirements, transparent booking through Priceline's standard search is comparable to other OTAs—comparison shopping against Expedia and Hotels.com remains advisable.
Quick Savings Tips
- Express Deals deliver 20–50% off hotels—neighborhood and star rating visible, hotel name revealed at booking
- Bundle flight + hotel as a package for additional 10–20% savings vs. booking each component separately
- VIP status (unlocked through booking history) provides exclusive hotel rates not available to standard customers
- Name Your Own Price remains available for rental cars—useful for very flexible travel dates
- Compare Express Deal pricing against direct hotel booking, as hotels sometimes price-match or beat OTA rates