Priceline Hotel: San Diego Downtown in November

[FlintBoy]

I'm new to this site, and I've never won a PL bid (only bid really low a couple of times).

My family of 4 will be in San Diego from 11/15 - 11/22. I'll be there for a conference (11/16-11/20) downtown at the Convention Center. The conference has some rates negotiated with several hotels. They range from $152 to $182. I'd like to get something much better, since my organization is paying for only part of my expenses.

I have some questions.

- Is it too early to start bidding? (just tonight I bid up to $119 for a 4* and got rejected)

- Am I looking at high prices no matter what because of the Thanksgiving holiday?

- I don't know for sure when the conference will release the rooms it has on hold. I'm guessing November 1st, because they say that after Nov. 1st, we should contact the hotels directly with any questions, changes, etc. Does it make any sense to wait until then (as long as I have a backup reservation, I suppose)?

- My wife wants a 4* (I'd take a 3 or 3.5). What about bidding for just the first three nights for a 4* and then possibly extending or just going somewhere else?

Thanks for any help you can offer. The site looks terrific and I've already learned a lot reading through the postings.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

- Is it too early to start bidding? (just tonight I bid up to $119 for a 4* and got rejected)

See the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ. What time tonite did you bid?

- Am I looking at high prices no matter what because of the Thanksgiving holiday?

Probably not.

- I don't know for sure when the conference will release the rooms it has on hold. I'm guessing November 1st, because they say that after Nov. 1st, we should contact the hotels directly with any questions, changes, etc. Does it make any sense to wait until then (as long as I have a backup reservation, I suppose)?

See the related link in our priceline faq. Not sure how big the conference you're attending is, but what if the hotels sell their allotment of rooms by November 1st and then everything is sold-out while you expected lower rates?

- My wife wants a 4* (I'd take a 3 or 3.5). What about bidding for just the first three nights for a 4* and then possibly extending or just going somewhere else?

You can only exted your stay (if offered, it isn't always) for the same number of nites or less than the number of nites of your accepted bid... so you wouldn't be able to purchase 3 nites and then extend 4 nites. If you choose to SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID you'll need to be prepared to be willing to change hotels during your stay.

One other aspect you didn't touch upon... priceline only guarantees double occupancy and you'll be quad occupancy (i'm assuming you're only intending to bid for one room). Is this something you're comfortable with? Again, see the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ, but the hotel would be within their "right" if they gave you a room with only one bed as all that is guaranteed thru priceline is double occupancy. If this is not acceptable you can also consider HOTWIRE which allows you to book up to quad occupancy.

[Colfax]

Thanksgiving isn't typically a busy time for San Diego hotels.

I wouldn't bid higher than $100 for a 4* on Priceline this far ahead. You can probably win something for around that price if you're patient.

Priceline might not be the way to go though since your family is four. Priceline only guarantees double occupancy and you could win a 4* room at $100 with one double bed.

HOTWIRE is probably a better option for you since you can input a party of four and only be offered options with two beds.

[FlintBoy]

Thanks for the responses.

I made by $119 bid (4* in downtown San Diego) at about 11:00 p.m. on 7/11.

Believe it or not, we might actually be OK with one bed if that's what we end up with. But it's a good point that you raise.

This conference typically draws about 6,000 people. A few spouses always tag along. The conference has negotiated rates with 11 different hotels, all in the downtown area.

I must have overlooked the PL faq. Thanks for pointing me to that.

I'll probably continue submitting occasional bids on PL. I did take a look at Hotwire. There was a downtown 4* for $142 that would accommodate the 4 of us. I just don't know if I'm ready to pay that much.

Any other feedback or suggestions would be welcome.

[Colfax]

You wrote that your conference is 11/16-11/20 but you're staying in San Diego from 11/15-11/22. I presume the discounted convention rates are only good on the days of the convention and not for your weeklong stay?

Are you wanting to stay all seven nights in one hotel? If you're staying Downtown the first five nights to be near the convention your family might enjoy staying the last two nights at a 4* in the Coastal zone for a change and to be nearer the ocean. Breaking your bid up that way also improves your chances of acceptance.

[FlintBoy]

Thanks for the suggestion. I hadn't thought of this, but I think that idea might actually work well for us and will look into it.