hxs02

Just got the same deal as another poster on the site. 1st bid USE $65 rejected 2nd bid added Marina-Lombard $69 rejected 3rd bid added Financial District $75 rejected 4th bid added USW $77 accepted The PARC is a good hotel for this price. The main thing to take into consideration is the parking rates. If you don't need to drive I would say don't as the PARC charges $50/night for parking. This is pretty standard in the City although the parking garage at the Grand Hyatt charges $36 for in and out privileges.

Hilton Manhattan East 304 East 42Nd Street New York, NY 10017 Total with Taxes $312.59 Some people had commented that this hotel was "too far" away from everything, but I did not find that to be the case at all. It was only a few blocks away from Grand Central. While I would not normally choose to stay in a 3.5* hotel if I could avoid it, this was the only thing that made sense for New Year's Eve. All in all the hotel is okay and has very spacious rooms for the city. While the Hilton does not have the style of "The W" on Lexington (a 4* property in MTE) it actually has much bigger rooms.

BTW I did use the PRICELINE link for this purchase.

After several attempts over multiple days I finally got a great Hotel. I actually bid on a 3.5 Star in the Central Park South Area and won on my first bid. I was upgraded to a 4*. This hotel is fantastic, at least it was earlier this year when I stayed there! :D :D Now I just need to get a room for the 31st!

It would also be appreciated if you answered my question B)

What do you know about this hotel?

Already did: Priceline NYC dates were December 29 and 30th

Just booked a 4* Hotel in Mid Town East for my travel companions. The W for $205/night. Still looking and trying to win in CPS for me....

Just booked a hotel for my travel companions in MTE.... Bid CPS 4* $200 Rejected Added Time Square $200 Rejected Added MTE $205 won Total for two nights after taxes and fees $505.92

Great point! I have all too often failed to report my successful bids on priceline, so hopefully I can be a little bit better in the coming year

Hi Romelle, Thank you again for your suggestions. I am still waiting to here back from one of the moderators. That being said, I bid on a 3.5 * in CPS and won The DREAM for $195 on 12/29-12/30. I don't normally trust the 3.5* hotels on PL so not sure what to think about this hotel? The reviews are mixed. I did not know that my extension was limited to the number of days I bid, good information. Finally, when I tried to rebid for the same Hotel on 12/30 I did not get it, but was offered the same hotel for $285/night. I rejected that offer. I am still looking for a Hotel in CPS for 12/30-1/1. Hopefully, I will have good news to report soon. I am even thinking about trying to get a suite for 1/1 as there will be four of us on that night. However, I am not as "savvy" with how to get a suite using Priceline or other services.

Rebid several time over several days. Used multiple bid approach on actually day of success. Started with CPS at 180 was rejected. Then re-bid CPS 3.5* with Coney Island for 195 and was successful. Not sure what to think about Dream Hotel from the various reviews I have read?????

$60 for 3.5 Star Newark. Bid 1 time and was successful.

As I mentioned in the thread I am planning on posting that NJ win in the appropriate topic forum:) thereuare--It sounds like you have a lot of experience with NYC. I use priceline all the time and have for several years. I am aware of a lot of the "tricks" for multiple bids and things. My question for you has to do with the "quality" of the 3.5 star properties in the Central Park South Area. I realize that there is a list of what those properties are and that it would be possible to go through each hotel site and read the reviews, but my question for you as a Native New Yorker is what do you know about those? Finally, I am thinking about getting a suite for the 31st as there are four of us that are traveling together. Any suggestions regarding that? Thank you again for all your work on bb:)

Hi Romelle, Great strategy and good question. I am actually trying to stay through 1/1. That being said, since I was having such difficulty getting a room and my flight gets in late on the 28th I broke it up into pieces. I am flying into Newark, so I booked a room in Newark for around $60/night ($77 after taxes and fees) for the 28th (will post win in Jersey shortly). I am now looking for individual days in Manhattan to try to break up the bids. I am trying right now to bid for the 29th in Central Park South and then if I win take the extend a stay option at the same Hotel and see if that might work. Thank you again for your response. Hopefully, I will find something. I realize that New Year's Eve makes NYC super expensive right now, but I hope to snag a deal. I can't believe the deal that someone just posted for the Renaissance 57 at Central Park South $139/night! Obviously, the dates are a little different 12/26-12/28, but still that is awesome! I welcome any and all other strategies you or others might have:)

I am trying to book a room in NYC during the worst possible time from 12/28-12/31. I would like to stay in the Central Park South area, but am open to Times Square Area as well. I have bid up to $205/night on a 4**** with no success. Does anyone have any advice?

