Anyone ever successfully cancel through Priceline?
 

Well, the good news is I got a great deal on Priceline for a 4 star hotel in London. The bad news is I got over-excited and decided to try my hand in Paris and got screwed! I guess I wasn't reading between the lines and now I'm stuck at a four star that's practically outside of Paris. Thought I was bidding on the 6th arr. but ended up in the 15th which is a 20 minute metro ride to any touristy thing to do. Anyone ever successfully cancel through Priceline without the $5 insurance?

Oh, I feel your pain, Shannon. Yes, I successfully cancelled a bid when I was multi-tasking and put in the wrong date for a hotel stay by mistake. I phoned the customer service number on the site and explained what I did. The rep said on a "one-time only" basis I could change the date. I had to resubmit my bid for the correct date and when the new bid was accepted PL refunded the amount of the initial bid to my credit card. I don't know if this process will be allowed with a change in hotels or not, but it wouldn't hurt to try. Please report back when the dust settles. Good luck!

I think that is the best stratagy. Say you put in the wrong dates and then try your luck.

I was able to cancel without penalty once after Sept 11th and once when I bid for my parents and put in the wrong city - i.e., Charleston vs. Charles Town.

I have also read stories where biddiers tried everything and was not able to get their $$ back. So be polite and act dumb.

Please let us know how it turns out, I'm curious.

BTW, the $5 cancellation insurance only allows you to cancel in case of death or serious injury... so it's not really worth it unless you have inside access to a md's excuse and am willing to fib quite a bit.

What I've read about in respect to wrong dates works like this, in selected instances (not all). Priceline says you can try again for another set of dates for the same price or higher, and if you get that, then they'll refund your money. I've never heard of an outright refund. You have a slight chance of a refund, but not very high, based on what I've read.

I presume the hotel you got was Sofitel Porte de Sevres? The location is far out, but recent reviews have been pretty good.

Shannon. I hope you can change your hotel.
I am curious. Where are you staying in London? I am planning to go soon.

I don't think I'd try the wrong date strategy. Based on my experience, they would let you change the DATE in that case. I think you need to "act dumb and be polite" as suggested and try to change to a different zone.

Right, changing the date is about the only reason I think that may work. 88 may have to change their dates, but any other excuse most likely won't work. Priceline has to get hundreds of calls a day where people say, "oops, I din't want that zone". From what I've read on biddingfortravel each time one gave the "wrong zone" excuse the request was flatly denied. They also know people do free rebidding and make mistakes.

sure, you can always lie as others suggested. YOu can't bid on individual arrondisements in Paris, Priceline makes that very clear, though. NO where does it say that. The ST Germain/Latin Qtr/Montparnasse area does include a small section of the 15th that is near the Montparnasse Tower which is a common winning bid from what I've heard (Meridien Montparnasse). If that's where you've won, it is not on the outside of Paris at all and not a bad hotel for what you get on Priceline. If you bid on the Eiffel Tower etc area, that is more of the 15th and a hotel on the outer edges of Paris wouldn't surprise me. A lot of people with the Nikko on there which is in the 15th but not on the edge of Paris, it is within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower.

Just about anywhere is going to be a 10-15 min metro ride from somewhere else, though, it's not the end of the world. I don't know of any Priceline hotels that are right next to what you are looking for (a museum or the Eiffel Tower?). I suppose Hilton Eiffel Tower could be on there, but I've never heard of anyone winning that.

I don't have any particular concern about Priceline being cheated by you, but if they make you change to another date for the same type of bid, you will be caught. People have to be careful when they try to get bargains like that by bidding blind when it's nonrefundable.

Yes, sometimes one really has to check the zones and "hotel list", I have read a lot of comments like this on the above-mentioned biddingfortravel website. Many people bid this zone and are disappointed with the outcome in Paris.

Yes, I did get the Sofitel Paris Porte De Sevres. I don't need to "act dumb" because now I feel I am. I read the FAQs on biddingfortravel.com but the problem is I wasn't paying close enough attention when selecting the zones. When I re-bid for the St Germain/Latin Qtr/Montparnasse zone, I was thinking that it was basically the 6th and the 7th, not the 15th and that is my fault. However, the reviews of this hotel are so bad I just don't think it's a deal at all and I'm kicking myself. I went from almost booking the St. Germain-des-pres in the Latin Quarter just a stroll away from everything, to being stuck in this awful 4 star 20 minutes away. My credit card company is going to try to dispute the charges since I called about 5 minutes after. They state that no matter what Priceline's policy is, I have 24 hours to cancel. I guess we'll see and I'll keep you all posted.
Sher: I am staying at the Millenium Gloucester in the Kensington area in London. I won that for $115.

