zbenye

Standard Courtyard - you've seen one you've seen them all. Free parking, 800-calls, newspapers, Internet (wired), airport shuttle. I've stayed at this property several times and have always noticed annoying noises - from vents, airconditioners, pipes shaking inside walls... This last stay I switched rooms twice and ended up happy in a room facing southwest, which was the quietest despite being closer to the freeway. Some rooms had one king bed, others were larger with two queens. The hotel is located in an isolated area with no public transportation. One would need a vehicle or depend on the shuttle to go to the airport Bart station ($4.95 to SF). Maybe the shuttle could also drop one off on Airport Blvd where one could catch bus 292 to SF ($1.25). Unlike previous stays (over two years ago), this time I wasn't charged any additional taxes on check out. Of the 2.5* hotels in the South San Francisco zone, this is my least favored.

I haven't really spent a night here, on account of hurricane Rita that triggered an evacuation of all visitors just two hours after I checked in (Priceline refunded). I'll describe what little I've experienced since there isn't yet a review here. This motel is aptly rated 2*. It's equivalent to a Travelodge or Comfort Inn. The only thing "Marriott" about it is the soap and shampoo. The room was not terribly large but it did have 2 full beds that would sleep 4. It would have been just OK for a short stay. The location is pretty good - much closer to the downtown area than the better-quality hotels on the same road. There is a nice swimming pool with a Tiki bar. Continental breakfast is served at the bar in the mornings. I thought I had read somewhere that the rooms all had Internet access, but that was not the case. There was free wi-fi in the lobby and the Tiki bar. The signal from the Tiki bar probably extends around the pool and into the rooms right by the pool. There was no trace of a signal in my room that was on the back of the building. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Parking was free. Newspaper free. Local calls free. This probably would have been a good stay. There are some shops and restaurants within walking distance. To get to Duval Street one would probably need to drive, take a bus/taxi or rent a moped (available in the hotel's parking lot, no motorcycle license required).

I'm vacationing in the Dominican Republic and have found Hotwire useless here. Their rates for all star levels are equal to or higher than the rates on Expedia and Travelocity, where you also get to pick your hotel. A 2.5* hotel in Santo Domingo was offered for $48, but Hotwire then added on an unbelievable $46.35 in taxes and fees. On Expedia, I booked the Dona Elvira B&B for $60 with taxes and fees and it turned out to be a very nice place with free high-speed Internet access in all rooms! In La Romana, Hotwire offered an all-inclusive resort for $76. With taxes and fees = $83. I suspected that this was one of the Wyndham resorts in Bayahibe, so checked on wyndham.com and found... $83. So I booked on wyndham.com and got points and all the amenities that come with the free Wyndham By Request membership. So don't automatically believe that Hotwire or Priceline always offer the best deals. Check the conventional websites and you will often run into great finds. And remember these sites should be accessed through savingsbarn.com to support betterbidding.com!

Full credit received :-)

OK, the Priceline automated response system sucked, but I humbly have to report that my refund request emailed to them was answered within the hour, with a number to call to speak to a rep. The rep was a local at a call center here in the U.S., very courteous and helpful. He called the hotel to confirm they had closed and within minutes gave me a cancellation confirmation number, advising that a full refund would be made to my card. An email from Priceline to that effect followed.

Hotel Name: Homestead Studio Suites Miami Airport 8720 Nw 33rd Street Miami, Florida 33172 Your Offer Price: $33.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $33.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $11.58 Total Charges: $44.58 $30 was rejected.

Checked in early in the afternoon. Very friendly front desk folks. Rooms not terribly exciting and the wireless internet was available only in the lobby and around the pool. Two hours later I was asked to leave. Mandatory evacuation of all visitors from the keys due to Tropical Storn Rita, may she spin her way to hell. The hotel manager told me that Priceline is familiar with these situations and will not give me a hard time. He said he would not charge Priceline anything, and gave me a printed notice to give to Priceline confirming the evacuation. I tried to call Priceline. Entered my reservation number and telephone number as instructed, but the system persistently rejected the telephone number. There was no way around that and no option to reach a person. May Priceline Customer Service go to hell too. I'll have to email them to apply for a refund.

