Finding Hotel Rooms in Silicon Valley
 

I've had to visit the San Jose area on short notice over the past few months, and every time I visit, it is almost impossible to find a hotel room during the week at a reasonable price (i.e., less than $200 and that's assuming the hotels aren't already sold out). I've canceled trips because of this, stayed at overpriced highway motels, or just slept in the office if it's just one day. I realize that the area is underserved by hotels, but I would really appreciate hearing any tips on getting a hotel room on short notice at a reasonable corporate rate in the area. Or is this too much to ask for? Thanks!

Greetings from Overpriced Land! (aka: Silicon Valley.)

What you're asking is pretty tough, and since I live here, I don't have much occasion to book hotel rooms around here. I did make a couple of calls on your behalf and some friends advised that they do well booking all sorts of last minute hotel rooms through priceline.

Hope that pans out for you!

best regards,
-levi

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Travel is a powerful antidote to contemporary American arrogance.

Salinas, becoming a bedroom community for Silicon Valley workers looking for housing priced under a zillion dollars, has a cluster of lower-priced commercial hotels along Highway 101, about 60-90 minutes south of SJC depending on traffic. Not Ritz-Carlton club level, but cheap.

This is the most frustrating and expensive area.

I often pay $200 - $300 for rooms. Sometimes need to stay in SF (that's expensive of course, very, but sometimes that's the only place I can reserve.)

Sometimes the Crowne Plaza San Jose has rooms, at around $200.

Unfortunately, it is too much to ask for quite often. We've had to pay more than $200/night at a Best Western.

Priceline probably isn't your answer here either, but it certainly doesn't hurt to try. I would not try Priceline, however, until the day before checkin, because if you are unsuccessful in the 7 day period immediately prior to the date of your stay, you are locked out of re-bidding. Expedia's Hotel Price Matcher also offers San Jose, and they allow same day bookings. I did see one Expedia HPM success in Silicon Valley when it was bid the same day as checkin.

Back in March, a co-worker was able to get a room on about two days notice at the Hotel De Anza http://www.hoteldeanza.com for $249. We were a little concerned because we had never heard of it. Turned out to be lovely and he said he would try there first on his next trip.

This is an ongoing issue here in the silicon valley. I have had to find hotel rooms for visiting consultants (when their own search showed them the availability/prices, they often call in panic), and have resorted to Motel 6. And even those are often full. But since they are not on internet booking sites, chances of getting something are a little better.
It is amazing to me, I have seen 5 new hotels being built within 3-4 months near my office, and I know similar construction is going on all over the Bay Area, but still there are just no rooms.

On more than one occassion, out-of-town co-workers have been housed in out guest bedroom, simply because they could find nowhere else to stay.

Yup. I think the best deal is to take the AAA tourbook and start calling all 2/3 star properties. They are likely to have availability. The local yellow pages are also helpful. Anything which can be booked nationally or via travel agents is much harder to book. Also try the East Bay (Fremont, Milpitas, Newark), which are closer to the valley than they may appear.

Sierra Suites on Brokaw, about a mile from SJC airport. New Building. I've put up several happy guys here for $159 per night.
800 474 3772.

Forget Salinas.

AAA guide for 2 & 3 Diamonds is a good idea.

I'll stay at a new Hampton Inn in Hayward for $85 at times. Usually, it's a day trip for me. Or, you can fly to LAX, stay near the airport, collect miles and spend less than staying in San Jose area.

i think there is a sheraton quite near the crowne plaza but much cheaper...
also, homewood village suites(?) next to crowne...
may be my mother would rent you a room in her four bedroom house just off brokaw and 880? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I consulted* for a very nice San Jose company about 6-8 weeks ago thus requiring 8 straight nights in hotels/motels. I ended up staying in mostly Hiltons, Hilton Garden Inns, Comfort Suites etc. Highest cost was $119/night and my average cost was $82.45. When their TA originally booked all nights at the customer-suggested motel it averaged out at $188+/night (and $184+ at my favorite place via my company's TA).

My nice trick here was to move from one hotel to another depending on the price. It involved only 3 moves, actually no big deal, as I just allowed an extra 10 min to pack in the morning and then went in a different direction from the client's office at night ( the traffic was horrible in ALL directions).

The AAA book is good and nicely cheap, BUT REMEMBER it often excludes many nice hotels/motels. I did my own internet searches under www.hilton.com , http://www.comfortinns.com/ etc. You may choose other chains etc to max points, miles, upgrades, goodies etc.

* interestingly enough, it was regarding their hotel and car negotiated/preferred rates.

My travel agency books dozens of rooms every night in Silicon Valley. They have special connections with a number of hotels and often have cancellations that they hold in the office for last minute bookings. You are welcome to contact them through their website at http://www.casto.com.

I've just been turned on to Priceline for hotels. I don't know about Silicon Valley, but I've been quite impressed with my few experiences with it.

An FTer, Sheryl, hosts a board related to bidding on Priceline, with an emphasis on hotels. Gives you all sort of great tips.
http://pub4.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding

try oakland marriott $159 night during week

Ah the benefits of Starwood Platinum.

I can always get in at the Santa Clara Westin! Oh yes - for a price of course.....