Refund on priceline?

[lulugirl]

Has anybody ever gotten a refund from priceline? I bid $50 for a three star hotel, wound up w/ Hyatt Orlando. A family member recently stayed there and has informed me that it is definitely not what he would consider "3 star". I know Priceline does not typically offer refunds, but I bid on a 3 star based on Pricelines description of a 3 star hotel, apparently the Hyatt Orlando should not be in this category.

 

[DianeV]

First of all unfortunately you overbid. That hotel can usually be had on Priceline for $35. We just stayed there for 3 nights paying $35 a night and while I think its hanging for a 3 star it was certainly clean and they were really nice there.

Priceline does things on a case by case basis. It really depends on who you get. Try calling their hotel customer service (should be on the site) and see what they say. Say that you have heard this is not a 3* type quality hotel and are very disappointed. Kinda let them know if they make you stay there and you are not happy when you get there you will be calling them and refusing to stay there and that you hope they would give you this one time chance to be let out of your bid..sometimes they will but you will still pay the $5.95 fee..

Good luck!

 

[lulugirl]

Thanks for the advice! I have e-mailed Priceline, I am hoping they will let me re-bid. I don't mind paying $50 for a 3 star hotel, but it doesn't sound like Hyatt Orlando is a 3 star. Fortunately we are only staying there for 3 nights before we move to a Disney Hotel. Oh well, you say it was clean and that's a priority!
Thanks again for responding!

 

[JKJK]

Last year, I was able to get a refund from a bid on Priceline. It was not easy but I did get one after much persistance.

Good luck and keep us posted on your outcome.

Kerry

 

[DianeV]

You may just get a "form" letter via email so if you do then you should get their 800 number and try to call them..

Be aware that if they do allow you to rebid and you rebid a 3* in the Disney area you could very well end up with Hyatt again. They arent going to take them out of the running. Of course if you bid the $35 that is currently accepted you may feel a little better and you could end up with something else.

If you are willing to pay $50 you may want to up your stars to 4* or Resort. Many are had at $60 frequently. I believe the HIlton at Downtown Disney gets accepted at $60 alot..

I hope you are able to work something out with them. They can be stubborn. As I said if worse comes to worse they are nice about accomodating any requests and the place was clean (at least our room was) - If you end up there the place has 2 floors and no elevators but we still requested and got a 2nd floor. Also the units either face the outside or inside and you definitely want an inside one, less noise!

Please post a followup as I am always curious as how Priceline handles problems. They werent very helpful with a wrong date airfare I entered recently so ya never know with them.

 

[JKJK]

Last year, I was able to get a refund from a bid on Priceline. It was not easy but I did get one after much persistance.

Good luck and keep us posted on your outcome.

Kerry

 

[robinb]

IMO, "I don't like the hotel I got!" is not a valid excuse for asking for a refund from Priceline. You paid your money and you took your chances. That's how Priceline works.

The particular hotel you received gets "mixed" reviews, but they have been consistantly better reviews since Hyatt completed a large renovation last year. I personally stayed there before the renovation and didn't have a problem with the place. If, after staying there, you find the place not up to snuff you can complain to Priceline. They won't refund your money, but they might send you a bonus money link to use on your next bid. Speaking of your next bid, before you make it be sure to check out www.biddingfortravel.com where you can learn (1) which hotels commonly come up on PL, (2) read reviews of those hotels, (3) see what others are paying for those hotels and (4) most importantly learn how to bid without giving PL too much extra $$.

I hope you find the Hyatt to be better than you think it is and I also hope you don't let it ruin your vacation.

 

[Muffy]

Refunds at Priceline are very rare!

 

[DianeV]

Robin, I think you must admit that the reviews for the Hyatt while being "mixed" do seem to indicate that many dont feel this hotel is a true 3*. I went there worried and we still didnt feel the room itself was 3* quality- we realize that the conference center and restaurants is what Priceline obviously bases their ratings on which really isnt too fair for the casual vacationer..Having stayed at the Grosvenor and Renaissance Worldgate I do feel they are not comparable..It is hard to believe that a hotel on Hotel Blvd. can be rated the same as the Hyatt on the outskirts of WDW and a whole different atmosphere but I have always had a problem with some of these hotels Priceline insists on putting in the WDW area...even the Renaissance while having the "back road" to Disney seems to not be "WDW vicinity" to me when you know that others are getting hotels right on the Hotel Blvd.

Anyway Priceline is great obviously but if people are getting hotels that they dont feel match up to the stars given then they certainly have the right to be disappointed and worried IMO>

 

[lulugirl]

Thank you all for your input, I really appreciate it. I did hear back from priceline via e-mail. They insist that Hyatt Orlando is a 3 star, and basically said "too bad, no refunds".

robinb- my request for a refund wasn't just because I got a hotel I didn't think I would be happy w/, but because I don't think the hotel that I ended up w/ should have been in the 3 star category to begin with. I bid on and paid for a three star hotel, that's what I should get.
I think Priceline needs to reevaluate what constitutes a 3 star property.
Of course I won't let this ruin my trip, we are only staying there for 2 nights before heading over to POFQ.

 

[DianeV]

Well I dont know what its going to take to convince Priceline that this hotel is more of a 2 1/2* then 3* as far as the people who stay there think...maybe complaints after staying there although Iseem to remember someone already did that and obviously it did no good. Just because a place has a conference center and restaurant certainly doesnt mean the rooms are of the same par.

Well I would do as I mentioned and make the best of it. Request 2nd floor, courtyard view or pool view and you should be ok. I dont think the place is a dump by any means, just as I said, not comparable to other 3* gotten on Priceline all the time.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by DianeV
It is hard to believe that a hotel on Hotel Blvd. can be rated the same as the Hyatt on the outskirts of WDW and a whole different atmosphere but I have always had a problem with some of these hotels Priceline insists on putting in the WDW area...even the Renaissance while having the "back road" to Disney seems to not be "WDW vicinity" to me when you know that others are getting hotels right on the Hotel Blvd.

