GoingCA

hope we have a nice stay there :)

Understand that there could be a few options: 1) Call the hotel 2) Email 3) At check-in For options 1 & 2, how many days/weeks ahead would be appropriate? Though I know that there's no guarantee, what are considered reasonable requests and success rate and factors of the following requests: a) twin beds (2 beds) instead of a bed (may be small) b) high floor c) not near elevator or stairway or ice machine - quiet room d) non-smoking Thank you.

Not sure if this helps. I was also looking at conventions going on in SF,while doing my booking, at http://www.sfcvb.org/convention and saw there are 2 major conventions around the period. Despite this, I think there can still be great rates for you to win if you've the patience and the stomach for last minute hotel confirmation, which I don't have ;-P All the best.

Thank you all for the information on CQ. It's quite assuring and sets the expectation right for this property. And hopefully we'll be too tired from sightseeing to notice anything 'negative' about the room.

Took the advice to go down to 3*, and bid for USE using Civic and Lombard as free bid zone. first bid $115 - USE and Civic - rejected second bid $125 - added Lombard - successful for Club Quarters Not too sure about this property as it gets mixed reviews at Tripadvisor. Good thing is that I got my hotel bookings done for my SF and LA trips, so now can focus on planning the rest of stuff. Thanks for the advice and I used the PRICELINE link here.

Have been bidding as high as $142 for 4* in USE/USW - so far all rejected. Bid using the PRICELINE here. Wondering how much higher I have to go. Any advise would be appreciated. Thank you.

Put a bid of $75 on first try for downtown area and got Westin. Seems like quite a good bargain though I was hoping to get Omni so that we don't have to move around too much. Completed my 'hunt' for LA accomodation for my CA trip. Some unfinished biz in San Francisco :)

Actual dates required were 10/23-10/27 but failed after bidding using: 1) started with downtown area 2) added other areas with 4* (except LAX) 3) added free re-bid areas 4) split the dates: got it for 10/24-10/25 only, and got the 10/23-10/24 thru add one night stay at same price. Bid prices ranged from $75-$100. Higher if bidding for more nights.

Managed to add extra night stay on Oct 19-Oct 20 at Tuscan Inn for same price. Used the PRICELINE link here, I tried bidding for Oct 17-Oct 19: 4* USE/USW/FW, $100-120, with Civic and Lombard as re-bid zones - no luck. Added Boutique - also no luck. Will try again later.

Thanks so much for the strategy. I managed to get 3* FW BW Tuscan Inn only for Oct 20-21 for $95 when I was experimenting with the splitting of days prior to reading the given strategy. Initially was bidding for 4* for the areas USE/USW/FW, adding the free bid zones (Civic Center,Lombard), starting from 100-130 range. No luck. Then added the Boutique, reducing my bids to 90-110 range - also no luck. Then went for 3* - also no luck. Finally, went for split - managed to get the Oct 20-21 at Tuscan Inn. Last I checked from website, it would cost above $200 for same date. I'm also willing to have a go for the 3* and hope to get Tuscan Inn for the rest of the days.

Hoping for 4* with bid up to $130 (not incl tax & charges). Areas could be USE/USW/FW. Appreciate any help rendered! Thanks.