tivoboy

I'll update this review a bit. The resort seems to be holding up well. Rooms seemed nice, maybe updated since this most recent reviewer above. We had one glitch that worked out, so be prepared when booking/calling/arriving. After winning this bid, with the 125$ price level, I called the hotel and said, I needed a king bed, non-smoking. Not sure what hotels vs. priceline policy is, but a queen just doesn't cut it for a 6'6" body. I talked to a check-in rep, got their NAME, wrote it DOWN and they confirmed, "no problem" Well, upon arrival we were told they were full and we had a room with two queen beds in it. I said, sorry, this wasn't acceptable for me. I had talked with "xyz" and they told me specifically it wouldn't not be a problem. I think it HELPED that indeed it was "XYZ" checking me in, I had their somewhat unique name in my iphone calendar with the date I had called - what can one say. So, a King room appeared on a ground floor though, but nonetheless we got the room and everything worked out. Nice place, I would certainly stay there again for same or less money. I think this King room have been something they reserve for SPG heavy hitters. It had a bunch of free waters around, a small bowl of fruit, about twice as many free coffee packets. We didn't hit the pools, but saw them. Even though the resort was "completely full" the pools didn't seem crowded. We played tennis, that seemed to be where the competition for space was. We got a court easily, but it appeared during out hour of play probably 20 couples showed up who had to leave since there was nothing available. Cardio room was nice, but full on a Sunday morning. About 12 units, with some weights. There IS a nice weight room outside of all places, covered so not totally Venice Beach like, good machines - again, about 90% full on a Sunday morning? The room itself was nice, big 36" plasma tv with the HD CHANNELS ACTUALLY SHOWING HD of all things. :-) We were on the bottom floor, but it didn't prove to be a problem. What WAS a bit of a problem was it was an outside facing room, so through the outside wall one COULD hear people walking on the path, but since we were on the outer edges, it was only a problem a couple times. Update on the RESORT FEE, AKA ANNOYANCE FEE, it is now 27$ a DAY, with tax 30$ a day, come on! two days, 60$ more dollars. I think one needs to take this in to context when booking, it of course made the whole stay 155$ a night. I would be annoyed to no end had I been one of the people who could not use the tennis courts, or who showed up to work out and everything was full. the free internet is nice, but I have free internet already so it did NOTHING for me.

Just an update on this stay. I'll post some details in the Review thread. After winning this bid, with the 125$ price level, I called the hotel and said, I needed a king bed, non-smoking. Not sure what hotels vs. priceline policy is, but a queen just doesn't cut it for a 6'6" body. I talked to a check-in rep, got their NAME, wrote it DOWN and they confirmed, "no problem" Well, upon arrival we were told they were full and we had a room with two queen beds in it. I said, sorry, this wasn't acceptable for me. I had talked with "xyz" and they told me specifically it wouldn't not be a problem. I think it HELPED that indeed it was "XYZ" checking me in, I had their somewhat unique name in my iphone calendar with the date I had called - what can one say. So, a King room appeared on a ground floor though, but nonetheless we got the room and everything worked out. Nice place, I would certainly stay there again for same or less money.

Well, finally SUCCESS! But, I probably just committed the first major cardinal priceline bidding foul. As I went back to bid today, after not having done the process for the past two days, I started at a fairly HIGH number. I had tried bidding for RESORTS in Rancho Mirage before, at 100-125, even bidding up to 135$ once time, with NO SUCCESS. I had tried bidding on 4* at up to I THINK the 125$ level. I expanded the areas, and then included 3.5*, but I don't think I bid more than say 110$ for the 3.5* hotels. Today, I was armed to go DOWN to the 3* properties, since my fall back at the questionable Doral had since the past two days moved UP to 137$ minimum on a pre-pay. So, today, I started to bid on Resort (actually, I had listed 4* and then RESORT but of course realized I could always start at RESORT and then ADD 4* and get at least TWO bids out of it. But, today I started out at 125$ for the RESORT category, thinking what appears to be naiivly that I should start NEAR my highs before. Well, boom at 125$ it was accepted for the WESTIN MISSION HILLS RESORT in Rancho Mirage. Goes to show, ALWAYS start low! I probably could have gotten it lower, but I'm okay with it. right where we want to be, nice RESORT level place and the wife was getting NERVY not having it all sorted what with a nearly a week away. Thanks BB. Do I post this info somewhere else?

Well, I could split the bid but I don't want to end up moving. I could BUY a night at doral, but again at 109$ a night might as well just book it.

Well shot down now two days in a row, 120-130 for resort still not working those dates. I THINK it is the Saturday night that is getting me into trouble. I MIGHT try 4*, and 3.5* lodging, but the uncertainty is killing me with so many hotels. I found a nice rate at the Doral (which doesn't get TOO favorable reviews, but it seems clean and easy) and the rate is about 100$ a night pre-pay, so I might just do that for this round. We have some really nice places to stay in Santa Monica and Ojai, so maybe these nights will just be "just for sleep" places.

I was rejected up to 105$ I think, maybe even 110$ for RM, Palm Springs and IW. Tomorrow, I think I'll try 115$ for resort then go for 4*, then maybe move down to 3*, but there are so many 3.5* one doesn't really know what they are going to get. Yes, as I posted somewhere else, this is the first weekend of the bnp paribas tennis tourney, but it IS two weeks worth. Not sure why/how so many rooms would be taken.

well, i've run the process on RESORT in the region up to 100$, and run the RESORT and 4* in the region up to 90$, looking for new game plan now.

thanks for the whole process lay'd out! many thanks. Since I started to bid already last week, with resort at 85$, should I just start at above that level to begin with since I pretty much know it was rejected already?

rancho mirage is just a preference, only because it is closer to our destination but another resort, 4* or maybe 3.5* location in palm springs, rancho mirage or indio is probably fine. It is JUST lodging at this moment, not really a vacation - although, nobody likes to be in a loud place with poor living conditions even for just two nights.

thanks, I'm looking for 3/12, 3/13 -leaving on 3/14, somewhere in palm springs, prefer rancho mirage max bid would be about 90-100$ I think, I can BOOK 3* for about that without the hassle, fees and uncertainty. thanks for the tips

So, I'm looking for a stay in Palm Springs, hopefully, something in the Rancho Mirage area. There are 4* and Resort listings. What is the best practice to start bidding, should one start with 4* then maybe ADD resort, or start with RESORT and then ADD 4* to increase bids? I could add Indio, but they only have 3* hotels, I'd rather not take the chance and drop too low down, but could add them after a few days of failed 4*, Resort and 3.5* attempts. Also, have two people staying, so we can both bid. Thanks for the insightful strategic recommendations tb

the bnp paribas tennis open is that week, and weekend. that could be why rates are higher or availability is lower. I'm trying myself for 3/12/-3/14/10, having trouble finding something reasonable.