I won the following amazing Hotel Jumeirah Essex House 160 Central Park South New York, NY 10019 212-247-0300 Check-In: Sunday, October 17, 2010-03:00 PM Check-Out: Thursday, October 21, 2010-12:00 PM Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $270.00 (USD) Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 4 Room Subtotal: $1080.00 (USD) Taxes and Fees: $239.40 (USD) Total Room Cost: $1319.40 (USD) My first night was in a very very very small room with a king bed and almost no other space and a view of the back of a building. However, the next day I asked for an upgraded room with 2 beds and was given a fantastic corner room with a good view. The $270/night was a lot of money, but not for NYC. I actually had to book an additional night at a 3.5 star hotel in Mid Town (won the Doubletree) and was extremely disappointed. The difference in the value of the rooms is unquestionable. The funny thing is the 3.5 was more than the 4 star Jumeirah. I love the Central Park south area in Manhattan and this hotel is one of the best I have stayed in using priceline.

UPDATE: So this experience was a little better than my last trip. I "upgraded" to a room with two double beds for twenty dollars per night because it was supposed to be a nicer room. The room itself was definitely cleaner than the last one and more spacious so that was nice. However, the decorating and feel is still a bit dated. I understand that the hotel is seeking to keep the 1930's or 1940's feel that it has and they have done a great job with this in the main lobby, the outdoor patio, and the club; however, the rooms feel more like something from the sixties that is caught somewhere in between an "update" that took place at one time and the present day. The Hotel experience was not bad, but still in no way do I feel this is a 4* Hotel. I stay at hotels all over the country and this is the "worst" 4* I have ever stayed in. It is simply not worth the money. It is much more of a boutique hotel. If you need to do business at Adobe or in San Jose at one of the technology companies it is fairly well located. You can get directly onto the 87 North and get to the 101 N in about two minutes, so again a nice convenience. Currently, I am working on getting a hotel in Manhattan for the week so I will post that in the New York section if I have my bid accepted. Thank you all again for the suggestions I will definitely continue to apply them.

Hi Romelle, Thank you for taking the time to write and the suggestions. For this particular stay, I am just going to have to suck it up I guess. However, I will definitely ask for a nicer room on this trip. As far as the postings go, I honestly did not start posting my wins on the board until fairly recent, so I am still trying to get into the rythym of making the time to post my bids. I have used Priceline for years and in just about every city I have wonderful success. San Jose has been hit and miss for me. This will be the third time I have stayed there in the last six weeks or so. The first time I bid I won the Fairmont which is an AWESOME hotel, last time I won the de Anza and this time as well. I think bidding down a star level or paying full price may be the way to go when I need to stay in San Jose. Thank you again for taking the time to write. With Much Appreciation, hxs02

Hotel De Anza 4 Star San Jose 233 West Santa Clara Street San Jose, California 95113 408-286-1000 Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $115.00 Subtotal: $115.00 Taxes & Fees: $23.39 Total Charges*: $138.39 I cannot believe that I used Priceline again for San Jose, California. I used the link through this page and came up with this piece of crap hotel again. I absolutely hate this Hotel. There is no way it is a 4* Hotel. Many of the reviews attest to that as well. I stayed here about a month ago and have to say that this is the WORST Hotel I have ever gotten on Priceline. I had hoped that they had fixed this problem after the last complaint. Does anyone know if it is possible to get your money back when before I go? I hate this place so much. It is dusty, dirty, and old. Sure it had a $12 million restoration, but they did not spend it on the rooms. This Hotel experience is so frustrating. I use Priceline about once a week for travel for work, but after this experience I am starting to think this is not the best idea. I could have gotten a much better deal at a nicer hotel in the area if I would have gone through Hotels.com. Why? Why? Why? :) :) :o

Your Offer Price: $120.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $120.00 Taxes and Fees: $23.52 Total Charges*: $143.52

The Hilton was actually in the USW zone for San Francisco not the USE. Thank you for catching that.

I used the PRICELINE link through this site to book the following 4* Hotel in San Jose, CA Check-In Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 Check-Out Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010 Hotel Name: Hotel De Anza 233 West Santa Clara Street San Jose, California 95113 408-286-1000 Your Offer Price: $102.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 1 Subtotal: $102.00 Taxes and Fees: $21.22 Total Charges*: $123.22 This Hotel should NOT be a 4* property. PRICELINE has made a mistake in putting it in that category. On the wall in the lobby is a plaque showing the 4 Diamond award from Triple A. This Hotel is a nice boutique hotel, but in no way a 4* Hotel. They have taken short cuts to get this rating such as putting a phone in the bathroom and a six inch DVD screen (Like the kind you have in a car) on top of the toilet. The "gym" is little more than five machines or so. The common area is nice and they have a unique "raid our pantry" service. However, the room I stayed in was awful, old, and dusty. I was very disappointed with this property. I have used PRICELINE for years now and this is the first time that a 4* property has not measured up. :)

4* San Francisco Union Square East (USE) Union Square West September 29-30 Hilton San Francisco Bid $105 Total with taxes and Fees $129.12 This is a nice property. I have stayed there probably 5 different times and have yet to be disappointed. The only thing that is a bit of a bummer is that you have to pay a daily fee to use the gym. I think it is about $10, but it is a very nice gym.

I got the Millenium at Times Square