TheEconomist

Some weeks, Priceline just doesn't have any inventory to sell you at any price for certain locations at certain star levels. Those 2.5* hotels in MB are not that large and they can fill up to a level where they may not release anything to priceline. Usually, the amount of the bid isn't the issue. If priceline has anything to sell, you can usually get it for under $46. So, based on your bids, I would suspect there isn't anything available at any price. Keep trying at $46. If you don't get it, increasing the bid won't help. You can try a 3* at the airport, which goes for about $10-15 more, plus an extra $12 or so for parking, and at $68, that's about what you are bidding. They aren't at all the same (no fridge in the 3*), but if you bring some zip lock bags to store ice, you can buy a large insulated bag at TJs (about the size of a large shopping bag, highly rated by consumer reports) for $4 and make a "fridge" out of it. Replace the ice each day and it has worked for me and kept everything cold. The rooms are far nicer than any 2.5*. The drive is an extra 5 minutes to the beach up Sepulveda. The free breakfast at the 2.5* hotels can be replaced with far better food for $5 at Noah's bagels or starbucks. I realize it's not the same, and it's a bit more expensive, but you do get better quality for the increase in $ and I wanted to expose you to some options I've used. As you noted, another option is that you can use the Marriott web site to book a room at the hotel you want for not much more than your bid. Good luck.

It's a good value, but if you are looking for a luxury property, this isn't the one. A small pool, like you'd expect to see in a back yard, and the rooms provide relatively spartan (its only 2.5*) , though spacious accommodations, and free parking and free wired internet. They supply the cable. Parking is difficult on the weekends, and you may have to go up the street towards the airport and park in the neighborhoods if you come in too late on Friday or Saturday night. The rooms have been upgraded from when I stayed here three years ago. The beds, linens and towels, which used to be motel 6 quality, are nicer, though not as nice as a 3*. The breakfast is nice because it's free, but it's cereal, waffles, eggs, potatoes sausage and toast. To be honest, I saw people coming back from Noahs bagels on my way out the first day, and thought, "why didn't I do that?" I skipped the breakfast the second day of my stay: it's just not that great. People go after it because it's free the same way people will take airline peanuts, but face it, if someone was charging you $5 for the breakfast, you'd go to to Noahs bagels. The best part about the place is that you get a fridge, a knife and plates and silverware, so you can keep food in the room. That and a great location, about a mile from the beach, as well as parking right in front of your room, for easy in and outs. To get there from LAX, just find your way to Sepulveda (runs through the airport) and turn left. Head about 4 miles up. Look for the Toyota Dealership on your left hand side and turn left just before it. On the other side of the Toyota dealership is a Target, on the corner fo Manhattan Beach Blvd. Turn left on Manhattan Beach Blvd to find a Trader Joes on the left side, about a mile and a half up the road. Instead of turning left onto MBB, you can turn right and find the beach. Parking in the neighborhood above the beach is easy on weekends before 10am, and it's free all day. The beach area has a Noahs Bagels, Peets Coffee, and Starbucks, as well as a Vons supermarket, mostly filled with beer, all on Manhattan Beach Blvd. Restaurants are mediocre, like a lot of beach towns. On sepulveda, opposite the direction of the toyota dealership (towards the airport) is the Ralphs, on the right about 3/4 of a mile. Further up, turn right on the major street, Rosecrans to find an office depot, another trader joes, longs drugs, another Noahs/Starbucks with plenty of free parking (the one at the beach has none), and further up, at the 405 freeway, a Fedex/Kinkos. I'd recommend it, as I think it is a good value. If you just want some place to hang your hat, it's perfect. But if you were planning on spending much time at the hotel, and wanted someplace nice, I'd look for a 3*. It isn't particularly special. I don't want to mislead you: I stay here a couple of times a year, but only when I'm traveling by myself. For a single male, it's a great deal, and I don't need a super nice room - I don't spend any time here. My younger brother hates it, and I think most women would find it slightly less than average.

I've stayed there before. It's inexpensive, but not nearly as nice as the 3* hotels at LAX, though free parking and the free breakfast give it the nod. I had actually wanted to stay at the Beverly Hills Residence Inn (I bid for MB first, and won before bidding there), and I'm going to check out that hotel while I'm in LA and will try to post a review that compares the two. The location of that hotel is more central to LA, and though it's more expensive, the priceline "discount" is more substantial in Beverly Hills, so it's an even better bargain.

Forgot to copy the tax, etc. Friday night -Sunday night

2 nights, Friday and Saturday It was my opening bid, so I might have done better. Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $46.00 Subtotal: $92.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $21.02 Total Charges*: $113.02