Priceline Hotel: 4* Los Angeles (Downtown) Omni Hotel

[macdona]

Will be going to Los Angeles for first time October 6 to 18. 2 Adults, 2 teenage(15) girls and one 10 yr old boy. Girls would like to stay in Beverly Hills just because of what they have seen on TV shows. I'm thinking Hollywood area which I think would be more central. Hotels I am thinking of bidding on through Hotwire are Hyatt Beverly Hills area, Roosevelt and W in the Hollywood area. Can anyone give me some advice on which area/Hotel would be most enjoyed by all. Everyone would like a nice pool area.

Thanks

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Are you looking for two rooms (or trying for just one)?

HOTWIRE only shows one hotel at each star level per zone (the hotel with the lowest price is the one offered), and you're not going to be able to choose which one(s) are offered on a search for your dates, so you're sort of going about this backwards since the hotel(s) you 'want' may not be offered for your dates.

A better approach is to search HOTWIRE, using the correct number of rooms and occupancy, and try to take a guess as to what is being offered... then determine if anything offered will work well for your plans.

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

[macdona]

I understand your advice but what I was thinking was since I still have lots of time to book, I would just watch what is available for awhile. When/if the hotel that would be most suitable becomes available, I would book then. I'm just not sure which one would be most suitable/convenient to watch for.

[Colfax]

Before we mention specific hotels here are some things to think about:

1) Do you want to stay at the same hotel for 12 nights? I don't know what you're planning to see/do in LA but if you're taking a side trip to Disneyland, for example, you may want to break up the 12 nights and get a hotel in Anaheim for a few days. Would your kids enjoy spending some days near the beach?

A 12-night stay is usually more difficult to win than two or three shorter stays, and sometimes more expensive.

2) PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, which could be a room with one bed. With five in your party you shouldn't be using PRICELINE unless you plan to bid for two rooms.

3) Maximum occupancy on HOTWIRE is four people per room. If your hotel enforces the four person policy and won't allow a rollaway are you okay with someone sleeping on a foam pad or an air mattress that you purchase? If not, you should be looking at two rooms on HOTWIRE as well.

4) What's you general budget per night?

5) Will you have a car?

[macdona]

No, we have already thought about that and we do not want to stay in the same hotel for 12 nights. Maybe split it into 3 areas, depending on what/when attractions we will be visiting.

We are not leaving the Los Angeles area but would like to spend some time near Santa Monica Beach near the end.

We are considering two rooms but just for information purposes I have used PRICELINE many times and always got double beds when I call after booking to request same. Although I know it's not guaranteed, it's a chance one takes I guess when using PRICELINE. I have had good luck thus far.

We are looking for 4 star. Maybe early in the trip when we go to Universal we could get a better deal in that area, than when we are in Santa Monica area towards the end of the trip. In between I'm not sure if we should stay in Hollywood or Beverly Hills area. Would like to average it out to somewhere in the $120 per night range or less.

Since there are three kids we need to be near some fast food restaurants because we won't have a car(unless we end up somewhere where it is necessary to get a car but would rather use the metro transportation). We would also like a nice pool to relax since we don't intend on touring the whole 13 days.

Guess that sums it up. Anyone have any area/hotel suggestions that I should be watching for?

I have been requesting one night periods for different dates of the trip but I don't see much with regard to deals coming up on HOTWIRE, compared to what I've seen won and declared on this site. I'm wondering if it's a bit early to be looking for October dates?

Thanks

Sharlene

[Colfax]

I'm wondering if it's a bit early to be looking for October dates?

It may be too early, yes.

we won't have a car(unless we end up somewhere where it is necessary to get a car but would rather use the metro transportation).

Without a car Hollywood and Downtown zones would be easiest. You can take Metro from Hollywood to Universal Studios. Metro doesn't go everywhere though. It doesn't go to Beverly Hills or Santa Monica.

I have used Priceline many times and always got double beds when I call after booking to request same. Although I know it's not guaranteed, it's a chance one takes I guess when using Priceline. I have had good luck thus far.

I'm glad you've had good luck getting two beds so far, but I doubt you'll have luck at a 4* in Hollywood. The W and Roosevelt are both reported to charge Priceline customers a daily fee for two beds. And you've got five in your party, not four. Do you need a rollaway for the fifth? That could be another additional daily charge.

It's totally your decision but my opinion is you should NOT plan on getting two beds for free at a Priceline 4* in LA. Maybe you'll win a Hollywood 4* for your $120 limit, but if it's another $30/night for a second bed and another $10 or $15/night for a rollaway for the fifth person, then you're way over budget. And the hotel may not allow rollaways in two bed rooms at all.

One possibility that occurs to me is to try for TWO 3* rooms in Hollywood zone in the $70-80 range/per room. The Hollywood Heights is the only 3* that's been reported. It's walking distance to Metro and has a decent outdoor pool area. It also has a good number of connecting rooms. If you win that hotel you can request connecting rooms and open the inner doors to make a "family suite". (Connecting rooms, like all requests, aren't guaranteed though.)

After you've broken down your dates a bit---and decided which dates you want to stay in which zones---we can give more specific help with each piece of the puzzle.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links for your purchases.

[macdona]

I clearly stated I was considering two rooms so not sure why you are going on and why you are so concerned

The Hollywood heights reviews say it's the place to be if you want nightlife because you are right in the middle of it. Not sure I want to take the kids there.

Thanks for your time.

[Colfax]

Please don't shoot the messenger, macdona. I was trying to save you from large unexpected upgrade fees and/or winning a hotel that won't be able to accomodate your family.