In any case let my experience serve as an example of what can go wrong to anyone out there contemplating the use of Priceline!

Oooo.. I definitely would not let the credit card company dispute the charge, people that have done this have been banned from using Priceline all together.

Mistakes happen 88shannon88, no need to feel foolish. I've even made PL mistakes after bidding for several years.

I would still try to contact Priceline and try new dates, I don't judge you:) That is a lot of money to spend, just don't be surprised if they say no. Best of luck:)

Shannon, I'm not clear. Have you phoned PL to ask for a cancellation? I believe I would try that before asking your credit card to intervene.

I did speak with Priceline - they advised me that they can't do anything about it because the site did state that it included the 15th as part of that area. Like I said, it was my fault. I honestly don't care if I'm banned for life from using Priceline - as long as my honeymoon is not ruined, or even less than it should be.

The Sofitel Porte de Sevres is in the Eiffel Tower - Grenelle - Montparnasse zone, so you must have added that to your bid at one point. The name is misleading, of course, as Priceline zone names often are. But the map is as clear as can be that this zone includes an area outside the Boulevard Peripherique, and it happens this area includes Sofitel Porte de Sevres.

The one thing I do like about this hotel from what I've read is that it has a swimming pool, which is pretty rare in Paris, and something I would really enjoy.

I have read here numerous times why Priceline isn't a very good idea in Paris as well as in other parts of Europe. This is exactly the reason. There's a whole lot of difference between being along the Seine in the 6th and being at Porte De Sevres -- a whole lot!!

It should be emphasized you won't get the Sofitel Porte de Sevres if you bid *ONLY* the St. Germain - Latin Quarter - Montparnasse zone. This poster clearly bid the Eiffel Tower - Grenelle - Montparnasse zone in addition.

However, if you do bid that zone, you could end up with the Sofitel Forum Rive Gauche at the extreme end.

Hi Shannon--I don't know how much money is involved in the Paris transaction, but if you really think it is going to ruin your honeymoon and there ends up being no way to get out of it, I suggest you consider just not staying there even if you have paid for it. Loss of money is painful but honeymoon memories last a lifetime and it may be worth the price....just food for thought.

If price is a consideration and you really can not cancel, I would chalk it up to experience. Paris is wonderful, and you will not spend a great deal of time in your hotel (even if it is your honeymoon...and BEING your honeymoon you will be concentrating on each other rather than your room while there!)
If you don't like it once you are there, you may find someplace more to your specific liking WHILE THERE to which you can move for the last night or two. (When is this trip???)

Your experience here is testament to what many people say: DON'T USE PRICELINE for hotels in Paris! I've had excellent luck at other websites, even on short notice.

I think this hotel has been recently renovated, and I'd expect the rooms to be nice, modern, very comfortable, and probably more spacious than you would get in a more atmospheric location. I'd consider taking a few cabs, and make the best of it, which will probably be very good.

I was able to cancel a car reservation because I made it for the wrong airport (National instead of Dulles) because priceline put up an automatic link from my hotel reservation. They said it was a one-time only thing since I'd been a regular customer with them.

Shannon, my heart is with you. I have been very careful on Priceline, used it many times, and still made a mistake. However, they did let me rebid and gave me a refund because, like others, it was a wrong date/one time thing, and I just had to prove it by rebidding on the right dates. I think that is the only way that the wrong date/refund/rebid scenario works: you rebid on different dates.

Now, could this work for you? Do you have any play in your dates? Could you rebid for one of your Paris nights, or 2, instead of 3 or more? That could maybe take care of the "wrong dates" part of it.

And then, you could just spend the other night or nights someplace else in Paris, if Priceline is willing.

There is also the possibility of explaining that you did not realized you were also bidding on the second zone, and only thought you were bidding on one zone.

In any case, I would try calling them again and again. I would weep and ask for a supervisor. People do make mistakes, after all. If it were me, I would pray first, and then call and throw myself on their mercy.

If worst comes to worst, is there any possibility of calling it a very expensive learning experience and rebooking someplace else? Expensive, I know... So sorry...

I am curious about this posting and the advantage of Priceline. I have never used Priceline. I found searching the Internet and calling around and doing my research to be a very cost effective way to get close to what I want at reasonable prices. Is Priceline really worth this hassle? Do you really save that much money if you do not have some basic choices in your travel. I am as frugal as the next person but this is what keeps me from these services. How much do you really save? I would love to know. Good Luck and please do not ruin the honeymoon. The absolute best time I ever had travelling was on my honeymoon. Not a care in the world, at 25 years old, just married, and a pocket full of cash in Rome/Florence/Venice. I have not been able to reproduce that travel moment with my wife since. And I have taken some fine fine trips but young, in love, Italy and money. Wow. Enjoy the honeymoon please.

