Nikki Bird Disaster!

[thelionqueen]

I'm sorry you all got caught up in this disaster!!

This is one of the main reasons I do not skimp on accomodations in any way. There is no way in this world I would let a company pick my accomodations for me, even if it were free.

If you stay on Disney property, even a value, you can be assured of quality. May have issues, but will be corrected and your vacation will be perfect.

I do not mean to bash those who use Priceline or stay off property, I'm just saying that I couldn't ever do it.

 

[pilgrimage]

Priceline has helped me keep costs low for my business.
I stayed in London at the Thistle Marble Arch in April for $65 US per night, including fees and tax, rather than $235. I stayed at the Embassy Suites Napa Valley last May for $55 per night including breakfast for two. This makes
a world of difference for me. I have only had one less than good property
( in Orlando -- a Ramada well past its prime which was installing new property noisily when I was there). It's a risk I'm willing to take.

 

[CarolA]

I agree With CarolA. Holiday Inn does a horrible job of verifying that their franchisees/affiliates meet HI "standards". There are some nice HIs out there, but there are also a lot of junky ones.

That has been my experience as well. I don't know how they write thier contracts, but my impression is that once you get the sign it's yours until "death do you part"

Some chains are quick to throw hotels out who don't live up to thier standards, HI has not been. As a result, it's not a chain I feel secure booking with on the "unknown" hotel (Days Inn is another winner in this area. I have a friend whose FIL owned one. As far as we could tell he paid the franchise fee and that was it... could be why that chain took such a dive over the years)

My general PL rule is nothing below 4 star... So it's pretty rare that I would be the Nikki bird in the first place. For Disney I ususally use the "If I can get a Resort of four star for about the price of the values rule" If the bid is accepted under a value good.. If it gets higher then that I just go to Disney and pay for the All Stars or Pop.

 

[CarolA]

I'm sorry you all got caught up in this disaster!!

This is one of the main reasons I do not skimp on accomodations in any way. There is no way in this world I would let a company pick my accomodations for me, even if it were free.

If you stay on Disney property, even a value, you can be assured of quality. May have issues, but will be corrected and your vacation will be perfect.

I do not mean to bash those who use Priceline or stay off property, I'm just saying that I couldn't ever do it.

I think that you are making a smart move for you. Some of us are fine with the "risk" and other's aren't. There is nothing wrong with knowing your comfort level and sticking to it. (Some of us are into the "thrill of the bargin LOL!)

 

[Gillian]

I'm sorry to hear about this mess! It's good to hear that Priceline is fixing it for the people who do complain. I'm sure they will get more complaints soon from people who weren't aware of the change until they got down there.

We have successfully used Priceline many times, and it has been a great money saver for us. When we didn't have kids it didn't matter much where we stayed. And that was good because all the research in the world won't tell you where you will end up!

Hopefully the others with reservations have printouts with the Holiday Inn name!!

 

[LakeAriel]

That has been my experience as well. I don't know how they write thier contracts, but my impression is that once you get the sign it's yours until "death do you part"

Some chains are quick to throw hotels out who don't live up to thier standards, HI has not been. As a result, it's not a chain I feel secure booking with on the "unknown" hotel (Days Inn is another winner in this area. I have a friend whose FIL owned one. As far as we could tell he paid the franchise fee and that was it... could be why that chain took such a dive over the years)

My general PL rule is nothing below 4 star... So it's pretty rare that I would be the Nikki bird in the first place. For Disney I ususally use the "If I can get a Resort of four star for about the price of the values rule" If the bid is accepted under a value good.. If it gets higher then that I just go to Disney and pay for the All Stars or Pop.

That is probably the key. I have 2 suites booked for BCV in August. I'll already be in Disney (POFQ) but my daughter's family will be driving up from Miami the night before. It appeared getting her a clean but really cheap hotel for one night would be a good idea since she could stay at the beach at her resort for the day, drive up not worryng how late she arrived, the kids would eat free and how bad could it be? Well pretty bad apparently. Nikki bird was only 10 dollars more then Priceline booked directly, I found out later. Maybe Priceline didn't know about the change till after the fact but surely when they switched my reservation they knew and NEVER informed me. That is the troubling part to me. My daughter will now be in All Stars for a few dollars more that night because her husband has travel agent status that she had never used! All's well that ends well.

 

[LakeAriel]

bump!

 

[Disney_Freak56]

Unfortunately, I am one of those who has gotten caught up in this Priceline/Nikki Bird/Home Sweet Home mess. I booked two rooms for one night in August.

I called the resort and was told that they were not honoring any requests through Priceline past June 30. I WAS told that I could book a week's stay with them. I said no thanks. I just needed one night.

Called Priceline and after going the Looooong que talked to a guy named Mike who informed me that Home Sweet Home has a contractual obligation to honor the bid. When I told him that over the phone, I was told that was not the case, he told me that it was.

I asked to speak to a supervisor -- Fil - Agent #7253 -- who told me the very same thing. I told Fil (his exact spelling) that I was traveling with my sister and her three young boys and am not exactly excited over the possible prospect of showing up and being told that I did not have a room in August. I asked him what my recourse would be then. He said I could call and they would tell the hotel that they have to give me a room. Have to give me a room? Huh? What is Price Line going to do to force this ? I'm in Florida with a counter clerk who tells me that I don't have a reservation and you're where? Well, he wouldn't tell me where. But come on, they're going to make them give me two rooms? Give me a break!

I've used Price Line several times in the past and have not had a problem like this before. In other words, I'm no newbie to the PriceLine system. But this is totally ridiculous.

