Yes, it's a very busy time in SF. Has been all summer. Hotwire doesn't have a single 4* or 3.5* hotel Downtown for 8/31-9/2, which is not a good sign. They've got a 2.5* in USW for $291 and a 2.5* in USE for $171. :) :)
If you can win a 4* Downtown on Priceline I think it may be in the $150-200 range.
Let us know your bidding limit for 4* and someone will offer a strategy.
Please use these HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links for your purchases.
Thanks for sharing your bid history, lelau. It's rough when $172 isn't enough for a 3* in four zones. :)
Are you interested in any of the following?
1) Try for 2.5* in the zones you've bid.
2) Try for 3* in Civic Center North and/or South.
3) Split your bid, maybe eliminating the Saturday night checkin. If you win something for 9/11-9/14 then try Add a Night for Saturday 9/10. If Add a Night doesn't work you may have to pay full rate to get the same hotel Saturday, or stay someplace else that one night. With more than a month to go you can keep trying for all four nights awhile; then split closer to your dates if you're not having success.
HOTWIRE has a 3* Civic Center South for $186 and 3* Civic Center North for $142, so you might win those zones for slightly less on PRICELINE.
Welcome to the board, Bevin.
Checking the Priceline Calendar of Wins I see only three bidders have reported SF wins for your dates...at $165, $190, and $200. Availability is TIGHT.
Those were 4* and 3.5* wins. $150 might be enough for a 3* then, if not higher.
Since Fisherman's Wharf is your preferred zone you should try that first, then bid the Downtown zones if no luck in FW. 3.5* is the highest rating offered in FW.
First for 3.5* in FW, you have FIVE rebid zones. Those are zones that only have less than 3.5* quality hotels. If you need help determining your free rebids please ask.
Click this PRICELINE link, then bid $125 for 3.5* in FW. If rejected add your rebid zones one at a time, raising $5 with each, up to $150.
If that fails then try for 3* in FW. You only have ONE rebid zone for 3* in SF and that's Marina-Lombard.
First exit Priceline, close your browser, and start over from the PRICELINE link. Bid $135 for a 3* in FW. If rejected add Marina-Lombard and bid $150.
Good luck and let us know how it goes. If it doesn't fly we'll talk about Downtown.
Summarizing your rejected bids:
3.5* FW/USW $140
3.5* USE $120
3* FW/USE $130
HOTWIRE has a 3* in Fisherman's Wharf for $179 that looks like Holiday Inn. It's possible a 3* PRICELINE bid in $140-160 range in FW might work.
You could also try $130 for 3* in USW. Or $140 for 4* or 3.5* in Embarcadero-Financial. Any of those would be a good deal for these dates.
With your trip still more than two months away it's possible you're bidding too soon, in addition to bidding too low. Your current bid levels, or more likely $10-20 higher, might get accepted in a month, if not now. If you'd like to hold out and keep trying once a week or so you should book a cancellable reservation someplace, just in case PRICELINE and HOTWIRE don't work.
If you're eager to secure something now and you don't want to bid higher than you have or add more zones....then the Holiday Inn for $116 that slruud mentioned looks like a good Plan B.
It's good that your plans are flexible.
Btw, despite my comment about small rooms at Opal I think it's a decent budget hotel with breakfast included, which few hotels in SF offer. Not all the rooms at Opal are small, just some. The area gets a bit dodgy at night but the hotel itself is safe. It's not preferred over Union Square or Embarcadero for sure, but overall I had pretty good experiences for the rates I paid...more like $40's or $50's, not $153.
Good luck with your Monday bidding.
Wow. This is really a measure of how expensive San Francisco has gone this summer. $100 isn't enough for a 2.5* anywhere Downtown or Fishermans Wharf.
What your got was a counteroffer. That means Priceline has a room but higher than your $120 bid. Priceline usually accepts less than their counteroffer. Since it was $148 you can get this somewhere betweeen $120 and $148...maybe 130, 135. Maybe 121.
