Priceline Hotel: 2.5* Los Angeles (Santa Monica-Marina Del Rey) Courtyard Marina Del Re

[lizb]

my first time bidding on priceline (after endless hours deliberating and checking procedures/reviews etc) but finally plucked up courage and started bidding a few days ago - it's easy once you get the hang of it ! thanks to everyone who's posted on here - without whom.....etc (especially tips on UK address with California postcode & rebidding straight away, both of which I used)

anyway - here's the history to help others.

Looking for 1 room for 3 nights stopover en route from UK to NZ 29th June-2nd July :

Practised a bit by putting in silly low bids so I knew what to expect - then began in earnest

1) bid 4* W Hollywood $92 (saw $102 success for Hyatt Century) - but no

changed to 3* Santa Monica $85, then added 2 1/2 * - no

2)next day, bid 4* W Hollywood $95 refused, so rebid at $100 by adding Santa Monica (no 4* hotels)

added Lawndale (ditto) and then others (Redondo) to go up in stages to $105 - still refused, so gave up due to budget (tight, aren't I)

3) next day, checked success reports and changed tack, reckoning Marina del Rey OK (saw Courtyard won early June for $89- mixed reviews on tripadvisor but seemed worth a punt) - bid 3* Santa Monica - $90 refused, so changed to 2 1/2* - was accepted.

TO RECAP _ COURTYARD MARRIOTT AT MARINA DEL REY (MAXELLA AVE)

29TH JUNE-2ND JULY 2008

1 ROOM - $90

3 NIGHTS - with charges - TOTAL $318.26

I haven't seen any discussion about how everywhere seems less of a bargain when you're travelling alone, as I am. Hotels which get reviewed as excellent value may indeed be if there's 4 of you, but seem pricy when you're paying for the room just for 1 !

Still, grateful for all the help on this site, hence the (long-winded) post, as I would probably have ended up paying the same amount for a miserable hostel-style experience in a dodgy area of LA.

Will review hotel when I get to NZ the other side....

:)

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Congratulations on your win and thank you for sharing it with the board.

Glad to hear you're happy with the results and that the board was helpful in making the PRICELINE process easy to understand. Feel free to ask for help before bidding for your next hotel stay.

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Have a great trip.