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How to Get a Deal on a San Francisco Airport Hotel

Step-by-step instructions for getting great deals on name brand hotels like the Hyatt Regency, Marriott, Doubletree, or Sheraton at the SFO airport

You can stay at a first-class or deluxe hotel near SFO airport at a bargain price. International arrivals at SFO are way down, and airport hotels must fill their rooms.

The following 7 bidding steps can get you an awesomely low price at a top quality San Francisco Airport hotel.

You're going to bid on 4-star and then, if your first bid doesn't work, on 3-star hotels at SFO like the Marriott. You need not bid on lower quality for a bargain price.

• Step One - Trust us. This may seem unusual, but it usually works.
  
  Find out the cost (excluding tax) of a single room at the Motel 6 in South San Francisco (the closest one to the airport) for the dates that you wish to stay.
  
  Motel 6 (opens in new window)
  
  Motel 6 (opens in same window)
  
  
• Step Two - Click on
  
  
  
  When the next page opens, choose Priceline's "Name your own price" option and then choose the San Francisco Airport (SFO) zone.
  
  Next, select "4-star Deluxe" as the quality you want. This gets you a hotel like the Hyatt Regency. Do not choose an lower star quality at this time.
  
  
• Step Three - On this same page, enter your bid.
  
  Bid the Motel 6 price, excluding tax, for your bid. (This is not a misprint.)
  
  For same day arrivals, you can bid up to 11:00 p.m. Pacific time.
  
  
• Step Four - After Priceline adds taxes and fees to your bid, authorize your credit card payment.
  
  Once you do this, NO refunds or changes are permitted for any reason.
  
  Once you authorize your credit card payment, write down the transaction number Priceline gives you.
  
  
• Step Five - You'll find out if your Priceline bid was accepted within a few moments.
  
  If your bid was not accepted, repeat the bidding process above, but this time choose "3-Star Upscale" as your quality level. This includes hotels like the Doubletree and Marriott near the airport, where many flight crews stay.
  
  
  
  Unless you know that there is a large convention or other special event in town, you may lower this bid by $5 - 8.00.
  
  If this bid second fails, add the South San Francisco zone (just north of the airport) to your neighborhood choices and choose "3-Star Upscale" as your quality choice. This includes hotels like the Embassy Suites.
  
  In this case, bid the full Motel 6 price, excluding tax. However, if you have time to re-bid in 24 hours, if this one fails, bid $8 - 10 off.
  
  
• Step Six - Once confirmed, print out your confirmation and receipt and take these with you to your hotel.
  
  
• Step Seven - Go to Having a Smooth Hotel Stay for additional tips.
  

Congratulations! You are on your way to a great (and bargain) stay at a fine hotel SFO Airport hotel.

Have a great time in San Francisco, America's favorite city!