thombo Posted March 18, 2009 Report Posted March 18, 2009 New to this board and new to using HOTWIRE, so I appreciate all the suggestions and advice out there.I'm traveling to SF in May and I'm looking to stay in the US East or West area 5/16-/5/19. As of right now the Hotwire price quotes are generally higher than the prices I've seen for the same locations/stars reported by other members of this board.Should I wait until closer to my travel dates with the expectation that prices will drop? Or is the price difference simply due to May being a more popular travel month?Thanks.
hookedontravel Posted March 18, 2009 Report Posted March 18, 2009 Me too. I have been on the lookout for good deals on SF for USE and USW on Hotwire for a while for end May :) Not sure why SF is so expensive. PRICELINE is cheaper but I am particular about the hotel as it is our last stop on our honeymoon. Sigh.
Gallus50 Posted March 18, 2009 Report Posted March 18, 2009 In May, the weather is starting to improve, so that may be a part of the reason why. There may also be some conventions that are driving the prices up. Somewhere in the general tips on Priceline or Hotwire - the California section, I think - there is a San Francisco convention checker. That may give you a little more info. Even when things seem expensive and tight, hotels and prices can loosen up closer to the date. So if you have the nerve, sit tight and hang in there. It's a good idea to have a backup you can cancel, though!
Colfax Posted March 18, 2009 Report Posted March 18, 2009 thombo,Welcome to BetterBidding.What Hotwire rates are you seeing in USE and USW for your dates? What's your hotel budget? How many in your party? Will a room with one bed work so that Priceline might be an option? Priceline usually beats Hotwire on price, but Priceline only guarantees double occupancy, which could be a room with one bed.hookedontravel,If you want help with your own stay please start a New Topic.
thereuare Posted March 18, 2009 Report Posted March 18, 2009 Using the convention checker i found this:05.16.09 - 05.21.09 American Psychiatric Association2009 Annual ConventionSaturday, 5/16/2009 through Thursday, 5/21/2009Attendance: 20000Peak Rooms: 8500I think this would be considered pretty decent size convention for San Francisco and is likely effecting the hotel rates you're seeing.If the conference is not well attended you may see rates drop as you get closer as hotels release rooms they were otherwise 'holding' in hopes of attracting conventioneers (who often pay rack rates) or get cancellations from those who booked rooms and decided not to attend. On the otherhand, if the conference is well attended, you coudl see rates go even higher.Not sure your thoughts regarding waiting, lower your star rating (i am seeing 3.5* hotels in USE/USW in the low $100's and a 3.5* in the Embarcadero zone for $90), or raising your budget for a 4*.Let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there.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
thombo Posted March 23, 2009 Author Report Posted March 23, 2009 Need help identifying:Dates: 5/16-5/19Location: Nob Hill4 StarsPrice: $99/nightAmenities:Smoke Free Rooms Fitness Center PoolRestaurant(s) Business Center High-speed Internet Access Spa Services Also, how is the Nob Hill location for 2 younger people looking to explore the neighborhoods, restaurants, shops, cafes, etc of SF? We aren't all that interested in the more touristy things, and we're definitely not there on business. Any insight is appreciated.Thanks!
Gallus50 Posted March 23, 2009 Report Posted March 23, 2009 The Huntington is my best guess - it seems highly likely. The Huntington is a grand old hotel with a location right near the top of Nob Hill. It's walkable to many places, as long as you don't mind going up and down hills. Two cable cars go right by - the California and the Powell/Hyde line. I think Nob Hill is a fine choice as a place to stay, but it isn't exactly hip. It is quiet. There are hipper hotels - like those in the Kimpton chain and the Joie de Vivre group. If you want to be closer to bars and clubs, SOMA might be an option. It can be noisy, though. Central to SOMA and Nob Hill are USE and USW. Fishermans Wharf is probably too touristy for you. Some cool areas to hang out might be the Haight (Sorta still hippie), the Mission (hip but gentrified Hispanic area) and the Castro (obviously gay but straight people hang out there, too). North Beach has great restaurants and bars - don't let the strip clubs scare you away. Chinatown is interesting, bit no place you probably want to be at night. Hope this helps...
thombo Posted March 24, 2009 Author Report Posted March 24, 2009 Thanks for the thoughts. Unfortunately the hotel is no longer available (at least not for $99) - I guess that's the cost of getting some added assurance. I'll still be on the lookout though.
Gallus50 Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Sorry, Thombo. $99 was a great price for that hotel. Do be patient though, and keep your eyes open. You might want to think about bidding on PRICELINE, too. From what Colfax says, occupancy in SF is really down, and even during conventions, room rates have been dropping close to the date. So hang in there!
BEAV Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Sorry it didn't work out, Thombo. As info, this hotel (Huntington) was already identified on the hotel list here at Better Bidding. I was just wondering if you are aware of the hotel lists on this website? Reason I ask is because a lot of the newer people to this site have been asking for IDs of hotels already identified on the lists. Just want to make sure you're aware of all the great tools availalbe here at Better Bidding! Good luck with your SF search -- I hope the Huntington comes back up again at a lower price.
