bdsisme

jiljm, I think my recent Priceline purchase may help you (they're quite similar). See the thread (in the Priceline - Other Cali cities section) that I started, and recently posted my priceline win at ($75 for one night, 7/30, at Holiday Inn on the Bay, a 3* Downtown). I'm also guessing that the Opaque 3* hotel you saw on Hotwire (Downtown) would also be the Holiday Inn on the Bay, but that's just my speculation (because it matched the description for me when I was bidding on PL and looking on Hotwire, and was listed for $95 for one night on Hotwire (opaque)). Hope that helps!

Thanks for the advice, Colfax. Unfortunately, your advice will go unused (by me) but will be helpful for future purchases. I got antsy earlier today and started bidding after scouting out previous deals. I'm very happy with my booking -- Holiday Inn on the Bay (Downtown/Harbor Island) for $75 -- and will detail my bidding purchase: $70 4* Coastal - reject $65 4* Coastal + Downtown/Harbor Island - reject $73 4* Coastal + Downtown/HI + Mission Valley - reject $60 3.5* Coastal +Downtown/HI + Mission Valley - reject $67 3.5* Coastal +Downtown/HI + Mission Valley + Coronado - reject $71 3.5* Coastal +Downtown/HI + Mission Valley + Coronado + Pt Loma - reject $55 3* Coastal +Downtown/HI + Mission Valley + Coronado + Pt Loma - reject --close browser-- $70 3* Coastal + Downtown/HI - reject $75 3* Coastal + Downtown/HI + Mission Valley - accept I'm happy with the Holiday Inn on the Bay -- normally $149 online/PRICELINE, and I'm pretty sure it's the opaque HOTWIRE hotel listed for $95 (at the time that I bid). Now just to figure out how to park to get around the $22 parking fee.

Thanks for the response Colfax. I'd like to stick with the zones of Coastal, Downtown/Harbor Island, and Mission Valley -- I know there are a lot of stuff to do around there (restaurants, entertainment, proximity to the Bay, etc).

I'm willing to accept Coastal, Downtown/Harbor Island, and Mission Valley.

Oops, I realized that this is posted in the Hotwire Forum, instead of the Priceline forum. Can one of the mods please transfer it?

Hi all, I'm looking to stay one night (7/30/10) near the SeaWorld area. Obviously, the closer to the waterfront or downtown area is better, and the more stars the better. However, as a graduate student, money is tight, and I'd like to stay under a $90 budget (and even less if the trade-off is beneficial - if you told me I could have 3* for $90 or 2* for $40, I'd take the 2*). Does anyone have a Priceline bidding strategy in mind for me? Thanks! bdsisme