[PhoebeCaulfield]

Hi all,

My mom and I are starting off your trip through the west of the U.S. in San Francisco, and I've been trying to get a hotel room through PRICELINE since December. I've been patient, but now I'm starting to worry a little.
We're staying in San Francisco from September 24 - 27, and up until last week, I only tried getting a 3,5* hotel at Fisherman's Wharf, but I've changed my strategy. When I booked our plane tickets (we live in the Netherlands), I made sure there wasn't a beig convention going on in San Francisco, but since the prices or September 24- 27 are still pretty high, I'm not sure I checked the right websites...
Meanwhile, we would prefer staying in either Union Square East or West since most hotels there are close to the F-Line on Market Street. I hoped we could get a 4* hotel for about $85, but am I still likely to get that?
I've been looking at HOTWIRE and Last Minute Travel too, but no luck yet at that price.

So, in short:
USW, USW (or Financial District-Embarcadero)
4* (or 3,5)
approximately $85

My last PRICELINE bid was:

USE: $60
USE+USW: $65
USE+USW+Financial District: $65
USE+USW+Financial District+1 free rebid zone: $70
USE+USW+Financial District+2 free rebid zones: $75
USE+USW+Financial District+3 free rebid zones: $80
USE+USW+Financial District+4 free rebid zones: $85
USE+USW+Financial District+5 free rebid zones: $90

Thanks for reading this,
Linda

[Gallus50]

Odds don't look good. September is shaping up to be very challenging in SF. Take a look at rack rates and see what they are. Also look at HW. You could reasonably expect to save 30-55% on PL compared to rack rates; 20-30%; 20-30% compared to HW. I have a feeling that for your dates rates will be high, so your budget will be too low ...

[Gallus50]

Rates aren't as high as I thought they'd be. You might want to stretch a little bit more on your budget. LMT appears to have the Clift for $112. They call it a 4.5*, but PRICELINE and HOTWIRE would probably say 4*. (Use BEAV's post in Off Topic to learn how to ID hotels in LMT. It's spot on.)

[PhoebeCaulfield]

Thanks for your quick response Gallus50!
I knew about the link in BEAV's post, and saw that the Clift is available for $112 too, I probably should have mentioned that.
I was planning on keeping it as a backup plan, and wait what happens on PRICELINE and HOTWIRE in the next two weeks.

[PhoebeCaulfield]

LMT: The Clift was $116 this morning in now it's $120. I expected the price to go down rather than up.
I'll try Priceline again later today.

[PhoebeCaulfield]

My last PRICELINE bid was:
4*
USE: $70
USE+USW: $75
USE+USW+1 free rebid zone: $80
USE+USW+2 free rebid zones: $85

Now I'm looking at this screen:

Quote

In most cases, we'll be able to tell you whether or not you got your hotel room within 15 minutes. We're still working on your hotel room request, and should have an answer for you soon. You can also get your answer at any time by clicking on the "Check Your Requests" button at the top of the priceline.com home page.
Please wait several minutes and click the "Check My Offer Status" button to see if we have an answer for you. While you are waiting you can also claim your Special Offer for your request today!

I've checked my request and status, but my last bid hasn't gone through yet.

ETA:
Eventually, I was allowed to continue and I finished (unsuccessfully) with:
USE+USW+3 free rebid zones: $90
USE+USW+4 free rebid zones: $95
USE+USW+5 free rebid zones: $100

[thereuare]

What is your maximum bid for this stay? Are you interested in increasing your bid over $100, waiting it out and hoping for lower priced inventory down the road, or lowering your star rating?

I'm guessing a 4* hotel in one of these zones currently may go for ~$115-$135/nite.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

[PhoebeCaulfield]

I'd prefer not lowering the star rating, and increasing my bid little by little. (For the next, say, two weeks.)
I'll try $105/$110 over the weekend.

[AaronJB]

Thank you for keeping us updated and using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Please let us know if you have any questions and good luck on your next round of bidding.

[PhoebeCaulfield]

No luck with:
4*
USE: $90
USE+USW: $95
USE+USW+1 free rebid zone: $100
USE+USW+2 free rebid zones: $105
USE+USW+3 free rebid zones: $110
USE+USW+4 free rebid zones: $115

[PhoebeCaulfield]

Added Soma - Moscone Center and bid up to $115 again, but still no luck.

[thereuare]

It's only been 24 hours since your prervious rejection at the same price point... if you choose to bid every day make sure you don't get frustrated by the rejecations

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Good luck and keep us updated.

[PhoebeCaulfield]

After another fruitless bidding session yesterday, I decided to book the 3* Powell Hotel at a rate of $117 (ex tax) on lastminutetravel.com. (It was $99 on Tuesday, but I wasn't desperate enough then. ) It's not exactly what I hoped to get for $117 (although the location seems perfect), but if something better comes along, I can still cancel it seven days prior to the 24th at a fee of $25. BEAV, your ID link is awesome.

[thereuare]

Glad you found something which works well for your needs.

Any changes or if we can be of further help just continue this existing thread.

Enjoy your stay.