Sometimes PRICELINE bidders who have successfully gotten two beds on request in other cities or zones think it's easy to get two beds like that everywhere, and it's not.

A Hollywood 4* won't be able to accomodate five people in one PRICELINE room and I'd be doing you a disservice if I told you otherwise. I would have been happy to explore other alternatives with you.

The Hollywood heights reviews say it's the place to be if you want nightlife because you are right in the middle of it. Not sure I want to take the kids there.

Whatever you're trying to protect your kids from at the Hollywood Heights Hotel it's at the W and Roosevelt too, maybe moreso. With two 15 year olds and a 10 year old you might like the Beverly Hilton better. Nice big pool area and it's more of a family atmosphere than the Hollywood hotels. It's not on a Metro line though.

Good luck!

[macdona]

Thank you for the information on the Beverly Hilton, etc...that was the kind of information I was asking for right from the start, not how to use HOTWIRE or discuss how many I plan to put per room. I'm quite capable of looking after that. Just wanted to know where was the best family area as my topic states.

Thanks again.

[macdona]

What are the anemities and percentage recommended by reviews for Beverly Hilton?

[Colfax]

Beverly Hilton's been reported with three different icon sets. You can see all three of them here:

California Hotwire Hotel List

BetterBidding doesn't keep track of the percentage of positive reviews. That number frequently changes as new reviews come in.

If you see a hotel you'd like ID'ed please post the icons and dates.

The 4.5* Sofitel is another hotel you might like. Sofitel's usually easier to find on Hotwire than Beverly Hilton because there are only two known 4.5* hotels in the zone. Beverly Hilton is one of ten known 4* hotels in the same zone, so the odds of Hilton showing up for any particular set of dates isn't as good as Sofitel. (Hotwire only offers one 4* hotel in a zone at a time--the one with the lowest rate.)

Please use the board's HOTWIRE link if you purchase.

[macdona]

I am looking at hotel showing in Beverly Hills/West Hollywood for October 16th, $159.00. Amenities are fitness, pool, restaurant and high speed. 70% recommended. Are you able to tell me which hotel this is?

[Colfax]

I assume you're asking about the 4* in BH-WH.

This is a tough one as those are common icons.

Hotwire says the hotel has 10+ Hotwire reviews, which means it's a fairly new hotel to Hotwire. Le Parc Suites have been reported with those icons in the past but Le Parc is 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor and the hotel you're asking about is only 3.5/5.

So I think this is some new hotel, not yet identified. Hopefully someone will purchase those icons soon and we'll all know.

[macdona]

We have decided to move around to the different zones and stay in a few hotels as opposed to one, as you suggested. We will be in Los Angeles area from October 6th to 18th. I have booked all dates through your PRICELINE link except....October 11th to 14th. Might leave time that open for awhile, would like the Beverly Hilton as you also suggested.

Do I post my 3 hotels winnings all in seperate posts on this forum or put them all in 1 post?

[yellowdog]

macdona

Please post them separate so they can appear in boards Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins.

Thanx for using boards PRICELINE link :)

Yellowdog.

[macdona]

Okay, will do that.

Also, I'm looking at hotwire hotel for Oct 11 to 14 in Ontario West, CA airport area that I would like for you to identify for me if possible.

Amenities are

Suite

Smoke Free Rooms

Airport Shuttle

Complimentary Breakfast

Fitness Center

Pool

Restaurant(s)

Laundry Facilities

High-speed Internet Access

90% recommended.

[Colfax]

Glad to hear you're making progress, macdona. You can post one of your three wins here in this thread--it doesn't matter which one--and a moderator will edit the subject line to reflect that win. The other two wins should be posted to their own new threads.

As for the 3* in Ontario West my best guess is it's one of the two Ayres hotels in the zone: either Ayres Suites Ontario Airport/Convention Center (1945 E. Holt) or Ayres Boutique Suites Ontario Airport (204 N. Vineyard). The first Ayres has been reported here before, but with different icons. The second hasn't been reported here. Both Ayres have a 4/5 TripAdvisor rating and similar amenities, so I can't guess which of the two it is.

I like the Ayres Hotel chain. They're very nice hotels and you get a lot for the money. Also family friendly---the ones I've stayed at all had large, well appointed rooms with microwave/fridge, free parking, and a very good free breakfast. If this turns out to be one of the Ayres I expect you'll be pleased with either.

As for pricing the 3* Ontario is $49 when searching on 2/0 (guarantees one bed) or $64 when searching on 3/0 (guaranatees two beds). I think the one bed suites all have a hideaway couch in living room but I can't guarantee that.

Residence Inn Ontario is another possibility, but I think Ayres is more likely.

Please use this HOTWIRE link if you purchase and let us know what you get.

[thereuare]

Do I post my 3 hotels winnings all in seperate posts on this forum or put them all in 1 post?

Please post the win for your first stay in this thread... then start a NEW TOPIC for each of the other two wins. As well, please start a NEW TOPIC for the Ontario West inquiry above.

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

Thanks.

[macdona]

Won the Omni Downtown for October 6, added another night October 7 after the win. $99.00 per night per room.

[yellowdog]

macdona

Thank you for sharing your result with the board!

Enjoy your stay.

If you need any further help so please start a new topic.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links to start future purchases.

Yellowdog.

[Colfax]

That's starting your trip off right on the right note, macdona. Omni's best rate is $211.65 for these dates. Less than half price!

I have booked all dates through your PRICELINE link except....October 11th to 14th. Might leave time that open for awhile, would like the Beverly Hilton as you also suggested.

It sounds like you have another win or two to post? Please add as NEW TOPICS when you can.

Enjoy your stay!