BastiaanS2 Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 Hello,I'm allready a few weeks busy planning my two week trip to the States. I live in The Netherlands (Europe), near Rotterdam, It will be my first trip to the US, so I want to take full advantage of it. :) Our trip ends with 3 days Los Angeles, so we need an hotel for the last 4 nights of our trip!I'm travelling together with my wife, and we're looking for a hotel at a nice place where we can walk to a few not to expensive restaurants, and are not hours away from the beach, some shopping facilities and the airport.The dates are:check in: 20th June 09check out: 24th June 09I've allready spotted the Santa monica area, and the manhatten beach area. The first would be my first choice..I'm looking for a 3,5* or 4* because I'm looking for a nice hotel, where I dont need to be affraid to find myself in an awfull hotelroom. Some reviews at tripadvisor scared me pretty bad :) And then again, with prices mentioned on this forum, a 3,5* can be pretty gently on the price too, so I was wondering myself.. why taking a 2* then if a 3,5* can be that cheap!?The Double Tree suites is a very good hotel, that fits in my wishes as described above, It's whitin walking distance of the beach, shopping and restaurants, and it's not to far from the airport..Can someone provide us with a biddingstrategy?I've seen people on this forum winning the Doubletree for 60$, when other people pay a 110$, why this difference?Obviously an Hotel wich also fits my wishes is fine too, it does not have to be the DoubleTree by any means neccesary, I'm very open for equal alternatives..Offcourse I will use your PRICELINE link when I'm going to bid.. And I hope I can place a message with a winning bid whitin a few days, thanks to your help!!I'd like to bid 60-80dollars max per night.. Hope something is possible..Thanks in Advance!!
Colfax Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 Welcome to BetterBidding, BastiaanS2.I've seen people on this forum winning the Doubletree for 60$, when other people pay a 110$, why this difference?As in Europe some nights have higher demand and cost more than others. Summer in Santa Monica costs more than winter, and weekends often cost more than weekdays. Those aren't hard and fast rules, but general trends.Since you're travel dates are June (high season) and include a Saturday night (very popular in Santa Monica) $60 might not be realistic. Or maybe you can get Sunday, Monday, Tuesday for $60-80 but have to pay $100-125 for Saturday, for example.I'm looking for a 3,5* or 4* because I'm looking for a nice hotelThe Double Tree suites is a very good hotel, that fits in my wishes as described abovePriceline rates the Doubletree Suites 3*. You can't win them bidding 3.5* or 4* because Priceline never downgrades your bid.Also you can't bid for one particular hotel on PRICELINE. If you bid 3* you can win ANY 3* or higher hotel in the zone. The Holiday Inn and Courtyard Marina Del Rey are other 3* you might get. Or you could win a new 3* that hasn't been reported here yet.Finally, the zone's name is "Santa Monica-Marina Del Rey", not "Santa Monica", and you might win a hotel in Marina Del Rey or Venice areas too. If you're willing to accept ANY 3* or higher hotel in the zone boundaries we can provide a bidding strategy. Please let us know your bidding limit.If you ONLY want the Doubletree or ONLY want a hotel in Santa Monica (not Marina Del Rey) then HOTWIRE might work better than Priceline, because you can often identify the Hotwire hotels in advance.When you search "Santa Monica" on HOTWIRE for your dates do you see any options within your budget? If you'll post the icons someone will try to idinetify the hotels.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links for your purchases.
BastiaanS2 Posted March 12, 2009 Author Report Posted March 12, 2009 Well, first of all, The Doubletree was just an example.. It's just a hotel that fits my wishes as following;-offers nice restaurants whitin walking distance-does not need a few hour drive for some shopping facilities-does not need a few hour drive for LAXI would like some ensures that the above can be found in pretty much every 3*/3,5*/4* hotel in Santa monica MDR area..Before I spotted this forum my only options were like a travelodge for 70-80dollar.. So when I can get a nice minimum3* hotel for this money I would say that will be appretiatet..So let's say my bidding limit is 70dollar ex taxes.. Is this the information you need for a bidding strategy?I've just red myself into PRICELINE, so the way to use it is pretty much clear for me.. But HOTWIRE not, that's the only reason that I began to checkout this forum for Priceline..
