OK, don't want to use PL for my hotel booking in Santa MOnica, CA. If not bidding, where do I go to get the best hotel prices? The hotel itself? Some website like hotels.com? Anybody know the answer? Please.

Try quikbook.com they usually have very good rates. Also hotelkingdom.com . After you find a good internet rate, always try the hotel's own website they sometimes beat the other sites or have their own specials. Good luck!

I have good luck with Expedia.

Your question "Where do I go to get the best hotel prices?" is akin to asking "Where do I get the best price for a can of tuna?" The only way to find out either question is to shop around. Expedia MIGHT be better for one place on one day -- or maybe not. Or maybe Orbitz. Or maybe Travelocity. Or maybe Hotels.Com. Or maybe the chain itself. There is no absolute rule on this; it varies for place, hotel name, and date.

I usually spend about an hour searching various sites to find the best price; and there is no consistency. Do your own searching and you'll find the answer that suits your needs on the day you actually make your booking.

You might like Hotwire...kinda like PL but you don't bid...they tell you the price upfront. You don't know what hotel you'll get until you pay, and it's nonchangeable...but you can pick a 3, 4 or 5 star place.