judylynnel Posted February 24, 2013 Report Posted February 24, 2013 Have bid up to $155 on Priceline for 4* but nothing accepted for dates 4/19 to 4/23. Really want the Union Square area. Suggestions? That was really my top bid.
thereuare Posted February 24, 2013 Report Posted February 24, 2013 Welcome to BetterBidding!Did you only bid the USW zone or did you include the USE zone as well?Using MAPS and HOTELS.com what is the best rate you're able to find for a 4* hotel in the zone(s) you've been bidding?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
judylynnel Posted February 25, 2013 Author Report Posted February 25, 2013 I used the usw zone plus zones without 4*. How do I determine which hotels are in USE zone, and which hotels are 3.5* in USW zone? And how do I get MAPS and HOTELS.com to show me hotels by zone? Why do 4.5 and 5 * show for Priceline on maps & hotels...I thought Priceline only went to 4*? I promise I won't be a Dumb newbie forever!
Romelle Posted February 25, 2013 Report Posted February 25, 2013 PRICELINE goes to 5*, but right now on the bidding side there are only 4* (and lower) hotels offered in San Francisco. You can see 5* PRICELINE hotels on the retail side also.I tried using Maps and Hotels with "union square san francisco" in the city name area, and limiting the range to only 1 mile. This isn't as exact as just the PL bidding zone, but it is closer.You could set the Map.Hotels screen right beside the PRICELINE zone map and zoom in on both of them to approximately the same size. Then follow the street names for the boundaries of the zone. A little labor intensive, but it does work. Alternatively, there is a list of all hotels members have reported right at the very top of this SAN FRANCISCO - Priceline area. By zone. It is of course always possible to get a hotel not yet reported, but it will help answer your question. And by all means, keep asking questions. There are usually at least 10 "lurkers" for every person actually signed on. You may very well ask something they'd like to know also, but haven't worked up the nerve to ask. Romelle
thereuare Posted February 25, 2013 Report Posted February 25, 2013 I'll add to some of Romelle's comments:How do I determine which hotels are in USE zone, and which hotels are 3.5* in USW zone?You can see hotels that have been reported to the board in the Priceline Hotel list (be sure to read the comments at the top of the hotel list)And how do I get MAPS and HOTELS.com to show me hotels by zone?Every service uses their own zone names and boundaries, so MAPS and HOTELS.com doesn't show any zones on their list... but you can easily search as Romelle indicated above and then look at the PRICELINE zone boundaries and see which hotels are in that area when you zoom in on the map at MAPS and HOTELS.com.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
judylynnel Posted February 26, 2013 Author Report Posted February 26, 2013 Thanks for all your suggestions. I printed out the zone map from PL for USW and USE and then compared with the "maps and hotels" to see which hotels were within the boundaries of each zone. Then I bid, unsuccessfully, up to $150 for 4* in USW and USE. Then I bid, unsuccessfully, for a 3 1/2* in the same zones. Not sure what to do now. Bid higher for 4* or bid higher for 3 1/2*? Will go to $170 max. The lowest 3 1/2* on maps & hotels in USE & USW is $263. The lowest 4* is $305. Was I just too optimistic and need to go even higher? Travel dates are 4/19 to 4/23.
thereuare Posted February 26, 2013 Report Posted February 26, 2013 There is a 15K person conference during your dates which is likely, at least in part, a contributing factor to the high rates for these dates.Did you want to first try for a 4* hotel in the USE and USW zones up to your $170 budget, then if rejected try for a 3.5* hotel.. OR is the goal the least expensive 3.5* or better for this trip?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know the above and we'll take it from there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
judylynnel Posted February 26, 2013 Author Report Posted February 26, 2013 I think I'd like to try for the 4* in USW or USE up to $170 first. If that fails, then try the 3.5*.
thereuare Posted February 26, 2013 Report Posted February 26, 2013 At both the 4* and 3.5* levels in San Francisco you have SIX re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.Select 4* USE...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $153, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* USW...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $153, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* USE and USW...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $158, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $163, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $168, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170Any questions feel free to ask. If the above is rejected, close the browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE, and try again but at the 3.5* level.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
judylynnel Posted February 26, 2013 Author Report Posted February 26, 2013 I didn't wait the 24 hrs and now they don't like me. Making me wait til tomorrow to try again. Oh well. Tomorrow is another day. Unless you have any other ideas, of course.
thereuare Posted February 26, 2013 Report Posted February 26, 2013 Your stay is nearly 2 months away... just wait the 24 hours from your last attempted bid and start fresh rather than risk continued delays.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
judylynnel Posted February 27, 2013 Author Report Posted February 27, 2013 Well, I used your link to PRICELINE and bid USE &USW 4* and 3 1/2* up to $170. Not accepted. Do you have any idea how much higher we might have to go to book a 3 1/2 or 4* in USE or USW? What should we bid for 3* in same areas?
AaronJB Posted February 28, 2013 Report Posted February 28, 2013 Rates are definitely quite high for these dates, and I think it's going to take moderately higher for a 4* - possibly as high as $235-260, although I'd try levels below that first.If $170 is your max, I'd wait and try every couple of days for 2-3 weeks. If nothing accepts, then look at alternate options. Do you need to get this booking locked in soon?Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
judylynnel Posted March 1, 2013 Author Report Posted March 1, 2013 I would sleep better at night knowing we've got a great place to stay on our little vacation. Other than that, I can and will wait a few days before doing any other bidding. I went up to $195 for a 3 1/2 * and 4* in USE & USW. And I bid up to $195 for a 3* just in USE. Maybe there will be some specials starting tomorrow since we'll be into a new month. I am such an optimist!
Romelle Posted March 1, 2013 Report Posted March 1, 2013 HOTWIRE has a 3* USW for $184 for your dates.Regarding alternatives - if you are flying in, with a late arrival or an early departure maybe an airport hotel would serve for 1st or last night?If you are driving, and arriving late or departing early maybe a hotel on the outer edge of the city in the right direction could work for 1st or last night?Even one night at a less expensive rate would help your overall average. I don't know San Francisco, but the adjacent SOMA zone in worst case is only about a mile away. And some of it is just across the street. The other surrounding zones are a little further away, but still would be only a short cab ride. If you were to secure something significantly less expensive in one of those zones it could pay for several cab rides.And there is always the technique of making a cancelable back-up reservation, and then trying for a better deal up until the very last.I did look at splitting your bid into the Friday/Saturday and the Monday/Tuesday, but the rates seem similar enough that likely wouldn't help.Romelle
judylynnel Posted March 7, 2013 Author Report Posted March 7, 2013 I realize that our dates of 4/19-4/23 are higher priced times in SFO and bid up to $210 in USE & USW for 4* and 3 1/2*. Then I bid up to $205 in USE for a 3*. Then I started to call hotels directly and got a $225 at the Chancellor, fully refundable, and decided to take a rest from bidding til dates are closer.
thereuare Posted March 8, 2013 Report Posted March 8, 2013 Not sure if USW is acceptable for your plans this trip but HOTWIRE has a few 3* and 3.5* hotels at under $200/nite.Keep us updated on your progress and let us know if/how we can be of further help along the way.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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