Priceline Hotel: 4* San Diego (Downtown-Harbor Island) Omni

[andrewrh3]

Hi,

I need some help bidding on a hotel for San Diego on 4/13/09 - a monday night. I want a nice hotel downtown but have seen from this forum that a 4* bid will yield either the Sheraton Marina or Hilton Gaslamp. The thing is I won't have a car, and the Sheraton Marina doesn't seem to be within walking distance to downtown (rather it is isolated on a small island across from the airport 2 miles from downtown). Unfortunately, Priceline seems to throw the island into the same category as downtown. If I don't have a car, should I rather bid for a 3.5* (i.e., will that guarantee me a hotel that is actually downtown and not on Harbor Island?) It seems that the Doubletree is a common outcome with a 3.5* bid, and while the reviews for the hotel don't seem great, at least the location is walkable to everything downtown. If someone with some knowledge of the area / process can help me, that would be awesome!

Thanks,

Andrew

[AaronJB]

I'm not familiar with San Diego, but I think in this case, HOTWIRE may be a better idea - at least with HOTWIRE you can potentially figure out which hotels are showing. You can find the list of reported HOTWIRE wins here:

http://www.betterbidding.com/show.php/showtopic/971

Hopefully someone more familiar with the area will chime in, but my 2 cents is that you may want to see if HOTWIRE can offer something better located.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links.

[odysseus]

I agree - if bidding, I'd go with the hotwire recommendation to provide greater certainty - there's a 4* for $94 on there now. From bookings, it also appears that it's unlikely the Hilton Gaslamp would be available either.

[Colfax]

If I don't have a car, should I rather bid for a 3.5* (i.e., will that guarantee me a hotel that is actually downtown and not on Harbor Island?)

3.5* bids can be upgraded, so bidding 3.5* on Priceline isn't a solution. There's also a Hilton on Harbor Island that I think is rated 3*.

If you purchase in Hotwire's Gas Lamp-Convention Center zone you'll be Downtown or within short walking distance.

Hotwire is offering these options in Gas Lamp-CC now:

4* $102

3* $129

2.5* $89

2* $73

If any of those interest you post the icons you see on your own Hotwire search and someone will try and identify the hotel(s).

Please use this HOTWIRE link if you purchase.

[andrewrh3]

thanks for all the help, everyone.

i guess i will be using hotwire. i was looking to pay a bit less than $100 (was hoping for $80 +/-), but no big deal. i will certainly purchase through the HOTWIRE link. i assume it is worth it to pay the $25 difference between a 2* and a 4* downtown.

[andrewrh3]

WOW - AWESOME! Took a gamble and did 3* hoping to get Courtyard Downtown (based on recent wins calendar) and avoid Harbor Island - well I got free upgrade to OMNI SAN DIEGO - a 4* hotel and trip advisor's number 7 hotel in San Diego. Mad excited. I guess this website's PRICELINE link was the lucky charm I needed. Thanks Again.

[andrewrh3]

Bid 3* for Downtown - Harbor Island hotel and got free upgrade to 4* and won the Omni San Diego. One night, 4.13, for $80. I choose just the one downtown zone and 3* and put $80 on my first try. I am very happy with the results. I used the PRICELINE link on the site.

[yellowdog]

Congratulations on your success!

Thank you for sharing your win with the board and using our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding :)

Sounds like a great deal for you!

Yellowdog.