BEAV

Started bidding at $69, working up in $1 increments until success at $76.00. Hyatt Westlake Plaza 880 S Westlake Village Blvd Westlake Village, CA Your offer price: $76.00 Number of rooms: 2 Number of nights: 1 Subtotal: $152.00 Taxes/Fees: $25.32 Total: $177.32 Bid placed through link to PRICELINE from SavingsBarn.com.

Needed two rooms for two nights. Decided to try Hotwire's double-the-difference by first bidding one room on Priceline (see separate post in Orange County Priceline section). Was awarded the Hyatt Regency on Priceline for $45. Because Hotwire was displaying the Hyatt Regency for $81 per night, I decided to purchase the 2nd room through Hotwire and apply for their double-the-difference. Hyatt Regency Orange County 11999 Harbor Blvd Garden Grove, CA Check-in: January 15, 2007 Check-out: January 17, 2007 1 room @ $81.00 per night X two nights - $162.00 Taxes/Fees: 25.77 Hotel Total: 187.77 Less Double-the-Difference Refund: -144.00 Net Cost for 2 nights: $43.77 Amenities: Customer Favorite Fitness Pool Restaurant Business Hi-Speed Internet Golf Tennis Hotwire purchase was made by the Support/Travel Links from this board.

Began bidding at $38 and kept increasing by $1 until success at $45.00. Received various counteroffers along the way, the lowest being $49. Hyatt Regency Orange County 11999 Harbor Blvd Garden Grove, CA Check in - January 15, 2007 Check out - January 17, 2007 Your offer price: $45.00 Number of rooms: 1 Number of nights: 2 Subtotal: $90.00 Taxes & Fees: $18.99 Total: $108.99 Bid placed through link to PRICELINE from SavingsBarn.com

FYI... For what it's worth, the Argent will become a Westin property effective May 1 2007, I believe. Recent TripAdvisor reviews are full of comments about the hotel being converted to a Westin property in Spring 2007. You can book rooms on the Argent website through April 30, but not after that date.

First bid of $72 produced counteroffer to increase bid by $22. Increased bid by $1 and accepted at $73. Omni San Francisco Hotel Union Square East - Embarcadero 500 California Street San Francisco, California 94104 Check-In Date: Friday, January 26, 2007 Check-Out Date: Saturday, January 27, 2007 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Your Offer Price: $73.00 Subtotal: $73.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $18.34 Total Charges*: $91.34 Bid placed via SavingsBarn.com.

Pan Pacific's newest hotel opens in Seattle on Nov 15. http://seattle.panpacific.com/ There are 50% introductory rates available starting at $148 per night. Not sure how long the introductory rates good for, however they can be found on the hotel's website as well as on Expedia & Orbitz.

First bid of $39 accepted. Courtyard By Marriott Modesto (new hotel for your list) Modesto - Salida 1720 Sisk Road Modesto, California 95350 Check-In Date: Friday, November 3, 2006 Check-Out Date: Saturday, November 4, 2006 Your Offer Price: $39.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $10.88 Total Charges*: $49.88 $89 @ Marriott.com for a savings of 56%. Bid though link to PRICELINE from SavingsBarn.com

You are so correct. I knew it was the Embassy Suites just by the first eight, so didn't even pay attention to the additional "hidden" amenities.

Amenities: Suite Oceanfront Shuttle Complimentary Breakfast Fitness Pool Restaurant Business Center Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport-Burlingame 150 Anza Blvd Burlingame, CA Check-in: Nov 30, 2006 Check-out: Dec 01, 2006 Rate: $94.00 Taxes $18.06 Total $112.06 Retail price was $169 for a savings of $75. Always happy to purchase this hotel for a pre-flight night's stay as they have free parking where we can leave our car for the duration of our vacation. Purchased through the board's HOTWIRE link.

If you do a vacation package search on Hotwire for 12/1/06-12/3/06, you see the amenities displayed for the 3* Doubletree in Berkeley are: Fitness Pool Restaurant Business Laundry Hi-Speed Internet Golf Tennis Hotwire sometimes displays different amenities for the same property in their vacation packages vs hotel-only product. So with that in mind, there are 3 contenders here: Doubletree, Four Points Sheraton and Holiday Inn Bay Bridge.

I think you were wise to reserve a cancellable backup for now while you continue to try Priceline. Although I don't think it's necessary to rebid every 24 hours this far out, Priceline has lowered their former 72 hour wait period down to just 24 hours. That's a great new feature for people who's dates of stay are much closer than yours currently is. Continued good luck with this.

Just an observation here .... The Hyatt Vintage Creek was bought by Hyatt in August 2004. I've followed their Priceline rates for the past two years and in both 2004 and 2005 noticed a pattern that the lower, more "off season" rates don't kick in until November 1. Whether that will hold true for 2006 is yet to be seen, however it may explain the problem getting a dirt cheap "deal" on this property pre-Nov 1.

Agreed, $275 would be a "deal" for the night of the 9/14 when the rack rate is $609. But not near the deal for the nights of 9/15 and 9/16, which I won the Grand Hyatt yesterday for $163 (see my post in this forum) for these dates. Bidding $275 for all 3 nights would cause an overbid for the nights of 9/15 & 9/16. This just drives home the fact that Priceline's rates are date specific and will vary as widely as the hotel's own rack rates do.

