Priceline Hotel: 3* LA-San Fernando (Valencia-Stevenson Rnch) Hyatt

[travelingWise]

Their best rate online was $139, and since I didn't have time for rebids, bid and won at $65. The hotel was very nice, new, clean, very pretty and upscale.

Only issue: I called before bidding to ask about fitting 5 people in a room. The man on the phone told me they don't have suites (even though they actually have 4) but they'd gladly give us a rollaway bed free of charge. So I went ahead with the bid, confident from other posts here that I'd get the Hyatt. On the day we were to check-in, I called again to confirm our bedding request. The lady who answered told me that due to fire codes, they've never allowed rooms with 2 doubles to have rollaways. They could only put a rollaway in a room with a king bed! She said we could get another connecting room, but since we booked on PL she didn't know what rate we'd paid. I told her $65, and she said she couldn't match that b/c the regular rate was $149 (she didn't mention the $139 online rate or the $109 Hotels.com rate I'd seen). I told her I'd call back. We were on the road, so I considered having my mom book another room via PL, but she wasn't home. So we decided to call back and ask for a manager - turns out she was the manager :) This time, she said they could put 2 rollaways in a room with a king bed, but still couldn't do the 1 rollaway and 2 doubles! ??? We still weren't sure, but decided we'd look at them when we got there, and figured one of the kids could sacrifice and sleep on pillows on the floor for one night ;-) She said she'd hold 1 of each room for us to look at when we arrived. When we got there, she was very friendly, and upgraded us to a golf course view when I asked for it. We chose the king room with 2 rollaways. My 2 daughters and I took the king, and my son and husband each got a rollaway. They were not the fold up kind, but were actual mattresses on sturdy platforms that tipped up on end for moving. I think it was likely as comfortable as the king bed. The room was a little crowded, but big enough for everything.

In the end, it turned out okay, but I was really steaming for a while during our drive there. On a previous visit to Magic Mountain, we'd stayed at the Holiday Inn & Suites, where each room has 2 queens plus a sofa sleeper, microwave, fridge, and free breakfast. I only chose this one to save some money this time b/c I was told there would be enough beds. I'm not sure I'd do it again based on this experience.

[travelingWise]

Since the only hotel reported here was the Hyatt, a 3* hotel, I went for that. But now I wonder if I'd chosen 2.5* if I might have gotten the hotel I really wanted - the Holiday Inn & Suites. How does the * rating work again?

Thanks

[thereuare]

Thank you for the report.

There is always some risk when bidding for more than double occupancy.

Thank you for sharing your experience.