Star Level Changes

[Oregon John]

Has anyone else noticed this occurring? I check Priceline for hotels in a certain area of a city, at a certain star level. Usually I check one level below as well, just to see what's available. Then I put into my bid page, say, 3-1/2 stars. I bid a low price, usually I start at about 50% of what Priceline says is the 'median' price for hotels in the area. Usually I get a room for that price, not always. But occasionally, it awards me a room in what was initially shown as a 3 star hotel on their regular 'what's available' page. Now it's listed as a 3-1/2 star. This happened to me recently when I was awarded a room at the Holiday Inn, a 3-star hotel, when I bid on a 3-1/2 star in Portland near PDX. I would think it might have been my mistake in checking the wrong star level in my bid, but it has happened to me before. What gives?

[scottlevin]

Sounds like you made a mistake.

[Oregon John]

Actually, I don't think I made a mistake... what I think happened was that the star levels do in fact differ in the "published price" list and the "Name Your Own Price" list. On further investigation, I found the following disclaimer at the bottom of the pop-up box explaining the "star levels" when in the bidding page: "Note: The star rating descriptions shown here apply to Name Your Own Price

[Colfax]

I never noticed that disclaimer before, Oregon John, but you're right it's there.

"Note: The star rating descriptions shown here apply to Name Your Own Price

[aussie36]

It happened to me. I bid on 4star in the Atlanta Perimiter area, I got the hotel on my first bid so I know I only entered 4 star and the area I wanted, happened to look at reviews for the hotel and every single site, including the hotel website itself says it is 3.5 stars! If I had wanted to bid on a 3.5 star hotel I would've. Not impressed at all.

[thereuare]

...and every single site, including the hotel website itself says it is 3.5 stars!

Assuming you're referring to your priceline win at the Atlanta Perimeter Hotel and Suites, both Orbitz and Travelocity rate this property 4 stars. Also, although i didn't search extensively i didn't see anything on their own website indicating 3.5* stars... if you're referring to the SPG Category (which this property is a category 3*) this is not indicative of a hotel's star rating.

[aussie36]

I called the hotel and they confirmed a 3.5* rating, so I called PRICELINE.

Their official line is that name your own price is not based purely on a hotels assigned rating, but also based on customer satisfaction/ratings and amenties of a property. Just like a property must have a restaurant and other things to be considered for a 4 star or above rating, PRICELINE considers what the hotel offers guests and assigns it a star rating accordingly. The staff member all but conceded it is technically a 3.5* but it has guest ratings of 7.2 which they consider to be very good and has particular amentities so they will not rate it lower then a 4*.