Frankdaddy, Priceline can be great but only in certain situations, and certain cities and IF one does one's homework.

How much can you save? Well, we motly use Priceline in New York City for hotels, and we usually save 50% and sometimes more on 4 star hotels in Midtown. I have a friend that goes to NY for business, bids on 2 stars and saves about 70%

On rental cars, we've saved about 30% on lowest rates we could find. This is not true everywhere or always. But for the West Coast of Florida it has held true.

For Europe, many people agree that London is the only city that Priceline is good for. For the US, Priceline is generally worth looking into for city hotel stays.

I don't agree complete with that. Priceline is indeed very good for London. But Priceline is also very good for several German cities and Brussels, reasonably good for Amsterdam, and in my opinion (although not everyone's) good for Copenhagen. I also thought it was a reasonable choice for Paris for me this summer, with strict zone conditions, given what I wanted.

Closer to home, I think Priceline is a very good deal for several West Coast cities.

frankdaddy - My priceline experience is similar to that of tuscanlifeedit. I've used it in London once, and got an excellent hotel for $60 (dollars, not pounds!) per night. The going rate for that hotel at the time was about 150 pounds per night, and I don't think we would have found anything, even much smaller and less nice, for under the $60 that we paid.

I personally have not yet used it in Paris, because for our last trip there I wasn't comfortable with the zones. I might consider it in the future though.

I've also used it extensively in Chicago and been happy every time, typically getting rooms for about 1/2 of what they would otherwise, sometimes less. That can really add up when you save $100/night or so!

If you're picky about location or unwilling to do the research to bid wisely, then priceline would not be good for you. Most of us who enjoy priceline do extensive research on what hotel rates are before bidding, and will only bid up to a certain threshold, because beyond that price the savings are not worth it. It's always smart to have a cancellable reservation in place elsewhere as well, in case you can't find what you want through priceline.

Yes, I think Priceline is one of the few ways to make London hotels affordable right now. Not only are the prices great ($115/night!), but you're bidding in dollars so I assume if the exchange goes south, your price doesn't.

Paris is another issue. There are a lot of nice, affordable, hotels there and the Priceline hotels are not that great and their areas, as shannon discovered, are very misleading.

BTW, I would try calling Priceline and not lie. Throw yourself on their mercy and tell them it's your honeymoon. If that doesn't work, before trying to get your credit card to fight it, I would call Sofitel and find out whether there's some way to switch to one of their other hotels in Paris. They don't have any in the 5-6th but there are a few that are more central. Here's a map with them marked

http://makeashorterlink.com/?J3CF2364A

how much more a night is it worth to change? would priceline accept an offer from you to pay higher fees just to upgrade? i have NO idea as i have never used them, but since they earn commissions on rooms, maybe it is worth it to them .. using the honeymoon excuse.. ????

i have a friend who always stayed on the edge of city at nice hotels to save money and she thought it was worth it, as stated before.. many attractions are spread around, so.. in the end.. as long as the room is nice and you have transport nearby, not too much of a problem.

hope you can either change this or resolve to not let it ruin your honeymoon.

Count your blessings, it sounds like a area that won't be overrun with American tourists so you'll have much more of a likelihood to have a European experience..

The Metro line 9 connects with line 1 at FDR so you can go easily to many of the sights: La Defense, Etoile, Champs Elysees, Concorde, Louvre, Bastille are some of the stops.

I think 88shannon88 already called Priceline and told them that she did not want the particular zone. Priceline takes notes on all telephone calls so she can no longer call and ask to switch dates, they will be on to her.

I have used PL for London 7 times and have never had a problem and have saved a few thousand on the accomodations (5*, Le Meridien Piccadilly and Sofitel St. James).

The most important thing is to do one's homework, it is definitely worth it.

Frankdaddy, we save at least 50% over lowest published rates, and we've gotten these deals in low and high season in London, Montreal, several places in Florida, and New York. But, caveat emptor: read all recent bidding history of your zone on www.biddingfortravel.com before you try.

Thank you all for the great advice and warm wishes. If my credit card company cannot successfully dispute the charge then I'm going to call the Sofitel and ask what I can do to change the reservations to one of their other locations. They have two by the Champs-Elysées that look pretty good and would be a much better location. If they want me to pay more then I will. Thanks again and I'll let you know how it turns out.

Good luck, and let us know what happens.