Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Got the dreaded Priceline hotel "upgrade"

Specifically bid 2.5* in the Federal Way-Auburn zone south of SeaTac, as probably would have gotten the very favorably reviewed Marriott Courtyard, as that was the only 2.5* showing up on Priceline's own regular listing of hotels in that zone. Well, wouldn't you know it, was "upgraded" to the much lower reviewed and much older Clarion Hotel.

Called Priceline to express my displeasure, hoping that maybe I could get the reservation cancelled. Told the lady that if I wanted a 3*, I would have checked that block. No success with her, so asked for someone else, this time in "Customer Service". This gentleman claimed that I had also specified
3*, 4*, and 5* in that zone. Oh? Well, first off, 3* is the highest available, and I also told him that it's Priceline that automatically checks higher blocks even when you check a single lower. Guess I knew that, tho, so I am partially to blame.

This is the second time I have been "upgraded" in the SeaTac area to a 3* hotel that was a lower quality than the 2.5*s that I was interested in.

The reason 3 stars was greyed out was because you cannot book that category (or any higher category) if rebidding on your orignal 2.5 star rejection. In order to book 3 stars you would have to start a whole new bid from scrath. Pathetic that the Priceline rep doesn't even realize or know this.

It's too bad Priceline doesn't allow bidders the opportunity to waive upgrades (by checking a box or similar) and stick with the star level you desire. It's been said over and over that many 2.5 properties offer free parking, free Internet access, complimentary breakfast and a host of other amenities that 3 star properties don't. In the end, you wind up paying for that upgrade through all the nickel & dime charges at the hotel.

OP- you probably know this but....If you have these kinds of specific requirements but still want a deal why not go to Hotwire and take it from there? They give you only the hotel that you indicate (in terms of stars and amenities and location). The whole deal on Priceline is you name the price and they make the rules. Hotwire usually charges a bit more than the lowest Priceline bid and has some different properties. You can go to betterbidding.com and check their lists (and use their link if you do). I only use Priceline when I am sufficiently flexible with my requirements to deal with a surprise, one way or the other. The good ones outnumber the bad ones by a huge amount in my experience.

The part that I hate about the "dreaded upgrade" is that oftentimes the upgraded hotel starts charging for things that are free in the lower requested hotel: free breakfast, free internet, parking. Those things can offset any savings.

...Hotwire usually charges a bit more than the lowest Priceline bid...

I always look at Hotwire before I book. Hotwire never came even near the prices I got with Priceline. I generally book 4-star hotels, mostly in Europe.

The Peppermill in Reno at 4 stars. It's a stretch at 3 stars, which was the rating up until three months ago. Bid three stars, hoping to avoid this place, BINGO...you've been upgraded.

Can someone list the PL phone number? The number for talking with a human, which is something I've never done at PL. Thanks!

The Peppermill in Reno at 4 stars. It's a stretch at 3 stars, which was the rating up until three months ago. Bid three stars, hoping to avoid this place, BINGO...you've been upgraded.

Can someone list the PL phone number? The number for talking with a human, which is something I've never done at PL. Thanks!

Reno is a good example of where it's worth taking a look at Hotwire in the event you're looking to avoid a Priceline upgrade to a hotel you don't want to be upgraded to. Check out Hotwire's vacation package, first, where the identities of each hotel is displayed. You'll notice that the Peppermill, Atlantis and Grand Sierra Resort are unique in that different areas/buildings of each property have different Hotwire ratings. Jot down the star levels and amenities offered then compare them to the opaque hotel-only product. This way you can easily avoid a hotel (with Hotwire) you have no control over with Priceline. Might be too late this time, but hopefully it will help in the future.

Specifically, what are your "gripes" with Priceline's 4-star rating of the Peppermill? Bear in mind that Priceline's rating system is based on amenities the hotel offers as opposed to how "good" it is (or isn't) in many people's opinion.

Whenever I've needed to speak directly with someone at Priceline, I've been successful at the regular toll-free number on their website. Yes, you get a recording at first, but eventually you can get connected to a live person.

Good luck!

I always look at Hotwire before I book. Hotwire never came even near the prices I got with Priceline. I generally book 4-star hotels, mostly in Europe.

Where in Europe? I tend to find Priceline isn't worth it because I can invariably find decent, non-opaque 4-star options for similar money (either through the hotel itself or a 3rd-party booking engine).

Where in Europe? I tend to find Priceline isn't worth it because I can invariably find decent, non-opaque 4-star options for similar money (either through the hotel itself or a 3rd-party booking engine).

Munich, Brussels, Frankfurt, Paris all for $100 some a little more. I always check Expedia, Orbitz, Opodo, HRS and Venere.
I also had low bids for Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Philadelphia & San Francisco.

Which "3rd-party booking engine" do you use?
Thanks.

Munich, Brussels, Frankfurt, Paris all for $100 some a little more. I always check Expedia, Orbitz, Opodo, HRS and Venere.
I also had low bids for Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Philadelphia & San Francisco.

Which "3rd-party booking engine" do you use?
Thanks.

Booking.com is my usual staple, and recently I've used flightnetwork a couple of times. $100 is 70 Euros...plus charges and so on...let's say about 75... Outside of London and maybe Paris, you shouldn't have any problems finding non-opaque four-star (or at the very least central and good-quality three-star) hotels for that kind of money anywhere in Europe.

Beav....thanks for the comments, I will check Hotwire. Recent past stays via PL....3 at Peppermill 2 Atlantis and about 5 at Grand Sierra. Hilton was my regular spot prior to its sale.

