Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Help in booking on PL for Monterey

Can any one advise me how to bid the magical $43 rate on PL and
actually get the Monterey Hyatt for sure without fear of getting another
substitute hotel?
Thanks

Maybe you should have posted this question to Travelbidding forum?

I'm moving this to the TravelBidding Forum since that would be a more appropriate place.

peteropny - co-moderator - Hyatt

You should check the Biddingfortravel.com and Betterbidding.com first and do your homework. I have been very lucky with my Priceline bidding but you cannot almost never be absolute sure that you will get certain hotel or that the hotel will be available at certain price.

Can any one advise me how to bid the magical $43 rate on PL and
actually get the Monterey Hyatt for sure without fear of getting another
substitute hotel?
Thanks
Alright, I may have had a long day, and sometimes the blonde really shows... But if you already know that a $43 bid usually lands the Hyatt... Why not just log onto Priceline and bid $43 and hope for the best?

Can any one advise me how to bid the magical $43 rate on PL and
actually get the Monterey Hyatt for sure without fear of getting another
substitute hotel?


According to BFT these are the 3* hotels that have been won in the past (MAYBE not a comprehensive list but if not then probably close):

"MONTEREY AREA

Monterey - Pacific Grove

3 Star
Marriott Monterey LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW
Hilton Monterey LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW
Hyatt Regency Monterey LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW
Spindrift Inn LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW
Hotel Pacific LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW (previously came up as a 4* but 4* no longer listed in this zone)"

Based on the above -i.e. since there other hotels that have been won besides than the Hyatt - there is absolutely no way that you can get the Monterey Hyatt for sure without fear of getting another substitute hotel.

On PL, you can never be absolutely guaranteed a particular hotel even if its the only one that has ever been reported at a * level in a particular zone. However, if you look at bidding history (especially recent ones), you a make a well educated guess. I've only missed my target hotel 2x (once was upgraded from 4* to Resort and the other time it was my fault for not thoroughly checking if a particular zone is really a Free-Rebid.

Recently, I've bid several stays in Cincinnati (home) to get the Hyatt and have always gotten it - even though its one of several that routinely show up as 3* in the zone. Key here is to check the rates that you can get directly on the hotel website - if it is at or very near the absolute lowest routinely available on your date, the chances of getting your target hotel increases.

I've frequently ended up with the Monterey Hilton when I bid PL :mad: , even though I want the Hyatt.

Check the vacation packages, using a selection of date ranges around prospective check-in, and noting prices. A trend will emerge. BTW, if you can get it, the Marriott is a nice stay. I've been there numerous times for conferences (not on PLN).

Pat

Edited to add the Marriott and Hyatt are showing for late August/early Sept. and the Marriott is ranging marginally higher. There is an overbid risk (for the Hyatt) but 3* 55 in the Monterey as a first bid might do it for the Marriott. If bidding for the Hyatt, try 3* Monterey @ 40; if rejected, add Carmel Valley, up to 45. If you could specify date ranges, more precision is possible.

Tried your suggestion at $40 for 3* and got nothing. PL response was
a free rebid if I increased by $12 (not!!!) so I took the rebid link and bid
$43 and got the Hyatt. I got charged $11 extra so Ihope the 10% room tax is included(never could get a direct answer on that one) I booked two more days as I needed three nights there for a conference I am attending
By the reviews of this hotel it is a dog of a place so hopefully my rate will be commenesurate with the value here. :p

.......By the reviews of this hotel it is a dog of a place so hopefully my rate will be commenesurate with the value here. :p

Yep, its in a decaying time warp but remember your rate is nice.

MisterNice

Tried your suggestion at $40 for 3* and got nothing. PL response was
a free rebid if I increased by $12 (not!!!) so I took the rebid link and bid
$43 and got the Hyatt. I got charged $11 extra so Ihope the 10% room tax is included(never could get a direct answer on that one) I booked two more days as I needed three nights there for a conference I am attending
By the reviews of this hotel it is a dog of a place so hopefully my rate will be commenesurate with the value here. :p

Your total includes room tax and the PLN service fee. I don't recall there being occupancy fees in Monterey, which would be charged by the hotel.

For general consumption, as I'm not sure when the above bid was placed, bidding suggestions are very time-sensetive and can change by the day and hour, as PLN inventory appears and disappears. The timespan between my post and the one above is about a month, which is a "time warp" in PLN land

My instinct is, as travel is becoming more and more affordable (and perhaps less risky, by perception), more people are traveling, which is increasing occupancy and resulting in fewer rooms being made available on PLN and other like outlets. I'm finding that inventory in many places opens up only at the last moment, like less than 7 days out.

A 50 buck room in Monterey is a good deal, if you have a bed and a clean place to shower and shave. Hope you have a great time! I think our last room there (at the Marriott) was 169.00/not + tax. The bed wasn't that much better but the room service food was fabulous :)

Pat

Your total includes room tax and the PLN service fee. I don't recall there being occupancy fees in Monterey, which would be charged by the hotel.



Pat

I believe there may be some sort of parking fee ($10?) at this hotel, though; you may want to call ahead and ask.

