Priceline Hotel: 2.5* San Diego (Downtown) Holiday Inn Harbor View

[TravelGuy]

Holiday Inn Harbor View

$92 on ichotelgroup.com

$51 on Hotwire

Finally saw this come up on Hotwire after looking on and off for the last couple of months and making a couple of PL bids up to $45.

First bid of $38 for 2.5* Downtown failed. Added Coronado @$41.

(A tiny chance I could have been upgraded to 3* in Coronado, but I was open to a surprise.)

Check-In Date: Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Check-Out Date: Thursday, August 26, 2004

Your Offer Price: $41.00

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 2

Subtotal: $82.00

Taxes & Service Fees: $16.18

Total Charges: $98.18

I like the vibe of this place - unpretentious, surprisingly nice rooms, unique design, great views, walk to Little Italy - and half the price of the Manchester Hyatt.

[thereuare]

Very nicely done!

Sounds like a place i would like too!

Have a great stay.

[bbbb]

What could you get on Coronado @$41?

[TravelGuy]

I've never seen a 3* come up in Coronado, but Priceline does offer it. One possibility might be the Best Western, which is showing a government rate of only $110 for my dates - so $41 may be within striking distance.

[thereuare]

I wouldn't use gov't rates or AAA rates as a guage of Priceline rates. Special promotional rates yes, but not 'membership' rates that aren't available to the general public. (although this still very well could be the BW, i haven't looked at it)

[TravelGuy]

I wouldn't use gov't rates or AAA rates as a guage of Priceline rates.

[thereuare]

You can disagree (and that is what is great about message boards is that differing opinions can be shared) but i have found that most of the time govt. and other membership rates are based upon/derived from the pervailing traditional rate.

I haven't looked at this indepth, but I don't think i've seen instances where a a traditional rate remained constant while the govt. or AAA rate varied during the same time period. In other words, there always seems to be a direct correlation between the 'regular rate' and the 'membership rate'.

Maybe it's just early but i'm not sure if i'm being clear, so i'll give an example of what i'm trying to say:

Rate Sample 1:

Traditional Rate $100/nite

Govt Rate $85

Rate Sample 2:

Traditional Rate $129/nite

Govt Rate $99

So given the above, i don't think that you'd find a situation where the Traditional rate is $129 and the govt rate is $85. The membership rate is based upon the prevailing traditional rate.

Just my .02

[bbbb]

Did you post your winning bid for Hyatt La Jolla,what are the dates?I don"t see it posted and I will be there on 9/3 and need another room.There rate is $189 for 9/3 and I have bid up to $90 w/o any luck.

[TravelGuy]

Thereuare: Yes, I see what you're saying. However, my experience has been that the government and/or AAA rates aren't alway listed on the hotel websites. Their appearance seem to be a function of occupancy rates, which is useful information. Generally it seems that when the hotel is close to being sold out, there may be only one rate displayed - if low occupancy, many rates.

For example, with the Best Western Coronado, they give a government rate for 8/24-26, but *not* for tonight, 8/8 (and likely many other relatively high occupancy dates). So the dates with the government rate listed are most likely substantially lower occupancy, which *might* mean a good or lower than usual PL rate (assuming they participate on PL), because they might very well be more aggressively looking for business.

[TravelGuy]

Did you post your winning bid for Hyatt La Jolla,what are the dates?I don"t see it posted and I will be there on 9/3 and need another room.There rate is $189 for 9/3 and I have bid up to $90 w/o any luck.

Yes, I did post it. I'll be there a week before you.

[thereuare]

TG, once again, and as usual, we are in agreement. :)

b^4, here's his PRICELINE HYATT WIN.

[bbbb]

TG post back on how your stay goes and what kind of room you get.Are you Diamond?Also let me know if you have any problem getting FFN credit.

Thanks BBBB