Priceline Hotel: 3* San Diego (Point Loma-Shelter Island-Old Town) Mission Plaza Hotel

[soccermacmom]

Well, I probably overpaid for this controversial 3*, but was in a hurry and didn't research as much as usual. I added the Point Loma area to my original Coastal bid of $65, and won the Mission Plaza Hotel and Suites. The rooms are going for about twice that on the hotel's website.

We're just visiting our daughter and wanted somewhere fairly close to her - this will work, although it's not my favorite area of SD. We won't really be spending much time here, just need a nice place to sleep. I'll update the reviews afterward.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

While perhaps not your favorite hotel in the area, looks like some nice savings on this one and this it will serve its purpose for your plans this trip.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Enjoy your stay (and time with your daughter)

[soccermacmom]

Congratulations on your success!

While perhaps not your favorite hotel in the area, looks like some nice savings on this one and this it will serve its purpose for your plans this trip.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Enjoy your stay (and time with your daughter)

Continuing the story on the Mission Plaza Hotel & Suites in San Diego, I emailed Priceline's customer service last week after reading more of the reviews on Priceline's own website (which were abysmal). I received a polite reply telling me that although they were sorry to hear I was not happy with the bid and the hotel's reviews, they stood behind their rating system. They did say "We have forwarded your e-mail to our Hotel Customer Care Specialist team who will further research your question(s). We will respond via email within 2 business days."

I have not heard from Priceline again (other than ads for more great hotel deals ;-)), but today when I looked at their website, I found that they have downgraded the Mission Plaza to a 2-1/2** hotel.

I've emailed them to see what they will do for me, but since our trip is tomorrow, I'm a little doubtful that much will happen. I thought I'd notify the board of the story. I'll post a follow-up if I hear from Priceline.

I always use the board's links, and appreciate all the good advice here.

[Colfax]

If the hotel's been downgraded to 2.5* then you're entitled to a full refund---if you want it---since you no longer have what you bid for, namely a Priceline 3*.

It's too bad the rerating came up the day before your trip as now there are time constraints.

If you don't want to stay at Misson Plaza and you've got the time to shop or bid for another hotel I'd keep pressing Priceline for a response/refund today. Or if they'll move you to another 3* in the same zone that would be an improvement too.

[soccermacmom]

Thanks, Colfax, that's what I was hoping to hear. I have contacted them through the website and also responded to the original email response. I will press on today and hopefully can find something else.

I am happy, though, that they have at least downgraded the hotel.

[soccermacmom]

Rather a stunning turn of events; I'll try to report to the board to help others in the future. Sorry for the length of the post.

I received an email from Priceline directing me to call Customer Service. I did, and was quickly transferred from the first rep to "Nancy" to assist me.

I gave a quick explanation to Nancy, and she asked me to hold while she checked the hotel's star levels on "other websites." I politely told her that *Priceline* now rated this hotel as 2-1/2 stars, but she insisted she needed to check the other websites. After about 5 minutes on hold, she returned and said that while Priceline rated the hotel as 2-1/2 stars, other websites rated it as 3 stars; no refund. I explained that I bid on a 3 star hotel from Priceline and should receive that. She then said that my bid was a "resubmission" meaning that my first choice was not accepted, and when they suggested I change either my star ratings or add an area, I added the 2-1/2 star option to my bid. I politely told her that was not true, I added an area but left it ONLY as a 3-star option. She insisted that their records showed that I added the 2-1/2 star level, so they would not refund.

The stalemate continued for about 20 minutes, with Nancy refusing to escalate my issue to anyone else, always insisting that I bid for a 2-1/2 star hotel and was getting it. I refused to hang up, and read to her the email I received from Priceline last week that said "While placing your request, you agreed to accept any 3 or higher star hotel within the area(s) you selected. Your hotel does have a 3 star rating." I pointed out that this was FROM Priceline, acknowledging that I requested a 3-star hotel. She would not budge, and said there was no way I would get a refund on this trip, yada yada yada, and my only option was to write to their Senior Vice President. We continued arguing, each repeating ourselves. She continued to insist that "Priceline records show that you changed your request to a 2-1/2 star level."

Suddenly, she asked if I would hold, and I said fine, as it was not a lot of fun to argue with her. :) She came back on the line and said "I've found another resolution for your problem. We have reevaluated the hotel and find that it does not meet our 3-star standards. We also find that you did request only a 3-star hotel on your resubmission. We will cancel your reservation and process a refund." I asked her why she did not believe me when I told her this at the beginning of our conversation, and she just said that "sometimes there is an error in our records."

So the end story is that they are processing a refund. But it took over 30 minutes on the phone, and it was not a pleasant experience. I have always loved using Priceline, and encouraging friends to use it -- and I honestly don't know if I will bid in San Diego again.

But I would suggest to board members, if you do a "resubmission" where you add a zone or change star levels, that you save a screen shot before you submit it. It might help if there is a problem later.

Meanwhile, the hotel list can be edited to show this as now a 2-1/2 star Priceline hotel.

And I'm off to find another hotel for tomorrow night. :)

[thereuare]

Sorry this ended up being such a hassle, but glad you ultimately got it resolved in your favor (as well you should have)

Thanks for the update to the Priceline Hotel List.

If you need any help with the replacement purchase feel free to ask (in a NEW TOPIC)

Enjoy your stay wherever you may end up.