BEAV

Hotwire isn't too bad, considering the difficulty w/Priceline. 4* Hyatt Regency Embarcadero is $111 per night Oct 7-10. Shoots up to $124 per night when you put in Oct 7-11. This would be easy to split to avoid "overpaying" the first 3 nights for the higher priced 4th night.

If you wish to lower to 3 stars, I would bid FW zone. Often times, the 3 star hotels in USE and USW are not any lower priced (if at all) than the 4 star properties. This is why you hardly ever see any bidding activity (or awards) for the 3 stars in USE/USW. Is $120 too high a limit for you? This is what it took friends of mine to score a 4 star in USE for the dates of 10/6 - 10/9. If so, then you may want to lower to 3 stars FW zone. Just my opinion!

Do you recall if this was designed as a "customer favorite" when you made your purchase? The last time I looked at this hotel on Hotwire (last week) it was designated as a customer favorite.

Priceline rates have increased over last year in San Francisco, and some people are having difficulty winning bids due to a heavy convention schedule, etc. This is a great rate to fall back on in the event you're having trouble w/Priceline and/or Hotwire. http://dir.travelzoo.com/Lodging.asp?intCa...ry=25&id=160582 Dates the $89 rate is available: Sept. 1-5 Nov. 18-30 Dates the $99 rate is available: September 7-8 September 13-17 September 26-29 October 11-14 October 31-November 14 Link takes you directly to Marriott website, so I assume Marriott Rewards members would get full point value.

This caught my eye because this hotel has always been 3 stars. Just tried to do a bid myself, and Priceline still does not offer 4 stars in this zone. Also checked a future bid I have at this hotel and my confirmation still says 3 stars.

If you're trying on Priceline for the Hyatt Vineyard Creek, it's in the Santa Rosa zone, not Sonoma zone.

When you book an Entertainment rate, do you make the reservation directly with the hotel (asking for the Entertainment rate) or are you supposed to call some special Entertainment-affiliated number?

New hotel for your list.... Bid this for a relative attending the Cardinal's game on Sept 5. Struck out in downtown St Louis up to $125 at the 4* level for both Saturday night alone, as well as two nights Sat and Sun. I also tried Fri/Sat night combination and struck out as well. Later discovered I was wasting my time as all 4* participating hotels are sold out! Then I went to Priceline vacations and found a package at the 3* Renaissance Suites (downtown zone, 1/3 mile from stadium) for $261 for one person, including all taxes and fees, flying from Chicago. Note, my relative lives near Kansas City and will be driving. Checked several air cities (DFW, MEM, IND, ORD, MCI, DTW) and flying from Chicago produced the lowest price. Since I had been given $125 per night before taxes and fees as my maximum to bid, the air/hotel package for $261 including taxes and fees worked out great. So I went to purchase the package only to have Priceline respond that the price was now $286. I did another search of the vacation package, and sure enough, the same package was coming up at $286. I have had this experience numerous times with Site59's weekend packages, where the price suddenly goes up when you go to purchase. At this point, I didn't want any part of the vacation package, even if only for another $25! Had the $261 package gone through without a hitch, it would have been interesting, to say the least, to secure a package that included air fare which would have amounted to less than booking hotel-only at $125 per night. Although the Renaissance Suites is rated 3* I wasn't interested in bidding for hotel-only in that zone due to bad reviews at other participating hotels. Relative said the Forest Park-Clayton zone would be fine and she'd just drive into the game on Sunday. Wound up with the 3* Sheraton at $70 per night, after rejections at $50 $55 and $60.

James, Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but at this point I believe both Park Hyatt and Omni are classified as "Customer Favorites". I just found the following comments in a search for Sept 4, 2004 "Well appointed room that lived up to the 5 star rating." The Omni was previously rated 5 stars by Hotwire, then later downgraded to 4.5. I think it's quite possible it was downgraded solely to preserve opacity between it and Park Hyatt, although customer comments reflect the former 5 star rating (Omni). Also, last week I saw a comment regarding "best steak I've ever had." Although I'm sure you can get a decent steak at the Park Hyatt :) , the restaurant at the Omni is named Bob's Steak & Chop House! If you have your heart set on the Park Hyatt, I'd purchase right away if/when you ever see customer favorite comments that include balconies. Balconies are your ace in the hole in my opinion....

That explains why it took $120 before finally "hitting" per this thread. Interestingly, the $120 award was at the Marriott, the "headquarters" hotel for the convention. Good to note Marriott didn't completely flip off the Priceline switch in terms of inventory, although at a higher-than-normal price.

I've been waiting to see if this hotel would come up since Hyatt purchased the property last month. I've been checking star levels in the Santa Rosa zone ever since, and tonight is the first time I noticed 4 star bidding in the zone. I first tried the night of Sept 2, and only got counteroffers of $98, which I didn't want to pay. So I tried Oct 21 and my first bid of $55 was accepted. So now it's up to someone else to land an even lower rate. Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel Santa Rosa - Rohnert Park - Petaluma 170 Railroad Street Santa Rosa, California 95401 Check-In Date: Thu, Oct 21, 2004 Check-Out Date: Fri, Oct 22, 2004 Your Offer Price: $55.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $55.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $12.64 Total Charges: $67.64 Hyatt.com rate is $149. Hyatt Vineyard Creek - Santa Rosa

Bid this for a family member. They are really looking for 4 nights beginning 9/15, however bids up to $70 were all rejected. Decided to reduce request to 3 nights (leaving off Saturday night) and bid was accepted at $65, after rejections starting at $45. After securing three nights, 9/15, 16 & 17, I decided to use Priceline's "add a night feature" to try and secure the night of 9/18. Priceline quickly responded they had no inventory at the Hyatt for 9/18, so the request was denied. Although looking for a four night stay, this is a pleasure trip and the 4th night isn't a necessity. Although I struck out w/Priceline's add a night feature, it was very helpful to learn through this method they don't currently have inventory for the 4th night. That saved me wasting ridiculously high bids for a 4-night stay that would have all been rejected anyway. Hotwire has inventory all four nights at the Hyatt for $107 per night, but my relatives are happy getting three nights for $65 on Priceline. Unfortunately, Hotwire is a whopping $352 for the 4th night (9/18) by itself, plus I believe it's at the Hilton, anyway.

Both Hyatt Regency and Hilton in Monterey display the same amenities, however while searching this zone for relatives, the "Customer Favorite" appears on a search for Sept 13-15. The customer comments below positively identify the Hyatt as it sits on a golf course (the Hilton doesn't). Also the comments about the lobby, without a doubt, describe the Hyatt. "Our hotel was nestled on a lavish 22-acre golf course and surrounded by colorful flowers and greenery! The lobby reminded me of a cozy ski lodge with the open skylight, fire pit, and comfy couches. The staff was always very friendly and greeted us every time we walked in. The outdoor seating by the pool and outside the lobby let us enjoy the fabulous Monterey weather."

I think you're right about the Customer Favorite being the Park Hyatt. A few weeks ago, wanting to be 100% sure the Omni had no balconies, I picked up the phone and called the hotel. Sure enough, they have no balconies. The Customer Favorite comments seem to cycle and change on a daily basis. Every few days you'll see references to balconies in the comments. Don't discount the Omni, however because of comments of a hotel courtesy driver because I think you'll find that amenity listed at Omni's website. The strange thing about Dec 3-9 vs Dec 3-6, however, is the fact that I'm getting the same rate of $127 for both date ranges. I suppose it can be coincidental that both the Omni & Park Hyatt are going for $127, but I think it's a bit odd.