The location of a hotel, one on Hotel Blvd v/s Hwy 192 has no refeclection on the 3* rating.

This is from Priceline's own website:
"The most recognized name brands and quality independent hotels in the industry, these hotels feature high quality hotel rooms and well-decorated public spaces. Along with all of the amenities of a moderate-plus hotel, 3 star hotels offer a higher level of guest service. In addition, most hotels will offer a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offer room service. A fitness center may also be offered."

IMO, the Hyatt clearly fits that criteria. Are some 3*'s better than others? Yes. Do some other 3* hotels have better locations? Yes. However, PL does not hide the fact that "WDW Area" starts around the Crossroads, extends South to 192, West down 192 a mile or two and East down 192 2-3 miles. Some addresses, like that of the Hyatt, are even in *gasp* Kissimmee!

[/b]Anyway Priceline is great obviously but if people are getting hotels that they dont feel match up to the stars given then they certainly have the right to be disappointed and worried IMO> [/B]

I have been disappointed in hotels that I have been matched up with. I think many of us who use PL a lot "shoot" for a specific hotel when bidding and when we don't get it we're disappointed. That's perfectly natural. However, that is still not an excuse for a refund. I have always said that if you are not willing to take the hotel that PL assigns you, you should not use it. It's not for everyone.

BTW, believe it or not I did not use PL for my next trip . I knew that I wanted to be in a suite hotel for my last 3 days after staying in large rooms (Polynesian & a 1BR at Beach Club Villas) I could not bear to be in a regular sized hotel room . So, I booked the Summerfield Suites conventionally, paid a bit more and I'm in a location I'm happy with.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by lulugirl
robinb- my request for a refund wasn't just because I got a hotel I didn't think I would be happy w/, but because I don't think the hotel that I ended up w/ should have been in the 3 star category to begin with. I bid on and paid for a three star hotel, that's what I should get.

You're right about bidding for a 3* and expecting to get a 3*. I personally think the Hyatt is a 3* property. Other people disagree. My point is that you can only judge for yourself when you stay there. If you don't think it should be rated a 3*, then complain to PL. It's the only way they will know.

 

[BonnieA]

I used priceline and got the Hyatt for my vacation last month. I also think under pricelines rules it does qualify as a 3*. I've stayed in better 3* hotels but this one was fine. The only problem I had was that the room was too close to the interstate and was noisey. I asked to be changed and was quickly accomadated.

 

[mowsearz]

Just great!!!! I was bummed because we tried and tried to get a resort and then went down to a 3 star....started at 35 and ended up getting accepted at this Hyatt for $47.00 and then we went in for a room for our friends and started at $45 and got accepted at $55 for this Hyatt....
I have heard mixed things. I am assuming that we could not get it for less because our dates were 12/29 thru 01/02/03 and being New Years...ya know.
Anyway, as for a refund. I did receive one in October of 2001 but it was for an airline ticket. My husband had a flight to Puerto Rico for a wedding. His grandfather passed away and he had to go to CA instead. I called the 1-800 # on the reservation printout and thought that I would have to argue....NO WAY...they were so nice. They just asked a few easy questions for verification of the death and refunded over $400.00 to our account. I was so impressed, I was just looking for half back or credit for a re-bid on another date.
Anyway, this doesnt help much for your room but I did get a refund.
I am still looking forward to our annual NYE trip even though I am at the Hyatt....I hear that it is clean..

 

[JKJK]

I did not ask for a refund from priceline because I did not like the rating or hotel. My situation was with a hotel room that I selected based on the WDW zone as described on the priceline website. Since I had never been to Orlando and live about 3000 miles away, I used the info provided to me on priceline to determine where I wanted to stay, which was in the WDW zone. I ended up with a hotel in Kissimmee and the problem I had with that was there is a Kissimmee zone, which I did not select. Had I wanted to stay in Kissimmee, I would have selected that zone. After contacting priceline through email and telephone conversations, the gal on the phone said that she agreed that I was right, however she could do nothing. So I reread the priceline website rules, regulations ect. and came across something in one of the many paragraphs that the hotel can cancel your ressie and priceline will refund your money, less the 5.95 fee. So, I contactd the hotel manager and faxed them 14 pages including a letter detailing everything and then all the pages off the priceline site to back up my claim, including zone descriptions. The hotel was VERY nice and bent over backwards to make me happy. I was issued a refund immediatly. I didnt rebook through priceline but found a great deal at the Hotel Royal Plaza and had a most wonderful time.

By the way, I did check out the bidding for travel website before bidding and found it to be most helpful.

This was my experience and I just wanted to share it with you
all.

Kerry

 

[taylor1293]

I've never got a refund from Priceline, but I don't trust their rating system.

We stayed one night at the Wyndam in Orlando (rated 3 stars) and our room was a dump. It couldn't have been any smaller, the AC only worked on high, stains on the carpeting, and there was mold in the bathroom.

We had just traveled 1000 miles and we were tired so we didn't ask for another room. We just left as soon as we woke up in the morning.

Good luck,

Teresa

 

[PartyofSix]

I also won this Hyatt last month for our first night stay on 12/27. I'm really worried about the mixed reviews that I've heard. Although I'd like to say that I called the hotel directly and explain my "needs" and made requests for bedding and cribs ect... and the lady was extremly nice and helpful and guanateed me connecting 1st floor rooms. If it's clean and we get the connecting rooms as promised I will be okay with that I only spent 32.00 a night on each room. So it's okay I guess.