wsj3200

Started at $50 and increased bid by $4 until bid was accepted. Internet rate is $149 plus taxes. Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $72.00 Subtotal: $72.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $16.94 Total Charges*: $88.94

Just try to stop the running in the halls by 10 or so and I'm happy.. :) Good luck with the tournament.

I'll be spending the weekend at Qualcomm Stadium for the weekend, so I started my focus in the Mission Valley area. Bid 3* in $5 increments starting at $50 unitil I hit $70, no luck. There were many more free bids to be had, but $70 was my limit. I logged out, logged in, changing my focus to the Sorrento Mesa area and repeated the above using 2.5*. Hit at $70 as expected based on a previously posted win. :) Your offer price....................................................$70.00 Taxes and service fees.........................................$26.73 Total charges.....................................................$166.73

I already had a room for this date that I booked 1 1/2 months ago at $44, but based on posts by Peter Pan, I had a friend bid this accordingly. Result was $39 accepted on the first try. So as of now, that $39 bid price is still good.

You did well my friend. Enjoy your trip.

I wonder if this was a mistake or has the slowdown caused them to lower prices? They haven't been beow $40 for a couple of years now. Good going Peter Pan exploring the limits. Without your input, I don't think I would have ever thought to go below $40. Thanks for posting.

Great idea changing the departure date then using extend a stay as a means of getting free bids. I'll remember that in the future for multi-night stays.

My stay at this hotel was in April, 2008. The hotel was conveniently located near the 80/580 freeway and very close to the Bay Bridge leading to San Francisco.. A trendy outdoor shopping area that includes a movie theatre and mall type big name stores is within walking distance. The Capitol Grill shares the parking lot with the hotel. We are there on our night of arrival for a quick bite but was not impressed. A Denny's is also close by. As for the hotel, this is definately geared more toward the business traveler IMO. I found the room was crampped. The bathroom was a postage stamp. You had to turn sideways to close the door. It had a cheap feel to it. Rather than use tile or granite for the walls surrounding the tub, this bathroom had the "stylish" plastic one piece simulate white tile. That, combined with the large, bright flourescent light fixture gave the bathroom a Motel 6 feel. The closet was so small that even getting into it was a challenge. Bedding was marginal at best. The wall mounted heater/air conditioner was somewhat annoying. Now the good. The hotel was quiet despite the fact that our room overlooked some actice railroad tracks about a block away. I was never bothered by the sound. The parking, although not secured, was free and plentiful. There was a small "business center" that had two computers available frre to guests. We were also able to access the internet in our room with our laptop. This was also free. There was a cafe that served breakfast starting at 6:00 am. Overall, the hotel served our needs as it was for sleeping and showering. A romantic hotel it is not. I was traveling with my son, so we had two doubles. One bed in the room would free up some floor space, but it is a very small room. Kids would not be happy. I did not see the pool/whirlpool area, but I know they had both.

This hotel is right nest to the airport so I suspect they have airport pick-up and delivery. They recently instituted a $12 fee for parking. If you have a rental car it might make sense to return it the night before. You'll eliminate the need to hassle with the car rental in the morning and save yourself the parking fee...... Just a thought

Update on previous reviews, the pool area has just been refurbished. It was under construction as of my last visit to the hotel and should be completed as you read this. The property has improved greatly since my first visits four years ago. As of this review, parking is still free.

Bid Ontario 3*.......................................$43 rejected :) Added 2.5*...........................................$44 accepted :) Your Offer Price.....................................$44.00 Taxes and Service Fees..........................$12.52 Total Charges........................................$56.52 This appears to be the lowest price for this area. If biding this area, don't bother going below $40. I've tried it many times to no avail. Try starting at $42 and use your free bids. Remember that rooms open up all the time so start bidding early if you can. If you don't hit at this price the first day, keep trying every 24 hours. You should be able to get a 3* room in this area in the $44 - 50 range. See my other posts for getting 3 bids at a sitting. BTW, a 2.5 * bid in this area has given me the La Quinta in the past but I have not had this hotel come up in this price range in over a year. This hotel is decent and centrally located, so don't be afraid to bid 2.5 *. I would not recommend bidding 2* hotels in this area.

