Priceline Hotel: Union Square May 2013

[oscar39]

Hello, I've bid up to 190 dollars for a 4 star hotel in Union square west from May 18-22 but it's being rejected every time. How high do I have to go to get a successful bid for a 4 star or 3.5 star? Thanks

[Romelle]

You might try MAPS and HOTELS.com in the Tools area above. Using this, the lowest Union Square 4* I could find was $258. The 3.5s were higher. The rates are based on the retail side of PRICELINE and Hotels.com. I didn't map closely enough to determine USE or USW, but it should give you a general idea.

HOTWIRE has a $210 4* USE and a $244 3.5* USW for your dates.

If you are willing to chance having to move, you might try splitting your bid into 2 2-night stays.

Romelle

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

Sorry to hear that your bids haven't been accepted so far. What would be your desired max bid for this stay? At this point, given that I'm also seeing a 4* in USE for $208, I wouldn't go much higher bidding for 4* USE.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[oscar39]

thanks for the info. I'd be willing to go up to 200 dollars a night for Union square. Should I wait closer to the time of my trip or will the prices go up? I don't see a 4 star in USE on hotwire for 208?

Would it be more economical to stay in Fisherman's Wharf?

[Romelle]

There is good discussion on bid timing in the PRICELINE FAQ section.

Regarding Fisherman's Wharf, I checked it for you with MAPS and HOTELS.com and it looks even more expensive. I'd suggest you use the process to explore some of the other adjacent areas. Straight above in the Tools menu.

Romelle

[thereuare]

To confirm, you have not yet bid the USE zone but this is acceptable?

Are you willing to include this in your bidding and try up to $190 again?

Please confirm and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

PS- and if you haven't yet, please read your messages. Thanks.

[oscar39]

Yes I haven't tried Union square east yet, just west. Anywhere in US would be fine as long as its not in the tenderloin area. Any ideas how i can get a reasonable price in USE or USW. Alot of comments on this site show people getting Union square hotels for 140, I haven't had any luck. Thanks in advance!

[oscar39]

One other question, what's considered a "good" price in Union square? I was hoping not to exceed 150 but that doesnt look realistic from what I'm seeing. Thanks

[hopeland]

One other question, what's considered a "good" price in Union square? I was hoping not to exceed 150 but that doesnt look realistic from what I'm seeing. Thanks

Very hard to say what a "good" price is because that's dependent on so many factors. Day of week, time of year, special events, etc.

Normally in most major cities, weekends usually see big hotel price drops as business travelers are home for the weekend.

However, you will be visiting San Francisco during Bay to Breakers, San Francisco's most popular running event. That may be driving hotel occupancies and hence prices up.

[AaronJB]

One other question, what's considered a "good" price in Union square?

As mentioned above, it's really so variable - one day can be reasonable and the next day can be twice as much if there's an event going on (which there apparently is.)

Are you seeing a 4* in USE w/:

Indoor pool(s)

Fitness Center

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

High-Speed Internet Access

Accessible for the deaf

Accessible path of travel

In-room accessibility

Accessible bathroom

Roll-in shower

I'm seeing this for $210 this morning, you may see a slightly different price.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[thereuare]

One other question, what's considered a "good" price in Union square?

Just to add to the above... for me a 'good' price is something within my budget and discounted from what i can get elsewhere thru a purchase where i already know the hotel name and location in advance.

You can use our BiddingHelper.com to see rates from HOTWIRE and 'retail' rates from Hotels.com. Also of user is our MAPS and HOTELS.com to search for your dates (in a crowded area such as this you would want to search a smaller mile radius so choose '3 miles from Union Square San Francisco')... then filter the results so that only 4* and above are showing and zoom in on the map so you can see the areas covered by the PRICELINE zones... easy to quickly see how much retail rates are in the area.

While a $100 win is cheaper than a $150 win... the $100 win may not be that great if it's a slow time period and retail rates are $120, whereas the $150 win may be a GREAT win if it's a busy time and retail rates are $300/nite.

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

[oscar39]

on priceline is there a way to bid multiple times if im only interested in staying in Union square? I've bid up to 200 bucks but no luck.

[thereuare]

PS- and if you haven't yet, please read your messages.

2x

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

2x

[oscar39]

Are you still seeing the deal for 210 on hotwire that you mentioned above? For some reason I don't see that deal on HOTWIRE.com?

[thereuare]

Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?

For 5/18-5/21 i'm seeing the 4* hotel in the USE zone for $207/nite (it is not currently showing for your complete stay of 5/18-5/22):

Indoor Pool

Fitness

Pool

Restaurant

Business

Hi-Speed Internet

Deaf Accessible

Travel Accessible

Room Accessible

Bathroom Accessible

Roll-in Shower

For 5/21-5/22 i'm seeing a 4.5* hotel in the USW zone for $170/nite:

Indoor Pool

Smoke Free

Fitness

Restaurant

Business

Hi-Speed Internet

Spa

Room Accessible

If this is an option we'll investigate further, but not sure if you're willing to change hotels for the last nite or not.

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

Let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there.

[oscar39]

That sounds great, but for some reason I don't see the same prices on HOTWIRE?

[AaronJB]

You will see slightly different prices on HOTWIRE.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[thereuare]

That sounds great, but for some reason I don't see the same prices on HOTWIRE?

Are the prices within a few dollars per nite of what i've posted? Are the amenities the same as i've posted?

Let us know and please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links before replying.

Thanks.

[oscar39]

I did see a deal on hotwire with the same amenities and around the same price as you, but I tried to book it a few times but it always says its unavailable! Any ideas?

[Romelle]

I'm just a member, but I've never heard of a HOTWIRE deal being "unavailable", and I've booked quite a few Hotwire hotels. If it shows, it should be bookable. Any chance the issue is with your credit card(s)? Are they US cards? w/US addresses?

Have you contacted HOTWIRE about the situation?

Do you happen to recollect the exact message? Maybe there is a clue there.

It should be possible to get this resolved.

Romelle

[thereuare]

Let us know and please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links before replying.

2x

[oscar39]

The weekend that I'm going (May 18) is really expensive, 250 minimum for a 3.5 or 4 star in Union square. Booked Chancellor for 250, more then I wanted to spend but that's what the rates are. It's free cancellation so I'll continue to search for a better deal. Thanks for your help

[AaronJB]

Please use the site's Support Page links to start your regular rate purchases and searches.

Thank you for keeping us updated and let us know if you have additional questions.

Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.