Priceline Hotel: Bidding Help - Fisherman's Wharf

[addyg]

Hi

Looking to get two double rooms in San Francisco from 26th September until 30th September (4 nights). Would ideally like to stay around Fisherman's Wharf, but willing to be flexible. I'd stay around Marina, Union Square, Financial District, Japan Town, Civic Center South or Richmond if the price was right.

Budget is fairly tight, do not want to really pay more than $100/night per room, but I'm willing to accept 1 or 2 star hotels. However, one thing we can't really compromise on is shared bathrooms. Could someone confirm no Priceline hotels have shared bathrooms?

This is my first time using Priceline, so want to make sure I get it right. Could someone suggest a bidding strategy?

Any assistance appreciated!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

If you haven't yet, please start by reading your messages.

Looking to get two double rooms...

Please clarify... do you need two rooms with two beds in each... or two rooms for double occupancy each? If the former, how many guests will you need for each room?

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

[addyg]

Thanks.

It will be two rooms for double occupancy each.

[Romelle]

When another member asked about private baths a while back, I emailed Priceline with the question. The response was that all their rooms have private bathrooms.

For your own peace of mind though, and to have something in writing, you could certainly also email them.

Romelle

[thereuare]

As you're likely aware, at current rates your budget will be very difficult to win a hotel in the Fisherman's Wharf zone... did you want to first start at the 2* level OR try for the least expensive 1* property (and if a higher rated hotel is available you'll be upgrade to the higher rated hotel).. or include other zones in your bidding?

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

[addyg]

Yeah, I guessed it would be difficult to get anything in the Fisherman's Wharf area. I'd rather start at the 2* level.

I've e-mailed Priceline asking about the shared bathroom. I'll see what they come back with.

[addyg]

If anyone was wondering, Priceline have e-mailed me and confirmed that none of their hotels have shared bathrooms.

[AaronJB]

Rates surprisingly don't seem that bad for these dates. I see what appears to be the Grant Plaza on HOTWIRE for $87, for example.

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

[Romelle]

Addyg,

You've got a lot of time until your stay. You could even try bidding 3*s first.

This early, you don't want to be bidding clear to the top of your range though. Just sort of regularly exploring the lower to mid areas.

Have you found the Hotel Lists yet? Up at the very beginning of both this San Francisco - PRICELINE and the San Francisco - HOTWIRE are lists of hotels members have reported to the board as successfully getting through the processes.

And then there is the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins in the Tools area. That shows reported hotels for specific dates. Probably too early to have anything reported on San Francisco, but might be fun/informative for you to check from time to time.

Romelle

[thereuare]

Are you ready to start bidding now?

Did you only want to bid the Fishermans Wharf zone or did you want to include other zone(s) as well? The 'downtown' zones may have more hotels and/or competition and your budget may have a better chance at success in one of those zones.

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

[addyg]

Thanks for the advice. We're ready to start bidding now.

We would prefer a hotel around Fisherman's Wharf, so I'd like to start bidding on this area first.

If that doesn't turn up anything, then perhaps we could then look at 3* hotels in the other areas? Then move down to 2* and 1* if that doesn't work either. I had a look at the hotels list and I think any of them would be acceptable.

Can you suggest a bidding strategy based on this?

Thanks.

[thereuare]

When bidding 3* in San Francisco you have ONE re-bid zones available. 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 3* Fishermans Wharf...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100

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

Good luck and let us know how hit goes.

[addyg]

Thanks for the advice. I attempted those two bids, but unfortunately they were both rejected.

Any advice on how I should bid next?

[AaronJB]

Is $100 your desired max at the 3* level, or would you like to start bidding 2.5*?

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

[addyg]

I'd be happy to drop to 2.5* or lower.

[Romelle]

addyg,

The same free rebid zone is available at the 2.5* level, so the same approach would work as you used at the 3* level. With 6 months to go, no need to get in a hurry.

Maybe just explore it at $70 and $80 today? And try slightly higher numbers tomorrow?

Your dates - MAPS and HOTELS.com (within 1 mile of Fisherman's Wharf):

Lowest 2.5* - $159 (actually lower than the lowest 2*)

Lowest 3* - $215

If you move out to the 3 mile radius, there are some slightly better numbers with some 2*s below $100.

You might consider making a cancelable back-up reservation, and then you can comfortably seek a better deal until the very end. One site that often permits free cancelation is this one. There are others. For the one I mentioned, they do have to occasional room without a private bath. You'd have to check the fine print for both this and the cancelation policy.

Then maybe once a week, or even every 10 days, try a bidding pattern that could score you a little nicer hotel at a little less money.

For the record, I'm just a member, not anybody official here.

Romelle