tommyd229

Started at 45 denied (they offered the option to raise +$13 without changing anything -- I declined that option because this area has ~10 free rebid zones), bid 48 declined, bid 50 accepted. I used your PRICELINE link.

Bid two nights in Newport Beach / Huntington. Was using $7 in Priceline Bonus Cash. Started at $38+7 bonus cash = $45 Newport Beach. Rejected. Kept adding a few $s with the free re-bid zones. Accepted at $48 + 7 in bonus cash = $55 bucks a night. They give the option to extend on either front end or back end of the trip. Parking is $28 a night (but free if you drive a hybrid). I wont need to park here as I'm local and this is a place for some visitors to stay.

I bid on 8/24 for a 4* in Newport / Huntington Beach. I used the $6 a night Priceline promo that I got in an email that day and I bid $39 a night ($45 total after adding in the $6 in 'fake money') On first shot I won the Hyatt in Newport Beach. She is an old faithful hotel that I know well. Free parking on the back bay side will keep the price down.

Thank you for this insight (best guess). I will likely pass then - Great knowledge to have prior to purchasing. I will keep the board updated on what I end up doing and will use the HOTWIRE / PRICELINE links.

THank you. I have clicked the provided HOTWIRE link and am replying to the thread.

I am looking to stay in Lake Tahoe 7/2-7/3 (Saturday night over Fourth of July weekend). I have not been having luck with Priceline so I am trying Hotwire. What do you think this hotel is? 2* shuttle, breakfast, swim, fitness center, pools, high speed internet. Hotwire rating of 55% recommend. I looked on the lists and could not find a match -- maybe Best Western Station House Inn. Any help would be appreciated. The ONLY other Hotwire listed is a 1* with bad reviews.

I agree with you that this is an unimpressive Hyatt. When you check in ask for a map of the hotel and see where they want to put you. Make sure you ask for something facing the back bay as those views are MUCH better than the normal "priceline" room you may receive without asking. You need to ask though. I once checked in here and they put me on the ground floor (I think the hotel only has a 2 or 3 floors) facing some putting green / Jamborree road. This was a very unimpressive room. The pool near the parking lot was also very motel 6 ish but the one in the back of the hotel is much nicer. Also - you can park behind the hotel using street parking for free and the walk is the same as if you did self-park (they dont advertise this!). Newport is fun though.

I had $80 "Priceline Bonus Bucks" to use that was set to expire 3/30. So I put it to use! I got these off of Groupon a while back for $40 bucks (paid in full using Groupon bucks I had in my account). Starting bidding last night for Coronado 4* @ $5 bid + $80 bonus bucks = denied. Added Downtown San Diego & Harbor Island (keeping 4* and 5* levels). Accepted. This works well as it is close to Petco Park (Padres are playing that weekend) and a quick getaway from Orange County for the weekend. Valet is pricey, but there free steet parking nearby on the weekends. Room Subtotal: $5.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $18.90 (USD) Total Room Cost: $23.90 (USD) Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter 401 K Street San Diego, CA 92101 619-231-4040

Followed a previous post as it was exactly what I needed. Bidding history (August 11th @ 9am). Bid Newport/Huntington 4* $55 rejected Added free rebid Seal Beach $60 rejected Added free rebid Laguna Hills $65 rejected Added free rebid Laguna Beach $75 accepted. I did not want to go to the $70 level for fear of getting Hyatt Newport Beach. From previous postings I 'knew' that I would get the Marriott at $75 so I went to this level. Taxes/fees were like $12 a night.

Yes, the area is bike friend but only for 2 areas (balboa island and balboa peninsula - Newport Beach). Going up to huntington beach or down to Laguna are too far. You best bet is to bring a bike and then bike down to PCH (turn right on PCH) and turn left on Jamborree - take that over a super small bridge and you are in a quaint place called balboa island. Take it a little further down (few blocks) and turn right. go about 1 mile and you come to a 3-car passenger ferry. You can bring your bike on this ferry ($1 per person) and head over the balboa peninsula. Once there you are in a fun area and can access the beach. Other biking area is a place called Back Bay but you would be heading east and going in the opposite direction from the beach. In short, you need a car here but there is parking on the street (except during the week between like 8-6). Or you could park in the mall but you MAY get a ticket (do that at your own risk).

To save on parking (30 bucks) you may want to try parking on the street on newport center drive. I believe the restriction is 2 hours (enforced mon-fri) 9-6. Or you could TRY to park across at the mall. Enjoy!

Park on a street called Back Bay (located RIGHT behind the property - turn off for this rd is Jamboree). Here you can park for FREE and it is located right next to the self park lot. One side is 2 hr parking and the other side is no restrictions. This will save like 25 bucks a day! Enjoy!!!

I know that there is also a 5star named the island hotel at fashion island.

