Priceline Hotel: Need San Francisco Hotel help

[Sylph Dancer]

I'm traveling to SF May 11-17, 2010 and will be attending a conference at the Sofitel 5/14-16. Would like to stay in at 3-4* close to the Sofitel on those dates but can stay anywhere else in the bay area before or after. I can stay as far south as San Jose and as far north as Marin County but prefer not to stay in the East Bay. I can't figure out whether the Sofitel is in the San Mateo section or Redwood city section on the maps. I understand the difficulty of getting a particular hotel, but would like to at least bid in the area where the Sofitel is. Would it be better to include the entire length of stay in the bid or separate it out?

If I was lucky enough to stay close enough to the hotel to walk it would save me the cost of a rental car during the conference. I'll need one before and after.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[thereuare]

With PRICELINE there is no way to target a specific area within the zone... if location within the zone is important HOTWIRE may be a better option as it gives you the ability to take an educated guess as to what is being offered, based upon the amenities shown before your purchase.

As per the Priceline Hotel list the Sofitel was last reported in the (Redwood City - San Carlos) zone... if you look at this zone, are you able to accept a hotel anywhere within the shaded boundaries of the zone? Have you tried searching HOTWIRE for your full dates and/or the conference dates to see if you're able to ID any of the properties and if they are close to the Sofitel?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Colfax]

It sounds like you want to stay in two different areas of the Bay for the conference and non-conference days. For clarity we can use this thread for your conference dates; then start another thread for assistance with your other dates.

What exact dates did you want to stay at the Sofitel, if possible? Your conference is thru 4/16, but you'll be in the area through 4/17. Did you want to stay at Sofitel (or another 4* in the zone if that should come up) the night of 4/16 too?

And what's your bidding limit for a 4* in Redwood City-San Carlos zone?

With that info someone can offer a bidding strategy.

[Wanderlust Lady]

I'm traveling to SF May 11-17, 2010 and will be attending a conference at the Sofitel 5/14-16. Would like to stay in at 3-4* close to the Sofitel on those dates but can stay anywhere else in the bay area before or after. I can stay as far south as San Jose and as far north as Marin County but prefer not to stay in the East Bay. I can't figure out whether the Sofitel is in the San Mateo section or Redwood city section on the maps. I understand the difficulty of getting a particular hotel, but would like to at least bid in the area where the Sofitel is. Would it be better to include the entire length of stay in the bid or separate it out?

If I was lucky enough to stay close enough to the hotel to walk it would save me the cost of a rental car during the conference. I'll need one before and after.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

I live in this area and from what others have told me, I'm 99% sure Sofitel is in the San Mateo area (call and ask the front desk!) and there are only two 4* hotels in this zone, the Sofitel and the San Mateo Marriott.

Personally, since you really want to be near, or at, this hotel, I'd just book online as they have some great special rates during that time, including "buy 2, get 1 free" so your room is only $92/night.

http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-0922-sofit...bay/index.shtml

[Colfax]

I'm 99% sure Sofitel is in the San Mateo area (call and ask the front desk!) and there are only two 4* hotels in this zone, the Sofitel and the San Mateo Marriott.

Sofitel used to be in San Mateo zone but Priceline tweaked the zone boundaries awhile ago and now it's in Redwood City-San Carlos zone, part of the San Jose cluster. I just checked the map to see if the boundaries changed again, and Sofitel is still in RWC-SC zone. Marriott's in San Mateo zone, in the SF cluster.

It's unclear to me whether the OP is looking for 2 nights or 3 nights at Sofitel, but if it's 3 nights that "Buy 2, Get 1 free" deal might be the ticket.

[Sylph Dancer]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I would like to stay at the Sofitel for 3 nights the 14-16 and checking out on the 17th so I'll definitely check out the buy 2 get one free offer.

I am not sure what bidding limit should be. I'm used to staying in hostels for $20 a night but I thought I'd treat myself for this trip. I checked out hotwire and priceline suggestions but I wasn't sure if they were using their suggestions as a marketing tactic (You'd better bid a lot higher than that for you'll never get to stay at a hotel) or if it was a true indication of the cost of a hotel. I bid $65 for Redwood City and again for the San Mateo sections but I was turned down for both two nights ago. Of course, after I checked the forums here I gathered that $65 was too low but I'm a little nervous about going what to offer.

I can open up another thread for getting help on the other dates but I wasn't sure if the better strategy wasn't to stay at one hotel for the whole time. I also thought after checking out the forums that it might be cheaper to stay at a hotel during the weekend, but maybe not in a popular tourist destination like San Francisco.

[Wanderlust Lady]

Since your dates are over a weekend, ALWAYS check on the hotel's site using the AAA discount option. Marriott especially has incredibly low rates Thur-Sun nights, when combined with a Friday or Saturday night stay, as these are their slowest days since the majority of their guests are business travelers.

For example, the San Mateo Marriott, which is a magnificent hotel and you can usually get an upgraded room for free on the weekend, is only $107/night on your travel dates: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sfos...ncisco-airport/

I always use the AAA option online and in the last ten years have never been asked for the actual AAA card at an upscale hotel. They're too classy to insist.

I just looked at the Sofitel site, and the Thur & Fri nite of your stay are only $85/night: http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-0922-sofit...bay/index.shtml