BEAV

And now a philosophical question...... What benefit is there to either Priceline and/or their hotel vendors by combining three zones into one? I certainly can't think of any consumer benefit.

I agree any slight boundary changes Will described won't place any particular hotel into a different zone. This is especially true of the southern boundary of what used to be the SOMA zone. There isn't (and never was) a zone south of SOMA as this is an industrial part of the City.

Yes, I believe combining the lists would be correct. As far as I can tell, that's all Priceline has done....combine the three into one. Other zones within SF remain intact (such as Fisherman's Wharf, Civic Center, etc). Any SF locals (or those familiar with the City) by all means speak up if you see anything peculiar that I don't.

Priceline has combined the USE, USW & SOMA zones into one very LARGE zone called "Union Square - Embarcadero". It should be noted that Hotwire covers this same territory with FIVE zones (USW, USE, Embarcadero/Financial, Convention Center & Nob Hill). If Priceline is hot to combine zones, I'd suggest combining USE, USW & SOMA, while at the same time create a separate zone in the Financial/Embarcadero area. This would better separate the tourist areas from the business district. Actually, for a very short time last year, Priceline created such a zone in the Financial district, separate from USE.

Yes, Grand Champions is in the Cathedral City-Palm Desert zone. When I filled out the claim on Nov 17, I was "up front" with Hotwire, telling them the rate for Dec 26 had risen significantly from my quote on Nov 15. I offered to fax my claim dated Nov 15. Sure enough, they asked for the fax. I felt this was the best stragegy, assuming they would lessen the $$ amount of my claim after doing their own research.

First off, you can add this property to the hotel list. 4.5 stars Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Business Center, Golf, Spa Check-in: Dec 25 Check-out: Dec 27 On Saturday, Nov 15, I was preparing to bid on Priceline for two nights, Dec 25 & Dec 26 in the Palm Desert area. Out of curiosity, I decided to check Hotwire first. They listed a 4.5 star property for $259 per night. Trying to decide which property this was, I went to their vacation package to see if there was a match. Sure enough, the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells. I first went to Expedia, which quoted $132 per night. Then I went to Hyatt.com and they were quoting $119 per night. At this point, I decided to purchase from Hotwire and apply for their "double the difference" refund. Hotwire purchase w/taxes & fees: $572.95 "Double the Difference" refund: $560.00 Out of pocket total for 2 nights: $12.95 A couple of observations: The "Double the Difference" folks don't work Sat/Sun. This caused a bit of anxiety when I hadn't received their form to fill out with my claim information. I didn't receive the form until Monday. If the rate you're using for your claim is a non-refundable rate that you don't physically reserve, make sure you print the webpage with your rate quote. By the time Hotwire got around to verifying my claim on Monday (after my purchase on Saturday) the rate at Hyatt.com had risen dramatically for the night of Dec 26. It was necessary for me to fax Hotwire a copy of my quote from Saturday in order to proceed with the claim. Without it, I would have been sunk. After receiving my email from Hotwire yesterday afternoon comfirming the $560 refund, I decided to investigate doing the same thing for my parents. I'm not sure if it's coincidence or not, but Hotwire is now quoting $147 for the same nights I purchased on Saturday for $259. I can't help but wonder if my claim caused them to review and adjust their rates.

Sorry, I'm a few sandwiches short of a picnic basket today! YES, I believe the customer comments fit the Wyndham. It's in the Downtown Disney vicinity and could be considered "tropical."

Yes, the Customer Favorite comments mentioned both tropical setting and walking distance to Downtown Disney.

Unless there is another hotel with the same amenities as the Wyndham Palace, it looks like Hotwire has added "Customer Favorite" to this property. Dates researched are Jan 31-Feb 3, 2004. Wyndham Palace also comes up on the vacation package for the same dates.

The Omni is definitely the 5* in the Embarcadero zone. I can't help but wonder if the 5* in the Union Square East zone is the Westin St Francis. I believe, through research of the vacation product, the Sir Francis Drake is rated 3 1/2 stars. NO WAY is it a 5 star property IMHO! The Four Seasons, although on Market St, lies on the South side of Market. With that, I would assume it to be in the Convention Center zone.

