Started at $110 with MTE and worked up in $5 increments adding two free rebids, then adding UM-CPS and free rebids, then finally MTW with free rebids. Was hoping to get a 4* for much less ($125-150) but was determined to go to NYC over July 4th since May/June was extremely high (rates were in the $300+ range) and did not want to go lower than 4*'s. This was my bidding strategy: 110 MTE 115 MTE UES 120 MTE UWS 125 MTE UWS UES 130 MTE UMCPS 135 MTE UMCPS UES 140 MTE UMCPS UWS 145 MTE UMCPS UWS UES 150 MTE MTW 155 MTE MTW UES 160 MTE MTW UWS 165 MTE MTW UWS UES 170 MTE MTW UMCPS, offer rejected but PL offered the chance to raise bid by $25 without changing zones/dates, I declined 175 MTE MTW UMCPS UES, rejected 180 MTE MTW UMCPS UWS, finally ACCEPTED!! Good thing I did not take PL up on its offer to raise by $25. I tried to offer just $5 more but PL required me to raise by $25 or start again and change zones/dates, which I did by adding UES. I would have overbid by $15/night. I would have gone up to $200, as I had been checking rates on HW and I could get a 4* for around $220. Turns out I saved about $40/night on the Westin using PL as it was going for $219 on HW. The hotel's got pretty good reviews and is in a good location for a first time visitor. Considering this is also a holiday weekend, I'm satisfied with the rate I got. I appreciate the help I've received from this site and hope my experience helps someone else.
