Priceline Hotel: 2.5* Jacksonville (Jacksonville Beach - Mayo Clinic) Holiday Inn Express Jacksonville Mayport/Beach

[points]

Price.line is getting worse and worse [and Hot.wire the same] in terms of pricing, while retaining horrible customer service.

 

They originally showed a 2.5* for $66, but once you click thru - surprise surprise! - it's now $75.  I went to regular priceline and bid $66 for that, but it came back and said I could re-bid for $78, still higher than the revised-upward Express offer of $75.  Beware as there are 3 Holiday Inn Express' in this huge "Jacksonville Beach" area, and this one the furthest from the beach although with a good reputation. 

 

I could have gotten the same Holiday Inn Express with a corporate discount for $84, so considering the extra Priceline fees [after they already pocket 50% of the base amount] I don't think I saved much, plus ended up non-refundable for 4 nights vs day of arrival cancelation until 4pm with the corporate rate.

 

All of this hassle, and little savings - and the hotels tend to treat you as a pariah when asking for a bed type, i.e. king vs booking regularly.  Yet another Pricline bait-and-switch?  Their Holiday Promotion to "unwrap the savings" by revealing the Priceline Express  property?  Turns out that is extremely rare - most are still unknown until purchase.  Yet another way they worm their way in by getting you to try to use the app [with built in ads] while delivering very little.

 

Amenities:

Free Breakfast

Free Internet (in Room)

Free Parking

Outdoor Pool

Non-Smoking

Gym

Handicap Accessible

Business Center

[thereuare]

Sorry to hear you didn't find this one to be much of a deal, but fortunately just for one nite.

Thank you for sharing your win and experience with the board.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.