Priceline Hotel: Bidding for 4 people

[ghost]

Hi,

I intend to bid for a 3* or 4* hotel in USW for 4ppl.

My intention is to bid a room for 2 people first. After securing the room, then contact hotel to request for additional 2 people to sleep in, with additional charges.

Will this be possible?

Thank you.

[Colfax]

Welcome to BetterBidding, ghost.

What you're proposing isn't a good idea. Some hotels might not be able to accomodate your request for a second bed, even if you're willing to pay extra.

The Chancellor is a 3* hotel in USE zone, for example, that restricts occupancy to two per room.

You're much better off reserving a room that you know will accomodate four, so you don't have to worry about it. Or get two less expensive rooms so that you'll have two showers and sinks.

If you'll post your travel dates and hotel budget per night maybe people can offer suggestions.

When you search your dates on HOTWIRE, searching on "4 adults/0 children" do you see any options within your budget?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links for your purchases.

[ghost]

I will be in SF from 22- 25 May 2010. Budget is around 80-100/night.

Actually I do not need additional beds, but my requirement is to have two queen beds. My friends and I are ok with using existing beds.

So do I bid for 4 people or 2 people? My understanding is that bidding for 4 people will get me 2 rooms, which are more expensive than sharing.

[Colfax]

How many people are actually in your party?

[ghost]

4 people in total. We would like to get the cheapest rates, and do not mind sharing beds and rooms. But minimum is two queen beds so that we have a space to sleep.

Will it be possible to get a 2 people room, then sneak the other 2 into the room?

[Colfax]

Hotels have different policies about bedding and it's difficult to anticiapate what will happen with Priceline since you don't know which hotel you'll win.

In USW zone Parc 55 and Hilton have reputations for giving two beds without an upgrade charge when they have them available. That's not the same thing as saying two beds are guaranteed though. The Nikko charges $30/night extra for a second bed. And it's possible you could win a hotel that doesn't have two-bed rooms available even if you're willing to pay extra.

I think HOTWIRE might work better for you, since you can reserve a room that you know will sleep four, without "sneaking" or anxiety.

When you search HOTWIRE on 4 adults/0 children do you see any options within your budget? If you'll post the icons someone can try to ID.

[Colfax]

Orbitz has the Marriott Marquis for $99 for your dates. That's for one king or two doubles. (Not two queens). Marriott's in SOMA zone, not USW, but just a few blocks from USW. If you can make two doubles work that's a great price and location.

[ghost]

When I search hotwire, they give me fees that are room + 2 extra adults, which become almost similar to getting 2 rooms.

In that case, I might get it cheaper if I get 2 rooms from priceline.

So I guess priceline and hotwire is not suitable for my situation?

[Colfax]

What is Hotwire asking for USW hotels that guarantee two beds?

[ghost]

3* 139/night

3.5* 149/night

4* 182/night

This is for 4 people per room. The rates are almost double those single room for 2 people.

Is there any difference between double, twin, or double queen? All of them refer to 2 queen beds?

[Colfax]

How do the two doubles at Marriott for $99 strike you?

Is USW your only acceptable zone?

So far $139 is the lowest you've found for a room that accomodates four in USW. You may be able to get TWO rooms on Priceline for $70 each, if you prefer that, and have two showers and bathrooms that way.

Or you could gamble on bidding $70 for one room in USW on Priceline and hope for Hilton or Parc 55. But if you get Nikko you'll have to pay $30 for the second bed. Booking the Marriott at $99 might be a little cheaper, after considering Priceline fee.

[ghost]

I will prefer to stay near union square because that's the livelier region.

Are there other locations to recommend?

[Colfax]

I have to break now, ghost.

Since this is for May there's lots of time. Other posters may have some ideas for you too.

[Gallus50]

PRICELINE only guarantees room for 2 and there are lots of hotel rooms with just one bed in SF. I wouldn't risk it, personally. Also you have other options.

Conventional rates are not that high, so I would look into them. In addition to the Marriott rate Colfax mentioned, I found lots of good hotels - like the Serrano - with 2 beds for under $129. Because of this, I wouldn't take any of the HW offers, either.

I would check out TravelZoo and TravelTicker offers for your dates, and conventional search thru Expedia or Hotels.com. You might be able to book something that is cancellable and monitor HOTWIREW. Also check AAA rates on hotel websites that have something that looks good.

If you get a good enough rate, you might not even have to go the HOTWIRE / PRICELINE route, and you'll know where you're staying.