Priceline Hotel: Bay Area 9/27-30...please help

[onebumwheel]

I need to go to the Bay Area for a last minute meeting this Tuesday the 27th though Friday the 30th. I've looked on Hotwire and there seems to be nothing decent available. I want to try priceline, but have rarely been succesful using it (other than for rental cars, for which I find it to be amazing!) and dont have time to spare.

I'd prefer to stay somewhere in Berkeley or Emeryville (east Bay), but Oakland or even San Fran would work. I need somewhere halfway decent (3* or up), with secure parking. Can someone please help me come up with a Priceline bidding strategy?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

What sort of budget are you looking at?

[onebumwheel]

I'd prefer to stay under $100/nt. Closer to $75 is a desirable rate, but I know the area is pricey.

[thereuare]

The highest star rating offered in the Berkeley-Emoryville zone is 2.5*, so i dont' know if that is an option since it's below your stated minimum star rating. However, the two hotels we know about reported in this zone are sold-out for your above dates so even at 2.5* it's not a likely option.

I know Oakland is an option which we will include, but which zones in San Francisco would you consider? The airport zone is usually very inexpensive, would that work for your plans? (if so, would its often low price make it a prefered zone vs. the Oakland zone?)

[onebumwheel]

I suppose I would include 2.5*, but unfortunately it's not available.

Oakland is probably the next best, though SF could be ok. My meetings are mostly in the east bay, which is why I thought of Emeryville. Is there anything in nearby Berkeley?

I dont know the SF area very well, but I do know that parking can be very expensive and I'd like to minimize my risk as much as possible (i.e. try to avoid getting stuck paying $30/night for parking).

Thoughts?

[thereuare]

If you look at priceline's map of the Oakland-East Bay area you'll see that Berkeley and Emoryville are combined into one zone.

Hotels in SFO usually go for under $50/nite, so even with an additional parking charge you'd be under/close to $75/nite (although the parking charge may leave a sour taste in your mouth).... but i'm not from the area either so i don't know the logistics/traffic of traveling from one area to the other.

Let us know what you decide and we'll suggest a strategy for it.

[onebumwheel]

I guess I'd prefer to be in the East Bay somewhere, but Id consider San Fran near the bay bridge.

[onebumwheel]

I looked on hotwire, too, but didnt find anything reasonable.

[thereuare]

Which zone(s) are you willing to bid in the Oakland-East Bay region?

[onebumwheel]

Berkeley or Oakland. the others are too far out, I think. How is 2.5* the best they have? Seems strange...

[thereuare]

Only Berkeley-Emoryville has 2.5* as the highest rating... Oakland does have 3* bidding available. At the 3* level you have 3 re-bid zones available at the 2.5* level you only have one (if you're not sure about re-bidding and which zones qualify please read PRICELINE RE-BIDDING and ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board)

Select 3* Oakland...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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

Bid $100, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 2.5* Oakland...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.