Helen from CA

Thanks.  Hopefully it will still be available at that rate when I book later tonight or tomorrow after checking with the others.

I will make sure to use you links for booking and will update once completed.  Thanks again.

Hi Aaron -  I just tried my search again and am seeing it.  So it was 2 nights, arriving Tuesday Nov 6th and checking out on Thursday Nov 8th.  Under the Priceline Express tab, I selected Downtown Charleston / Historic District and then selected 4, 4.5 and 5*.  For the 5* I see restaurant and fitness center as amenities and $259 per night.  When I click on choose, I get the page with the bed/room selection.

I'm looking for help with booking a room that will accommodate 3 adults and not sure whether to use Hotwire EasyView or Priceline Express.  

In the QuickQuote on the home page, I put the dates and 1 room / 3 adults.  I understand that Priceline will only guarantee a room for 2 adults.  However, in Priceline Express if I click on the 5* selection for $259 per night, there is an option for 2 Queen Beds for $287 per night.  Does that mean that I will definitely get a room with the 2 Queens and should not have a problem at check-in?  

In the Hotwire Easy View, it appears that I make the selection and count on the hotel ensuring that whatever room I'm assigned will accommodate 3 adults.  There is no bed/room choice.  So for the 4.5*, Hotwire Easy View shows amenities as:    FULL AMENITIES: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Complimentary Breakfast, Smoke Free, Free Internet, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Laundry, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Wheelchair Accessible, Handicapped Parking, Roll-in Shower.   What would be your guess as to which hotel this is?

My preference would be the Priceline Express but I'm concerned about the 2 person guarantee even if I select the 2 Queen beds.

Any help or guidance is appreciated.

I decided that with the price difference between 4 and 4.5 * that I'd take my chances with the 4* and you were correct, it was the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel.  I'm happy with the deal!

I'm looking for helping in best guess for a couple Priceline Express Deals for 9/17 - 9/18:

Times Square - Theatre District Rated 8.0 out of 10 (or higher) $145 per night (save 64% or more)

4 *

Pets Allowed

Business Center

Restaurant

Fitness Center

No Smoking Rooms/Facilities

Times Square - Theatre District Rated 8.0 out of 10 (or higher) $279 per night (save 22% or more)

4.5 *

Pets Allowed

Business Center

Restaurant

Fitness Center

No Smoking Rooms/Facilities

What hotels would be your educated guess?

Went with PRICELINE EXPRESS and it was The Premier.

Yes, both are acceptable.  And I'd exclude Rock Center.

Max bid would be $200 since if I got to that I'd at that point decide on one of the two Priceline Express offers.

Since I'm going for 4.5* I think I'd be fine with any of the hotels with that star rating.  So I'd  like to bid first and if that doesn't work  out then go  with one of the two Priceline Express offers.

What would you suggest as a bidding strategy?

There will be 2 people in each of rooms.

4.5* Central Park South

Rated 8.0 out of 10 (or higher)

Pets Allowed

Business Center

Restaurant

Indoor or Outdoor Pool

Fitness Center

Mandatory fee of USD 32.66 per room per stay is collected at the hotel.

4.5* Times Square - Theater District

Rated 7.0 out of 10 (or higher)

Business Center

Restaurant

Airport Shuttle

Free Internet

Fitness Center

No Smoking Rooms/Facilities

Mandatory fee of USD 21.78 per room per stay is collected at the hotel

Question on bidding vs. Priceline Express - I thought that with either you could wind up with any hotel in the * rating.  Is it your experience that Priceline Express uses a subset that is easier to identify?

We'll  have three generations in our group and wanted a more central location that allowed to walking nearby as well  as taking subway as needed.  Had considered downtown but recall that there isn't as much to see on the weekend.

I;'m looking to book 5 rooms.  Preference is for Central Park South or Times Square - Theater District but would also consider Rockefeller Center area.

In Priceline Express from Bidding Helper I see 4.5* Central Park South for $207 and Times Square for $225.  My guess would be Le Parker Meridien for Central Park South - would you agree?  My only concern is that some of the reviews for that hotel have it going downhill.  Any ideas what the Times Square Express deal might be?

If I were to try to  bid before going with the Priceline Express deals, what would you suggest?

Thanks!  Helen

Yes - confirmed it was the Westin so I am pleased!

Through BetterBidding link, used PRICELINE EXPRESS 4* Jersey City Hoboken Weehawken for $265 - 5% discount + taxes and fees.  This is significantly less than booking directly!

Just as an update - got up to $230 per night and did not get an accepted bid.  Will consider the priceline express deal.  If I go forward with that, I'll be sure to link thru here and let you know.

Yes, that would be Zone 10 - West Orange.

So those would be the 7 re-bid zones to  use as I increase price of each bid.  Since I started with 4* at $170, I'll increase to $185 and add Zone 1.  Then if needed, continue adding the zones listed above while increasing bid price.  Does this sound correct?

I am a newbie and you've been a real help!

Maybe I'm confusing priceline zones with re-bid zones?  I checked the following zones for star ratings:

Zone 1 - Downtown Newark

Zone 2  - Irvington (but it's doesn't show any star ratings (greyed out)

Zone 4 - Jersey City West

Zone 5 - Meadowlands Rutherford

Zone 6 - EWR

Zone 7 - Seacaucus

Zone 9 - Union Westfield Clark

So I started at $170 (instead of 150) for 4* Jersey City - Hoboken - Weehawken.  It was rejected.

I read the rebidding explanation and checked the other zones.  So if I add Zone 1 (Downtown Newark), it looks like the highest star rating in that zone is 3.5*. 

So I should add zone 1 (Downtown Newark) and increase to $180?  Everything else stays the same.

Thanks. Will try now and will certainly confirm when rebidding.

I'd like to try to bid on this before going the Priceline Express route.  Maximum bid would be $230 for 4* in that zone and would like to start below $200.  Any strategies would be appreciated.

Thank you for the quick response.  When using the bidding helper tool on your website, I clicked the Priceline Express tab and then for the 4* Jersey City - Hoboken - Weehawken selection clicked on the link for "Is this a good price?".  That's where it listed the Columbus Suites.

To answer your second question, Jersey City is preferred because we are going to be at a retirement party at the Liberty House that Thursday evening and since we'll be with other out of  town guests, it would be convenient and would allow easy access to ferries for Ellis Island or Path to downtown 9/11 Memorial during the day on Thursday.

We are planning on extending and looking for places to stay in NY for the weekend but I wanted get this locked in first!

One additional question, If I'm booking multiple rooms on same reservation, will they all be at the same Hotel?

Looking to travel to Jersey City in September (9/13 - 9/15) and would like to use Priceline's Name you Price, or if that doesn't work I'd be fine with Priceline Express at $267 for a 4* hotel.

It look like for a 4* in Jersey City - Hoboken - Weehawken, the hotels might be W, Hyatt Regency, Westin or Columbus Suites.  What are the chances I'd be getting the Columbus Suites?  It doesn't seem to be the same quality as the other 3.