Lisalark

Hey Everyone, Thanks for the advice on hunting down free internet. Actually I'd rather go to a coffee shop or McCafe (I have still not gotten over the fact that McDonald's is now billing themselves this way, although I can see how it's a savvy marketing move), just so I can people watch instead of being asocial in my hotel room! As long as it isn't too late at night, anyway.

Hey Everyone! I got the Parc 55 Wyndam for 9/5 and 9/6 (check out 9/7) for $95 a night on Priceline, or $228.38 all-in for two nights. I contacted the reservations folks right away through the website about non-smoking and this was the response with the request below: **************************************** Dear Lisa, Thank you for contacting Parc 55 Wyndham, Your request has been noted on your reservations Best, PARC 55 WYNDHAM San Francisco-Union Square Sandra Kavai | Reservations Department Message Topic:Reservation Inquiry Comments or Questions: Hello, I just used Priceline for the very first time and was lucky enough to get a reservation for your hotel: Reservation Information Reservation Name: *** Hotel Confirmation Number: *** Hotel Request Number: *** I wanted to write you right away with a request for a non-smoking room; I have severe allergies and unfortunately cigarette smoke tends to trigger respiratory issues. Looking at TripAdvisor and your website it seems like you are super responsive to requests provided folks actually voice concerns! So I thought I'd give you a heads up and hope that a non-smoking room is open. Oh - and number/size of bed(s) is a non-issue. Thank you for your time and consideration, looking forward to getting to know the Parc 55 and visiting San Francisco, Lisa ********************************************* So I guess that means they will abide by my need for non-smoking . . . ? I sure hope so! When I check in I'm also going to ask for a quiet room, judging from the reviews this place can get loud, and quieter rooms are basically higher rooms. Overall I'm pleased with the experience thus far, I only paid $5 more than I would have for a very highly rated 2* transparent reservation all-in and the best I could do with Hotwire or lastminutetravel was $250. I'll let you know if I feel nickle and dimed come the actual stay, though! Internet is $12 and apparently spotty coverage/low band-width, so I may just use their time-limited complimentary stations and avoid the issue. Other advice for the Parc 55? Bidding history today: 9/20/2010 FD $75 rejected FD + USE $77 rejected FD + USE + USW $80 rejected FD + USE + USE + CC (d) $82 rejected FD + USE + USE + CC (d) + FW (d) $85 rejected FD + USE + USE + CC (d) + FW (d) + MLS (d) + SFON (d) $90 rejected FD + USE + USE + CC (d) + FW (d) + MLS (d) + SFON (d) + SSF (d) $95 ACCEPTED So you might try bidding between $90 and $95 for those dates - I only had one dummy zone left and was getting sick of the process. :)

Ok - second day bidding! I started at $70 (used this site's PRICELINE link) and it looked like this for awhile: FD $70 rejected FD + CC (d) $72 rejected FD + CC (d) + USE $74 rejected FD + CC (d) + USE + USW $76 rejected FD + CC (d) + USE + USW + etc. I ended with a rejected bid of $83 a night having used all the dummy zones while actually trying for FD, USE, or USW 4*, which came to an offer of $200.83 all in (without free internet, hopefully no resort fees, and no guarantee of non-smoking). :) From reading TripAdvisor, it sounds like some of these four star hotels understand what four stars means and work to make all guests happy, and some need a little help. It makes me totally freaked to go to 3.5* or 3* on Priceline! For tomorrow, I think I will start at $75 and go up to an all-in of about $210. With the cost of internet, that would be about equivalent to the transparent highly reviewed free internet/non-smoking 2* I found, and about $25 less than the transparent non-smoking 3* I located . . . decisions decisions. Thanks again, Better Bidders, I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for the advice! That four star on Hotwire with guaranteed non-smoking and no resort fee comes to $275 total for two nights; I also identified a cute 2.5* with a friend's help that has great TripAdvisor reviews, guaranteed nonsmoking, free internet, for $224 for two nights and a great 3* for $250 a night. Sooo, trying Priceline now for a 4* for $200 or less all in. I'll report back!

:) Ok guys, here's an update on what I tried today on PRICELINE: 8/18/2010 I used the site's PRICELINE link! 4* in downtown SF FD $55 rejected FD + USE $58 rejected FD + USE + USW $61 rejected FD + USE + USW + CC (dummy) $65 rejected FD + USE + USW + CC (d) + MLS (d) $68 rejected FD + USE + USW + CC (d) + MLS (d) + SFON (d) $70 rejected FD + USE + USW + CC (d) + MLS (d) + SFON (d) + SSF (d) $73 rejected FD + USE + USW + CC (d) + MLS (d) + SFON (d) + SSF (d) + (d) $75 rejected This was my first experience trying Priceline and there were a few things I found interesting. First, the taxes and fees add substantially to the cost! I think my final attempted bid of $75 per night was actually well above my preferred $85/night rate once taxes and fees are factored in (and this does NOT include possible resort fees, internet fees, parking for folks with cars, etc.). All in all, this makes me feel like Priceline in this particular case isn't that great of a deal . . . but I will probably play around again tomorrow. The known taxes and fees are visible before confirming your bid, but who knows with resort fees and such. Hotwire has a 4 star hotel in USE with guaranteed non-smoking and no resort fee for $113 - but I can't figure out how to get a quote on taxes and fees without entering my credit card. Frustrating. Anyone have any suggestions on known good quality transparent places to stay in SF? I'd be ok with a lower star rating if I knew exactly what place I was getting and it had good ratings. The saga continues . . .

Something else I was wondering about at 4* hotels in SF - how much should I expect to pay in extra fees? I don't use minibars, will have my cell, won't have a car, don't plan to use the gym (walking SF hills is enough activity for one day) but probably will use the internet. And what about resort fees? If I pay $85 for a room per night, will I actually end up spending another $20 or so on internet and random fees?

Thanks for the question, sorry for the confusion - I would be checking out Tuesday the 7th, so staying the nights of the 5th and 6th.

Awesome, thanks Vince! I'll stay away from SOMA initially then, transit is important to me.

Hello Better Bidding! Yes, I will use this site's link to book. :-) I am planning to stay in San Francisco Sunday 9/5/10 and Monday 9/6/10 nights. I'm not overly familiar with the city and want to be in a neighborhood with accessible transit (I will not have a car) and where I would feel safe walking around as a single female, at least during normal hours. I don't mind a bit of trash or non-aggressive panhandling, but don't want to feel scared. So far I'm thinking a 4* in any of the following Priceline districts downtown would be fine: Financial District-Embarcadero, SOMA-Moscone Center, Union Square East, Union Square West. Any of these I should avoid because of safety issues or transit access? Also recs on what order I should bid on (ie. all fine but start USE, then add SOMA, then FD, or something to get the best hotel/location possible). What price should I reasonably start bidding at for these nights? Are the SF 3 1/2* properties in these districts nice enough that I shouldn't hesitate to lower my star rating to get a better deal? I don't need luxury, just a clean, well-maintained room and hotel. I'm thinking I'll start around $70 a night but really have no clue. As a grad student I'd rather not go much above $85 a night. Thanks for your help!