Thank you for the alert, Canes98, I'll keep a watch on the news. Leaving KW on Tuesday anyway but might want to leave earlier in the day if so. I'm more worried about the weather in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.

Hotel Name: Fairfield Inn Key West 2400 N Roosevelt Blvd Key West, Florida 33040 Your Offer Price: $50.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $100.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $20.23 Total Charges: $120.23 Based on Rates on Expedia (~$100), Hotwire ($80 lowest) and the lack of recent winning bid postings, I started with a bid of $50 for 2.5*. When that was rejected, lowered to 2* but due to the lack of rebid options decided to not lower under $50. Accepted. May be an overbid, but who cares - good name hotel with free parking, breakfast and Internet, and has a pool. $99 on the hotel's website.

Hotel Name: Homestead Studio Suites Miami Airport 8720 Nw 33rd Street Miami, Florida 33172 Your Offer Price: $35.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $35.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $11.88 Total Charges: $46.88 For a 1-night stay, saw lowest rate of $38 on Hotwire for 2*, went ahead and bid $35 on Priceline. Of all the hotels in the Miami airport area, I had to win the one that doesn't have an airport shuttle. For the overnight stay on the return, will go with Hotwire. $64 on hotel's website.

Yes, rates have gone up, and 21-night wins on Priceline are a thing of the past. The most I can get these days is one week. At $50, it is no longer cheaper than renting, so I'm moving into a rental apartment later this month.

Hotel Name: Homewood Suites By Hilton

Really, it wasn't on the list? I've stayed there through Priceline back in 2002, I guess that was before the conception of BetterBidding.com :-) Definitely free Internet and free parking, which is precisely why I chose to bid up to $50 in this zone rather than attempt more than $35 at SFO. At SFO, these days, you get upgraded to 3* and they all charge $10 for Internet and even higher for parking. If I could be guaranteed the Hyatt or the Marriott that would be fine - plenty of free street parking - but there is no street parking near Doubletree, Sheraton, Clarion.

Hotel Name: Courtyard San Francisco Airport Oyster Point Waterfront 1300 Veterans Blvd San Francisco, California 94080 Your Offer Price: $50.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 7 Subtotal: $350.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $60.80 Total Charges: $410.80 Finally a hotel in SSF, but how expensive, and the least-desirable of the bunch. $49 rejected for 2.5* in: SSF, CH, USE, USW, FW, CC $37 rejected for 2* in: SSF, CH, USE, USW, FW $35 rejected for 2* in SFO

thereuare, Expedia is still showing $99 for 8/30-9/6 at Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco Airport North.

Hotel Name: Marriott San Francisco Airport 1800 Old Bayshore Hwy Burlingame, California 94010 Your Offer Price: $36.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $108.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $23.48 Total Charges: $131.48 Upgraded from a 2* bid. $35 rejected in SFO, SSF, FW, USE. Once again couldn't get anything in the South San Francisco zone for up to $50 for a 2.5*!!! Something really wrong in that zone. Rates for its hotels on Expedia are normal, even a low $99 for the Hilton Garden Inn.

As Residence Inn properties are very much alike, I've copied most of blindman's post and adjusted where different: Excellent value for money: Free parking. Free breakfast (waffles,eggs,pancakes,fruit,cereal,porridge,toast, muffins and more... Free Internet 10Mbps Free happy hour Mon-Wed 17:30-19:00 Beer and red, white and rose wine + salads, burgers, lasagna, ravioli and other snacks. Free first night pack with coffee\tea and mwave popcorn Gym. Pool and spa. Basketball and tennis court. Launderette needs coins ($1/machine). They'll shop for you if you give them a list of groceries! Spacious room has a kitchen with dishwasher, Mwave, fridge, freezer and cooker. Lounge,bedroom has sofa Large TV and decent double bed. Bathroom was very nice. About 10 minutes to Disneyland when no traffic. All this for $45 ! Highly recommend.

