JinOttawa

Thanks, I agree a full refund was probably not in the offing, but I do think that misrepresenting the quality of the product they are selling is a bad business practice that you would think they would show some contrition. However, they don't see it that way. The believe their star rating is accurate which certainly doesn't match with what they say on the website about 4* hotels and my experience staying at Hilton's, Omni's, Sheraton's via Priceline and Hotwire. Please be sure to warn people by updating your pinned list of hotels for the Priceline Express 4* Montparnasse adding an Asterisk that says it rates itself as a 3*. The 2nd reply from Priceline is below. We understand that the hotel rating is much lower than our rating, however, we assess each property on many different criteria, including cleanliness, guest satisfaction, decor, etc. In fact, our hotel ratings are actually stricter than other national rating companies which is based on actual reviews from customers who have booked on our site and stayed at the hotel. We stand behind with how we rate the hotel and we are sorry, however, your reservation will remain non-refundable. We thank you for your time and we hope you find this information helpful. Sincerely, Customer Relations Specialist Long story short, Buyer Beware when using Priceline as they have no qualms with exaggerating the quality of the room they are selling. I have recommended Priceline to friends and colleagues for almost 10 years, I won't be doing it anymore.

This is the reply I got from Priceline - basically they don't seem to understand advertising a 3 Star as a 4 Star is not an acceptable business practice. "Bait and Switch" is the typical name of the practice. I won't be using Priceline nor recommending it again if this is the best they can do. hank you for taking the time to email us regarding your reservation at the Timhotel Tour Montparnasse for Trip Number [removed for privacy reasons]. We understand that you are unhappy with how we rate this hotel and want your money refunded. The reservation is now considered post stay and the hotel has charged us for the reservation and since we were charged by the hotel, the reservation remains as is and is non cancellable, non changeable, and no refunds can be processed. We would like to know if you had experienced some quality issues with the hotel during your stay so that we can address that with the hotel directly. We are for the inconvenience and we hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, [removed name for privacy reasons] Customer Relations Specialist

Free WiFi Business centre Non-smoking rooms Paid €70 plus €13.46 taxes and fees for total charged today:€83.46 This hotel is advertised on Priceline Express as a 4 star hotel. It is not a 4 star hotel. The sign on the front door says it is a three star hotel. The hotels own website advertises it as a 3 star hotel How is PRICELINE EXPRESS selling this off as a 4 star hotel when even the Timhotel company says it is 3 stars? Is it because of the slippers and bathrobe - definitely needed the slippers as you would not want to walk barefoot on this carpet. I even foolishly paid an upgrade at the time of the purchase to get a 'superior room'. Oh yes, I used the PRICELINE link from betterbidding to get this hotel. Not impressed - it is easy to offer a low price for a 4 star when it isn't a 4 star. I should have known better but I trusted PRICELINE as I have never had this experience before.

Stayed at this hotel last year for about 30% more. Good location for the main purpose of the trip which is to attend the French Open Amenities are Free Internet Pet friendly Business centre Internet access

As a follow-up to this reservation, it appears there was no reservation despite Hot.wire charging my credit card and sending me reminders of my reservation (which said there was no need to contact the hotel). My friend and I both reserved this property on Hotwire and she arrived the day before I did and the hotel had NO record of her reservation nor mine. The hotel was unable to immediately resolve the problem but fortunately had a room and checked her in. By the next day when I arrived the problem was resolved by the hotel front desk staff. Hotwire acknowledged to them that the reservation had not been forwarded to the hotel. For some reason, Hotwire blamed Expe.dia for not forwarding the reservation (where the money was I don't know). We were lucky that this was not a busy week and there were rooms available at the hotel. Hotwire never contacted me, never apologized, never acknowledged there was a problem with my reservation or my friends (a first and probably last time Hot.wire user based on her experience). Lesson learned, contact the hotel to confirm the reservation via hotwire. The hotel staff were very helpful and friendly and I would highly recommend the hotel.

