Priceline Hotel: 4* Las Vegas (South Strip) Westin Casuarina

[teleute]

Well, this was my first Priceline experience, and sadly I didn't find this forum until afterwards. Have to say, I'm not at all thrilled with how it turned out. The fact it's slightly off the strip doesn't bother me too much, the fact it's a chain doesn't bother me too much, the fact the rooms are small and the hotel is generally considered not to deserve the 4* rating, doesn't bother me too much, and the fact that there are mandatory fees you have to pay when you get there that aren't included doesn't bother me too much. No - any one of those things wouldn't have been an issue. All 4, however - this doesn't make me happy at all. I'm really hoping I get there and everything's fine, but...*sigh*

My own damn fault for not researching more, I suppose.

Started out with a bid of $100 for 5*, which got rejected. Went down to $70 for the 4*, and got this booking. Full details:

Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $70.00 (USD)

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 2

Room Subtotal: $140.00 (USD)

Taxes and Fees: $22.84 (USD)

Total Room Cost: $162.84 (USD)

[teleute]

Just to clarify, I don't believe Priceline did anything wrong in this transaction, or that anything was out of place for the agreement I entered into. I'm just not a fan of the things I'm hearing about the hotel, and it makes me very wary of using this service in the future in case other transactions go the same way. I did write Priceline to let them know that, also.

From what I can tell, I could've gotten a theme hotel right on the strip from EasyClickTravel for less than the price I paid plus the extra charges I'll be assessed upon arrival. It might've been a 3.5*, but from what I hear the Westin isn't a 4* anyway, so no difference to me. I'll reserve final judgement until I get there and see the real situation, though.

[TF720]

Yes, you probably could have gotten a theme hotel for the same or less but you still did very well with the Westin.

I stayed there a couple years ago and was happy with it.

They did try to put me in a crappy room in the basement but after insisting on a better room I got a great one with a wonderful view.

That was the only complaint and they made it right.

The hotel is only a block off the strip and that is a much shorter walk than between many of the strip casinos you will walk between.

The Westin's quality level, rooms, service, etc. were good and I was pleased with my stay.

You got a good deal and you should have a great time in Vegas!

[teleute]

Yes, you probably could have gotten a theme hotel for the same or less but you still did very well with the Westin.

I stayed there a couple years ago and was happy with it.

They did try to put me in a crappy room in the basement but after insisting on a better room I got a great one with a wonderful view.

That was the only complaint and they made it right.

The hotel is only a block off the strip and that is a much shorter walk than between many of the strip casinos you will walk between.

The Westin's quality level, rooms, service, etc. were good and I was pleased with my stay.

You got a good deal and you should have a great time in Vegas!

Thanks for the reassurance. :-) Did you have to pay the mandatory extra fees?

[Colfax]

Welcome to BetterBidding, teleute.

Now that you know about BetterBidding you'll be able to review the Hotel Lists before you bid and see which hotels are likely to come up. When there's one hotel you don't want in a zone Hotwire often works better than Priceline because you can identify the hotels prior to purchase.

I hope you're pleasantly surprised by the Westin.

What mandatory fees are you talking about?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links for your future bids.

[teleute]

Welcome to BetterBidding, teleute.

Now that you know about BetterBidding you'll be able to review the Hotel Lists before you bid and see which hotels are likely to come up. When there's one hotel you don't want in a zone Hotwire often works better than Priceline because you can identify the hotels prior to purchase.

I hope you're pleasantly surprised by the Westin.

What mandatory fees are you talking about?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links for your future bids.

From the reviews I read of this particular location, they seem to charge a mandatory "services" fee of $10 a day, even if you don't use any services. I've seen reports of other fees, but this is the one that everyone seemed to agree on.

[MurtleCake]

I stayed there a few years ago and it was wonderful, the beds are very comfortable, they have a small casino, no smoking, and it's a very easy in and out.

I just wish it didn't say "strip" because it's quite a trek to the strip.

[TF720]

Thanks for the reassurance. :-) Did you have to pay the mandatory extra fees?

Hi:

No, they didn't whack me with any extra fees.

In fact, I even got bonus hotel points for whatever program they are in (Starwood?) They had a cute gimmick at check-in where you roll a couple dice and they credit your account with points varying on the dice roll.

I recommend you sign up for their points program and give it a try. I always try this on my Priceline wins and most hotels don't give you any points but a couple will.

[AaronJB]

That dice idea for points is clever.

If the original poster is not an Starwood Preferred Member, sign up at spg.com

[teleute]

That's encouraging - I've seen a lot of reviews complaining about the extra fees. Here's hoping it's something they've reconsidered. Thanks!

I was a member of SPG years ago, when I used to travel. After booking this the other day, I did reactivate the account. So there's no points left, but at least I have the account and the card.

[Writer]

I hope you have a great stay. Definitely let us know how it turns out.

One thing you can do is write a letter to Priceline indicating that you don't think off strip casinos should be part of the Strip zones. I refuse to bid on the Priceline strip casinos because you can end up at the Trump or the Westin.

If you email, you probably won't get anything. When I emailed them, they gave me a nonsense response (seriously, it did not address my concern at all, just restated polity). But, if enough people write letters, then maybe they will change this.

Hope you enjoy the Westin. I've stayed at Westin's before and love their beds. SOOOO comfy! You're not that far from the Flamingo and definitely walking distance to the Bellagio fountains, the BEST free show in Vegas.

[MurtleCake]

I hope you have a great stay. Definitely let us know how it turns out.

One thing you can do is write a letter to Priceline indicating that you don't think off strip casinos should be part of the Strip zones. I refuse to bid on the Priceline strip casinos because you can end up at the Trump or the Westin.

If you email, you probably won't get anything. When I emailed them, they gave me a nonsense response (seriously, it did not address my concern at all, just restated polity). But, if enough people write letters, then maybe they will change this.

Hope you enjoy the Westin. I've stayed at Westin's before and love their beds. SOOOO comfy! You're not that far from the Flamingo and definitely walking distance to the Bellagio fountains, the BEST free show in Vegas.

Yea, I placed a few unsuccessful bids this week, now I'm afraid to up my price in fear of getting one of these two. I mean I don't particularly mind (because I'm driving), but for this trip, I need a strip hotel, it concerns me. Generally in Vegas I want a big hotel with a casino and a choice of restaurants.

[Colfax]

MurtleCake,

It sounds like you know Vegas pretty well, but if you want any help trying to land a hotel on the Strip please start a new thread including your travel dates and we'll see what we can come up with, maybe using Hotwire, where you can often identify the hotel in advance.

If you get something on your own please let us know what you win.