BastiaanS2 Posted March 12, 2009 Author Report Posted March 12, 2009 Hello,Can someone please help me ID this hotel?HOTWIRELAX4*20-6-09 check in24-6-09 check out2 adultsPrice : 73dollar per nightemenities:No smokingShuttle Airport servicefitnesspoolrestaurantbusiness centerWIFII believe this is the sheraton, and if so, I would like to book in the near future..Thanks in advance!!
thereuare Posted March 12, 2009 Report Posted March 12, 2009 It's just a hotel that fits my wishes as following;-offers nice restaurants whitin walking distance-does not need a few hour drive for some shopping facilities-does not need a few hour drive for LAXI would like some ensures that the above can be found in pretty much every 3*/3,5*/4* hotel in Santa monica MDR area..I don't know enough about this area to give you these assurances. You can check all the 3* and higher hotels reported to the board and see if they'd suit your needs... but you coudl always be the first to report a new hotel in this zone, so there are no guarantees. As well, since you're trying to beat a Travelodge type property, which are usually not in the most centrally located of areas, does your $70 back-up have everything you're looking for above, most notablyl nice restaurants within walking distance.I've just red myself into PRICELINE, so the way to use it is pretty much clear for me.. But HOTWIRE not, that's the only reason that I began to checkout this forum for Priceline..HOTWIRE is actually simpler to use than price.ilne... they offer you a hotel, show you the star rating, zone, amenities offered, and the price... you choose to purchase it or not.To move forward wtih a bid on PRICELINE you need to be comfortable receiving a hotel anywhere within the shaded boundaries of the zone, as defined by PRICELINE. Is this acceptable to you? If so, and you'd like us to suggest a bidding strategy, let us know if you're willing to pay more for a higher rated hotel OR if your goal is the least expensive 3* or better for these dates.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
BastiaanS2 Posted March 12, 2009 Author Report Posted March 12, 2009 I'm checking out the HOTWIRE options at the moment, Ill keep you posted! Ofcourse I'll use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links you provided me..
thereuare Posted March 12, 2009 Report Posted March 12, 2009 Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread.The LAX property above is a match for the Sheraton Gateway so that would be our best guess.Thanks for using our PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your purchases.Let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Colfax Posted March 13, 2009 Report Posted March 13, 2009 Well, first of all, The Doubletree was just an example.. It's just a hotel that fits my wishes as following;-offers nice restaurants whitin walking distance-does not need a few hour drive for some shopping facilities-does not need a few hour drive for LAXI would like some ensures that the above can be found in pretty much every 3*/3,5*/4* hotel in Santa monica MDR area..I think you can feel assured any hotel rated 3* or higher in Priceline's Santa Monica-Marina Del Rey zone will meet your stated wishes and be nicer than a $70 Travelodge. I don't think $70 will be probably enough for a Santa Monica 3* in June though.HOTWIRE has these in Santa Monica-Venice-MDR:4* $1262.5* $1432* $99But if Santa Monica is your first choice there's no harm in trying to $70 for a 3* on PRICELINE. Even a 2.5* in Santa Monica would probably be nicer than a Travelodge. It doesn't cost anything to bid and you might be lucky. Keep in mind most 3* and higher hotels in this zone charge for parking (not all) and parking isn't included in your Priceline bid. Parking at the Travelodge is free.If you decide that Santa Monica is over your budget I'll suggest Manhattan-Redondo Beach zone before staying at the Airport. The airport area isn't a good vacation atmosphere, and I think you have a good chance of winning something near Manhattan-Redondo for $70 or less.
