Priceline Hotel: 3* NYC (Downtown) Club Quarters Downtown

[rocco46]

Bid $120 MTE; rejected

Re-bid $130 MTE/Downtown

Accepted at $130 for Club Quarters Downtown

Subtotal $390

Taxes and Service Fees $75.88

Total Charges $465.88

This was my first time bidding on Priceline, so thanks for all the suggestions. I used SavingsBarn to begin the process.

I've always wanted to see what it was like to stay downtown, so I thought I would try adding Downtown on my second bid. Club Quarters Downtown gets good reviews on Trip Advisor, and the non-bid prices seem to be close to $200. I went as high as $140 in MTE, MTW, and UM/CPS with no offers, so I'm not going to complain.

When I get back I'll be sure to post a review and let people know how the subway works on the weekend that far downtown!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your win and your first priceline experience.

Glad it worked out to your satisfaction and that you're happy with the results.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board and for using the SavingsBarn.com PRICELINE links to begin your bidding.

Enjoy your stay.

[rocco46]

I'm hoping to leave tomorrow, March 1, for three nights in New York City. I have a reservation through Priceline at the Club Quarters Downtown. However, here in Minneapolis the forecast is for snow, snow, and more snow tonight (February 28) through Saturday (March 3). I know the insurance available through Priceline basically covers health issues, but what if I can't get to New York due to two or three days of cancelled flights? Has anyone ever been in this situation? If there are no flights out of town, I don't think I should be expected to pay for a hotel room I couldn't get to. As I said earlier, I'm hoping I will make it out of town, but any suggestions as to what I should do if I don't get out due to days of snow?

[thereuare]

Call priceline customer service and explain the situation. However:

I don't think I should be expected to pay for a hotel room I couldn't get to

... and the hotel feels their only responsibiilty is to give you sleeping accomodations, not to get you to the hotel. They have held a room for you and can't necessarily sell it to somebody else at the last minute if you're unable to show up.

Sometimes hotels (and priceline) have made exceptions to their cancelaltion policy based upon events out of the user's control, and hopefully they will for you (although it's more the exception than the rule), but i also wanted to reference the hotel's point of view. This would likely be the same scenario if you booked a 'non-refundable' rate on any hotel's own website.

Have you tried calling the airline to see if you can get on a flight today/tonite on a standby basis given the expected weather? (they are often willing to accomodate passengers in this manner, waiving their "no change" rule when there is expected bad weather which would result in cancellations).

[rocco46]

thereuare,

I can't get out of town today due to family and business obligations. Believe me, if I could, I wouldn't be sitting here asking about other options. I will try to get on an earlier flight tomorrow (March 1st); I just don't know if it will be early enough. Let's hope the forecast is off the mark, as they are talking about well over a foot of snow during the storm.

I know the booking is non-refundable, I just thought that there might be exceptions for a situation out of my control. Obviously, if I didn't have a booking through Priceline, I could cancel the reservation if I can't make it out of town. I was just wondering if anyone had ever been in the same situation, and what they did.

[thereuare]

As i pointed out above... there is hope, but you need to call priceline and they'll deal with it on a case-by-case basis. Exceptions do occur... but it's more the exception than the rule and there doesn't seem to be any 'buzz words' to use to prompt their granting an exception.

Let us know if you're able to get out of town and, if not, how the discussion goes with priceline.

If you aren't able to get out of town tomorrow, i would be sure to call the hotel and let them know you won't be making it for the first nite of your stay but would like to continue to try for the remaining nites (unless the hotel itself is able/willing to refund (or even postpone) your stay). This will make sure that you still have a room if you are able to get to NYC, even if a day late.

[rocco46]

It is now March 1st, and my flight has been canceled and I couldn't get on a earlier flight. So, I am now hoping to get to New York tomorrow, March 2nd. In the meantime, I've called the Club Quarters Downtown to explain what has happened, and they say I have to contact Priceline, which I have done. They put me through a few transfers and hung up. I will try Priceline again, but does anyone have a direct number I could try?

[rocco46]

I must live right! I just got off the phone with travel services at Priceline, and they canceled my reservation. I should receive a refund in a couple of weeks. All they needed was my airline and flight number (the flight which was canceled, which kept me from getting to New York to use the hotel reservation.) I'm off to Priceline to try to book a room for tomorrow and Saturday!

Thanks for all your help!

[thereuare]

Glad to hear your good news and that priceline came thru for you!! :)

Looking forward to hearing about your upcoming win for your two nite stay... please use a NEW TOPIC for that result (as well as if you need help bidding).

Good Luck!

[billyblaze]

If you are still interested in staying downtown, feel free to bid for the 2.5* Exchange Hotel instead of the clubquarters. I have stayed at both & you will not be disappointed with either hotel. You may be able to save some money by bidding for the Exchange.