Hotwire Hotel: New to Hotwire/Priceline - Have some questions for SF

[looloo]

Hello,

I'm quite new to Hotwire and Priceline, did not discovered these sites before I almost reserved all the hotels for my trip this summer.

However, I still need to find an hotel for San Francisco for the period from 07/13/2009 to 07/17/2009.

First question: Is it too early to have a chance to make great deals ?

Secondly: we will be 4 people (2 couples), I read it was quite hazardous to bid on PRICELINE in that case because PRICELINE only guaranty a room for 2 people, isn't it ?

Thirdly: I don't know SF at all, which places would be the best to have an hotel ? Knowing that during the first 2 nights, we will not have a car (so no parking problems), but we will get a car the 15th of July. So we are ok to move to an other hotel either to have free parking, or to discover other places.

Thanks for your help !

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site. :)

What would be your budget for hotel per night?

[looloo]

Hello,

Ideally, no more than $140 each night as a max. A budget of $100/night would be prefered (or why not, less if possible ;-)).

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Few issues to cover...

You're right that it could be risky bidding on PRICELINE for this stay since PRICELINE only guarantees double occupany (and you'll be quad occupancy) and you could receive a hotel room with only one bed (and a hotel unable, or unwilling, to change your room to one with two beds)

HOTWIRE could be an option as they allow you to search for up to quad occupancy and ensure sleeping accomodations for everyone you include in your search (although the second 'bed' could be a pullout couch or rollaway brought into the room)

You don't mention your minimum star rating for this stay... what is the lowest star rating you're willing to accept? Are you able to find a suitable hotel at this star level at $140 or less for these dates thru conventional booking channels?

When searching HOTWIRE for 4adults (for your complete stay) HOTWIRE does have what appears to be the Holiday Inn Fishermans Wharf for $144/nite, just over your $140 maximum bid.

Let us know your thoughts regarding the above and we'll take it from there.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[Colfax]

It's possible---not guaranteed but possible---that you could win TWO rooms for $140 or less, in Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf, 3* or higher.

Would you prefer two rooms so that you'd have two bathrooms and showers? Or do you all want to be in one room?

As far as location your basic decision is whether to stay Downtown or in Fisherman's Wharf. Parking will be about $35-50 per night in both locations. Or you could spend two nights in each area for some variety.

[looloo]

Hello,

Well, 2 rooms would be a good choice (we will pass almost 3 weeks in the same room !), but it is a question of budget. We don't want to put all our money in hotels, but a minimum of comfort would be appreciable. So I think effectively 3* hotels would be a good choice. Currently from what I've seen with standard ways of reservations, only 1 or 2 star hotels are proposed in our budget (which would be more like $100-120/night, with a max of $140/night).

About Priceline, is it possible to contact the hotel just after winning a bid to ask them if there is the possibility of having a room for 4 people ? Because in that case it could be possible to bid for 1 room, check, and if it is only for 2 people, bid for a second one (hopping to have almost the same price).

About Downtown or Fisherman's Wharf, I think both places are interesting, aren't they ? I don't know SF at all, so I'm opened to all suggestions. I must admit I'm quite tempted with 2 nights in each place. In that case, what would be the best deal, 2 first nights (without car) in downtown and 2 last ones (with the car) in Fisherman's Wharf ?

Thanks !

[Colfax]

About Priceline, is it possible to contact the hotel just after winning a bid to ask them if there is the possibility of having a room for 4 people ? Because in that case it could be possible to bid for 1 room, check, and if it is only for 2 people, bid for a second one (hopping to have almost the same price).

That's not how PRICELINE works. You're guaranteed a room with one bed. If you win a hotel now you can call and request a second bed. Your request will be noted but you won't know until you check in whether the hotel will be able to accomodate your request or not. Some hotels charge an additional fee for a second bed. Some hotels won't be able to give you a second bed even if you're willing to pay extra.

Also if you bid for two rooms separately you and the other couple might end up in different hotels.

To guarantee two beds you should either:

1) Book something conventionally (not on HOTWIRE or PRICELINE)

2) Search HOTWIRE on "4 adults/0 children", which will guarantee two beds

3) Book two rooms on PRICELINE

About Downtown or Fisherman's Wharf, I think both places are interesting, aren't they ? I don't know SF at all, so I'm opened to all suggestions. I must admit I'm quite tempted with 2 nights in each place. In that case, what would be the best deal, 2 first nights (without car) in downtown and 2 last ones (with the car) in Fisherman's Wharf ?

Downtown and Fisherman's Wharf both have their attractions. Parking in Fisherman's Wharf is less expensive than in Union Square/Downtown so if you decide to split your bid I'd favor staying Downtown for the two nights without a car. For more detailed discussion on Fisherman's Wharf vs Downtown you might check the SF forums at TripAdvisor or Fodors.

Are you planning to drive out of SF on a day trip? If you're going to spend all your time in the city you may not need a rental car at all.

If it's in your budget my suggestion would be to try for two rooms Downtown for your first two nights. First 4*, then 3.5*, then 3*. Someone can suggest a specific strategy if you're interested.

[looloo]

Hi Colfax,

Thanks for all your answers.

Downtown and Fisherman's Wharf both have their attractions. Parking in Fisherman's Wharf is less expensive than in Union Square/Downtown so if you decide to split your bid I'd favor staying Downtown for the two nights without a car. For more detailed discussion on Fisherman's Wharf vs Downtown you might check the SF forums at TripAdvisor or Fodors.

Are you planning to drive out of SF on a day trip? If you're going to spend all your time in the city you may not need a rental car at all.

