Priceline Hotel: 3* Oakland - EastBay (Union City) Crowne Plaza

[mled1]

We're looking for a hotel in the Bay Area close to any BART station and without parking fees.

Hotel should be at least a 3*.

Any ideas? Thanks for your help!

[thereuare]

Please look at the maps of both Priceline and Hotwire... you're hotel can be anywhere in the zone. Are any of the zones compact enough that you can ensure that you'll be near a BART station?

[mled1]

Just read about free park & ride facilities at the BART stations, so this point does not matter anymore.

But any 3* or 4* in theh Bay Area which does not charge horrible parking fees would be still nice.

Any bidding strategies recommended?

Thanks again!

[thereuare]

You'll need to do a little research on the 'expected' parking fees in each area and then let us know what areas you're willing to bid.

[mled1]

Here we go, I did the research :-)

The Doubletree Marina in the Berkeley zone would fit our needs perfectly.

But I think the problem is that with the Courtyard Emeryville there is another 2.5* hotel in the same zone.

So what's your recommendation for a bidding strategy?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Could you accept any hotel in the Berkeley Emory zone?

[mled1]

No, we'd prefer the Doubletree Marina

[thereuare]

Then you're plans are not flexible enough to use Priceline in this instance.... you can not bid on a specific hotel... only the star quality and geographic boundary (as defined by the service you use).

If you can be more flexible (in this zone or any other) let us know and we'll suggest a strategy to follow.

If you book it direct please use our affiliate link to the Doubletree.

Let us know whatever you decide to do.

[lowballer]

Hmmm... if you're using BART, what will you need the car for, and vice versa?

If you're renting a car, is it an option to plan your trip so that you won't need the car at all for a day or more, and just stay downtown or otherwise near BART for those day(s), thus shortening the car rental period? If it's your own car that you want to ditch for a few days, can you park at a remote lot at SFO and take BART from SFO to where you need to be instead? Just thinking out loud.

[mled1]

@lowballer

You are right, but we're coming up from LAX with a rental car.

Anyway we decided to split our stay into two parts. Two nights in Oakland and two nights in SFO.

I'll post the bidding results later.

Thanks again!

[mled1]

And here's the result ...

Started bidding $52 for a 2.5* in the Berkeley-Emeryville and Union City zones.

We were upgraded to a 3* and got the Crowne Plaza Union City.

Well

[thereuare]

You won the above hotel on your first bid?

What were the dates of the above stay, as i know you're still looking for some of the dates that are in your original topic title.

[mled1]

Yes, the first bid was $52, I guess we started to high ...

So here are the details:

Check-In Date: July 12, 2005

Check-Out Date: July 14, 2005

Hotel Name: Crowne Plaza Union City

Your Offer Price: $52.00

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 2

Taxes and Service Fees: $19.05

Total Charges: $123.05