The $11 charge at check-out is Hyatt's $10 per day resort fee, plus $1 tax. I think it gives you some bottled water, and a coupon good for redemption in the gift shop, among other things. Everyone gets charged the resort fee, regardless if they're on a cheap Priceline rate or paying full rack.

I think the resort fee is only charged by Hyatt at resorts, that is, hotels appearing on this list:

http://www.hyatt.com/corporate/resorts/search/resort_locations.jhtml?ssnav=0

Wait a minute-I don't see Rickey's - isn't Rickey's a resort?

Anyway, through a similar oversight, Monterey also is not considered a resort.


The $11 charge at check-out is Hyatt's $10 per day resort fee, plus $1 tax. I think it gives you some bottled water, and a coupon good for redemption in the gift shop, among other things. Everyone gets charged the resort fee, regardless if they're on a cheap Priceline rate or paying full rack.

Trust me, it's a resort fee! I've been personally charged it at this Hyatt.

You'll find comments about resort fees in several reviews all over the Internet. Here's one quote from a review at TripAdvisor.com.

I also agree with other reviews that say the resort fee is a shameless $11/night money grab.

Don't know why I didn't think of this before, but click on "rate rules" on any rate you find for this hotel at Hyatt's website.

Here it is.....

"179.00 USD per Night/per Room
179.00 USD Total per Room

Additional Charges:
10.00% tax
Resort Fee: 10.00USD per room per night

Room Description:
Hyatt.Com Rate Guestroom
1 King or 2 Double Beds:Floor 1-3:325 Sq Ft
Views: Views of Cars on Blacktop

Rate Description:
Full Prepay at Booking : $50 Cancel Fee If 72hours Outside of Arrival Date : One Night Room/Tax Cancel Fee If Within 72hours of Arrival Date.

Cancellation Policy:
50 United States Dollars Fee Outside 72hours/One Night Fee Inside 72hours

Deposit Policy:
Deposit Required By August 31, 2004
Deposit By Credit Card Required
1 Night(S) Deposit Will Be Charged To Credit Card

"

Thanks for correcting my error -

That's interesting that a Hyatt can charge a resort fee even though the hotel is not considered a resort by Hyatt!

By the way, I love the "Views of Cars on Blacktop" note in your clip from the website. That's right up there with "No Vice Presidential Guestroom" on the list of eccentric Hyatt reservation notations. Maybe they have really nice cars in Monterey.

Don't know why I didn't think of this before, but click on "rate rules" on any rate you find for this hotel at Hyatt's website.

Here it is.....

"179.00 USD per Night/per Room
179.00 USD Total per Room

Additional Charges:
10.00% tax
Resort Fee: 10.00USD per room per night

Room Description:
Hyatt.Com Rate Guestroom
1 King or 2 Double Beds:Floor 1-3:325 Sq Ft
Views: Views of Cars on Blacktop

Rate Description:
Full Prepay at Booking : $50 Cancel Fee If 72hours Outside of Arrival Date : One Night Room/Tax Cancel Fee If Within 72hours of Arrival Date.

Cancellation Policy:
50 United States Dollars Fee Outside 72hours/One Night Fee Inside 72hours

Deposit Policy:
Deposit Required By August 31, 2004
Deposit By Credit Card Required
1 Night(S) Deposit Will Be Charged To Credit Card

"

Recently, the Hyatt is accepting the $42/3 bids in the 3* category. I haven't seen the Hilton active for some time.

http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelineandexpediabiddingfrm121

Am going here next week and although I understand the place is not all that hot I will be checking in early on the phone through Gold Rewards. Does anyone know what room number to ask for that would be quiet in this "views of cars and blacktop" category?

Am going here next week and although I understand the place is not all that hot I will be checking in early on the phone through Gold Rewards. Does anyone know what room number to ask for that would be quiet in this "views of cars and blacktop" category?

Request a first floor, golf course view room; you can walk out onto the course and feel like you have some open space.

I highly doubt I will land a golf course view on a $43 room rate but I guess a first floor would be nice as I think they do not have elevators.

I highly doubt I will land a golf course view on a $43 room rate but I guess a first floor would be nice as I think they do not have elevators.

My stay was also booked on Priceline for a low rate. Read some reviews (including mine) here:

http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelineandexpediabiddingfrm112.showMessageRange ?topicID=180.topic&start=21&stop=40

I highly doubt I will land a golf course view on a $43 room rate but I guess a first floor would be nice as I think they do not have elevators.

I've been fortunate that the two times I've stayed here (both on Priceline stays) they've booked me into a room w/golf course view and a balcony (2nd floor).

I've been fortunate that the two times I've stayed here (both on Priceline stays) they've booked me into a room w/golf course view and a balcony (2nd floor).

I was here the 7th thru the 10th. I got in late on the 7th and was told only
room avail was in build 21. Boy was this a crappy room!!! Right next to the freeway. Small dingy bathroom and room. Cheezy patio which joined two others. Very dark too. I asked the next morning for a better room and got build 9 third floor golf course view with a balcony. Bigger room and bathroom

If you come here stay in build 6 thru 11
avoid buildings 20 thru 26

We had a wonderful time at time here and enjoyed the conference facilities.
They accidently gave me 5 $5 coupons for the three day stay so had a nice
burger in the lobby restaurant for two for "free"

I will remember this place.