BEAV Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Thombo,I just reread the title of your thread and realize you probably are aware of the hotel list, and were just looking for some added assurance it was the Huntington. I'll read closer next time!
thombo Posted March 24, 2009 Author Report Posted March 24, 2009 Sorry it didn't work out, Thombo. As info, this hotel (Huntington) was already identified on the hotel list here at Better Bidding. I was just wondering if you are aware of the hotel lists on this website? Reason I ask is because a lot of the newer people to this site have been asking for IDs of hotels already identified on the lists. Just want to make sure you're aware of all the great tools availalbe here at Better Bidding! Good luck with your SF search -- I hope the Huntington comes back up again at a lower price.You're correct - this is my first time with HOTWIRE and with BetterBidding, so I was just looking for some added assurace. I now know how fleeting some of these prices are. Thanks for the response.
thombo Posted March 26, 2009 Author Report Posted March 26, 2009 I'm looking at a 4* at $94 for the night of 5/22/09. Amenities include Fitness, Restaurant, Biz Center, and Internet access.Is there any way to predict whether it will be the CLIFT, Parc 55 or Hilton Towers? And probably more importantly, can you go wrong with either of those three at $94?THanks.
Gallus50 Posted March 26, 2009 Report Posted March 26, 2009 Looking at the vacation packages, the Hilton Union Square SF (which I think you're referring to as the Hilton Towers) also has a pool amenity. So it probably isn't that one. As for the Clift or the Parc 55 - I can't tell which one it is, but I don't think you can go wrong at that price for either one. The Clift might be a little cooler, but the Parc 55 is very central and people seem to like it. Both are in relatively busy areas, so you might want to request a high floor so you don't hear street noise. Hope this helps.
thombo Posted March 27, 2009 Author Report Posted March 27, 2009 Thanks for the thoughts. I just wound up booking the Parc 55 for the same price I would have gotten from Hotwire (if it was the Parc and not the Clift). Clift looked more intriguing, but I like the certainty of booking through the hotel's site (and with that I can cancel if necessary). I'm still on the lookout to book via HOTWIRE for 5/16-5/19 though... wish me luck.
Gallus50 Posted March 27, 2009 Report Posted March 27, 2009 It's always nice to have the flexibility to cancel. With the same rate, that's a smart move.
thombo Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Posted April 8, 2009 Seeing a 2* in USW that doesn't match any of the hotels in the list. Amenities are as follows:BoutiqueSmoke Free RoomsComplimentary BreakfastI'm looking at staying there 5/16-5/19I thought maybe it would be the Baldwin Hotel, but I checked their website and they don't currently have any vacancies for that time period...Appreciate your help!!!
thereuare Posted April 8, 2009 Report Posted April 8, 2009 Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread.This property has not yet been identified, but considering you were previously considering a 4* hotel, do you think you're going to be happy with a 2* rated property with a 3/5 Tripadvisor rating??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
Colfax Posted April 8, 2009 Report Posted April 8, 2009 I really don't recommend buying an opaque 2* in USW, thombo. Hotwire doesn't have a 1* rating. 2* is the lowest. It could be okay, but there's very high risk of disappointment.You've got a cancellable reservation at Parc55 for $94, I believe. What's your goal now? Lower price? A different style of hotel than Parc55?
thombo Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Posted April 8, 2009 I really don't recommend buying an opaque 2* in USW, thombo. Hotwire doesn't have a 1* rating. 2* is the lowest. It could be okay, but there's very high risk of disappointment.You've got a cancellable reservation at Parc55 for $94, I believe. What's your goal now? Lower price? A different style of hotel than Parc55?You're right, I do have a night at Parc55 for the tail end of my trip, though I'm still looking for a place for the first weekend I'm in SF. Thanks for the advice on the 2*.
thombo Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Posted April 8, 2009 Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread.This property has not yet been identified, but considering you were previously considering a 4* hotel, do you think you're going to be happy with a 2* rated property with a 3/5 Tripadvisor rating??Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Thereuare - my apologies for starting a new thread. I was previously considering a 4* not necessarily because I'm a regular 4* hotel kind of guy, but rather because I generally won't turn down a 4* for $99. Generally my standards aren't that high - I spend a lot of time traveling in central America, where you learn to appreciate the small things.Thanks again for the help from this board.
Colfax Posted April 8, 2009 Report Posted April 8, 2009 Allright I think I understand now, thombo. You've reserved the Parc55 for 5/22 at $94, and now you're looking for 5/16-5/19. (I reread the thread too quickly and thought you'd reserved the Parc55 for 5/16-5/19.)Are you wanting suggestions for 5/16-5/19? If so what are you looking for and what's your budget for those dates?
thombo Posted April 9, 2009 Author Report Posted April 9, 2009 To sum this thread up and provide new information to the database:I just booked through Hotwire (after clicking this site's link of course) the Hotel California in Union Square West. The amenities listed were:BoutiqueFitnessRestaurantBiz CenterHigh Speed internetBooked for $82/night 5/16-19/09Based on the list of hotels, these amenities didn't match any hotel directly, but I thought it may be one of the three boutiques listed, turns out it was neither, but the Hotel California looks like a nice place.Anyone have an opinion on the hotel?Allright I think I understand now, thombo. You've reserved the Parc55 for 5/22 at $94, and now you're looking for 5/16-5/19. (I reread the thread too quickly and thought you'd reserved the Parc55 for 5/16-5/19.)Are you wanting suggestions for 5/16-5/19? If so what are you looking for and what's your budget for those dates?
AaronJB Posted April 10, 2009 Report Posted April 10, 2009 Congratulations on your success and welcome to the site! :)Thank you for sharing your results with the board - can you confirm the * rating? Reviews can be found at tripadvisor.comPlease use the site's HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links to start future purchases. Thanks.Have a great trip.
thombo Posted April 10, 2009 Author Report Posted April 10, 2009 Congratulations on your success and welcome to the site! :)Thank you for sharing your results with the board - can you confirm the * rating? Reviews can be found at tripadvisor.comPlease use the site's HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links to start future purchases. Thanks.Have a great trip.It's a 3*. (I knew I forgot something...)
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