Priceline Hotel: 4.5* San Francisco (USE-Embarcadero) Westin

[Jule]

San Francisco, CA April 23 -25

4.5 stars; no "Customer Favorite", but best value

Restaurant(s), Fitness Center, High-Speed Internet Access, Business Center.

I would jump on that if I knew that this is the PH and not the Omni.

If I change dates to 4/24 one night only I get a

4.5 stars; "Customer Favorite"

Restaurant(s), Fitness Center, High-Speed Internet Access, Business Center.

with this comments:

Very nice hotel, very close to everything. The staff was great, and the hotel was first class.

Extremely pleasant. Staff was very courteous. Rooms very comfortable. Would be most eager to stay at the hotel again.

The hotel is in a perfect location downtown. We were able to walk to the Embarcadero, Union Square, and even Fisherman's Warf. The hotel is beautifully remodeled and very clean and comfortable. The staff, however, is the best part of your stay. They are very friendly, helpful, and accommodating.

..but no balconies...

Any help would be highly appreciated and

Happy New Year

[Jule]

Maybe I was a little too fast with asking for help. After luring through most topics it seems that the non Costumer Favorite 4/23 - 25 and $119 is indeed the Park Hyatt, whereas the Costumer Favorite for 4/24 and $122 is "remodeled" = Omni.

Or is it possible that HW changes up " Costumer Favorite" signs to confuse costumers?

Great site, btw!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

I have seen instances where the 'Customer Favorite' designation appears to be random... but this is more the exception rather than the rule.

The comments also rotate, so i would be prepared to do a few HOTWIRE searches every few days... if you see the mention of balconies and the price is right... grab it :)

PS- thank for the compliments on the site, they're much appreciated

[BEAV]

I agree with Thereuare's comments. I follow these two hotels a lot on Hotwire, and I've seen instances where the 'customer favorite' designation doesn't appear. I know the zone well, and there simply aren't any other 4.5 hotels in the area. I believe both Omni & Park Hyatt are designated as Customer Favorites.

Since you've got a good deal of time before your trip, keep checking the customer favorite comments as Thereuare suggested until you find one that identifies a hotel more clearly.

If you run across comments that mention the hotel merits it's 5* rating, they're speaking of the Omni, as it used to be rated 5* on Hotwire. No doubt the downgrade to 4.5 * was simply to preserve opacity between it and the PH. However, the 5* comments are still in the cycle.

If you see comments about "best steak I've ever had" that too is probably the Omni as the hotel's restaurant is "Bob's Steak and Chop House".

Also, comments such as "ornate" lean heavily toward Omni as that describes the hotel's decor over the more contemporary PH.

I've also noted that whenever Hotwire is selling the 4.5 in this zone for the low $100's ($100-130) it's generally the Omni. The PH seems to command a higher rate. Last week Hotwire was selling one night for around $110 (comments suggested the Omni), then the next night for $148 (comments suggested the PH).

Good luck in your endeavour to nail the PH!

[Jule]

After taking a deeper look into HW options for some time now I decided against the uncertainity for $119 and tried Priceline. Success at USE, 4* and $75: got the Westin Union Square.

[thereuare]

Thank you for the follow-up and reporting your results to the board.

Was this your first bid in that zone or were you rejected at lower bids prior to this acceptance? This is the same as the Westin St. Francis, correct?

Have a great time in San Francisco.

[Jule]

Oh yes - Westin St. Francis. First bid was $ 72, no counteroffer, rebid by adding a non 4*-zone and was accepted at second bid.

First time at the Westin, but 10th trip to SFO. Stayed at the Park Hyatt in 2002 on a $46 Priceline bid and would have loved to come back - even at $120.

[jng1161]

Just want to forewarn you about this hotel. I too got this hotel for my upcoming trip for $75 via Priceline for 3/19-3/22. I am traveling to S.F. cross country with my spouse and 2 children. When I called the hotel to verify the reservation, I was told that the Priceline rooms are "standard rooms" which have only one double bed. Apparently this is a common complaint with rooms booked at this hotel via Priceline. I called the hotel and was told to take it up with Priceline regarding getting a second bed and that they (the Westin) could not alter priceline reservations. I called Priceline who attempted for 3 days to upgrade the room for a second bed but they had no success and ultimately reverted to the company line... you knew when you booked the room it only guarantees that it will sleep two adults. I told them that I have used priceline for years and never encountered this problem and that I would handle this on my own. Ultimately I faxed a letter explaining my dilemma to the hotels reservation manager. The hotels reservation manager promptly called me back the same day and apologized for the inconvenience I had been through. I was told that the way this problem is dealt with for priceline customers is that they will upgrade to a room with 2 queen beds for an extra $30 dollars a night. Being between a rock and a hard place I appreciatively agreed. So beware, if you are traveling with more than 2 people your $75 per night bargain just turned in to a $105 dollar a night deal unless you can fit 3 or 4 people in one double bed.

[thereuare]

jng1161,

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please post your winning bid as a new topic as it may help others looking for your specific dates.

[BEAV]

Should this thread be moved to the Priceline board? I know the original posts were concerning Hotwire, but the title of the thread (especially the star rating of 4.5) leads one to believe the Westin was purchased through Hotwire for $75, when in fact it was a winning bid on Priceline.

Thanks! :)

[thereuare]

Glad somebody is keeping an eye on things around here! :)

Thanks!

[BEAV]

Glad somebody is keeping an eye on things around here! :)

Thanks!

Hey, it's the price of success for one Moderator of a busy, growing message board !! :)

[AnthonyJ]

I was told that the way this problem is dealt with for priceline customers is that they will upgrade to a room with 2 queen beds for an extra $30 dollars a night. Being between a rock and a hard place I appreciatively agreed. So beware, if you are traveling with more than 2 people your $75 per night bargain just turned in to a $105 dollar a night deal unless you can fit 3 or 4 people in one double bed.

If you book the Westin St Francis through their own website they charge more for two double beds than one. Why shouldn't it be the same when you book through Priceline.

Checking the Westin for January 20th: one double bed is $249, two double beds is $269, one king bed is $319.

[thereuare]

AnthonyJ, thank you for pointing that out.

In a situaiton such as this i think that the hotel is well within their right to charge for an additional bed (however, if the rate is always an additional $20 thru their website than that is what i'd like to see the charge be to pricelne customers... if the additional cost on their website is variable, then a fixed amount at $30 is acceptable, if not a bit high, in my eyes).

[jng1161]

I understand your point Anthony J, however the vast majority of Priceline hotels do not engage in this practice. Most properties give the priceline custome their choice of one bed or two. My point is that a priceline customer bidding in this zone needs to beware of this situation and understand that if they get this hotel their is a likely significant nightly add on if they want a second bed. I don't believe the other 4 star hotels in this zone engage in this practice.

[thereuare]

... the vast majority of Priceline hotels do not engage in this practice.

The vast majority of Priceline hotels also don't charge different rates (conventionally) for rooms with two beds, this hotel does, and that is the difference in this situation.

I agree that it's important for users to know, but i don't see anything wrong with this 'practice' since the hotel indeed charges more for this type of room... some could even say it's a courtesy to offer the upgrade to Priceline customers.

Once again, please post your winning bid information as a new topic so that others can benefit from your purchase.

Thanks.

[Jule]

I see no reason to get excited.

We are talking 'bout a 4* hotel right in the center of the most beautiful town on earth with a heavenly bed (or not) and a rate that represents less than 40% of the official rate. There have been bigger problems today so I'm happy to look forward. I usually behave like a nice guy during check-in and was able to get free upgrades more often than not.