BastiaanS2 Posted March 13, 2009 Author Report Posted March 13, 2009 If you decide that Santa Monica is over your budget I'll suggest Manhattan-Redondo Beach zone before staying at the Airport. The airport area isn't a good vacation atmosphere, and I think you have a good chance of winning something near Manhattan-Redondo for $70 or less.I see a very nice hotel in westwood 4* that gets won quite often, around 95dollar a night.. My doubts are between these two:hotel palomar via PRICELINE for 95dollar ex tax in westwoodAt LAX hotel sheraton gateway at 73dollars ex taxThe atmosphere at the airport was not my biggest concern because the planning is that i'll just be sleeping in the hotel, and the entire day from breakfast till way after dinner be spending my time in LA.. Is this realistic, or is the way to and from the airport hotels awfull?This weekend I'll take all pro's and cons of both hotels, and make a disicion! I'll keep U posted!
Colfax Posted March 13, 2009 Report Posted March 13, 2009 That you've seen winning Priceline bids for Palomar at $95 doesn't mean it's available at $95 for your exact dates. I'm not sure if you're aware but Palomar charges $30/night parking, which isn't included in your Priceline bid. Originally you said Santa Monica was your first choice and $70 was your bidding limit. I didn't think $70 would be enough for a 3* in Santa Monica-MDR zone for your dates. If you're willing to spend $95 though maybe you can get something near Santa Monica. Most 3* in Santa Monica charge for parking too.With a $95 budget you have some options, and I can't think of a reason to stay at the airport really. There's little to see there, unless you like watching planes land, and you'll be spending a lot of extra time driving back and forth in heavy traffic.
BastiaanS2 Posted March 13, 2009 Author Report Posted March 13, 2009 With a $95 budget you have some options, and I can't think of a reason to stay at the airport really. There's little to see there, unless you like watching planes land, and you'll be spending a lot of extra time driving back and forth in heavy traffic.Well, The problem indeed are the parking fees, it makes it a lot more expenisive... but when I take a look at the reviews and photo's of the property on the internet it does look super! That's the reason why I'd be willing to pay a 95$ ex..It's a pretty tough search.. I dont know what to choose, when I find a hotel/motel in LA that's in a right area, and makes me confident (through reviews) that I dont have to spend the night in a dirty bed, the cost is mostly above 70$ a night, at least.. So why not pay a few extra to try and win the palomar at PRICELINE?like I said, tough choice.. We'll see this weekend if I can find any other alternatives.. And take a good look at the budget..:)Thanks for the help BTW..
Colfax Posted March 14, 2009 Report Posted March 14, 2009 Good luck with your decision, BastiaanS2. Let us know if we can be of further help. It will be interesting to hear where you end up.
BastiaanS2 Posted March 15, 2009 Author Report Posted March 15, 2009 I've just used your link to proceed to PRICELINE.. Went for the palomar in westwood;(I've choose to checkin a day later, so checkin is at 21-6-09 and checkout is 24-6-09First bid; 95$ Area : westwood, 4*Rejected:First Rebid: 100$ Areas: Westwood and LawndaleSecond Rebid: 105$ Areas: Westwood, Lawndale and Culver CityThird Rebid: 110$ Areas: Westwood, Lawndale Culver City and Redondo..(areas are a bid shortnamed, but it's pretty clear I presume)The last bidding was rejected, and I would say that 110$ Is pretty much the limit, And because I'm out of options due to the rebid zones, Im wondering if someone can give me any suggestions..Would it enhance my chances if I would change the checkindate to 20-6-09?
BastiaanS2 Posted March 15, 2009 Author Report Posted March 15, 2009 People,Won the sheraton gateway LAX today for 65$ at PRICELINE.. Can someone change the topictitle?Many thanks again!dates: 21-6-09checkin 24-6-09checkout
thereuare Posted March 16, 2009 Report Posted March 16, 2009 Congratulations on your success!Glad you found something which meets both your needs and budget.Thank you for sharing your win with the board and using our PRICLINE link to begin your bidding.Enjoy this leg of your trip. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Colfax Posted March 16, 2009 Report Posted March 16, 2009 Congrats, BastiaanS2.If you want help with the Brentwood-Westwood dates please start another thread for that.
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