Do you have another zone you can add and bid $125 or $130 now? I'm assuming you'd be happy to stay in any zone.
The other options are 1) stay at airport for less and BART every day. not what you want but doable. 2) bid up to $100 for 2* Downtown on Priceline. There's so little 2* bidding here that it's hard to give any guidance but there are some decent 2* downtown--the Baldwin in USE and the Good Hotel in Civc Center South, and some more. Probably some lesser hotels too, but nothing that's been reported to the board is a known hellhole. The problem is when 4* and 3* are busy 2* are busy too.
I looked on Orbitz and don't see anything in acceptable Downtown or FW for under $100 so $100 won't be be overbidding.
I'd suggest $80 for 2* in USE, USW, CCS, CCN, FW
Add SOMA at 90
Add Financial Emb at 100
Or go higher for that 3*.
Good luck and keep us posted. Thanks for using the PRICELINE link.
I am adding the two other zones to allow myself to bid again.
If you're trying to win a 3* in San Rafael-Larkspur you only have one rebid zone: Sausalito-Mill Valley, which only goes to 2.5*. Novato has 3* hotels, so its not a rebid zone. You shouldn't include Novato in your bidding unless you're willing to stay there.
Four Points is only $124 and Embassy Suites is $130, so it seems like your $86 bids should be more than enough.
The issue might be your length of stay---six nights. The two known hotels might each have various days avail within your six, but neither has all six.
Or it could be a Saturday night issue. Embassy Suites quotes $130 but that's an average of two rates: five nights at $127 and Saturday at $149.
$127 vs $149 isn't a huge price change but it says Embassy gets a premium for Sat nights, and it's possible ES gave Priceline rooms for those $127 nights but not the $149 Saturday. Just guessing.
Are you willing to split your six night stay to improve your chances of acceptance? You might have to move once. Or you might get the same hotel twice but at two different rates.
If you're willing I would try for the first four nights, 8/30-9/3, first. That eliminates the Saturday. If you win something you can try Add a Night then, for 9/3-9/5. You might get it, but at a higher rate, or you might be refused and then you'd have to bid those dates and maybe move.
If you split I suggest $55 for 3* San Rafael 8/30-9/3 to start. Add Sausalito at $65. If that fails wait 24 hours and try $70/$75. (And to answer your other question yes they really do pay attention to the 24 hours and your bid will be kicked back as duplicate if you place it before the 24 hours are up.)
If you don't want to split all you can do is keep trying $86 every day; raise your bid; or try for the 2.5* in Sausalito or San Rafael.
Good luck and keep us posted. Thanks for using the PRICELINE link.
You can bid every 24 hours but unless you want to raise your limit or add another zone, like Embarcadero-Financial, I doubt much will change in one day. With almost two months before your trip you've got some time to wait and see if others start reporting wins for your dates. On the other hand, with availability looking tight for your dates there's something to be said for locking in a deal now if you can find it.
If your 4* bids continue to reject $150 might be enough for a 3.5* in USE or USW, and those are considered good hotels too. If you'd like to try 3.5* I'd start at $120 and bid up to $150 with your rebid zones. When bidding for 3.5* you only have five rebids, not six. (Fisherman's Wharf has 3.5* hotels so it's a rebid zone for 4* but not for 3.5*.)
As for the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway....LastMinuteTravel hotels can be identified with a high degree of confidence. There's a long thread on how to ID LMT hotels in the "Run of the House" forum on this board. The HI-GG is about a half mile from Union Square with good bus and cable connections to Downtown/Embarcadero. But it's not right in Union Square, so if Union Square is your first choice I think I'd bid for 3.5* USE/USW first, then 3* USE/USW---before taking a 3* in a more outlying zone. At $116 Holiday Inn would be a good backup though.
Please keep us posted on your thoughts and progress.
Based on Hotwire's rates for your dates (4* USW $186, 4* USE $223) I think you may need to be more in the $140-165 range for a Priceline 4* in USE or USW.
Your $140 limit may be enough for a 3.5* if not 4*.