This is the beauty of bidding in the San Diego area. Although there is almost no chance that the more expensive areas like Coronado will hit, if they do, you have hit the jackpot as they are in the most desirable parts of the city for visitors, close to everything. The pricey hotels are in a pretty small geographical area. If one has the patience, I have bid up the 14 times in one sitting. Unfortunately, I have never been successful getting the better zones at the prices I was willing to pay. As far as weekday/weekend rates, you can get an idea what days might require a higher bid amount by going to a generic hotel web site and putting in the dates you want for the Country Inn and Suites. For any given period, you will see some nights higher, some lower. Usually two tiers is all you'll see. You'll also find out their room availability. BTW, if there is limited inventory for the night you want, they are not likely to release any Priceline rooms for those dates. This can change at any time however. This may help you in determining the days you'll need to bid higher. For instance at business hotels like the Country Inn, weekend rates Friday - Sunday are lower. This may also be an indicator of the bid level they are willing to accept during that time period. Hotels that cater to tourists, will be more expensive on the weekends, but if they are having trouble filling rooms during the week, they may put in a lower bid point do to expected occupancy levels.

You can certainly use the 2* only area as free bids, just don't select the 2* option for hotel level as you will surely get a hotel in an undesirable area. In San Diego, there are many areas contained in a relatively small geographical circle that are much more expensive than your bidding range and closer to most of your activities. You can use these areas as free bids also. These more expensive areas are not likely to produce anything at the level you are bidding, but if they do, you have hit the jackpot.

I really like the Country Inn and Suites in the Sorento Mesa area. It's freeway close to downtown SD (15 minutes) about 1/2 way between downtown and Legoland. The hotel is easy to get, has free parking, has a free breakfast that is about the best I've had for the price, nice pool and spa areas. It would be a 3* except it lacks a full time restaurant. It's in the price range your looking for. Plenty of free bids. Most areas closer to downtown can be used as free bids as they are much more expensive. Just bid areas you'd like to stay in case one of those areas hits. Stay away from the areas that offer only 2* hotels. They do not have a kitchenette. Chili's is a short walk away. Plenty of fast food in the area. Rancho Bernardo is a nice area but is a farther from downtown.

Bid this morning, got the 2.5* Four Points by Sheraton in Emeryville. Thanks again for the help. Bid 3* Berkeley, Emeryville.....................................$55 rejected :) Added free bid........................................................$58 rejected :o Added free bid........................................................$60 rejected :) log out, log in Bid 2.5* Berkely, Emeryville....................................$55 accepted :) Because there are no free bids at the 2.5* level, I may have started too high. Initially I started at $50 but got the "recent history" banner, so I up the bid in $1 increments until it disappeared. Your Offer Price.....................................................$110.00 Taxes and Fees.......................................................$20.68 Total charges........................................................$130.68

Thanks again for your for taking the time to respond. Of course I'll let the board know what happens.

Thank you for your quick response. I'm be playing at Golden Gate Fields and need a room Apr 25-27. Looks like the only free bid opportunity for the area is to bid 3* first, then lower to 2.5 for an additional bid. Can you tell me what 3* hotels are on priceline and the price point for these. As you can see, I have some time to try a number of bids. I've never been to the area, so any recommendations of other possible areas that are close to Golden Gate Fields is appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to help.

Any help would be appreciated. TIA

Ontario 3* bid $40...............................Rejected :) Added 2.5* bid $42..............................Rejected :) Reset Ontario, Riverside West 3* bid $44........Accepted :o Your offer price...................................$44.00 Taxes and service fees........................$12.52 Total charges......................................$56.52

Does this mean we are no longer using SB?

I got this on the first bid. This hotel has the most comfortable beds in the Ontario area. Unfortunately, they have parted from the norm in the area and now charge for parking. This adds about $12 to the bid. Bid Ontario 3*......................................$44.00 Taxes and fees.....................................$12.60 Total charges.......................................$56.60

This is one of my favorite hotels in the Ontario area. Everything has always been great except for the pool area. I'm glad to hear they are finally improving it.

First bid was $43, rejected :) Added 2.5 * and bid $45. accepted :) Your offer price $45.00 Taxes and fees $12.62 Total Charges $57.62

Bid history Ontario 3*.................................................$43 rejected :) Ontario 2.5*..............................................$45 rejected :o Reset Ontario, Corona, Riverside West 3*...........$46 accepted :)

Thanks for posting Tonyj. It looks like you discovered a new low price in this area. BTW, for those that get this hotel, by far the most comfortable beds in Ontario. You'll have a wonderful nights sleep. :)