Sutter

Hope you do end up staying there! Be sure to monitor your e-mail messages. Hopefully my experience was a one-time fluke.

It is a nice hotel. We stayed there a year ago through PRICELINE. However, be sure to monitor your e-mail before your trip. In late May my bid of $70 was accepted for the same hotel, but 3 weeks later, on the day we arrived in L.A., I found in my e-mail box a message from Priceline saying that the Sheraton discovered it was overbooked and had moved us to the 3 1/2-star Radisson. No reimbursement, just an electronic coupon good for $10 a night, for up to 5 nights, on a future PRICELINE bid (just one stay).

I did send a message to Priceline's Customer Service Department through their Web site, saying just what I said above: the situation could have been handled better, and if they really, really couldn't find another 4-star hotel I should have gotten some reduction for getting 3 1/2-star instead OR the coupon should have been good for any five days. Although the site said I should expect a response within 48 hours, I've received nothing in the week since I sent it. Surprise, surprise.

Sept. 10-16. $256. Amenities: Restaurant, Business Center, High-speed Internet. I did look at the list of pinned Hotwire hotels, and saw a Champs Elysees- Trocadero (with a notation it had been rezoned), but no "North of Champs Elysees." Hotwire also came up with a hotel in an area now designed "South of Champs Elysees - Trocadero area." Thanks!

We paid $45 plus taxes/fees through Priceline. We thought the rooms, and the hotel overall, were quite nice. Definitely nicer than the Hilton Arden West in Sacramento we'd stayed at earlier in our trip. No flat-screen TV, but otherwise everything looked modern. Parking was $20 for self-parking and $26 for valet. Internet use in the lobby was reportedly free. $12.95 for conneciton in the room. No free breakfast. We had dinner one night in Spencer's for Steaks and Chops in the lobby area. It wasn't inexpensive ($28 for a huge pork chop, about $33-35 for wild salmon), but very, very good. One review on Tripadvisor said $50 for an 8 oz. steak. Didn't see that. Bar was expensive ($7.50 for generic brandy). The long walk to get to the pool and parking areas has been noted. The courtyard containing the pool and jacuzzi looked like itd be nice for just relaxing. I did hear some street noise from our room, and used ear plugs, but heard no planes, even though the hotel is right across the street from the airport.

We paid $70 for this hotel, since 3 weeks after after our Priceline bid of $70 for a 4-star hotel was accepted by the Sheraton Gateway, we received a message from Priceline saying the Sheraton discovered it was overbooked and put us at the Radisson instead (we did get a coupon good for a discount on a future Priceline bid). The hotel is showing its age, but overall is not bad. It's right across the street from the LAX entrance. You could walk to the airport if you really wanted to, though there is a shuttle bus (shared by another hotel). The room windows, with extra panes, filter out almost all airplane noise and all street noise (better than at many other airport hotels I'd stayed at in various cities). Housekeeping was good, though used room service trays did seem to sit in the hallway for an awfully long time. The downstairs cafe and bar had limited items, though the bar could order food items from the main restaurant. That restaurant was good, and somewhat atmospheric, but rather expensive, espeically for drinks (as one would expect at a hotel). It was too cool for us to use the outdoor pool. We also did not use the small fitness room, tucked away off the lobby next to the small gift shop. It was about a 3 block walk to the main public bus stop serving LAX; we used it to take both Santa Monica and Culver City busses to Westwood and Santa Monica (you could also take a bus to the nearest L.A. light rail station). Busses are inexpensive; taxis expensive. There are almost no non-hotel restaurants within walking distance (one morning we walked about 10 minutes to a Carls Jr. for breakfast and another morning we ate breakfast at LAX, where we'd gone to pick up the FlyAway bus to Westwood). You need to pay for parking, but we didn't have a car until we checked out (walked to the Avis location and then picked up our bags from the hotel). Overall, while the hotel is not luxurious, and not as upscale at the nearby Hilton or Sheraton, it was quit okay.

