Priceline Hotel: First Los Angeles Visit, I need Some Help :)

[gk1182]

Hello all, first I would just like to say how great this board is, and if and when I go to bid, I will use the links above. Now with that said, I will be traveling with my girlfriend, . and we are going to the LA area for 4 nights, and then to Las Vegas for 2 (already booked vegas). We will have a rental car and are looking for an area that is convenient to all the area has to offer. We would like to be able to walk around hollywood, beverly hills, some beaches, etc..basically anything someone would want to see in a limited time. I dont know if there is a more centrally located area for this, or if it is better to stay in two different hotels, or maybe do a night in santa barbara for the beach... Any advise would be great as we are trying to plan out our trip. We are looking to stay somewhere pretty nice, but dont really want to spend more than about 125 a night. I saw that the Palomar hotel just get made a 4 star in the westwood area.. I did not know if this was a good location (as i dont see anyone bidding here).. but any advice would be great. Thanks... The dates we will be in the LA area are Sept 2-Sept 6th

Thanks again

[Colfax]

Welcome to BetterBidding, gk1182.

We will have a rental car and are looking for an area that is convenient to all the area has to offer. We would like to be able to walk around hollywood, beverly hills, some beaches, etc..basically anything someone would want to see in a limited time. I dont know if there is a more centrally located area for this, or if it is better to stay in two different hotels, or maybe do a night in santa barbara for the beach...

Since LA is so spread out no one hotel is convenient to everything you want to see. I'm for staying at two hotels in two areas to get some variety and cut down on the time you spend driving. A few nights in BevHills/WestHollywood or Hollywood and maybe a night or two in a beach area, like Santa Monica, for example.

Santa Barbara is about 90 miles or so from LA. If you decide you want to go there you'll probably want to get a hotel in Santa Barbara that night, rather than drive from LA and back the same day.

Thanks for pointing out that Priceline now offers 4* bidding in the Brentwood-Westwood zone. This is something new. Probably it's the Palomar but it hasn't been reported won here yet. We don't see much bidding in Brentwood-Westwood, compared to Beverly Hills-West Hollywood, in part because there are only a couple of Priceline participating hotels in that zone. B-W is a good option too though.

Your four day stay is from Tuesday to Saturday. The beach zones like Santa Monica and Santa Barbara might be easier/cheaper on Priceline on the weekdays rather than Friday night.

[gk1182]

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. Ill make sure to use the links for PRICELINE when i look to bid. I think it is still too early for september

[thereuare]

I think it is still too early for september

If your plans are firm it's probably NOT too early to bid... as long as you don't overbid.

See our thoughts in the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

Thanks for using our PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links when you're ready to move forward.

[smartcookie]

- It's not too early to bid

- There is no central area as mentioned. Beverly Hills or Westwood would be most central to see the areas you mentioned. However, you should consider where you will spend most of the time and whether being able to walk around the hotel is important, as that's not always the case.

- I would NOT recommend splitting up your stay for only 4 days. These commuting distances are NOT anything to worry about. Most of us locals live in and commute between them on a daily basis. Avoiding traffic hours of 8am-9:30am and 4-6:30pm on weekdays is key and you'll be fine. It will be much more hassle to pack, unpack, etc in such a short time. You'll waste precious time you can use to enjoy the city.

- I don't know what you mean by "very nice" in terms of the hotel, but for $125 you can get a 3 star in a relatively good area. You'd have to bid closer to $150 to get something higher than that in a nice area.

- Palomar just opened recently. They're advertising a $179 special on travelzoo.com right now. Westwood is a fine area to stay. It's right by UCLA though school won't be in session yet. There are lots of shops and restaurants around.

- If I were you, I would try for the Holiday Inn in Santa Monica which you can usually get for around $100 here. It's right in the middle of everything and near the beach. You can also win the Sheraton Delphina for a bit more, a few blocks further from the beach, but still a good location. If you decide to stay inland, then Hyatt on Sunset Strip is a good deal at around $120 here.

- Keep in mind parking rates. Most hotels in touristy areas charge around $15-30 per day.

Good luck.