Upgraded from a 2* bid. Hotel Name: Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport 1333 Bayshore Highway Burlingame, California 94010 Your Offer Price: $39.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $117.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $24.89 Total Charges: $141.89 Bids for 2* up to $38 failed in: CH, USE, FW, SFO. Bids for 2.5* in South San Francisco rejected up to $50. I don't bid 2* there (Comfort Suites).

This is taking a higher bid every weekend... still worth it though... published rate is $88. Hotel Name: Holiday Inn Express Palm Desert 74675 Highway 111 Palm Desert, California 92260 Your Offer Price: $45.00 ($40) rejected Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $90.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $17.84 Total Charges: $107.84

On second visit got a room with a connecting door to the adjacent room. Connecting doors (in any hotel, no matter how fancy) are not soundproof. I could hear the folks next door like as if they were in my room. The neighbor was a sports freak who had ESPN on around the clock. Unless you need one, always ask for a room with NO CONNECTING DOOR!

Priceline really does itself a disservice when it gives a customer a tired motel for a price ($60) very close to what could be booked directly with the hotel ($69). A new customer would never give PL a second chance after such an unimpressive experience. This Travelodge is ugly and feels like a housing project in some unfortunate neighborhood. Priceline as usual explicitly reserved a smoking room, and there were no non-smoking available. The room was large and of the same quality as an older Motel 6 or Super 8. With two queen beds, this room would comfortably accommodate four adults. The room had a small fridge and a microwave oven. Free: parking (limited number of spaces - arrive early!), continental breakfast, newspaper, wireless Internet. An excellent reason to not bid 2* in this zone, which is lamentable because other places like the Howard Johnson are nice.

Hotel Name: Holiday Inn Express Palm Desert 74675 Highway 111 Palm Desert, California 92260 Your Offer Price: $40.00 ($35 rejected) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $120.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $21.62 Total Charges: $141.62 Stayed at this hotel last weekend, liked it, happy to get it again despite a higher rate.

Hotel Name: Residence Inn Placentia Fullerton 700 W Kimberly Placentia, California 92870-6329 Your Offer Price: $45.00 ($40 rejected) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 4 Subtotal: $180.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $30.66 Total Charges: $210.66 I was expecting to get the Holiday Inn Express that has a published rate under $80 for my dates, but go figure, Priceline gets me the Residence Inn whose published rate is $139... Not complaining - Residence Inn suits me just fine. What I don't understand is why Priceline refused to give me 5 nights (tried up to $50) when the Residence Inn published rate for 5 nights is even lower - $129.

Do not confuse with the Holiday Inn Express Cathedral City, which is in the same Priceline zone (Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert,...). Unlike Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Select that are usually old and tired, the "Express" properties are modern and pleasant, and offer free amenities. The room was very nice and spacious, with two queen beds, a desk with two chairs, an armchair and dresser. Based on reviews I had read elsewhere, I asked for a room away from the pool (noise) and was gladly given one. It was very quiet and had a nice balcony. The bathroom was OK but the vanity area was a bit cramped. Soap and shampoo provided. The "closet" (alcove with hangers) was also small. Everything was clean and in good working order. There is a small workout facility and a laundry room. Outside were a large pool with lounge chairs around, and a spa. Free: parking, wireless Internet, expanded breakfast The immediate area has everything you need: supermarkets, restaurants, banks. Startbucks across the street. Will gladly stay here again.

Low-end of the Priceline 2-star level. The room was small with a queen bed. Will not accommodate more than two. It had an armchair; a dresser; a large closet; iron and board. The kitchen: full-size fridge, sink, range, microwave, toaster, coffee maker. There was a basic set of dishes and silverware for two, and a couple of pans. The bathroom only had towels. No soap, no shampoo. Bad showerhead. Maid service is weekly, with a "refresher" mid-week. Free parking, local and 800 calls. No breakfast, no paper. Wireless high-speed Internet is $3.99 per stay.