This was my second stay here through Hotwire this year. $71 plus taxes/fees. Standard room. We asked for a quiet room. While we did not hear street noise, during the night one or more intoxicated (according to the front desk) guests from a wedding party taking place earlier at the hotel make quite a ruckus in a room across the hall from us. Hotel security went to the room and told my wife (who looked into the hall to investigate) that the situation was resolved. Noise continued, so we phoned the front desk, and were offered the opportunity to move to another, better room elsewhere in the hotel (it was about 2 a.m. and we had several bags unpacked, so we declined). I was told that while they could ask the offending guest if they wanted to move, they couldn't force them. Fortunately, the noise abated. Back to the room: it was comfortable, though showing its age (e.g., scuff marks on furniture). I thought the bar was a bit on the expensive side, even for a hotel (e.g., no draft beers, $6.50 for a bottle of Sierra Nevada). Internet was $2.95 per hour, $9.95 for 12 hours or $12.95 for 24 hours (concierge will print airline boarding passes for free)I didn't catch the fact that I'd been charged for a one-hour rate and 24-hour rate until long after we'd left (my fault for not checking closer). Parking is free. Hotel is close to highways, and shopping, but not close to tourist destinations. We did stop by the Hyatt downtown for a drink-- much more luxurious and in a nicer location, albeit with parking fees. Although Hotwire lists the Hilton a 3 1/2 star hotel, I'd give it 3.

Just to clarify: the notice that our bid on a 4-star hotel was accepted by the Sheraton Gateway was sent on May 26. The message saying the Sheraton was overbooked and we'd been switched to the Radisson was sent on June 14 (I saw it on the 15th since it was sent after we'd departed on the night of the 14th).

After an overnight flight from Brazil, I happened to have time to log into the Internet at the Atlanta Airport on our way to LAX, and found that Priceline had sent a message saying that we would no longer be staying at the Sheraton Gateway, since the hotel discovered that it was overbooked (surely it did not get so many full price reservation inquiries that it kicked out Priceline customers, right?). It said the only hotel in the area in which the Sheraton could find space for us was the Radisson (3 1/2 stars). Although I may well could have gotten a 3 1/2 star hotel for less than our $70 bid, there was no reduction in price. Priceline did offer an online coupon good for a reduction of $10 a night for up to 5 nights on a future booking (though only for one booking; not good for, say, 3 nights at one hotel and 2 at another). I did phone Priceline to complain about the downgrading of our hotel after a bid was accepted, but, after lots of waiting on the phone, was told that we could either accept the new booking or get a full refund. As it was literally at the last minute, after an overnight flight, we accepted the Radisson, which turned out to be okay though not as nice as the Sheraton (and for which I believe I could have gotten for less than the $70 plus taxes/fees I paid for a 4-star hotel). I did use the $10 coupon on a subsequent stay, in Portland, for 3 nights (when I tried to use it for another hotel for 2 nights, the message said the coupon had already been used). This was the first time this had ever happened to be with Priceline. I was not upset about having the hotel changed at the last minute, but do feel that after a bid for a 4-star hotel was accepted we should have been given another 4-star hotel OR the coupon should have been good for $50 on this stay OR that amount of credit should have been good on a future stay without requiring a 5-night stay). And I still wonder how the Sheraton suddenly, at the last minute, discovered it was overbooked. And found it curious that once the Sheraton found it was overbooked, it was apparently up to them to determine where else we'd stay.

Yes, Ontario - East

Ended up going for 3-star Ontario Airport- West, $46 per night, June 23 and 24, amenities fitness room, pool and high-speed Internet. Expected Hilton or Aloft, but ended up with Hyatt Place Ontario Mills. Reviews on Tripadvisor pretty good, and location excellent (my wife wants to shop at Ontario Mills). I did use the HOTWIRE link from this site to book.

Now, neither do I. Don't know what happened. Maybe I entered something wrong earlier, but it's a moot point. Now I do see a 2-star with shuttle, breakfast, pool and Internet for $65 (not sure which hotel it is but at that price I'm not tempted) and a 3-star with fitness room, pool and Internet (appears to be aLoft or Hilton). Sorry for the confusion. I'll wait till next week and make the purchase.

Saw an apparently new choice for 3-star hotel Ontario Airport- East for the same date (June 23 and 24) for $46: airport shuttle, complimentary breakfast, fitness room, pool, business center, high-speed Internet. I'd think it was the Hilton, but haven't seen the Hilton with complientary breakfast. Aloft has similar amenities, but no free breakfast OR shuttle. For the same dates there's a 3 1/2 star for $57: complientary breakfast, fitness room, high-speed Internet. This appears to be the Ontario Grand Suites (formerly the Indigo). I used the link from this site for the search.

This is very useful information! My wife and I will be in Portland June 28-July 3 and I was thinking I'd have to spend much more than this, and possibly switch to someplace out of town after a couple of days since we'll likely need a car for our plans and parking is so high downtown. Now I at least have a price to start biddng at. If I get something this low, even paying an outrageous parking rate after a couple of days wouldn't be bad.