I will be fiing a complaint with the State Attorney General's office over this matter.

It's obvious that PriceLine does not know the meaning of Customer Service. I did ask if they could switch me to another hotel and was told no. I'm not sure what else I can do to convey my displeasure with this whole ordeal.

And like the other poster, I see that they have conveniently changed my confirmation to reflect the change to Home Sweet Home from Nikki Bird. Luckily, I did print out a copy of the original confirmation which is what I will be sending to the AG's office.

I hope anyone else who is going through this same thing, has better luck than I am.

 

[LakeAriel]

I spoke to someone named "Scot" a manager at Priceline.
After I told them my credit card company would be disputing this bait and switch I got a full refund. If you paid by credit card call them ASAP!

 

[spiceycat]

this is strange - on another site - people are getting their refunds....

 

[LakeAriel]

this is strange - on another site - people are getting their refunds....

I got one after contacting them four times and speaking with a manager...I also called Amex.

 

[Disney_Freak56]

Unfortunately, I paid with my debit card. Lesson learned -- do not use a debit card to pay for a Priceline bid.

 

[28c234]

I paid with a debit card and received an e-mail this morning concerning my refund. I found out about the change in management via disboards. No-one contacted me from the hotel or price-line. I initially called the customer service line and got nowhere. To make a long story short, I was told by the rep they don't have 2 1/2 stars rating on hotels, just 2 stars. I sent a detailed e-mailed and included who I spoke with and what the conversation was and included a screen-shot of the bidding screen where you select the rating of the hotel. I indicated I wanted a comparable hotel (2 1/2 *) or a refund. Home Sweet Home is a two star hotel. I sent the e-mail on Sunday 5/29 and received the favorable reply on this morning. Dont't give up.

Below is the screen -print I included in my e-mail to priceline.

Flights | Hotels | Cars | Packages | Cruises | Tours & Attractions | PriceBreakers
Sign-In | My Profile | My Trips | Check Your Request | First Time Users | Help



3-Star Upscale, Disney World Vicinity Area


2½-Star Moderate-Plus, Disney World Vicinity Area


2-Star Moderate, Disney World Vicinity Area


1-Star Economy, Disney World Vicinity Area

 

[Disney_Freak56]

Thanks for the assistance. I will try again tomorow. I did send a detailed e-mail this afternoon and have received an e-mail back asking me to call. I will definitely call tomorrow.

I do appreciate all the help.

 

[LakeAriel]

Thanks for the assistance. I will try again tomorow. I did send a detailed e-mail this afternoon and have received an e-mail back asking me to call. I will definitely call tomorrow.

I do appreciate all the help.

That was the way it went with me too. I E-mailed first, got no answer. E-mailed again after I heard it was now an economy, long term hotel and stating I expected a refund. The next mail said to call and I did. I called spoke to a rep who put me on hold and old me I was booked at Home Suite Home. She said someone would call back with 48 hours. They did not. I called again and spoke to the manager who took care of it after much prodding. Follow through and I hope you get quicker results!

 

[freediverdude]

I think I must be missing something here......so Priceline actually regularly uses hotels that only rent by the week and don't have daily maid service? I thought in order to be on a site like Priceline, that it must be a daily rental hotel or motel (unless they have a separate category of bidding for weekly stays). I wouldn't think that a long term stay property like a Home Suite Home would even qualify for listing on Priceline. I would not have thought that getting even a 2 star property on Priceline might involve no maid service- I just thought that it would be a motel 6 or something similar. Can somebody who knows more about Priceline fill me in? lol

 

[DianeV]

I think you are right but I think Priceline is trying to get away with it for less hassle to them and not to lose any money...they make you do all the work and act like they are doing you a favor

 

[Disney_Freak56]

More to my story. Called this morning and talked to Heather -- who wasn't nearly as rude as Fil, but she didn't offer me a refund. She said she would transfer some info to their travel department and they would get back to me in a couple of days. So I have to wait and see what happens with that. She did try to tell me that Home Sweet Home was what I had booked with from the get-go and I told her that it was not and that I had a copy of the original confirmation showing Hoilday Inn Nikki Bird.

Will keep you all informed as this saga continues. Crossing my fingers (and toes) for a refund.

 

[chuckbarr21]

There is know way they can get out of refunding your money,you payed for a 2 1/2* hotel and Home Suite home is a 2* they can upgrade you to a 3* not downgrade you to a 2*.. I stayed at that dump for two nights May 21 and 22 and as soon as I as got home I sent an e-mail to priceline asking for a refund.The first reply they were saying that other sites rate the Nikki Bird 3*,problem was I got Home Sweet Home not Nikki Bird.I then go to Priceline site and this hotel does not meet there own standards for 2 1/2* hotel as a matter of fact if we would have tried to check in 10 min. later then we did we would have had no hotel at all because guy at front desk leaves at midnight, there standard for 2 1/2* states 24 hour front dest and daily housekeeping this dump has neither.I got a refund the next day.

 

[LakeAriel]

More to my story. Called this morning and talked to Heather -- who wasn't nearly as rude as Fil, but she didn't offer me a refund. She said she would transfer some info to their travel department and they would get back to me in a couple of days. So I have to wait and see what happens with that. She did try to tell me that Home Sweet Home was what I had booked with from the get-go and I told her that it was not and that I had a copy of the original confirmation showing Hoilday Inn Nikki Bird.

Will keep you all informed as this saga continues. Crossing my fingers (and toes) for a refund.

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