Lower star is better and at a higher rate - Will I get stuck at higher

[chocdiggity]

Experienced user assistance needed:

I'm looking to bid in a zone where there seem to be two options:

2.5* hotel with bad reviews (and a low winning room rate)

2* hotel with much better reviews (and a much higher room rate on winning bids)

Obviously I want the 2*. If I bid for a 2* at the rate that appears needed can I be sure I'll get it (and not the dump)?

Thanks.

[thereuare]

If the "opaque rate" for the 2.5* is lower than the rate of the 2* you will receive the 2.5* property... PRICELINE will always try to upgrade you (wanted or not) to a higher rated hotel.

Since HOTWIRE shows one property at each star level per zone, you can try search there to see if the more desirable hotel is offered for your dates and identifiable.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[chocdiggity]

If the "opaque rate" for the 2.5* is lower than the rate of the 2* you will receive the 2.5* property... PRICELINE will always try to upgrade you (wanted or not) to a higher rated hotel.

ARGH. That was what I was afraid of... The 2.5* looks like a dump by the reviews but has a restaurant (so is 2.5*). The 2* is very nice. The list prices and going rates through Priceline seem to reflect the difference (the 2* is priced considerably higher than the 2.5*). If they automatically "upgrade" I'll wind up in the wrong place unless by some fluke the 2.5* is full. I'd really feel used bidding the high 2* rate and winding up in the cheap 2.5* anyway. A low bid would definitely put me in the 2.5*...

Definitely NOT worth the risk.

So I'm booking some different cities relatively nearby where I can tell I'll like what I'm getting and will make a day trip to do what I want to there (it was basically going to be that anyway but might have been more convenient to arrive there the night before and stay over after a full day, but not at the price of two good nights' sleep).

Thanks much for the answer (exactly what I was looking for).

I've been using the site's PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links (and the highly useful information).