When I originally posted this property, I failed to mention it displays as "Customer Favorite". In addition, I just discovered that this property is now rated 4 stars by Hotwire.

New property to add to your Hotwire list. Embassy Suites Brea-North Orange County 900 E. Birch Street Brea, CA 92821 (714) 990-6000 Amenities: Suite, Restaurant, Swimming, Fitness, Complimentary Breakfast, Business Center Region: Orange County Subzone: Brea/North Orange County

We toured this hotel last Fall while in Celebration. In my opinion, it's a winner with quiet, elegant ambiance. Something that's rare to find in the WDW area. Definitely a place to "get away from it all" if that's interests you after a day at the parks.

Thanks for the feedback, Welldone. Since the 4 star displays the beachfront icon, I can't see how it could be the Diplomat Country Club. I checked some alternate dates, and what I assume to be the Diplomat Country Club came up at 4.5 stars (no amenity info as referenced in the vacation section here at BetterBidding). I'm 99% sure the 4 star is the Diplomat Resort, but not sure enough to play the "double the difference" game.

Someone at TOBB reported obtaining the max ($1000) refund from Hotwire's "double the difference" program using the Westin Diplomat. The dates the poster used was Nov 26-30. Under the Hotwire vacation product, this property displays both beach access & beachfront. Under the hotel only category, Hotwire is dropping the beach access amenity in it's 4 star description for Hollywood Beach zone. And this is using the same dates as the poster at TOBB. Hotwire is also displaying the same price ($313) the poster at TOBB paid. So the question is......does anyone think Hotwire is displaying a different property, or are they known to change the amenity labels for the same property depending on whether you're booking hotel only vs vacation package?

I can confirm it lies in the USE zone. Reason being that the Westin St Francis is across the street (to the West of Sir Francis Drake) and it too lies in the USE zone.

Embassy Suites Walnut Creek-Pleasant Hill This is a past booking for a date in July, 2003. Rate was $82. I thought it was already on the Hotwire list, but just discovered it's only on the Priceline list! Amenities: Suite, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Complimentary Breakfast, Kitchenette, Business Center Note: I got this property in May for $41 via Priceline (3 star rating). However, there are several other 3 stars in the zone that often come up. So if someone wants to "target" this specific hotel, Hotwire may be the answer. This hotel is directly across the street from the Pleasant Hill BART station. Region: Oakland/East Bay Subzone: Walnut Creek-Concord

Sorry for the late post! Yes, Sheraton Universal was listed as a "Customer favorite" when I booked in July for my upcoming September stay. I was expecting to get the Burbank Hilton since the amenities are the same. It wasn't until after being awarded the Sheraton Universal that I went back and checked and noticed the "customer favorite" differentiated it from the Hilton. Live and learn!

Amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Biz Center Note: Another hotel for the Burbank/Universal zone. Star rating and amenities are the same as the Burbank Airport Hilton. In that case, beware! Check-in Date: Tue, Sep 23, 2003 Check-out Date: Thu, Sep 25, 2003 Number Of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Price per night: $81.00 Subtotal: $162.00 Total Taxes and Booking Fees: $28.95 Total: $190.95

As far as the Monterey Hyatt goes, be sure and mention at check-in you're on your honeymoon. This hotel consists of several buildings, some w/good locations, and some not-so-good. My parents checked in last year for their 50th anniversary and were assigned a room in one of the buildings w/golf course view and closest to the public rooms (lounge, restaurant, etc). Congratulations and good luck!

First bid of $32 produced counter offer of $47. Ignored and used up one and only free rebid and rejected again at $37. Returned and accepted counteroffer of $47.

Bid of $45 accepted on first attempt. Good hotel for cruise passengers for ships using Port of San Pedro. Complimentary hotel shuttle to/from cruise terminal.

Began bid at $50, raising to $55 with first rebid. This hotel is in the Thousand Oaks zone, however in the town of Westlake Village.

Don't recall bid history. Nice, clean hotel w/airport shuttle, continental breakfast and complimentary parking up to 14 days.

$60 bid accepted on first try.