Adding 4* Financial/Embarcadero to your bidding will improve your chances of acceptance, if that zone is acceptable.
Hotwire has a 3* in USE for $121 that looks like the Crescent Hotel. Although it's not a 4* the Crescent's in a good location, a block north of Union Square. Not a sketchy area. Icons are: Boutique, Smokefree, Highspeed. Regular rate is $179, so that's about 1/3 off. Not bad.
If the Crescent interests you please use this HOTWIRE link to purchase, or let us know if you want help with a 3.5* strategy.
Priceline can only sell what the hotels give them, and many hotels choose to withhold inventory until closer to the travel dates. If rates don't go up there's a good chance you'll have success at $107 or less closer to 9/30. Never any guarantees though, so if you choose to wait it out you might book a cancellable reservation someplace to be sure you'll have a place.
Do you have any interest in trying for a 3.5* in Pike Place?
When bidding for a 3.5* in SF you have FIVE rebid zones. Those are zones that only have less than 3.5* quality hotels. If you need help ID'ing your five rebids please ask.
I suggest $140 for a 3.5* in USE and USW.
If rejected add rebid #1 and bid $145.
If rejected add rebid #2 and bid $150.
If rejected add rebid #3 and bid $155.
If rejected add rebid #4 and bid $160.
If rejected, exit Priceline, close browser, and reaccess PRICELINE through link.
Select USE, USW, and rebid #5, and bid $165.
If rejected add rebid #1 and bid $170
If rejected add rebid #2 and bid $175
If rejected add rebid #3 and bid $180
If rejected add rebid #4 and bid $185
That strategy doesn't quite take you to your $200 limit. If it doesn't work you can repeat in 24 hours, bumping everything up by $15.
If a 4* has a lower Priceline rate than the 3.5* your bid will be upgraded.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Let's try this:
1) Click this PRICELINE link
2) Select USE + USW + Civic Center South and bid $65 for 2.5*.
3) Add Marina-Lombard (free rebid zone) and bid $75.
If rejected exit Priceline, close browser, and reaccess PRICELINE.
1) Select SOMA + Embarcadero + Civic Center North + FW and bid $65 for 2.5*
2) Add Marina-Lombard and bid $75.
If rejected exit, close, reaccess PRICELINE
1) Select USE + USW + SOMA + Embarcadero + CCS + CCN and bid $80 for 2.5*
2) Add Fisherman's Wharf and bid $90
3) Add Marina-Lombard and bid $100.
Good luck and please let us know how it goes.
MarcP,
Thanks for your 3.5* bidding history. Please keep us posted if/when you have some luck.
To my knowledge this board hasn't had a single 3.5* Priceline win reported in Fisherman's Wharf zone for the months of June, July, August, and September. I guess the FW 3.5* are doing so well this summer that they don't need Priceline. The few FW wins we've seen for those months have been at 3* level.I have bid up to $175/night for 3.5* starting in Fisherman's wharf (1st choice),
yuki05,
How did your bidding go? The Holiday Inn that slruud mentioned could be a good backup for you. It's slightly off the path, but not in a bad neighborhood, and $116 is a good rate for these dates.
Thanks, G. :)
I haven't stayed at Opal in a couple years now but there was a period when I stayed there a lot, mostly on Priceline, and I got to know their ways. When they weren't busy they were happy to give me a bigger room, even as a Priceline guest. When they were high occupancy or sold out I usually got a broom closet.
What are the dates please?
Before someone can suggest a bidding strategy we need to be clear on your objective.
I think you're saying you want to bid up to $130 for a 3.5* in Fisherman's Wharf, USE, and/or USW zones, but please confirm.
Do you have a favored zone that you want to bid up to $130 there first; then if rejected bid to $130 in the other zone(s)?
Or are you looking for the least expensive 3.5* or higher available in any of the three zones?
The strategy will be different depending on your objective.
If all three zones are acceptable the "Keep it Simple" approach will be to bid from $100 to $130 for 3.5* in the three zones together at once. Let us know if that's what you'd like to try, or something else.
