The add a night feature is not always available and does not always work.

Still recommend that you book the best you can find that you can cancel.

Also agree with bidding every day, as inventory changes constantly. And, it's possible that, at some point, rooms set aside for groups may be released if they're not booked.

I usually start bidding at 40% of the hotels web rates.

During busy times, it's not always possible to score a deal with Priceline, because the hotels just do not release as many, if any, rooms when fill rates are very high due to events and conventions.

I was finally successful. I dropped 9/11 and bid for 9/12 -9/15. I won the Marriott in Union Square for $120 a night. I tried for the "add a night" but couldn't get it. I checked the hotel sight directly and there are no rooms available that night.

I attempted to bid for 9/11, going up to $150, but got shot down.

Due to all of the conventions going on during that time frame, I decided to forgo the bidding and just booked the Grand Hyatt for the one night. That price was $224.25.

According to MapQuest, it's about 5 blocks away. I figure I'll get up in the morning, walk over and have them hold my bags and go about my merry way. I'll come back around 3 to check in.

Now to fine tune my trip. I'll post a report when I get back. Thanks all (especially Betsy and Easytraveller) for all your help.

You might also find that the Marriott might have a room available earier than the check in time Blacknight. Perhaps you could call them the morning of the 12 from the Grand Hyatt and ask if they do, I say that as I have often been able to check in at various SF hotels way before the official check in time.

Wow! This is really super news! Congratulations!

Is this the Marriott on Post and Mason? Believe this used to be the old Pan Pacific. That's a very nice hotel.

If you want to be closer to the Marriott for that first night of the 11th, try the Donatello Hotel which is just across the street. It's a nice boutique hotel.

Have a great stay and welcome to the Bay Area! :)

After trying for many , many nights, I decided to bid on a 3 star. It took a few tries, but I was successful.
WE are staying at Club Quarters.
I've decided that we can make our trip memorable in other ways with the money we saved on a hotel.

We are in the location we wanted, so I'm sure we'll be happy. I've never felt that we've received an inferior room when going through Priceline.

Good Luck.

kodi: glad you got something on Priceline as well!

I don't know much about the Club Quarters except that it's in the Financial District and so is a downtown location. Years ago I had to drop a colleague off there.

Enjoy your visit here! :)

Congrats, Blacknight! Your persistence paid off. Enjoy SF, it's a beautiful city.

kodi, mind telling us what your winning bid was? I had been looking at Club Quarters which looks nice--regular prices seem to be around $250. Did you save a lot?

I guess it isn't important for me. I now see that Club Quarters is totally sold out for my dates in late October, like a lot of places. I really don't think I'm going to get anything on Priceline as Sheryl on BFT told me when I listed the prices I'm finding for my dates. Too many conventions I guess.

Patrick, it looks as if the Am. College of Surgeons needs 6500 rooms, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society needs 3715 rooms in mid-October. If you check the convention calendar above, you may be able to work around those big meetings.

No, have my air tickets -- nothing I can "work around". I've booked the Columbus Inn which is fine for us-- just thought it might be nice if I could get a more luxurious hotel on Priceline for the same amount of money -- but that isn't going to happen.
Actually it's the Rheumatologists (6000 rooms) during my time plus the "Exotic Erotic Ball" (1000 rooms) (good thing the Rheumatologists are there to take care of anyone who gets into an "awkward position"). Basically all of October is convention after convention almost overlapping.

Patrick, I'm sorry the Club Quarters is sold out for your dates.

We are staying there mid September for a price of $122 a night.. Total charges, taxes and SC included is $570 for 4 nights. SO I am very pleased.

I must say, I've always been happy with Priceline...and I've always been lucky. I guess I'm like a dog with a bone. I just won't give up til I get something. And I usually start bidding very early.

Easytraveler, thank you. This will be my first time in SF and I'm very excited.

LoverItaly, thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try.

Easytraveler, it's the Marriott at 55 Fourth Street, if that helps.

Easytraveller, the Donatello looks nice and the price is right, but I already booked my room (non-refundable due to a 25% off special). Also, there are no rooms available for my entire stay.

Those dentists are really hogging everything up!

Blacknight: That's the "Other" Marriott. I thought you meant this one when you said the Marriott in San Francisco, but then you added "Union Square". The Marriott that you won is on the other side of Market Street. It's a really nice hotel, too. When you have the chance, try going up to the 33rd floor to "The View" Lounge and just have a drink there. And try for a seat by the huge curved window in the center. :)

Neopat: Have you tried bidding Fisherman's Wharf, 3*? You should be able to get something for under $100. Don't try for 4* at Fisherman's Wharf on Priceline because it's the Argonaut Hotel and there's really not that significant a difference between the Argonaut and the 3* hotels except for its unique nautical theme. There are a number of chain hotels at FW: Sheraton, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton - the best of these is the Tuscan Inn and you'll be a very happy camper if you got the Tuscan.

I know there's a lot of prejudice against Fisherman's Wharf on Fodors, but it is after all the number one tourist destination in San Francisco and there are lots of wonderful gems there besides the tacky T-shirt shops.

The other Priceline option is to bid Union Square West.

Whatever you do, don't bid Cathedral Hill nor the Civic Center areas - use them only on free rebids.

If you don't mind driving a bit, try the 4* hotels at San Francisco Airport. The Hyatt there is really nice and sometimes goes for as little as $70. You can get the 3* hotels for as little as $50.

So, in order of bid preference:

USE
FW
USW
SFO

Kodi: I'm excited for you too! :)

Blacknight, you missed the punchline: The dentists are FILLING the empty rooms.

Should have caught that one. My Dad was a dentist for over 40 years and had a very dry sense of humor....

Maybe I'll get lucky and one will make me a "grill"!

Blacknight, if your Dad was a dentist, then shame on you. You should know the drill. :D

You guys crack me up. :)

It's really bracing to know there are people with such a dam sense of humor.

Yea. There's a lot of WISDOM here, and you can always count on getting good INCISOR information. What you ask for is MOLAR less what you get.