Priceline...Or...The Worst Hotel Experience of Our Lives!!

*DISCLAIMER-The Long Version of the Story*

As we approached our departure date for Anchorage, Ellie & I had yet to make hotel reservations. We had been procrastinating because of the outrageous hotel prices in Anchorage. After spending a few days of internet surfing looking at different deals, hotel recommendations, and calling for availability we finally made the choice to use Priceline. We have had a few friends use Priceline and have been very happy with their experience so we thought we would give it a try. After we put in a really low bid at the STAR level we desired, our request came back denied and in order to place another bid we had to change our STAR level. We changed our level from 2.5 stars to 2 stars. This decision could have been our downfall. They accepted our offer and put us at the BEST VALUE INN EXECUTIVE SUITES. Immediately, I checked TripAdvisor and discovered that our hotel was less than desirable. BUT, we were locked in!! (Once Again...Thanks Priceline)!!

When we arrived at the hotel, the late night check-in team offered us a lower rate for our room only to find out that they couldn't because we had purchased our stay through Priceline...It turns out our bid was actually higher than the hotel room was worth!! (Our bid was at least $50 less than any hotel room price we had found on the internet)!! When we got to our room, not only were we amazed at how hot and muggy it was, but the realization that it didn't have a AC Unit floored us. The room smelled and was not clean. I wouldn't even take my socks off to walk around. Due to the smell and the heat I slept maybe 2 hours and woke with a migraine headache. When I went to the counter to let them know we would be checking out, they informed us that they could not refund us and that we would have to take up our complaint with Priceline.

After twenty minutes ROAMING on my cell phone, Priceline informed us that they could not refund us our money because the hotel would not release our funds. The hotel would offer us a new room to stay in however. I got off the phone and went to speak with the manager, who informed us that we could move to a different room with AC. I reluctantly said I would agree to these terms. When we returned to our new room after a long day of sight seeing (10 pm), I pulled back the sheets only to find dirt and pubic hair. I am not kidding...I can't make up stories this good!! When I told the front desk, they said they would have someone bring us new sheets. There was a knock on the door and new sheets were handed to us. There was no offer to make the bed or take the dirty sheets. Then as Ellie and I were getting ready for bed it became clear that our bathroom hadn't been cleaned either. The floor was sticky, stained and smelled strongly of urine. Because it was so late and we were both so tired, we took the towels and spread them out on the floor. In the morning we packed our belongings, went to the front desk, told our complaints, and checked-out two days early.

After many phone calls, emails, and disgruntled conversations with hotel employees we still have yet to receive a verdict back from Priceline as to whether they will refund us our money!! The moral of this story...NEVER USE PRICELINE OR STAY AT THE BEST VALUE INN EXECUTIVE SUITES IN ANCHORAGE!!