Thanks for your help! I think I understand now.

marg - Using your own SF USE example, this is what you should have done:

1. Go to Priceline and find out exactly what class of hotels in each zone. You should find that Cathedral Hill, Civic Center, Fishermans' Wharf and S. San Fran has no 4* properties. <b>These are your free rebid zones.</b> Make sure you go to Priceline.com to find out, and not just look at the list on biddingfortravel.com.

- Check biddingfortravel to see what winning bids people are getting for Union Square East. On the first page alone, you'll find that multiple winning bids for the 4* USE, people have been winning the Grand Hyatt for $70-75 and the Palomar for $80, <b>in July alone</b>.

- Now, since you think $100 is still a fair price, that should be the last bid if you have to use all your 4 free rebids. And since it's unlikely you'll get anything cheaper than $70, that's where you should start. [BTW, minimum winning bid for 4* on Priceline is $40. So, no point of bidding lower than $40.]

This is what you should have done:
- Bid USE for $70.
- If rejected, add one of the free-rebid zones, like Cathedral Hill and bid $75.
- If still rejected, add another for ~$80.
- If still rejected, add another for ~$90.
- If still rejected, add the last zone for $100.

Chances are you'll get yours for $70 or $75. Even if not, I'm sure $80 will do it. Save you at least $40, most likely $50, and if you're lucky and get the $70 bid accepted, save you $60.

That's how you do it.

This will not work as well, or at all, for smaller cities with fewer zones, or if there are no free-bid zones. But San Fran is easy to save money.

Very interesting - thanks for the Priceline explanation (haven't tried Priceline yet, but will someday!)