What amenities did Hotwire display? Although I understand your desire to be closer to Nob Hill, when it comes to hotel rooms, I'd take the Argent over the Westin St Francis any day. There are widespread complaints about Priceline/Hotwire customers being assigned very tiny rooms at the St Francis, whereas rooms at the Argent are much more spacious. Enjoy your stay in SF.

Thanks for the tips! I will definitely pass them on ....

Bid $150, $175 and $200 in MTW .. all rejected. Switched to MTE, first bid of $150 produced counteroffer of $175. Added a free rebid zone, bid $163 and accepted. Grand Hyatt Check-in: Friday, Sept 15, 2006 Check-out: Sunday, Sept 17, 2006 Happy with the result, especially since this one's for the Senior Director at work.

Reno, NV changes & observations: Hilton has sold the Reno Hilton and it is now called the Grand Sierra Resort. Not sure whether or not it participates w/Priceline or Hotwire, however the hotel did not display in a number of vacation package searches of both venues. Also, Hotwire is now displaying the Peppermill in two categories. A vacation package search of 9/19-9/21 reveals that in addition to the 3.5 star Peppermill Hotel & Casino, they have also added the Peppermill Montego Bay Wing. The property is rated 3 stars with amenities of: Casino, Airport Shuttle, Fitness, Pool, Restaurant, Golf, Tennis & Spa. Finally, the Hotwire hotel list is displaying the 2.5 star Sands Regency in two different zones, despite there being only one downtown Reno zone on Hotwire.

Hyatt.com is selling the Hyatt Vineyard Creek for $240 on 10/26 (whereas only $180 on 10/25) which may have something to do with your failed bids under $100. Also, it's interesting to note that Hotwire is selling the Vineyard Creek for a whopping $233 on 10/26. My opinion is it's going to take a higher bid (maybe $100-125?) or sit back and wait awhile and monitor both rack rates as well as HOTWIRE. Good luck.

Bids of $90, $91 and $92 rejected. Accepted at $93. Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort And Spa 5001 Coconut Road Bonita Springs, Florida 34134 Check-In Date: Monday, December 4, 2006 Check-Out Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2006 Your Offer Price: $93.00 Extend Your Stay Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $186.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $30.22 Total Charges*: $216.22 Bid through the link to Savingsbarn.com :)

In the past few months, my experience with flights via Priceline have been that their savings only amount to $20-30 over regular fares. For that little of a price differential, I'd prefer to book directly and pick my flight times. By chance would Boise be an option for you? What's the distance between Boise & Billings? United has nonstop flights SFO-BOI and they are currently priced just over $300 for your December dates. And I'm sure a 90 minute flight with an infant would be attractive over a connecting itinerary via SEA or SLC on your way to/from BIL.

Welcome to BB! While I agree there is room in this world for both boards, I would find it difficult to post winning Priceline bids to each since both venues rely on participants bidding through their affiliate links. To be a frequent poster on one board more or less requires (demands?) you bid through their affiliate link. On the other board, it subtly requests you bid through their links, however will welcome your winning bid results no matter what. I think it would be unfair to bid through TOBB's affiliate link 100% of the time (essential in order to be able to continue posting your winning results) then post to this board without ever contributing through it's channels of support. So when push comes to shove, I will continue to post solely to this board for 3 reasons: 1. I patronize both Priceline and Hotwire. I want to be a member of a board that participates in both as well. 2. The availability and encouragement of open forum discussion on this board. And hats off to our moderator for keeping threads 'above board'. It proves open discussion can flourish without heavy handed censorship. 3. Mature and dignified treatment of the BB community by the moderator. In other words, basic application of the Golden Rule.

Historically, I don't think it's an especially heavy weekend in SF for hotel occupancy. Your best bet would probably be the USE zone, since it encompases the Financial District where I would expect occupany levels to be at their lowest compared with other areas of the city. But your best gauge would be to check conventional rates. If participating Priceline 4 star hotels are in the $150-200 range, then you know occupancy levels aren't especially high and you might have good luck with Priceline in the $70-100 range. Also, check Hotwire and see what prices they are displaying as a basis for comparison.

Here is Priceline's description of a boutique hotel: "Usually smaller and more intimate, boutique hotels offer a different experience than your typical hotel. These unique, and often historic properties are well appointed with designer soft-goods, upgraded amenities and eclectic designs. Due to their historic nature, rooms may be slightly smaller than standard hotels and may only accommodate one bed. Boutique hotels cater to the customer and tend to provide a more personal level of guest service. Creative restaurants, room service, fitness centers and business services are some of the amenities and services offered. Boutique hotels will have the following amenities: Remote Control TV with Premium Channels Telephone with Voicemail Radio Alarm Clock Iron and Ironing Board Hairdryer Business Services Restaurant 24 Hour Front Desk"

HOTWIRE's vacation package 9/14-9/19 lists Hilton Fisherman's Wharf as an exact match to the star level and amenities you described in your first post, nyc2005. As to parking, $28 is actually a bargain in SF. I was there last week and recall walking past several downtown hotels who's valet parking signs curbside all posted daily parking rates of $40 and upward.

Per a search of Hotwire's Vacation Package 8/31-9/3, the 4.5 star Clift (San Francisco, USW zone) has been downgraded to 4 stars. Amenities remain: Restaurant, Fitness, Business. Also in this zone (USW) the 4* Pan Pacific was recently purchased by Marriott and branded as a JW Marriott property.