sfchic

3.5* East Bay - Concord Hilton Bid $45 Accepted 1st Time :) Date 7/25/2010

:) Wow! I am impressed with your strategic bidding and even more so with how you explained your process. Thank you!!

Date of stay 7/7/10

Started bidding at $75 for 3* Monterey area - rejected Added Pacific Grove area raised the bid price to $85 Accepted - with upgrade to 3.5* (Casa Munras) Beautiful rooms - the most spacious "regular" room I have ever stayed in - clean - safe parking - lots of flowers growing on the property. They offer spa treatments, hair and nail care, well reviewed restaurant and full bar. Awesome staff members, friendly and professional. I am very impressed with this establishment! I was in a rush and didn't use the PRICELINE link - sorry mods!! But was so impressed with the property and for such a great price I wanted to share the results! :)

Hi! I am happy to share my recent strategy for that area. Quoting from your original post- "3* Pacific Grove area hotel with boutique, no smoking, breakfast, Internet and golf for $133" that is for HOTWIRE not PRICELINE- I double checked this before I posted this reply. My input is - Bid the same amount posted as you found listed at Lastminutetravel - Use the PRICELINE link, Name Your Own Price, Monterey area, 3 stars only, and bid $88. This has been my approach to using PRICELINE for the area of "Monterey" I choose 3 stars only -at the time of posting this - the only hotel that falls into this range is Hilton Garden Inn- I start near the $75 range there are a few times I would be too low, so I add the area of "Pacific Grove" which tops at 2 1/2 stars - allowing you to actually re-bid a higher price indirectly on the 3 star. HOWEVER, if the computer is showing you a default checkmark next to 3 1/2, and 4 - then close your browser and try to start over, sometimes it will work. On the few occassions I had to go forth with including the higher rated properties I would be upgraded to a 3 1/2* and it was still at a much lower rate. I hope this makes sense! Good Luck and let us iknow!

Original bid for $50 4* San Jose Opted with the add $10 option $60 Accepted Not sure how or why Doubletree is rated a 4*........

It's my "GUESS" it would be an upgrade to the 4* - which would be the Claremont. If you go to name your price and "bid" on the 3.5 star - it says the average price is $189 - flip back to the listings page and the Claremont is offered at $189. That's the only logic I can find.....

Wow - GREAT PRICE!!! Cha Ching and Thumbs up!

Welcome to the board Scrambo! (Great ID!) Priceline seems to change the star ratings constantly since this past fall, so it's become difficult to "predict" potential wins based on past wins. What are the dates of your trip? I have been fortunate that when I bid for San Ramon, I would get a San Ramon hotel, and not one in Pleasanton or Livermore. I am interested in what member "BEAV" might have to say about this post and area, Beav has a lot of knowledge about this area. The downfall of San Ramon Marriott is the parking, they charge and it's a bit of a walk to the hotel. Not sure if they still charge for internet, but I was able to pick up wireless when I had a room on the 3rd floor at n/c. If you happen to get Marriott Courtyard or Residence Inn - they are both within approximately 1 mile from the SR Marriott, locally referred to as "The Big Marriott". The upside to San Ramon, they don't seem to have low end hotels or bad neighborhoods. :)

Thank you Colfax - I was in a rush - same day reservation Jan 23, 2009 and I was able to extend to include Jan 24, 2009. :) Thereuare: Thank you also for the reminder -I would post "same day reservation" but will include dates also for future posts. :)

Date of Stay: Oct 8, 2008 (same day reservation) :)

Date of Stay - June 19, 2008 (same day booking)

First Bid $65 - not accepted Included Union City area knowing it does not have a 4-star - accepted at $70. List rate $149

Accepted 1st Bid :) - search was 3 1/2 stars Pleasanton-Dublin-San Ramon - same day reservation. If booked direct room would be $239. a night.

REVISION - ...good option.... the hotel that lists fitness, swimming, restaurant, business center, golf and tennis (nearby) - it is the Hilton........... Thank you moderator for pointing that out!!

For those of you who are following along........... http://s14.no_screenshots_please.com/albums/a310/cai...ent=holiday.jpg The link is an image from Google Maps of the area - In retrospect, instead of participating in a forum, it appears I should have worded my original post to be more informative than of an opinion. The Zagat review of this establishment can be enlightening. As far as definition of downtown, on Webster.com "of, relating to, or located in the lower part or business center of a city". There is shopping on the other side of the freeway and an airport one block over - so the term "downtown" seems to have become to each person's interpretation. So, I agree that it is interesting that Expedia, who has offices that include San Francisco, would deem this as downtown Concord. Downtown to me is usually restaurants, shopping, possible movie theater or park, courthouse, post office etc... and does not include car dealerships and airports. Request an interior room that should help with the reducing the noise.

I do not know why this would be rated #1 pick of any travel source - do yourself a favor - cut your loss now - this is not a 3 star establishment. It's right next to the freeway and car dealerships (double noise factor). The actual location is close to shopping and restaurants. If you decide to book again - a good option would be to choose the hotel with the tennis and golf icon - its the Hilton - a much better place.

It is a very nice establishment - however, the room colors are a bit too much!! Great Breakfast and easy off and on the freeway. However, that exit is closed from 10pm to 4am for repairs..... make sure they take the Foothill Blvd exit cause if they miss it they will end up going for a little ways till the next exit!! I learned the hard way! You got an OUTSTANDING DEAL!!

Well, my guess is Marriott San Ramon - this is one of the few Marriott's that have on site guest laundry (previously owned by another chain). Courtyards have them but not Marriotts. This hotel advertises golf as an attraction on their website. It also has the non-smoking icon and read in the forums that is a indication it is a Marriott. Speculation it could be Holiday Inn Express, but not likely. Hoping someone can confirm this so we can add it to the list! I went thru PRICELINE to finalize my stay.

First Bid of $60 was accepted. Reservation July 30 1 night (same day booking) Residence Inn - This establishment has high customer rating. :)

Looking to see if anyone has info to identify- Check In 7-30 Check Out 7-31 2 adults Non-Smoking, Complimentary Breakfast, Fitness, Pool, Business Center, Guest On Site Laundry, Hi Speed Internet, Golf Nearby Thank You!

** UPDATED INFO- IMPORTANT** I reviewed this post and need to post a correction - Four Points is a 3-star NOT 3.5 as I first posted. I apologize for the mistake. Can you please correct the title to reflect just 3 stars? CONFIRM that 3.0 Four Points 3.5 Hilton

Fitness, Restaurant, Internet, Pool, Business Center, Tennis nearby - HILTON Pleasanton at the Club Includes 1 day membership to fitness center Search was for 1 night 2 adults - same day booking - Great rate of $76

The search was for 1 night 2 adults - It ended up being the Four Points - Sheraton - and it was a great deal. I was able to park my car (free) right outside my room. The room was appropriately furnished - ever been in a room that had way too much furniture and they can't change it due to corporate? They had a nice pool with tables/umbrellas where you could visit - didn't visit the restaurant. I did lock myself out of my room and was not pleased with how the front desk went tilt and couldn't find someone to help me for 20 mins - but housekeeping was able to help me - and I showed ID immediately to stay with security measures - my own fault! I hope to stay here again! :)

This distinctive establishment offers comfortable rooms, personal service and some upscale features Best Value $64 Fitness Center Pool Restaurant Business Center High-speed Internet Access Tennis Nearby I notice this area needs to be updated in main hotel listings - can we get this included once we identify it?? Check in date 4-15-08 Check out 4-16-08