Depending on the circumstances we suggest increasing by varying amounts, not always $3. In SF we go up by $5 and $10 a lot but there are no hard and fast rules.In your proposals I read that you always increase the price by 3$ steps.
You've got your six rebids correct. Good luck with your bidding!
Let's try for 4* first and if that dosn't work, then try 3.5* and maybe 3*.
When bidding for a 4* in SF you have SIX rebid zones. Those are zones that only have hotels less than 4* quality. If you need help determining your six rebid zones please ask. If you want confirmation that you've got them right you can post the six zone names here.
Once you've figured out your rebid zones...
1) Click this PRICELINE link
2) Select USE, USW, and Financial-Embarcadero, and bid $120 for 4*.
3) Add your six rebids, one at a time, and raise your bid $5 with each, up to $150.
Good luck and please let us know how it goes.
I have started bidding in the Sausalito area. 3*, I started with 50 and I have gotten my bid up to $75.
2.5* is the highest Priceline offers in Sausalito-Mill Valley zone. Do you mean you bid up to $75 for 2.5*?
Staying near the Embarcadero in SF and taking the ferry over every day would be great fun, and a beautiful boat ride, but I think it's going to be super expensive. Maybe $150 for the hotel and another $40-50 to park. And some parking lots and garages in SF have started adding a surcharge on top of that for large vehicles, including cargo vans. So maybe the SF idea isn't feasible.
Unless you want to bid higher than $75 for a 2.5* in Sausalito my next suggestion is to try for a 3* in San Rafael-Larkspur zone. That's the next closest zone to Sausalito and parking shouldn't be an issue. 3* is the highest offered in SR-L zone. There's an Embassy Suites there and a Four Points.
I miss the days when $165 was the rack rate, not the Priceline rate. :)
Holiday Inn is $214 for your dates so you've got an extra $50/night in your pocket.
Glad you got it settled. Enjoy your stay.
Welcome to the board, yuki05!
I second everything that Gallus said. A lot of bidders are having trouble with Sept/Oct dates in SF.
I don't know if $150 will be enough for a 4* or not. Maybe yes, maybe no. If you'd like to try let us know which zones are acceptable and someone will offer a strategy. The more zones you include the better your chances of success. If $150's not enough for 4* it might be enough for 3.5* in USE.
Please use these HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links for your puchases.
what's your opinion of 3* in SF rather than 3.5? any areas to avoid at that level?
It's hard to generalize because there are so many different 3* that might come up. Many or most are early century European style hotels, smaller and more intimate than the chain 4*. Several 3* are managed by Kimpton or Joie de Vivre and have good reputations and solid reviews. A few 3* are more contemporary, like the Donatello or Courtyard (in SOMA zone).
A few of the 3* in USW are close to the Tenderloin, but that's true of the 4* in USW too.
People have different standards and opinions, but mine is that you can feel comfortable bidding 3* in all the four core downtown zones (USE, USW, SOMA, Embarcadero). None of the known 3* in those zones is a "nightmare hotel". At the 2.5* level there start to be some hotels with issues (but also some pretty good 2.5* like the King George).
Basically you can't be too picky on busy dates like these. A 3* for $140-160 looks like a relative good deal. Of course try to your limit for a 4* and 3.5* first.
Thanks for using the board's PRICELINE link. Good luck and please keep us posted.
My best guess: this is the Opal.
It's $161 prepaid on Opal's website (theopalsf.com). $153 on Hotwire won't be any savings after Hotwire's transaction fee is added.
If the Opal interests you I suggest booking direct through the hotel website, rather than Hotwire, as Opal has a range of room sizes from tiny to spacious and on a busy night like this you're more likely to get a good sized room if you book direct.
Opal's sold out on Saturday; only available the Friday night. This looks like another super busy weekend in SF, as you've seen.
4* San Francisco (USW-Nob Hill) Prescott Hotel
in Priceline Hotels - SAN FRANCISCO
Posted
sophielaura,
Is this the Priceline win you're referring to?
4* Prescott Win