C$ 121 per night plus taxes and feed was C$757 all in. Very happy for London and glad this is not right in Piccadilly Circus. Your site list of hotels in the area was dead on for this. Also when looking got a hint that this was the hotel from Hotwire....never saw that before. Something like the last person who booked got Club Quarters. Hotel Amenities Free Internet Restaurant(s) Business center Internet access

I have been trying for a few days to get a 4* in Toronto downtown and bidding up to $85 without success. I didn't want to go above $90 as Hotwire has been showing a 4* for around that. Today, using the calendar of wins, I saw the posting by ladybugsea regarding the bonus cash and win for the Hyatt in Toronto for almost the same dates at $94 So using the link for bonus cash () I got the $10 a night free cash (now extended to August 5th). My first bid was 80+10 bonus for Toronto South 4* and they came back with a counter offer for $95 plus $10 bonus cash. I declined and then added Toronto North 4* for $85 plus $10 bonus cash and go the Marriott. Very pleased, and thanks for the reference to the bonus cash of $10 a night for up to 5 nights! Cost is approx $100 USD per night with taxes vs approx $160 USD with taxes for the same nights from the Marriott website for their best prepaid rate. Details are: Marriott Toronto Bloor Yorkville Downtown Toronto North 90 Bloor Street East Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A7 Check-In Date: Thu, Aug 12, 2010 Check-Out Date: Sun, Aug 15, 2010 Offer Price Summary Bonus Cash Per Room, Per Night: US$10.00 Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: US$85.00 Total Offer Price Per Room, Per Night with Bonus: US$95.00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Charges to your Credit Card Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: US$85.00 Subtotal: US$255.00 Taxes & Fees: US$49.26 Total Charges: US$304.26

Using this sites PRICELINE link, I started at $70 for a 4* and went up to $85 for the Granville district adding in other areas that didn't have 4 stars. Once I added in Downtown with 4* I went back down to $70 and bid $74 before winning at $78. Vancouver benefits from lots of rebid zones and Downtown seems to be cheaper than Granville although they are not that far apart. Details Hyatt Regency Vancouver 655 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6C 2R7 604-683-1234 Check-In: Wednesday, March 31, 2010-04:00 PM Check-Out: Thursday, April 1, 2010-12:00 PM

Tried a few days ago and ended at $72, started today at $74 for a 4* in Palm Springs and added in Indio at $77 and Rancho Mirage at $80 and got the resort. Not sure if there is a resort fee of $25 as per the website because there is no mention of it on the Priceline site other than there could be a fee. It appears the same hotel was on HOTWIRE for $96 a night and on the hotel website for $255 a night, so I am pretty happy with the price. A bit more than one posted for previous week in March but this is also the week of the tennis tournament in Indian Wells. Details are Westin Mission Hills Resort Rancho Mirage-Indian Wells-Palm Desert Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $80.00 Subtotal: $400.00 Taxes & Fees: $66.25 Total Charges*: $466.25

Thanks, that was a good idea to try for one night, but now the deal has disappeared, so I think I will try my luck with PRICELINE.

Yes, there are more amenities, the complete list for the 3* are Resort, Suite, 1BR, Kitchen, Smoke Free, Free Parking, A/C, Laundry in unit, Pool, Front Desk, Tennis nearby, and Condo There are more for the 2.5* as well, but as you said, probably not a viable option, but was hoping to see if I could identify one of the two to give me an idea whether it would be acceptable. To add another question, do you think there would be a "resort fee" added to the price after accepting. I hear that is something that happens. Thanks again.

Hotwire is showing two condos in Palm Springs - Cathedral City from March 15-20, 2010. I don't see them on the pinned list, so I am wondering if anyone has any idea. Ironically, the 2.5 star is more expensive than the 3 star. Details are: 3* for 124 per night, with Condo, Resort, Suite, 1Br, Kitchen, Smoke Free, Free Parking, and A/C 2.5* for $173 per night with Condo, Resort, Suite, 1Br, Kitchen, Free Parking, Fitness, Pool I usually use Priceline, but don't know of a way to bid just for a condo in that area. Thanks

Started with $60 for a 4* and added rebid zones that didn't have 4* and got the Hilton. Have it for the previous weekend at $78, so happy with the Saturday night for $72. Details are Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter 401 K Street San Diego, CA 92101 619-231-4040 Check-In: Saturday, March 20, 2010-04:00 PM Check-Out: Sunday, March 21, 2010-12:00 PM Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $72.00 (USD) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Room Subtotal: $72.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $17.14 (USD) Total Room Cost: $89.14 (USD)

Started with $60 for a 4* and kept adding rebidding zones that didn't have 4*, there are lots in that area. Increased the bid by $3 or $4 until I was up to $78. Also got it for the next Saturday night, will post that one as well. Stayed at the Omni last year, was hoping for that again, but I am happy with the Hilton. Details Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Downtown San Diego & Harbor Island 401 K Street San Diego, California 92101 Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $78.00 Subtotal: $156.00 Taxes & Fees: $29.32 Total Charges*: $185.32 *Prices are in US dollars. Saturday, March 13, 2010-04:00 PM Check-Out: Monday, March 15, 2010-12:00 PM