Sheraton has sold their 3* Concord property. Hotel is now called Concord Hotel and Conference Center. A search of Sheraton.com no longer displays the property, so I guess they are longer affiliated with it. Not sure if the new ownership will continue selling the property via Priceline, however the hotel still displays in Hotwire's vacation package.

I like both ideas, but especially the hotel photo concept. If bandwidth/storage is an issue, how about a forum where people could post links to their on-line hotel photos? For instance, I use webshots.com to post all my travel photos. Having a forum to post links to photos at other websites would accomplish what you're looking for, without having to store all the stuff at this site.

Just discovered today that Sheraton has sold this property. Hotel is now called Concord Hotel and Conference Center. I searched Sheraton.com for Concord, but only hotels in the surrounding area displayed. So it appears Sheraton is no longer affiliated with it in any way. Don't know if the new ownership participates in Priceline, but the hotel does display (under the new name) in Hotwire's vacation package. Expedia, Hotels.com, etc. also selling it under the new name.

Currently, Hotwire is displaying a Customer Favorite for a two night consecutive stay, check in Aug 21, check out Aug 23. (Atlantis?) But if you're booking two separate one-night stays (Aug 21, Aug 23) as your original post indicates, Hotwire is not displaying Customer Favorite for either of those two nights. (Peppermill?) Can you clarify your actual dates of stay?

New hotel for the list. Bumping up for thereuare....... Welcome back, thereuare. Just read your SEA trip report. Now I want to go! :)

Here's a link to a thread that is buried a few pages back. It should answer your question to your satisfaction! Atlantis Reno

New hotel for your list! This was a tough Saturday night bid for a friend of mine. Numerous 4* rejected bids in the $55-85 range between NMA, Loop/Grant Park and Chicago River North zones. Finally success at $90. Hotel webrate is $139, so not a fantastic bargain, although good for a Saturday only stay, I suppose. $110.24 w/taxes & fees Hotel website: Hard Rock Hotel Tripadvisor Reviews: Reviews

This is an interesting "win" in my opinion as the Hyatt Regency is displaying a rate of $149 for your date. With such a rate, I'm surprised you didn't "hit" the Hyatt Regency in the $65-80 range. Lowest rate for the Park Hyatt is $164. The Park Hyatt is the "cadillac" of Hyatts in SF, so you've struck a great deal. I'm always trying to look for ways to target this hotel, but the lower priced Hyatts are always available the dates I want to go to SF!

The counteroffer displays in leiu of a rejection notice on your screen, in addition to an email notification. If you'd have received one, you would have known it. If you want to be downtown, near shopping and the theatre district, I'd go with 4* USW zone over 3* FW zone. Often times, you can score a 4* USW for about the same price as 3* FW. When my friend bid for Oct 6-9, he didn't receive any counteroffers until finally successful at $120. Good luck with this....as a newbie, don't let it get you down. Persistance usually pays off! Also, since your stay is still quite a ways off, Priceline's access to inventory can change dramatically as time goes on.

A friend of mine called to tell me he was awarded the Marriott for $120 per night for three nights, Oct 6, 7 and 8, 2004. Last week he had bid unsuccessfully up to $80. This time he used the bidding strategy suggested by thesilb in this post. He started at $80, working his way up until success at $120. This is obviously a busy week in SF. Perhaps conventions, sporting events, who knows what! Although certainly not the best Priceline deal, he was still happy as conventional rates at Priceline hotels are running $200-300 per night for these dates.

A friend of mine called me today to say he got the Marriott (USE zone) for $120 per night for the nights of Oct 6, 7 & 8. He used the bidding strategy thesilb posted earlier on this thread, starting around $80. This is obviously a busy week in SF which is driving up Priceline rates. My friend didn't feel he got a "bad Priceline deal" because conventional rates at the Marriott are still twice the amount of his winning bid. I should note, however, he didn't not include USW in his bidding as he wanted to steer clear of the Hilton. Priceline rates are driven by hotel occupancy levels, and his experience confirms it!