Priceline Hotel: Help - Los Angeles 3+*

[jmtraveller]

Hi,

I am trying to book a hotel for 2ppl around Los Angeles area with at least 3 stars. I am familiar with the rebidding process and I will use the PRICELINE links on this site.

We would like to keep our considerations as closest as possible when booking the hotel.

1. the date July 31-Aug 2

2. areas of consideration:

-Beverly Hills (#1), Hollywood (#5), Santa Monica (#9), Redondo (#8)

-not preferred: Downtown, LAX, Culver City because most of 3-3.5 star hotels in the area charge a lot ($20~$35/d) for parking. Also from the priceline reviews, it seems DT and Culver City 3* hotels do not reflect the star rating.

Although it's possible to get 3 or 3.5 star with LAX hotels with our budget, we want to avoid the city tax, expensive parking and noise.

3. our budget is $80 max for 3.5 and $70 max for 3 star. Please advise if this is possible.

4. distance to LA points of interest because we will be driving these few days. (e.g. Hollywood, Universal Studios, Beach) Somewhere in the center of places would be good.

5. We like a few hotels that have free parking and good reviews, and they are mostly at Redondo beach but it is also the furthest from LA points of interests. (e.g. Hyatt, Residence Inn, DoubleTree at El Seguno) I guess it's either we pay more or drive further.

Our first try for 3.5 star level before we researched about parking and hotel info

bid #1: zone 5 at $60

bid #2: zone 5 + 4 at $63

bid #3: zone 5 + 4 + 1 at $66

bid #4: zone 5 + 4 + 1 + 9 at $69

bid #5: zone 5 + 4 + 1 + 9 + 3 at $72

bid #6: zone 5 + 4 + 1 + 9 + 3 + 6 at $75

And those didn't succeed because the 3.5* hotels are selling around $200. We didn't use zone 8 on the first try because of the distance.

I guess my next try would start with Redondo (#8) with 3.5*? But it also means I will have less free re-bid zones. Please advise and thanks so much in advance. :)

[Colfax]

bid #6: zone 5 + 4 + 1 + 9 + 3 + 6 at $75

What are the names of the six zones where you bid up to $75 for 3.5*? To minimize confusion we use zone names only (e.g. Hollywood, Culver City, etc), not numbers. Priceline fiddles with zones all the time, so Hollywood, for example, might be Zone 5 today and Zone 6 tomorrow.

-not preferred: Downtown, LAX, Culver City because most of 3-3.5 star hotels in the area charge a lot ($20~$35/d) for parking.

Most 3.5* and 3* in ALL the core L.A. zones charge for parking. The 3.5* in Manhattan-Redondo charge too. It's just easier to find street parking nearby in that area. You won't be in the hotel's "official" parking area though.

I guess my next try would start with Redondo (#8) with 3.5*? But it also means I will have less free re-bid zones. Please advise and thanks so much in advance.

You have TWO rebid zones for 3.5* in LA. If you need help identifying your two rebid zones please ask. Since you've already been rejected to $75 for 3.5* in Hollywood, Bev Hills, and Santa Monica, you can use those zones as if they were rebid zones.

Starting with this PRICELINE link I suggest bidding $45 for a 3.5* in Manhattan-Redondo.

Add Santa Monica, bid $50.

Add Hollywood, bid $55.

Add Bev Hills/WeHo, bid $60.

Add rebid zone #1, bid $65.

Add rebid zone #2, bid $70.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[jmtraveller]

thanks for the fast reply!

The zones on the first try are as below:

1. Beverly Hills - West Hollywood – detail map

2. Brentwood - Westwood – detail map

3. Culver City – detail map

4. Downtown Los Angeles – detail map

5. Hollywood – detail map

6. Lawndale – detail map

7. Los Angeles Airport (LAX) – detail map

8. Redondo - Manhattan Beaches – detail map

9. Santa Monica & Marina Del Rey – detail map

bid #6: zone 5 + 4 + 1 + 9 + 3 + 6 at $75

that would be Hollywood, DT LA, BH, SM+MDR, and Lawndale.

I shall try again once the 24 hours passed :)

[Colfax]

Did you only bid to $75 for a 3.5* in Downtown, Bev Hills, Santa Monica, and Hollywood? Or did you bid $75 for 3* too?

Earlier you said that 3.5* in Redondo-Manhattan was acceptable but your bid history doesn't indicate that you've bid there yet. Redondo is the zone where you're most likely to have 3.5* success for $75 or less.

What would you like to try for next? 3.5* in Redondo or a 3* in the other four zones?

Please use these HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links for your purchases.

[jmtraveller]

I only bid $75 for 3.5*. I only found out that Redondo Beach is most possible and preferred for 3.5* for $75 or less, AFTER I made the unsuccessful attempt. I actually made a few more tries in different cities too recently and NO LUCK SO FAR! We really need the hotel Jul 31-Aug 2 :S

Central LA zone

(final bids) Santa Monica & Marina Del Rey, Redondo - Manhattan Beaches, Brentwood - Westwood, Beverly Hills - West Hollywood, Lawndale

started at $53, bid up to $60, 3* and not accepted

-24 hours later, Central LA zone again

(final bids) Santa Monica & Marina Del Rey, Redondo - Manhattan Beaches, Brentwood - Westwood, Beverly Hills - West Hollywood, Lawndale

started at $68, went up to $80, 3* and not accepted <-this is a really high price for 3*...

and then I tried Pasadena city

Monrovia - Duarte, Pasadena

started at $68, went up to $75, 3.5* and not accepted

THEN I tried Burbank

Warner Center - Woodland Hills Area, Valencia - Stevenson Ranch, Van Nuys - Mission Hills, North Hollywood - Studio City, Burbank - Universal City - Glendale, Simi Valley

started at $60, went up to $90, 4* and not accepted!!! We could accept 3* in Burbank but we only wanted the Burbank area so if we're bidding for 3* we have to try in 24 hours

Please help! We would like somewhere that's close to Universal Studios and LA Tours...the preference is Burbank, Central LA then Pasadena. Our maximum budget is $60-70 for 3*, $70-80 for 3.5*, and $80-90 for 4*.