Priceline Hotel: Bidding help NYC - 11/10 to 11/15

[Emilia]

Hi, I'm from Italy and will visit New York in November for 8 nights. For the first 3 nights I plan to bid on Priceline in the Central Park South area to be near to a conference I will be attending. However for the 5 remaining nights my husband and I would like to find a NYOP deal downtown, specifically in LES where we stayed in the past ( gem hotel ). Actually we have eyed the East Houston hotel and noticed it is the only hotel that Priceline rates as a 2.5* in the area , and we would REALLY like to end up there. Our budget is low (130 -140$/night is our goal or even less ) do you think it is possible that we can make it? What would be your suggested bidding strategy for ending up in the hotel I mentioned? If I understand correctly, if no other 2.5 star is listed in Les on priceline regular hotel list , I will not have a bad surprise (= end up in another 2.5 which I didn t know existed). On the other end, priceline might do an unrequested upgrade to a 3 star or higher and that would change my plans....

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

[AaronJB]

The East Houston has not yet been reported to the board as a Price.line win, but there is the possibility that there may be others. Additionally - as you noted - there's also the possibility that you could get upgraded. Additionally, there is a bit of a risk on bidding under 3* in NYC, as once you get under 3*, quality starts to vary more noticeably.

 

Would your desired budget be $130-140 "all-in" (including taxes/fees) or $130-140 + taxes/fees? If $130-140 + taxes/fees, then I do think that a 2.5-3* is possibly attainable in LES. Would any other nearby zones be acceptable?

 

Please start an additional thread for your prior nights.

 

Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[Emilia]

Hi and thanks for the reply.

Actually I had found the East Houston mentioned in thehotel list and read that

it was won in the past : http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showtopic=105554

It is really more of a 3 star that s why we like it, and yes my budget was pre taxes/fees.

I could consider also the Soho - Tribeca area but not in the 2.5 range for sure and honestly

I wouldn t like to end up too south on the map ( chinatown/ tribeca are quite far from the villages which is where we would like to walk to for dinner).

I m sad to hear we could be assigned to a new and not listed place! I guess I ll take my chances and will let you know how it goes. If you ba e any other suggestion let me know, thanks.

[thereuare]

What is it that you'd like to try for a first:

-a 3* hotel in the LES zone

-a 3* hotel in the LES or the Soho zone(s)

-a less expensive 2.5* hotel in the LES zone only

-something else?

Have you also considered the Union Square-East Village zone which sounds like it would also be convenient for your plans and by including more zone(s) you give more hotels the chance to accept your bid price and a better chance at landing a deal within your budget.

Please clarify how you'd likt to begin and we will advise accordingly.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Emilia]

Hi, it is more a matter of location than stars. Soho and Les are fine, Tribeca and Chinatown so and so .

My main goal would be to grab the East Houston ( currently priced. 259$/night on regular priceline list)and I was hopeful to succeed since it appears the only 2.5 star in Les.

Otherwise I m flexible and ok to try anything else at the 3.5/ 3 star level. East village is ok too but It s difficult to see what the offer iis in the regular listings...

Thanks, I will use your link tonight when I restart. Based on the above how do you suggest I start?

[thereuare]

Soho and Les are fine, Tribeca and Chinatown so and so .

To avoid any confusion please refer to the zones as named by PRICELINE. (there is no 'Chinatown' zone on PRICELINE... Soho and Tribeca are one zone, etc)

My main goal would be to grab the East Houston ( currently priced. 259$/night on regular priceline list)and I was hopeful to succeed since it appears the only 2.5 star in Les.

When bidding on PRICELINE there is no way to bid on, or target, a specific hotel, you have to be able to accept any hotel in the zone at the star level (or higher) that you choose. While the East Houston hotel maybe the only 2.5* hotel in this zone in the Priceline Hotel List, there could certainly be others (especially in an area such as this where the 2.5* rating is not bid that frequently). As per the comments at the top of the hotel list, the lists only contain hotels that have been reported to the board (and new hotel can be added, removed, upgraded, and/or downgraded at at any time).

Otherwise I m flexible and ok to try anything else at the 3.5/ 3 star level. East village is ok too...

So given that you're unable to specifically target the 2.5* hotel that you're hoping to return to, do you want to chance bidding at the 2.5* level since you may receive a different 2.5*... or do you want to forgo hoping for a specific hotel and start at the 3* level (or even higher)?

Please confirm the zone(s) (by PRICELINE name), minimum star rating, and maximum bid you would ike to try first and we will advise accordingly.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Emilia]

Hi, considering the solid risk of ending up in another 2.5 at this point I prefer to start at 3.5/3 and consider both Soho-Tribeca as my first, Les and East village second.

[thereuare]

Sorry for the delyaed reply...

Are you willing to pay more for a 3.5* vs. a 3* OR is the goal the least expensive of the two.

If you're willing to pay more for a 3.5* than a 3*, and you first try for a 3.5* in the Soho-Tribeca zone and are turned down, i the next play a 3* in the Soho-Tribeca zone OR a 3.5* in the LES and East Village zones?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Emilia]

Thanks, that's what I was planning to do. Least expensive wins the game, unfortunately rates are higher than expected - I'll keep you posted!

[thereuare]

Least expensive wins the game, unfortunately rates are higher than expected - I'll keep you posted!

Have you tried any bidding yet? (if so, what did you attempt)

With rates higher than you anticipated, what is your back-up plan?

[Emilia]

Hi, so far rates are apparently higher than I expected.

Today I bid up to 168 $ in Soho/Tribeca , and East Village both 3.5 and 3* but to no avail.

Since with taxes, a higher attempt will sum up to more than I expected to pay for a mistery hotel , I am considering apartment short rentals instead.

I might still try to win a hotel in central park south for the first 3 nights and if I succeed I will post the rate in a seoarate thread. Thanks anyway for the support!

[thereuare]

HOTWIRE does have a 2.5* hotel in the SoHo-Tribeca for $156/nite (less than you have already bid) and this property has an 80% recommendation from previous HOTWIRE guests and a 4.0/5.0 TA rating. While a lower star rating then you originally sought out, perhaps this would be a 'safe' option given the good user reviews and comfort of a high TA rating. This offer has the following amenities:

Free Internet

Smoke Free

Fitness

Business

Hi-Speed Internet

... i'm not certain but my guess for this one would be the Hampton Inn Manhattan-SoHo or the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know whatever you ultimately decide for this stay or how we can be of further help.