Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Priceline (name your own price) Hotel overbooked- walked to Super 8 Motel

I recently bid for a 2 1/2 Star Hotel using Priceline. When I arrived in town the front desk clerk of the 2 1/2 Star told me that I was being "WALKED" to the Super 8 Motel down the road because their hotel was overbooked. She told me the good news was that I would not be charged for my room at the Super 8. (Confusing statement because I had already paid via Priceline)

Arriving at the Super 8, I found a Motel that had not been maintained. There was only one room available overlooking a busy highway and the bed was sinking and old. The room was maybe 140 square foot in size and this Motel lacked the facilities of the 2 1/2 Star we originally bidded on. The Super 8 was a tired 1 Star.

Before we complain to Priceline what should we ask for? Should we get our entire room for free- or a discount because we had to stay at a 1 star instead of the 2 1/2 star we had bid on originally?

Its never happened to me, but I hear its more or less automatic. If you are walked to a lower-star hotel Priceline refunds the entire stay price. They may throw in some bonus-bid money (credit slip), but the guarantee is just to credit back to your charge card.

I was once "walked" from a 2.5* Holiday Inn (in Boston) to a sleazy inn near Fenway Park. I was actually sent by taxi. I kept the taxi waiting, investigated the inn (basically it was a crack flophouse), returned to the taxi, and stayed with friends.

Priceline initially resisted my refund request, amazingly

I had exactly the same situation.

I was walked from the Red Lion downtown SEA and offered like a Motel 6 at the airport. I refused.

Two weeks later, Priceline agreed to give me my $$ for the reservation I got walked from..They insisted they "did me a favour"..

Jerks..

If I had a PL ressie for a 2.5* and got walked, I would insist on getting a Hilton, Sheraton, or Marriott. Even hotels within these families would be OK. They need to make things right.

FROM THE OP:

The Minimum wage Clerk at the 2 1/2 star told me they were sending all the Priceline people to the Super 8 Motel. She went mute after my penting and I could see that i would not get any more out of her. She claimed the SUPER 8 was the only place in town that had open rooms due to the Easter Holiday. There was nicer places in town but it was dark and I was tired and did not know how to find them.

It sounds like it will be a challenge to work with Priceline on this one. I have used Priceline over a hundred times and this has never happened to me. I have never tried calling or emailing Priceline before but am told it is nearly impossible to get anyone to talk to you.

I will see and report back.

Can you tell us the name of the 2.5*? I would be curious to hear what Priceline does about this. Obviously, you did not get 2.5* accomodations.

Assuming Super 8 is rated lower than 2.5 stars by Priceline, I don't see how they can deny your refund request. You were awarded a 2.5 star hotel, but in the end assigned a lower rated hotel. End of story.

I've only been walked once (non Priceline stay) however it was on a prepaid stay. In my book, people on prepaid stays should be the last to be walked vs those merely holding a reservation.

I made contact with Priceline today and will hear back on what they decide to do in about a week. I spent quite a long time going through a variety of voice prompts and on hold before I talked to a real person. She seemed nice but was not in a position to give me an instant credit on my account. She told me that they would have to investigate it for about five working days, which seemed logical.

I went from being booked in a Country Inn and Suites (2 1/2 stars) to spending the night in a one star Super 8.

As an FYI: If you make reservations for a hotel, show up and they're overbooked and they're going to "walk" you... they must pay for your transportation to the new hotel and the first night at the new hotel. After that, it's assumed you can then shop around for another hotel (maybe go back to the first hotel?).

Update:

Priceline emailed me and agreed to not charge me for the night I was sent to the Super 8 Motel.

Everything worked out in the end now that I have caught up on my sleep from the sleepless night on the sagging mattress at the Super 8!

It's been rare that I ever use PL for anything below a 4 star. The 2 1/2 star ,though, can be tempting at this because of the suite element. Thanks for sharing this. I'm glad all worked out.

Update:

Priceline emailed me and agreed to not charge me for the night I was sent to the Super 8 Motel.

Everything worked out in the end now that I have caught up on my sleep from the sleepless night on the sagging mattress at the Super 8!

Is that all they gave you? I would have expected some bonus money or something. I honestly think this whole situation was handiled poorly by both the hotel you booked and p/l. They should never have walked you to a Super 8, in my experience getting walked is usually good for an upgrade not an amazing downgrade.

Your luck could have been worse.
Super 8 could have offered you another night free. :)