mgaebler

Bid $62 using the BetterBidding PRICELINE link and got it right away. It's unusual to get the Marriott here, so I'm excited. I bid just one day before when I needed the room. This seems to work well in this area (often that has landed me at the Hilton, which is also nice). I think they tend to dump their last minute inventory on PRICELINE but not much earlier (which makes sense).

Bid $62 and won immediately. I used to win the Hilton frequently but have not in a while. Glad to see that they are still participating (and a great price as well). On the Hilton website, the lowest price is $169 per night. Hilton likes to get you on the wireless (fee) and parking but it is generally nice - and convenient. And of course, I used the Better Bidding link to PRICELINE.

Tried $60. Was prompted to 'add $17' for a free re-bid. Instead, added a free 're-bid' zone (i.e. one with no 3* hotels) Bid $64 and won. Used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link.

Tried $60 on 1/21/10 and did not succeed, but was offered, "If you are willing to raise your price by $17, you can try the same request again right now. " Instead of doing that, I add "Studio City" (a free re-bid, since it does not have 3 star) and bid $65. In general, when Priceline offers you a free rebid for $X, you can usually win by increasing your bid by a fraction of that. I won at the Staybridge Suites in Chatsworth. I used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link. I'll try to update the review for Staybridge Suites based on previous trips there.

Tried $60 but that didn't work. Was offered a free rebid if I would go up $17, but I chose to add Studio City (no 3* there) and rebid $62. That worked. I used the very fine PRICELINE Link on BetterBidding.com

Won 3* LA-San Fernando Valley (Warner Center-Woodland Hills) Chatsworth Staybridge Suites $63... 12/1-12/4/09. First bid. Chatsworth is about 15 minutes from Warner Center, so not as close or as nice as the Hilton which is in this zone but workable. And Staybridge Suites has free parking, internet, and breakfast. I used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link

Bid $50,$55 and $60 on various days earlier. After the $60 bid, I was offered a free re-bid (and likely acceptance) if I would increase my bid by $17 (that is to say, to $77). I tried just going to $63 and that failed. A few days later, I tried $65 and that failed, but $68 succeeded. My observation from previous bidding is that if Priceline prompts you to re-bid a certain amount ($17 in this case), you can win by increasing by about half that amount ($8 in this case). That rule of thumb held true in this case. Looking at Hilton.com right now, the rates are $189 per night (plus taxes) and $160 per night (plus taxes) pre-paid, so Priceline is more than half-off. I've won the Hilton with a $67 bid recently on Priceline, so this seems like the new "standard" price for winning at this Hilton, at least for Monday to Thursday nights (historically, weekends are lower). Of course, I just the Bettterbidding PRICELINE link. Thank you BetterBidding!

Tried $55, $60, $62, $64, $65 and finally was successful at $67 per night for 3 nights. I had thought that the Hilton had pulled back from Priceline but apparently not.

The Hilton is back! Tried $65; no luck. Tried $67 and got the Hilton. Surprised, but satisfied. It's a nice hotel, good rooms with a good exercise room. On the downside: parking is expensive (but you can park on the street at Erwin and Canoga) and wireless is not included. But I'm satisfied nonetheless. I'll post a new post with the success story, so it is clear. And I remembered to use the Better Bidding PRICELINE link. Thanks for the website.

This used to be a great zone for PRICELINE, when Hilton was 3.5 * and often could be had bidding at $60 or so (sometimes less). But now the zone only has 3*, and it appears that Hilton may have cut back supply or stopped doing PRICELINE entirely. Also, with 3*, one can end up at the Staybridge Suites in Chatsworth, which quite a ways away from Warner Center (although Staybridge Suites is decent, with free breakfast and wi-fi and large rooms/suites). I just tried $62 and $64. I'll probably go up to $70 and the do 2.5* HOTWIRE to get the Ramada Inn in Canoga Park - usually reliable, about $63 on HOTWIRE, but not as nice.

Tried $62 and $64 again. Both failed.

Tried $55, $60 for 10/19-10/22... will try again. Used the Better Bidding PRICELINE link.

Just out of curiosity, I tried Hotwire for the same area the following week and a few weeks out in the future. The Hilton (i.e. a 3 * with the same amenities) doesn't seem to be available. So the Hilton may only use Hotwire to move last minute unsold inventory. Could be good for the last minute traveler.

Lowest rate at Hilton.com is $169, so I'm happy with the price. Used the BetterBidding HOTWIRE link. Ironically, it's hard to get this Hilton now on PRICELINE (as it was lowered from 3.5* to 3* so there are more hotels in that group). So I'm glad to find it on HOTWIRE. Amenities: Fitness Center, Restaurant, High-Speed Internet. If you stay here, you can either pay a bunch for parking, or park a good walk away on Erwin St (it's not that bad a walk).

Tried $45 and $50 with no luck. The price on the Hilton website without PRICELINE is a shockingly low $99, but still it is nice to save a few dollars.

This weekend seems to be difficult. Another friend trying for 4* downtown tried up to $100 and was not successful.

Amenities for this Holiday Inn, as described in my Hotwire confirmation page, include: Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Laundry Facilities High-speed Internet Access One other Amenity, not noted by Hotwire, is that this location is very close (across the street I think?) to a Trader Joe's....

Price is $105 a night. This price is not much better than what the Holiday Inn was offering, but I was curious if this was the Holiday Inn or the Hilton; now I know. This wasn't on the hotel list but I've left a separate post asking that this be added.

I won 3* Holiday Inn on HOTWIRE for 9/15/09. It's not on the list. Can you please update? Thanks.

Tried for a 3* at $48, $52, $55, $60 for 2 or 3 nights between 8/31-9/2/09 but had no luck. My plan B: HOTWIRE 2.5 *

Tried $52 for 4*; that failed. $55 worked. I used the Betterbidding PRICELINE link.

Hotel is rated 3* at present (Aug 2009). Pro: large rooms/suites with lots of space; good breakfast (included), wireless internet (included). Cons: location (far from Warner Center), feels a bit more like a motel than a nice hotel.

The Woodland Hills- Warner Center area in Priceline used to have 3.5 * hotels, including the Marriott and the Hilton. One could almost always get the Hilton. Alas, it appears that both have either ceased to participate or they have been demoted to 3*, as the area only supports 3* now. That means you have a chance (perhaps strong chance) of landing at the Staybridge Suites Chatworth, like I did; it is about 6 miles from Warner Center. Bid $60 per night. Accepted right away.

Woodland Hills (in the San Fernando valley) no longer has 3.5 star hotels. This was observed on Aug 16, 2009. This means that the Hilton, which was a very reliable 3.5 star hotel is either no longer available or it has been downgraded. I just won 3* and it is the Staybridge in Chatsworth - tragically far from where I hoped to be. Editor, can you please update the list?

Tried $70 and $76 first; those failed. Succeeded with a bid of $81.00 With fees and taxes, the total was $99.03.