-Bid $65 for 4-star. Refused. -Bid $60 for 3 1/2 star. Refused. -Returned to 4-star and increased bid to $70. Accepted. Omni Hotel San Diego. Total price with taxes and fees: $86. I used the link from thie site for all 3 attempts. This could be one time where I wouldn't mind not getting a prime room (bay view) due to getting this through Priceline, since that side is closer to the train tracks (there are remarks about that in Tripadvisor reviews of several hotels in the same area).

Upped PRICELINE bid to $65, then $68, still no go for 4-star LAX. Rather than waiting 24 more hours to rebid, and not want to accept Priceline's gracious offer to up my bid by $17, I added Brentwood-Westwood and re-bid at $70. I would have been happy to get a 4-star in Brentwood-Westwood at that price but knew I wouldn't. Happily, I did get the Sheraton Gateway at LAX for the $70 bid. Subtotal for 3 nights, $210; total with taxes and fees $249.36. We stayed at the Sheraton Gateway a year ago, and liked it. I wasn't happy that I coldn't get it for the lower prices reported by others for just slightly earlier dates, but I did look around at hotel Web sites enough to know that we're hitting the area at a busy time. I did always use the link to PRICELINE from this site.

Thanks. When I finally get somethng, I'll post the results on this thread.

$59, June 15-18. Amenities: shuttle, fitness room, pool, restaurant, business center, laundry, high speed Internet, spa. Looks like the Radisson? Thank you.

Thanks very much. I'll book either this hotel, or the 3 1/2 star Ontario- East, in a week or so. Using the HOTWIRE link on this site, of course.

$59. June 23 and 24. Amenities: smoke-free, exercise room, pool, restaurant, business center, laundry facilities, high-speed Internet. I didn't find a separate Rancho Cucamonga and/or Upland category on the pinned hotel list (I looked under Ontario, but didn't see any saying RC-Upland). Thanks!

We'd be happy with any of the 4-star hotels on PRICELINE. I only mentioned the Crowne Plaza to show why I didn't add 3 1/2 stars to the bid. I do agree that you can sometimes get a better idea of the hotel you'll get with HOTWIRE (and they have started adding some with the name of the hotel actually given-- through their "partners" Hotels.com-- for slightly more than their own usual prices). I'm taking the "" Los Angeles- central" in PRICELINE's message as just a different, albeit strange, way to describe the general area. I'll probably try to bid again at the same rate and then, assuming it doesn't work, go up $5. Howire definitely a fallback if I don't get a 4-star with a good rate from PRICELINE (their rate is $89, so I have a ways to go).

I used the PRICELINE link above and bid $55 for 4-star LAX hotel for June 15-18 (3 nights). Turned down. In the past I've normally waited 24 hours or more and increased my bid by $5 at a time (depending, of course, on how much time I had). As I have plenty of time left, would there be any point in bidding the same price again, after waiting a few days, to see if circumstances have changed? I've noted several bid at lower prices for 3 1/2 stars, but most seem to have gotten the Crowne Plaza, which I'd like to avoid (based on reviews on Tripadvisor). Interestingly, the Hilton, where we stayed a few years back, is also only 3 1/2 stars. Most bidding successfully for 4 stars recently seem to have gotten the Sheraton Gateway, which we also got through PRICELINE a year ago and enjoyed (I realize there are no guarantees). BTW, although I clearly bid on LAX hotels, the message I got back was "your offer for a hotel in Los Angeles - Central L.a., was unsuccessful." PRICELINE has no designation of "central L.A." Curious. Thanks.

Interestingly, PRICELINE's site has a category of "Cancun North Beach - ALL INCLUSIVE,"but if you check that, the highest category that comes up is 3-star (they have 3-star all inclusive?). There is also a "Cauncun Hotel Zone South" area with both 4-star and Resort options.

I found this very useful, since my reading of the "average" price for 4-star hotels in the area, on the PRICELINE site, led me to believe that prices in Coral Gables were higher than for downtown Miami. Even if I go for downtown Miami first for an upcoming trip, I'll keep Coral Gables in mind should I not get what we want right away. Of course,have to keep parking prices in mind, as well.

Hotwire seems to have a designation for Downtown- Port Everglades, but I did not find an area designation on Priceline for the port area. Would the Priceline area closest to Port Everglades be downtown or beach area? Thank you.