Priceline Hotel: 3* Salem Red Lion Hotel Salem

[dangr]

Thanks to Better Bidding, I knew that at 3* it would very likely be either the Red Lion or Residence Inn, and was fine with either at this price point. Notably no-rebidding available due to the single geographic area in Salem, so I put forward my best foot first, and bid $52/night (+tax and fee). Assume this is the $62.00/night 3* through Hotwire.

Room Subtotal: $52.00 (USD)

Taxes and Fees: $13.04 (USD)

Total Room Cost: $65.04 (USD)

As always, used the BetterBidding.com PRICELINE link: thanks!

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Terrific deal for this RL property - glad you are satisfied with the result.

Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.

Enjoy your stay.

[dangr]

I should preface this by saying that I've never left a truly negative review of a hotel before this. I'm only writing this to caution BB folks about bidding 3* hotels in Salem.

I didn't hate the Red Lion, but I wouldn't bid 3* for Salem again, and I definitely wouldn't pay anything more for it.

The single queen room was tiny: one of the smallest rooms I've been in in a real hotel outside of the developing world.

The view was terrible: of the roof and mechanical units.

The walls were thin enough that I could clearly hear normal volume conversations next door (admittedly, through the deadbolt door you'd use to pass between the two rooms, but still.)

While I certainly understand I'm not entitled to it, I politely asked front desk staff for a one hour late checkout. She looked at my room record on the computer (perhaps to see if I had some elite status?) and radioed the manager who was standing on the other side of the lobby, and specified the room number. Manager, without any comment, shook her head "no". No explanation. The otherwise very friendly front desk staff said "She says no." Ummm, okay.

I hustled and made it work (I had to ride my bike downtown to rent a car, from the commercial strip mall stretch where the hotel is located, get my bike inside the car, drive back, and pack my stuff.)

When I checked out, the very friendly front desk staff apologized, and said the manager had come over a few minutes later and said maybe she could do it, but I'd already left. I asked, and she denied that it was because I'd booked with Priceline. She was super friendly and apologetic about it, and asked me if I'd had my breakfast yet (it was noon), and when I said no offered me a comp breakfast, which I declined. She said "Okay, next time you stay with us. Promise me there will be a next time."

There won't.

Again, she was extremely friendly about it, but the manager's cursory denial without explanation of the late checkout request (notably the parking lot was largely empty throughout my stay), which the manager surely knows is one of the smallest rooms imaginable, and so where they'd have dumped the Priceline guest.

I wouldn't book a 3* in Salem using Priceline again for concern I'd get the Red Lion again.

[thereuare]

Sorry to hear this wasn't an enjoyable stay. I understand you were in a hurry, but in a similar situation in the future i'd ask to speak to the manager directly... often it's easy for a manager to let the employees do the 'dirty work' and tell a customer that a request can't be met, whereas if you go directly to the source they're more likely to approve a reasonable request (and they're directly accountable if you decide to complain further to upper management/corporate... they can't blame it on an employee)

Hope your future stays are more to your liking.