Priceline Hotel: 3* Los Angeles (Santa Monica-Marina del Rey) Courtyard Marina Del Rey

[h00sh]

hi,

i'm a first time user and i want to book a 3* hotel in Santa Monica-Marina del Rey. 2 rooms. 9/14/09 - 09/18/09. $80/night max.

we prefer the doubletree or holiday inn which are directly located in Santa Monica.

but chances of getting the courtyard are higher as it's the cheapest hotel of those, right?

we also got an email with $100 bonus cash from priceline.

please help us to find a bidding strategy.

thanks in advance

[Colfax]

Welcome to BetterBidding, h00sh.

Just because Marriott's the least expensive of the three doesn't mean that's the 3* that would come up. Sometimes more expensive hotels discount deeply. You need to be prepared for any 3* or higher in the zone, which also includes Venice and Marina del Rey.

Since you prefer Santa Monica I'll suggest checking Hotwire. Board members can often ID Hotwire hotels and tell you if it's something right in Santa Monica or not. If you see something interesting post the icons and someone will try to ID.

But probably you want to use up that $100 bonus cash from Priceline too. If you decide to bid what are the basic terms of that bonus money? Is it $10 or $20 per night, for example?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links for your purchases.

[h00sh]

4* Santa Monica - Venice - Marina Del Rey

$122

09/14/09 - 09/18/09. 2 rooms 4 adults.

tripadvisor rating:

3.5 out of 5

Based on 200+ customer reviews (Last reviewed July 2009)

amenities:

Near Beach

Smoke Free Rooms

Fitness Center

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

High-speed Internet Access

of course i'll use the board's HOTWIRE link if purchasing.

please help identify.

[h00sh]

just checked hotwire. 4* hotel available for $122 which is too expansive for us and we cant use priceline's bonus cash.

bonus rules & restrictions

Save up to $100 on your purchase.

- You must book before December 31, 2009 -

* Valid for 3-star or better hotels

* Valid for Name Your Own Price hotels

* Save $20/room per night, up to $100

of course i'll use the PRICELINE link if purchasing.

[Colfax]

Since yours is a four night stay you'll only be able to use $80 of your $100 bonus money.

I take it you want to try bidding for a 3* on Priceline now and that you're willing to accept a 3* anywhere in the SM-MDR zone, including Marina del Rey.

When you say your bidding limit is $80 is that before or after the $20/night bonus cash?

thereuare may have a comment on how you can use your bonus cash and also still use the BetterBidding PRICELINE link.

[h00sh]

Since yours is a four night stay you'll only be able to use $80 of your $100 bonus money.

we need 2 rooms. and as it's $20/room per night we will be able to use the full bonus amount?!

I take it you want to try bidding for a 3* on Priceline now and that you're willing to accept a 3* anywhere in the SM-MDR zone, including Marina del Rey.

right.

When you say your bidding limit is $80 is that before or after the $20/night bonus cash?

i didn't mention any bidding limit :) just want to get the best deal.

thereuare may have a comment on how you can use your bonus cash and also still use the BetterBidding PRICELINE link.

already got that comment.

[Colfax]

we need 2 rooms. and as it's $20/room per night we will be able to use the full bonus amount?!

I've never tried using Bonus Money when purchasing two rooms together and I'm not sure how that will work out. When you actually enter your bid info on Priceline's website you'll find out whether they let you use the whole $100 or not. Hopefully they will.

i didn't mention any bidding limit just want to get the best deal.

In your first post you said that $80 was your maximum. To me "maximum" and "bidding limit" are the same thing.

2 rooms. 9/14/09 - 09/18/09. $80/night max.

What I still don't understand though: Do you want to bid up to $80 INCLUDING your bonus money ($60 bid + $20 bonus = $80), or are you willing to bid $80 PLUS the $20 bonus, to make a maximum bid of $100?

I'll be away the rest of the day so someone else might respond after this.

[thereuare]

Since you're bidding on 8 room nites and the maximum bonus is $100, you'll get $12.50 added to your bid.... did you want to bid up to $80 + $12.50 bonus, making your equivalent to a $92.50 bid, or were you looking to cap your bid amount at $68, bringing the amount PRICELINE searches for up to $80 when including your bonus money?

Let us know and we'll advise accordingly.

PS- for anyone following along this is how you can use our PRICELINE links along with your Bonus Money...

1) click our PRICELINE link to get to priceline

2) go to the MY PROFILE>>MY REWARDS link near the top right of their home page

3) click and use the bonus money link in the MY REWARDS section of your profile

THANKS! :)

[h00sh]

sorry you are right. i did say $80 max :) i was searching for recent wins for 3* santa monica and saw that all wins for the courtyard were $70-80, for the holiday inn $54-60 and for the doubletree $60-70.

thats why i wrote $80 max hoping that i will get a better deal.

but to shorten the discussion about the bidding limit let's say it's $67,50+12,50 bonus.

ps: did anyone identify the 4* offer from hotwire?

[thereuare]

ps: did anyone identify the 4* offer from hotwire?

Given your $100 PRICELINE bonus money, and that you're trying for a hotel with an $80 maximum (only $68 due to the bonus money) i'm guessing the 4* hotel at $122 isn't a reaslistic option at the moment.

At the 3* you only have one re-bid zone. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

Select 3* Marina Del Rey...

Bid $53, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $58

The above prices are your bid price, not including the bonus money (which it would be appreciate if you accessed as per above, by clicking our PRICELINE link and then heading the MY PROFILE>>MY REWARDS section of priceline)

The bids above are likely too low, but with time on your side, i would at least try to lowball on yoru first attempt.

prcieline.hotwire

Any questions feel free to ask. Good luck and le tus know how it goes.

[Colfax]

As point of information the Hotwire 4* in Santa Monica-Venice-MDR looks like a match for the Shearton Delfina.

Hotwire's only option under $100 in the zone is a 2* for $86, a hotel that can't be identified and might not be located in Santa Monica.

So I think your better deal will be on PRICELINE.

Good luck!

[h00sh]

we got the courtyard for $58 + 12,50 bonus cash.

used your PRICELINE link.

thanks for your help.

[yellowdog]

Congratulations on your success!

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

Great to see that evrything worked out well for you.

Have a nice stay.

Yellowdog.