Priceline Hotel: 3* Orlando (Disney Main Gate-Champions Gate) Radisson Worldgate

[Tinkerbeth]

Hello!

New topic. :o

I have just lost my priceline virginity. And struck out at the same time. is that possible? :)

I am trying to get a resort category for 3/11 to3/17. I went up to 85 dollars and got zip. Should I break up my trip? Are there too many consecutive days here?

I don't know if I should drop down to 4*... any ideas?

THanks! :)

[Blueskies]

HI

Welcome to the Board.

Which zone(s) did you bid in?

Are you happy to move hotel?

Did you check whether the priceline resort hotels in the area have availability?

What would be your maximum bid?

Do you have a back up reservation?

Sorry for all the questions but your answers will help get you best advice.

[Tinkerbeth]

HI

Welcome to the Board.

Which zone(s) did you bid in?

Eventually I was in all zones but I didn't change that I only had RESORT checked.

Are you happy to move hotel?

I'd rather not but if I had to...

Did you check whether the priceline resort hotels in the area have availability?

I checked some of them but not all. Good idea.

What would be your maximum bid?

90 bucks for a Resort and then I'll drop down to 3*

Do you have a back up reservation?

Nope. :)

Sorry for all the questions but your answers will help get you best advice.

Thanks for your help!!! :)

Beth

[Blueskies]

Beth,

There are only a few 4 * properties reported so as long as you are happy with them I would look at bidding for that and you may be upgraded to a resort. Remember to check the star levels in the zone just in case they are not rebids. It may be an idea to ask for a strategy from Theruare as you may not be making the most of your bids.

[Tinkerbeth]

Hotwire:

3* Maingate

$56

Pool

Restaurant

Fitness

Tennis

Business Centre

Golf

Laundry

Is this the Radisson Worldgate do you think? And if so, is it an okay hotel and is this a good price?

Then there's

3*Universal - SeaWorld

$71 ( was 67 earlier today)

Restaurant

Pool

Business Centre

Laundry

Is this the Holiday Inn Univeral and if so, is that a good price?

I went up to 50 dollars on priceline for a 3* and then got scared and stopped - there are a few that I don't want to be in, so I guess I'll wait the 72 hours and try again.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Beth

[thereuare]

Are the hotwire hotels above an option are will be you bidding on Priceline again in 72 hours regardless of the above?

[Tinkerbeth]

Hello,

At this point I'm thinking of going with the Holiday Inn International on Hotwire at 71 per night. I'd rather get that and know what I'm getting than chance in on hotwire I think. Well, at least semi-know what I'm getting.

Do you think that's the right hotel for that description?

Thanks again.

Beth

[thereuare]

Yes, best guess on that 3* in the Universal area would be the Holiday Inn... but those are common amenities for a 3* in Orlando (ie- although nothing else is known with this exact amenity combination, most 3* hotels probably have most of these)

Let us know how it goes.

[Tinkerbeth]

BAD NEWS!!

The hotel is the Holiday Inn and Hotel and Suites Orlando - Univeral Studios.

This is not a 3* but it was a 3* in the description... it has terrible reveiws everywhere. I feel like I've been had here... do I have any recourse? has anyone ever stayed at this place? i really feel like a total idiot and I've done nothing but research all of this for the last 48 hours!

Can anyone help me?

Beth

[thereuare]

Just as it was listed in the HOTWIRE HOTEL LIST:

3* Holiday Inn Universal

Amenities: Resturanut, Pool, Business, Laundry

Which Holiday Inn did you think it was?

You can try contacting Hotwire and dispute their star rating on this property, but more than likley they'll tell you that they stand by their star rating and if you have any problems at the hotel to call them and let them know. I would send them any negative reviews you find to substantiate your misrating.

[Tinkerbeth]

Honestly, I think I must be the biggest idiot on earth. I thought it was the Holiday Inn International. One of the reasons was that the tripadvisor rating matched. The trip advisor rating was supposed to have been 3.5; in reality for this holiday in, it's 2.5.

I really did read all the info but clearly I am destined to have a crappy march break.

sorry to bother all of you.

Beth

[Tinkerbeth]

Okay...here is the end of my priceline/hotwire SAGA.

I rang hotwire and told the lady that I was freaking out because of the reviews on Tripadivisor. She brought up the hotel on tripadvisor and agreed that it didnt' look too good.

Then she offered to do a switch. She pulled it up on her computer. I took the "customer favourite" which was 3 * Disney Maingate at $57.

Ammenities are just as listed on the list... restaurant, tennis, pool, fitness, laundry, golf, and business.

She read me all the stuff you have to agree to on line, and I agreed. She then put it through and told me it was the Radisson Worldgate...which I thought it was from the listing.

So, they changed it for me. The woman was super nice, as have all of you been.

I'm happy with that. It gets pretty good reviews on Tripadvisor and got good reviews on hotwire as well.

thanks for all your help. I can't WAIT to plan my next vacation. I'll be lurking until then.

Beth :)

[thereuare]

The trip advisor rating was supposed to have been 3.5; in reality for this holiday in, it's 2.5.

Did Hotwire show a 3.5 rating for this property and in checking now on TA it's 2.5? If so, i would use that information when you contact them as per above. You could even say that this was the one hotel you were afraid of getting but 'knew' it couldn't be this property due to Hotwire showing you the TA rating... yet that information was false. (i think this is a strong argument)

On a better note... don't resolve yourself that your break will be miserable. There are plenty of instances where people think that the hotel they received will be absolutely terrible, and they return saying "I expected the worst and i was pleasantly surprised".... sometimes it's all about expectations.

With that said, I would still contact Hotwire and try to argue it... especially if they gave it a TripAdvisor rating that is no longer as shown on the TA website. I don't think the Customer Service reps have much power to cancel a reservation, but if you have tenacity and talk to supervisors up the hierarchy you may have a shot.

If you do pursue it let us know how it goes.

[thereuare]

Obiously i was typing as you were replying but i'll leave it for others to see who may ultimatley be in a similar situation down the road.

SO GLAD it worked out for you and Hotwire "did the right thing", kudos to their Customer Service team for doing so!

Have a great stay... i'm sure you have a different take on it now than you did for a few brief minutes just a short while ago!

Enjoy your trip and your vacation.