Priceline Hotel: san diego bidding help

[mixstar]

I have been trying to bid on three rooms in San Diego since April. I keep getting rejected, but am starting to get nervous that we won't get what we need. Please help...

I need 3 rooms for 4 nights. checking in 7/30 and checking out 8/3. We would really like to stay at the Country Inn & Suites in Sorrento Mesa. I stayed there in early April ($50) and really thought it would be perfect for our big family trip. I even spoke to the manager to confirm that if I won the bid on Priceline, I would be able to get rooms with 2 beds each. She said it would be no problem. I have bid as high as $70, but still have been rejected. I tried again today...no luck. (my bids were: 2.5* Sorrento Mesa - $55, added East County - $60, added Nat'l City - $65, added San Ysidro - $70).

I started looking at other options, but there are hotels in most areas that I'm not willing to stay at, so I don't want to take the chance. I really don't want to stay at a Holiday Inn anywhere, and the Paradise Point doesn't seem to be a good bet for us, so I am afraid to bid on a 3* coastal.

I would be willing to stay in La Jolla or Del Mar, they are not much further than Sorrento Mesa, but I think most of those hotels charge pretty high parking fees. I am not that interested in Hotel Circle...would like to keep the teenagers away from there! I think we would go as high as about $70, $75 tops, but would prefer the $60 range. I don't want to book a room at our top end price and then get stuck with a resort fee or high parking rates, in that case, I'd rather pay more for the Country Inn & Suites and get the free breakfast and free parking.

Any suggestions?

[thereuare]

We would really like to stay at the Country Inn & Suites in Sorrento Mesa. I stayed there in early April ($50)...

It would be helpful to others, and appreciated, if you shared your winning bids with the board :)

I'd rather pay more for the Country Inn & Suites and get the free breakfast and free parking.

Rates are date specific, and rates for your dates above are much higher than usual. Have you searched the Coutnry Inn and Suites website for your dates? Rates start at $219/nite, so your maximum bid is only about a third of prevailing rates. Given the hotel direct rates, i'm not sure how you can state that you'd only want to "go up to $75 tops because then you'd rather pay more for the Country Inn and Suites"... there is a wide gap between $75 and $219 and i'm sure the breakfast and parking aren't worth that much to you. :)

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[mixstar]

I don't think posting my bid at this late date would be helpful to this board, but I'll be glad to if you think it would be...I just listed the price I got previously as a reference.

What I meant about paying more is I have noticed that the Marriott in La Jolla has been accepted at $60. But, they charge $18 for parking, which nets it out to $78 per night. I would rather bid higher (rather than pay more as I first stated) and try to get the Country Inn & Suites than get the Marriott for $60.

As far as how high I'd like to go, I'm looking at what people are getting 4* rates for and trying to determine what I'd be willing to pay for a 2.5* farther away. I really would like to stay under $100 after fees and taxes per night. I realize that I am hoping for a bid that is 1/3 of the hotel's asking price, but I got it once before (I think their rate was about $169 and I got it for $50). I just don't know if the issue is that the rates are so much higher in the summer, or if I am trying too early. Maybe I am hoping for something that is not possible. I will adjust if that is the case. I was just wondering if I was doing something wrong in my bidding strategy or if I just have to wait and see. In either case, I'm just looking for some assistance, not trying to offend...

I apologize if there is something that I've left out or am being unclear.

[thereuare]

I don't think posting my bid at this late date would be helpful to this board

Sure it would be, as it would then appear in the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins.

Just as you're researching dates for this stay, others in the future may be researching rates for their own stay in Apirl 2009 and would like to see what rates were a year ago for that same timeframe... as it stands they won't have the benefit of your win as a datapoint :)

If you think you can get the Marriott La Jolla for $60 then figure out how much more a hotel in Sorrento Mesa is worth to you and set your maximum bid accordingly. If you try up to that amount and fail, then see if you can get the La Jolla hotel for $60... if not re-adjust your maximum bid and switch back to biddnig for Sorrento Mesa.

Does that make sense?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[Colfax]

I just don't know if the issue is that the rates are so much higher in the summer, or if I am trying too early.

Given the Country Inn's $219 rate I do think you're bidding too low. If you were getting rejected to $90 or $100 in Sorrento Mesa (still less than half price) then I'd speculate you were bidding too early as well.

Another dimension to consider is that you have a four night stay, from Wednesday to Sunday. Some hotels will give Priceline rooms on weekdays but not weekends, or vice versa. If you get rejected to your limit in Sorrento Mesa for four nights then consider bidding to that same limit for just Wednesday and Thursday.

Also keep in mind there's another 2.5* hotel in Sorrento Mesa, the Staybridge Suites. Even if you get accepted you're not guaranteed it will be at Country Inn. Staybridge has the free parking and breakfast that you're looking for too though.