Specific gripes re Peppermill.
1) Begins with $4.00/night energy surcharge
2) Water saver shower heads....totally worthless
3) not so clean and very worn rooms
4) 17" screen ancient televisions
5) I expect a crappy room location and have never been disappointed, so this is a comment, not a complaint. But they do nothing to hide their contempt of PL bookings.
6) bathroom amenities equal to a Motel 6
7) the two times valet service was desired, it was absent

The new tower might deserve a 4 star PL rating. Grand Sierra is 3 stars and floors 18 and higher they sell thru PL as 4 stars. That's fine, and this is how they should be selling Peppermill.

With the $4 surcharge, I'm paying $49/night over next weekend. The following two days at Grand Sierra for $32/night all in.

Booking.com is my usual staple, and recently I've used flightnetwork a couple of times. $100 is 70 Euros...plus charges and so on...let's say about 75... Outside of London and maybe Paris, you shouldn't have any problems finding non-opaque four-star (or at the very least central and good-quality three-star) hotels for that kind of money anywhere in Europe.

Checked booking.com for Paris = expensive, some 4-stars are NOT really 4-Star.

Same is true for flightnetwork. They even have a couple of Holiday Inns as 4-Star, actually there might be only one in Paris (HI Place de la Republic)

Booking.com, part of Priceline.com (Nasdaq:PCLN) is Europe’s leading online hotel reservations agency by room nights sold, attracting over 20 million unique visitors each month via the Internet from both leisure and business markets worldwide.

Thanks anyway. I bookmarked them both ...

BTW, I also checked Kayak.com. They showed Le Meridien Montparnasse for $179 as cheapest 4-Star hotel, which is a real 4-star, but not great. I had it last year on Priceline for $108 or so.
I know some very nice 3-Star hotels in Paris ... all not cheap ... but at Priceline I only bet for 4-Star in Paris. Had once lousy 4-Star Novotel Les Halles, complained at Priceline and got the money back.

They even have a couple of Holiday Inns as 4-Star, actually there might be only one in Paris (HI Place de la Republic)


Most Holiday Inn (not Express by HI) hotels in Europe are 4-star ones.

some 4-stars are NOT really 4-Star

Where do you draw the line on what is and what isn't? ;)

Forgot to say that it's always good to check directly with the most prominent chain(s) for the country you're visiting. E.g. for France you need to check Accor, for Spain NH and AC, Italy Jolly Hotels and so on.
I've stayed at the excellent Accor Suitehotel Porte De La Chapelle (not very central, but a short Metro ride from everything) for under €90.

Hi folks, remember me...the OP?

Well, I'm at my "upgraded" 3* Clarion Hotel tonight in Federal Way, WA, and just thought I'd offer a couple of comments.

The room isn't too bad, but most probably is at least a half step under what I would have gotten at the nearby Marriott Courtyard. It's certainly an older hotel, and certainly could use some refreshing. The lady at check-in indicated that such work was supposed to be starting in the near future (you know, "checks in the mail").

The Clarion does offer a free breakfast, even with Priceline, and has two free high speed computers for guest use. Major issue for me is that it's absolutely surrounded by traffic and commercial and retail faciltiies, so not the best for light sleepers such as me.

....I've stayed at the excellent Accor Suitehotel Porte De La Chapelle (not very central, but a short Metro ride from everything) for under €90.

Orbitz:

Suitehotel Paris Porte de la Chapelle ***Star

Porte de la Chapelle - No way! I have been in Paris 40+ times .. but would never stay there! I avoid even driving through that area.

From Tripadvisor:

"...The walk wouldn't have been so bad if the neighborhood was nicer. One afternoon, we tried the other side of the street (to avoid running in front of traffic) and almost got pick pocketed by a group of teenagers squatting on the side of the road.
The neighborhood was so bad we turned around after walking one block at night to find a restaurant one night....."

Hi folks, remember me...the OP?

Well, I'm at my "upgraded" 3* Clarion Hotel tonight in Federal Way, WA, and just thought I'd offer a couple of comments.

The room isn't too bad, but most probably is at least a half step under what I would have gotten at the nearby Marriott Courtyard. It's certainly an older hotel, and certainly could use some refreshing. The lady at check-in indicated that such work was supposed to be starting in the near future (you know, "checks in the mail").

The Clarion does offer a free breakfast, even with Priceline, and has two free high speed computers for guest use. Major issue for me is that it's absolutely surrounded by traffic and commercial and retail faciltiies, so not the best for light sleepers such as me.

Sorry that I/we have hijacked your thread.... The dreaded Priceline hotel "upgrade" is indeed a problem. You did your homework and still "run" in a hotel you didn't wanted. However, if you got a low price it should be OK. You can almost avoid such "unwanted upgrades" when you select 4-Star. I had it happen only once in San Francisco. Selected 4-Star and got "Boutique" hotel Monaco (or so, a Kimton Hotel), which was really nice, better then the Westin St. Francis I got the next time.

It always amazes me how 'the more you pay, the less you get' when it comes to a lot of hotels. Holiday Inn is a prime example. HI Express has free wi-fi and breakfast while the regular HI's do not, yet the latter costs substantially more.

The part that I hate about the "dreaded upgrade" is that oftentimes the upgraded hotel starts charging for things that are free in the lower requested hotel: free breakfast, free internet, parking. Those things can offset any savings.

The Clarion does offer a free breakfast, even with Priceline, and has two free high speed computers for guest use.Poor baby. As wharvey said, normally a PL upgrade includes a wallet downgrade. And don't forget Mbstone's Law of Hotels: The more stars, the fewer TV channels. Have you noticed this at the Clarion?

Im from the priorityclub thread- 2-4-1 at Intercontinentals/HIs and HI express;

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/925/en/c/1/content/dec/teaser/6c/1/en/lp/emea/twofor.html?rateCode=IDEX1&cm_mmc=partnership-_-exclusive-_-2for1-_-exclusive

non refundable, not changeable, but can be great value. dan :)