Park on a street called Back Bay (located RIGHT behind the property - turn off for this rd is Jamboree). Here you can park for FREE and it is located right next to the self park lot. One side is 2 hr parking and the other side is no restrictions. This will save like 25 bucks a day! Enjoy!!!

Bid $45. Was accepted on the first try. Had been trying this price (all the way up to 60) and was denied the past 2 weeks. Finally got accepted. I live in the area so this is a staycation and will park on the hill.

I just returned from my stay and wanted to give a brief review. The entry way into the complex is very nice and manicured. The lobby is nice too with an old leather kind of feel. The grounds are nicely landscaped as landscapers worked hard cutting the grass / trimming trees / flowers everywhere. The place on Sunday was very busy with kids everywhere. Although there are 40 pools it seemed that everyone has a loud kid in it. Monday was PERFECT - we had our own private pool and were able to relax and enjoy the sun. The rooms are real charming. Different than a high rise hotel - there are these casitas (spanish sytle condo type places). Our room had a fire place and was quite nice. Nothing large or fancy about the room. Spanish tile, standard standing shower. Resort fee added at the end when we checked out for 27 bucks....

Been bidding in this region for a week starting at a ridiculously low $45 and was adding in increments of $5. I was going to stop bidding at around $120 for a resort property. Need some place to take the lady for vday...I received an acceptance yesterday for the La Quinta Resort and Spa. Rack rate is $329 for the king. After taxes the total was 92 and the resort fee is another 27. Resort has 41 pools and 53 spa tubs...NICE! 81 degrees and sunny. I used the PRICELINE link several times during the bidding process but am not sure if I used the link when my bid was accepted.

Just bid on PRICELINE was 4* hotel in the Downtown - Harbor Island area. I started bidding at $55 in the Downtown - Harbor Island area and it was accepted immediately. This is MLK weekend and the Chargers playoff game is going on the day too. I am very happy with the hotel win. Parking at the hotel is around $30 but the street meters are not enforced on Sundays nor on the MLK day holiday (I called San Diego transit department). I doubt that I could have received too much of a lower price for this 4* property. Website / Expedia has the daily rate for this night for 160 a night. Taxes were an additional 14.69 by the way. I forgot the use the PRICELINE link. SORRY!

If this is the hotel in fashion island, you can save the 18 parking fee by parking across the street at the Mall (use discretion however). Also, you can park on the street during the night for free. SAVE MONEY !!!

Yes you are correct. The Alabama team / media / crew and maybe Texas as well are staying at the Marriot in Fashion Island this week. That would explain the higher than normal price. Thanks for sharing your win.

That is great news. I'm glad that you were able to use my advice. Too bad it is raining today in Newport :/ Glad you had a nice trip.

Be sure to check out previous posts regarding this property. There was a post that talked about parking on back bay drive and walking to the hotel (up some hill). Free parking there!

I am just following up / closing out my previous question. I was unable to find anything in Napa for Saturday night under 110 dollars at 2.5* and above so I opted to stay closer to San Francisco (where I was spending Sunday and flying out of). I did Priceline a 2.5 star hotel in the berkeley / emeryville area. I bid on Friday for a Saturday stay (7/18 - 7/19). Tried 3* berkeley / emeryville bid $65 failed. Tried 2.5 * same area and won the 4 points sheraton in emeryville for $60 + fees. It was fine. I liked that it was close to Oakland (we went to an A's game) and close to San Francisco and it had free parking! Thanks for the help on the Napa search but there is really a small inventory of hotels in that region and they are very spread out.

I agree. This may be a very difficult win indeed but I am up for a challenge. The conventional nice hotels: hyatt or marriott are sold out on their websites and these were popular wins in the past on this board (so they will not appear via priceline now unfortunately). The 4* and 5* hotels are going for $400 +, the econolodge type place that is on hotwire is $79 (2 stars) and $273 for 4 star. My failed bids were for 3.5 and 4 star hotels in any region (there were 4 regions in the area that I tried). I just low balled completely just to have a feeling as i was bidding 'blind.' The highest rejected bid was $70. Low I know but this was just a starting point. My goal is the highest rated hotel that I can get for $100 and under. My 24 hour window has expired so I can bid again. I will do $90 and start at the highest star rating that I can and work my way down. I still have a few days. Worst case scenario is I just make a day trip out of it. I miss those late night at the Malibu dinner over there in Hoboken. Thanks for the help!

First off - This is a great site and greatly helps with the bidding on Priceline travel! I tell everyone about this site. I am traveling to Napa / Sonoma this weekend and I need a place for 1 night (arrive on Saturday July 18th). There is unfortunately not a lot of recent posts in this small region and I was wondering if anyone has had some recent failed bids and just have not posted. I am flexible on the exact region and star quality but want the price to be around 100. I tried some low ball offers and these were denied. Also, hotwire only has 1 or 2 properties listed so there may be an event going on this weekend. Any insite or recent success stories for bidding on this region would be helpful. Thank you!!!