I've found that many of the LAX airport hotels, especially the upmarket ones, cater to business travelers and have big discounts on weekend nights. For instance, the Westin is not normally in my budget range but was for a weekend night. Google "LAX hotels" and use the individual hotel websites, more likely to have these specials than a 3rd party site.

Thank you for the reply. I'll look for specials. Unfortunately we'll be there on Tuesday night, so the weekend breaks won't help us out.

In that case have you thought about bidding on Priceline. I've only done it once, for a 1 night stay passing through Bakersfield, but it worked out very well for me. My thought was to ask for the most "stars" and bid low and I got just what I wanted. If I were you I'd ask for a 4 star property near LAX and try bidding $50. If they say no then bid $60, etc. I don't think you could go wrong.

Sorry for your loss Clifton --sounds like it was unexpected.

I was going to suggest PL too -- however the start-low strategy will be a problem. You don't have much time and the limit to re-bidding for 24 hours unless you change criteria could lock you out.You just don't have timetoplay w/.

I'd go to biddingfortravel.com and betterbidding.com to see what has been successful recently -- and bid that much or even a tiny bit higher to try to nail something down ASAP.

good luck . . .

That's a good idea. Not a bidder at all and reading on PL, we're not at all clear though if the bid accounts for our daughter being with us. Just mentions 2 adults and says they can't guarantee anything else.

Was close to just getting an el-cheapo like Travelodge but now we're wondering... as I'm seeing bids for 3.5*'s etc going for mid-70's or less. thinking we may just stick with the TL we were seeing and be done with it, between everything else you do for leaving home for an unknown amount of time...

Anyone have experience with this short of starting to make calls after the win?

And thanks Janis for the thought as well as the reply. It was and it wasn't expected... I'm not sure quite the best way to put that.

We're sitting here and actually thinking we're going to just get the TL where we can put in the number of people and be done with it. There's just so much to do and it's just the one night. Probably isn't too bad and it's just under$100 with the exchange rate.

My deepest sympathies, Clifton. I know your dear mother has had medical problems for quite some time and that you three were going to return to the US in a bit. Her sudden death sure adds stress to your life. I have no knowledge of lodging by LAX as you require but just want to send you a hug and all my good thoughts.

Crowne Plaza for me from $59 hotwire.com best deal with free shuttle usually $59 on Hotwire ... our list at iBidlow you have the Crowne Plaza LAX ... still appears in LAX zone on BetterBidding's ...

www.flyertalk.com/forum/online-travel-booking-bidding

Also the sheraton 4 points is nice there similar pricing

bidding priceline.com.

I am sorry for your loss.

Hotwire will allow 3 in a room, especially a child. This info is probably too late for you.

I am sorry for your loss Clifton. Travelodge is usually fine.

Priceline 4* LAX. All have shuttles. And all should be okay with 3 people - no need to tell them. And you can start low because there are several zones in L.A. area without 4*. Culver City, Inglewood, and Lawndale. So, you can bid 4 times.

Very sorry to hear the news.

I also used PL in LA and did very well, but the $59 deal above sounds good. Good luck.

I know nothing about LA hotels, but want to extend my deepest sympathy for your loss.

Allegiant Airlines flies to Los Angeles and Long Beach. They do have combination deals for hotels and rental cars, tours etc.
http://www.allegiantair.com/aaIndex.php
Sorry for your loss.

[clifton lives "down under" making Allegiant not possible. Nice thought though... ]

If you try Expedia you may see special deals around $99 ISH where you can pick your hotel.

Clifton - My sympathies to you for you loss - I hope you found suitable arrangements in LA.
Are you coming to STL?

Sorry to hear of your loss, Clifton. I hope the hotel situation worked out for you. Safe travels.

So sorry for your loss, Clifton. I hope the travels work out well.

Clifton, I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you were able to find a place in LA.

Lee Ann

Thank you for the comments everyone. I'm sort of at a loss for knowing what else to say about that, I'm afraid, and am not quite myself but it they're appreciated.

We did go ahead last night and just book with travelodge through an Australian site (saving the exchange anyway). Just too much else going on to spend more time on it. But I'm sure we'll travel back through LA again and get flights that don't match up again, so will keep the bidding approach in mind. We just didn't know in time about whether 3 people presented a problem and wasn't in a risk taking mood. But it sounds like there are great deals to be had.

Taking off in ~18 hrs and have nothing packed and ready for maybe a 4 week or so trip... so I better get on this. Thanks again.

Oh and Ann - yes, on our way to STL. Well, STC anyway.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, Clifton.

The thing with priceline is that they will only guarantee 2 beds- maybe a queen that sleeps two or two twins. You just don't know till you get there. If your daughter will sleep in your bed, or if she can sleep on a couch or "bed" made out of a folded bedspread you'll be fine. (I've found hotels will always give you an extra sheet and pillow if you go that route.)

In LA , where hotel rooms are big, you can often pay a bit more and get a rollaway, but I would never try this in NYc where there's usually no room for a rollaway!

Just a quick comment re the 'PL double issue' -- In SF or NYC or London, etc. a double is a double and you really can't hope to squeeze in even a small child. But most airport or suburban hotels have either king or two-queen rooms. Most of the time when you check in they ask what sort of bed configuration you want.

Does PL guarantee two beds? I thought they only guarantee sleeping space for two people, which more often than not is the less popular king size bed.

In some parts of LA such as downtown and Hollywood it is hard to find queen beds, they use mostly doubles there. At LAX, there is a mix, you have to shop around for queen beds.

PL doesn't guarantee bed types, but one can usually call the hotel and put in a request, which is not guaranteed either. But with a LAX hotel, I seriously doubt it will be an issue for the OP with a toddler. It is not like they want to put 3 adults in the room and must have 2 queens. If that's the case, then don't do PL.

Yes, the request which may or may not be honored. And the possibility of two adults cramming themselves into a double bed after a 12+ hour flight.

Actually, I don't think I've ever had a double bed in California, unless there are two beds in a room. It's normally two beds OR a Queen or King when a room is sold as a double (for two people). But you just never know with PL

4 hotels reported as 4* on Betterbidding for LAX zone. Not hard to check what beds do they have:

Hliton - King or 2 Doubles
Renaissance Montura - King or 2 Doubles
Sheraton - King or 2 Queens
Westin - King or 2 Doubles

If all are acceptable, then it's okay to use PL. If one type is unacceptable in any of the hotels, then don't use PL.