Hotwire vs Priceline: How Opaque Hotel Booking Actually Works
Both sites promise 4-star rooms at 2-star prices in exchange for hiding the hotel name. Here's how they actually differ — and when opaque is worth it.
Maya BergstromEditor, Hotel Pricing Research
Opaque bookings are the last meaningfully discounted product in mainstream online travel. You pick a star rating and a neighborhood, pay a discounted rate, and the hotel name appears after you commit. Hotwire pioneered the format; Priceline's Express Deals are the direct equivalent.
How the two products differ
- Both are non-refundable from the moment you click pay.
- Both show you a star rating and a broad neighborhood, never the hotel name.
- Both are owned by the major OTA groups (Hotwire is part of Expedia Group; Priceline is part of Booking Holdings), so the underlying wholesale inventory often overlaps.
- Pricing on the same star rating in the same zone can differ between the two on any given search — there is no consistent winner.
When opaque is worth it
- Your dates and city are 100% firm. Opaque is non-refundable; even a small chance of change wipes out the savings.
- You're indifferent to which hotel inside the listed zone. Star rating and neighborhood are all you control.
- The opaque price is at least 15–20% below the cheapest refundable rate for the same star rating. Below that gap, the refundable rate is the better trade.
What both get wrong
Neither product lets you see the actual hotel before paying, and both forfeit hotel loyalty points (the booking goes through a wholesaler the hotel often won't credit). If status or points matter to you, skip opaque entirely.
What this article isn't claiming
We haven't run a paired-pricing study across Hotwire and Priceline, so we won't tell you 'Priceline won 19 of 30'. In reality prices on the same star rating in the same zone vary search by search. Always check both.
FAQ
Is Hotwire owned by Priceline?
No. Hotwire is part of Expedia Group. Priceline is part of Booking Holdings. They are direct competitors with separate inventory.
Can I cancel a Hotwire Hot Rate or Priceline Express Deal?
Almost never. Both are non-refundable from the moment you click pay. Only book opaque when your dates are firm.
Do opaque bookings earn hotel loyalty points?
Usually no. The booking flows through a wholesaler, so the hotel typically won't credit points or status nights.
Works in the background on Booking, Expedia, Hotels.com, Agoda and 4 more sites. Surfaces a cheaper price for the exact same room when one exists. No sign-up.
Add to Chrome — it's free