Well, in fact, SF will be a first step in a long road trip, and it was cheaper to get the car the 15th afternoon than the 17th early in the morning (due to complete weeks promotions). So we thought it could be a good thing to have the car a few days before leaving SF, so we could eventually go to Sausalito or trip on the 49 miles road. Our program in SF is currently not known in fact !

If it's in your budget my suggestion would be to try for two rooms Downtown for your first two nights. First 4*, then 3.5*, then 3*. Someone can suggest a specific strategy if you're interested.

Well, yes I think it is a good suggestion. We could try to bid for 2 rooms in downtown, and if not having anything, maybe go to the 3* hotel in Japan town proposed by hotwire, which seems to be the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway (according to he list of hotels found on this great forum).

So I'm opened to any strategy which could be provided by experts of this forum.

Thanks !

[thereuare]

If you're picking the car up at the aiport you may want to also consider picking up the car, parking in the longterm lot at the airport, and leaving the car there until you need it two days later (you can take BART back to the hotel or a location you choose to meet other others)

As there is no "downtown" zone on PRICELINE, please let us know specfically which zones you're willing to bid (by priceline name) and for which dates and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[looloo]

If you're picking the car up at the aiport you may want to also consider picking up the car, parking in the longterm lot at the airport, and leaving the car there until you need it two days later (you can take BART back to the hotel or a location you choose to meet other others)

No I will pick the car in O'Farell street.

As there is no "downtown" zone on PRICELINE, please let us know specfically which zones you're willing to bid (by priceline name) and for which dates and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Well, from what I have seen, I think Union Square East or West should be good, and maybe Civic center (but I see it englobes Tenderloin, and I have read that it is far from being the best place to go).

So the deal would be to search for an hotel for 2 nights/4 people (2 rooms ?) in one of the zones above starting the 13th of July, then 2 nights/4 people in Fisherman's Wharf starting the 15th of July.

As I said, I don't know SF at all, so I'm opened to any suggestion !

Thanks.

[Colfax]

Let's work on 7/13-7/15 first.

My suggestion is to bid in USE and USW zones. Any hotel in those zones will be within a few blocks of your rental car pickup on O'Farrell Street.

Have you decided if you want to try for two rooms? I think that's best since you need two beds. With your $140 limit that's $70 per room. That's a low limit for a 4* but it's worth trying.

But before that, if you had a choice between two 3* rooms at $55 each or two 4* rooms at $70 each which would you prefer? (I'm not saying those exact rates are available but your answer helps clarify your priorities....lower price vs higher rating.)

[looloo]

Hi again Colfax,

Well, I think 3* or 3.5* hotels are already quite good comfort, so I would try 2 rooms for 55/60 $ each.

[thereuare]

So do you want to start trying for a 3.5* or a 3* property? Did you want to include the Civic Center zone at this time? (above you seemed to be on the fence whether to include or not) Also, since you didnt mention the SOMA or Embarcadero zones, i assume you don't want to include those in your bidding either? (if Colfax or anyone else sees this before your reply maybe you could offer your thoughts on these zones as well??)

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[Colfax]

looloo,

My sense is that you want someone to take charge, so I'll do that.

I suggest that you bid for two 3* rooms in USE and USW. I would hold off on adding other zones for now. If a 3.5* or 4* hotel has a lower Priceline rate than the 3* then your bid will be upgraded.

When bidding for a 3* in San Francisco you have one free rebid zone, Marina-Lombard. Marina-Lombard only has 1* and 2* hotels, so you can add it to your 3* bids in other SF zones without risk of getting a hotel in Marina-Lombard. Priceline never gives you a lower rated hotel than you bid for.

You might be bidding too early for July dates now, and your limit might be too low. There's only one way to find out.

I suggest this:

Start with this PRICELINE link and bid $45 for a 3* in USW.

Add Marina-Lombard and bid $50.

Close browser, reaccess Priceline.

New bid of $45 for 3* in USE.

Add Marina-Lombard and bid $50.

Close browser, reaccess Priceline.

Select USW and USE together and bid $55 for 3*.

Add Marina-Lombard and bid $60.

Please go back to the link each time you close your browser and reaccess PRICELINE.

And don't forget to bid for two rooms!

Any questions? Please ask. Good luck!

[looloo]

Well,

Thanks a lot Colfax ! It's quite detailed step by step instruction !

You said it is a little bit early for July. Do you think it would be better to wait some weeks/months ?

Waiting would mean better prices ? More rooms available for Priceline ?

I don't mind waiting to make a reservation if it is better to do so, I thought I was a little bit late as I think July is high season.

Depending on your advice, I will start applying your methodology or wait a little bit.

Once more, thanks a lot for helping me so much !

[AaronJB]

Waiting would mean better prices ? More rooms available for Priceline ?

Not necessarily. If traffic for these dates starts to pick up, rates would go higher. If traffic goes down, rates may move a bit lower. However, if you're looking at HOTWIRE and rates for 4* properties on HOTWIRE are significantly lower than regular prices for the average 4* on your dates, you have to be realistic and realize that there is a "floor" that many of these hotels will likely not go below.

Overall, you can wait and prices may go lower, but you also risk that prices could go the other way - there's definitely no guarantee that prices will go down closer to the date/s, especially if something is happening (convention, etc) on these dates.

[Gallus50]

Looloo - If your bids get rejected, it's no harm, no foul. So read the FAQ's and start bidding already. You can do this. Some of us do it all the time! It's time to go for it, and if you're unsuccessful, wait and then try again, and again, and again, if necessary.

[Colfax]

My advice is to bid the strategy I offered now, rather than waiting, as long as your travel dates are firm.

July's a peak month in SF and $60's a good price for Union Square in July. If you can get something for $60 or less there now you should take it.

Please use the board's PRICELINE link.