Kennedy Hotel in Rome- Please put me at ease!!

Yeah, that's the risk with Priceline, isn't it? At least now you can go with lowered expectations. Maybe that will help a little. One tip would be to consider asking them to show you a second room, if the one they give you is lousy. Sometimes that works to get better accommodations. But be forewarned that the idea of "the customer is always right" is unknown in Italy. Would you mind sharing the rate that you're paying? It could be helpful for others to know. Best wishes and good luck.

Thank you for that perspective. I was thinking last night that most reviews were 75% favorable, 25% not so much. Well if someone told me those were the odds of winning a million dollars that would be pretty good! So I am going to go off of that! I am going to Rome to see the city not spend it in a hotel room, just needed some good basics. I paid $190/ night. Which, had I booked through the hotel website it would have been $60 cheaper and you have the ability to cancel your reservation, penalty free. Oh the irony!! I am determined to not let this slight hiccup ruin anything! Thank you for your time in replying!!

Great attitude, Nicole! Some people get so upset over this kind of thing that they begin the trip already in a down mood, expecting the worst and often finding it.

Nicole, Next time check out Venere.com for their hotel reviews then purchase through them or contact the hotel directly and work out a deal. Being a penny wise and a pound foolish is something most of us have done but it isn't the end of the world, after all you still are going to be over there versus being over here---and over there is SOOO much better. Ciao!

Good for you. You learned a lesson and came out with a positive attitude. For what it is worth, I was trying to remember name of a great restaurant in Positano to recommend to friends and found it on tripadvisor. My son is picky eater and he loved this place so much we ate there 3 nights. Anyway, on trip advisor I found several very negative reviews. I couldn't believe we were all talking about the same place. Moral: Take reviews with grain of salt and don't let anything spoil your experience. Enjoy!!

Hi; The Kennedy Hotel is the first place we ever stayed in Italy, in 2003. It was basic,very clean, and a continental breakfast was served. It's SO convenient, right out the side door of Termini, and down one block. We thought it was fine then for 3 nights; but of course that was 8 years ago. I'm sure you will be just fine. Like someone else said; if you don't like the first room, get them to keep showing you them till you find one you like.
Have a wonderful time in Rome!

Nicole,
Am I reading correctly that you were "awarded" a more expensive room with no cancellation? $190/night and it is cheaper to book direct? Now I have never used priceline but something doesn't sound right.

Nicole - have you considered contacting priceline? Isn't there some sort of lowest price guarentee?

You are correct in what you understand. The price I was "awarded" is higher then the hotel's website. I am pretty sure that Priceline has a price match program, although the jury is still out on how user friendly it will be. I won't say I wasn't ticked last night about this situation, but in all honesty I was more mad at myself. I agree with the previous comment in the sense that.....who is going to feel sorry for me??? I am complaining about maybe not having a fabulous hotel ( just a standard one). But I am blessed with the ability and the means to go to ITALY! I have wanted to go since I was a kid!
As a side note, this is the second half of our trip. Prior to getting to Rome we are staying at a beautiful farmhouse in Tuscany!

I book thru Priceline/Hotwire regularly. I use Priceline to get a look at recent winning bids and then I go to Hotwire to check out what prices they have. I usually end up taking the prices offered by Hotwire for car rentals when they get to a rate I feel comfortable with. Only occasionally do I use Priceline. However, I have a friend who travels extensively in the US who uses Priceline all the time for hotels and has had no complaints. I would certainly contact Priceline to see what they can do for you. I would also not hesitate to elevate the problem if I think I am getting the run-around. Good luck.

I think you'll be OK at the Kennedy. Most of the complaints are: - the staff not being very friendly. Customer service in Europe is nothing like the US. Bring your RS Book and you won't need to ask reception any questions about Rome. - rooms being small. Hotel rooms in Europe are usually smaller than in US. It's Rome, you'll be out sightseeing all day. - breakfast. Italy doesn't do big breakfasts. You're on continental Europe where you will find a simple "continental" breakfast. Yes, that's where the phrase comes from. It's also why Irish and English breakfasts - not on continental Europe - have a different phrases to describe them. I would be hesitant to use Priceline for Europe. The star ratings at hotels are awarded by the number of amenities not the qualities of the amenities. Often a 2-star hotel can be nicer than a 3-star hotel. Please let us know how the Hotel Kennedy worked out after your stay. You have perfect travel attitude, stay positive!

Some good news. I checked Booking.com and for our itinerary it was $126.00 cheaper then the Priceline price. I called Priceline and after practically arguing with customer service after they claimed over and over that they could not find it on the website. Claiming I had the wrong hotel....I mean I am a pretty patient person, but I finally said, " Look, I am not crazy, I know what I am looking at!" I finally had to walk them through from Booking.com's homepage to the correct hotel. But at least after all is said and done I am getting a decent refund. Such an adventure! ;) Thank you for all the advice and tips! Much Love!

GREAT FOR YOU!!!! We had a problem with a hotel in Italy last year we booked through a MAJOR chain. To make a long story short, they said we couldn't get a refund and I knew we could. It took 29 phone calls and 15 e-mails and 7 months but i finally got a refund. Yes it was the money but it was the principal too. You did the same, you stuck up for yourself. Now just enjoy yourself!!!

Nichole, congratulations -- you will feel much better about this now. But,for anyone else reading and for future reference, one of the advantages of paying ANYTHING with a credit card is the ability to do a "merchant dispute." If Priceline was supposed to match a better price, then that would give you reason for a formal dispute via the credit card company. Of course, it is always better to try to work it out on your own first (which is what Nicole did), and the credit card company will ask you if you tried to do that. Always print out copies of competitors' better prices, so you have the paper trail (or take photos if it is something that can't be copied/printed). Sometimes even asking to talk to a supervisor, then saying you will file a credit card dispute will amazingly remind them of their matching policy. All that said, Nicole you will LOVE Italy. As long as a hotel is clean and reasonably quiet, you are right, you will be out seeing and doing, not sitting in your room all day. Have a safe and wonderful trip.

Woo-hoo! Good for you, Nicole! Now go and have a great time in Italy. It's amazing!