Priceline Hotel: Napa - Trying to book a cheap room

[McAdams711]

Hello everyone. Some assistance would be greatly appreciated. I'll make sure to book through your links.

Hotwire is offering a $65/night for a 2 star in Napa for 6/19 to 6/20 (last minute, yes) with the following amenities:

This hotel features the following amenities:

Smoke Free Rooms

Guest rooms at this hotel are always smoke-free.

High-speed Internet Access

Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply.

Anybody have any idea which hotel this is?

Also, is it better to try priceline first? Ideally I'd like 3.5 stars, but if I can't get one cheap enough (~$60-80), I'd be willing to go lower in star rating.

Thanks again.

Mike

[AaronJB]

I'd try PRICELINE first, as $65* for a 2* doesn't seem like a particularly good deal for these dates, especially given that there are 2* properties for less regular rate on these dates and HOTWIRE is offering a 4* in the $80's. This 2* has not yet been reported/ID'd by the board and I'm having trouble finding smoke-free 2*'s in the area on Orbitz to try and track down what this property is.

Please use the site's PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links.

[McAdams711]

Thanks for your help Aaron. I think I'll just avoid the 2 star from Hotwire.

In regards to Priceline... I want to bid on a 3.5 star in Napa (not including surrounding areas).

Here is what Priceline says:

$1 to $24 = Based on recent data, your price has almost no chance of being accepted.

$25 to $75 = Based on recent data, your price has only a small chance of being accepted.

$75 + = No Priceline comment

Given I need to book in the next 24 hours, is it pointless to bid in the "only has a small chance" range? I've never bid on priceline before, so I'm trying to get a feel for it.

Mike

[AaronJB]

Within reason (certainly $1 isn't going to be accepted), PRICELINE's "Your bid has no chance" messages should be taken with a grain of salt, as the service would like you to bid a bit more than necessary.

However, in this case, my concern with bidding for a 3.5* in the Napa - Sonoma (Napa) area is that there are only two 3.5*'s and now that I look at regular rates, there seems to be something going on in this area on these dates (?) as rates seem high (or hotels are sold out.)

3.5* Marriott

3.5* River Terrace Inn

The River Terrace Inn is showing no availability and the Marriott is showing a sky-high rate. The 4* Vino Bello is also looking sold out.

I'm not familiar with the Napa area, but there are considerably more options in the Santa Rosa - Rohnert Park - Petaluma area

3.5* Doubletree REVIEW

3.5* Flamingo Resort and Spa REVIEW

3.5* Fountaingrove Inn

3.5* Hilton Sonoma County REVIEW

3.5* Hyatt Vineyard Creek REVIEW

There is a 4* in this area on HOTWIRE for these dates for $89, and you could try for a 3.5* in the zone for cheaper than that via PRICELINE.

[Colfax]

Napa is expensive on summer weekends. For a last minute bid like this you should be probably be thinking $90-100 minimum for a 3.5* on Priceline, if Priceline has anything at all. Priceline's suggestions about "small chance" "no chance" etc are meaningless and should be ignored.

In Napa HOTWIRE has a 3.5* for $151 and a 2.5* for $179. Like AaronJB said, the cheaper deals on Hotwire are in the Santa Rosa-Rohnert Park zone; not in Napa zone.

If you only want Napa I'd try $100 for 3.5*; then add your one free rebid, Fairfield, at $125 (or whatever is your bidding limit).

I also see the Napa 2* at $67 now, and there are TripAdvisor stats of 3/5, 20+ reviews.

Four different Napa hotels match those TA stats: Chardonnay Lodge, Best Western at the Vines, Hawthorn Inn, and Napa Discovery Inn. I can't verify which of those hotels is non-smoking right now, but the Hotwire 2* is probably one of those four.

Do you have a backup plan if you can't get something in Napa on Priceline or Hotwire?

[McAdams711]

Thanks again for the reply Aaron.

I'm pretty tied to the immediate Napa area. Maybe I'll just start with 4* and 3.5* and bid in the $80 range. If they don't get accepted, I'll move the lower star rankings which I would hopefully be able to get a 2* around $50.

[McAdams711]

Colfax - just saw your reply. I'll definitely take your suggestions into account (and boost higher star bids a bit). Really appreciate the help!

Yes - my backup plan is to not go : )

[McAdams711]

Let me add that I just booked a car on priceline for the weekend in the Bay Area for pick-up at San Francisco airport on June 19th and drop-off at Oakland airport June 21st for $15/day. What a deal!