thebakers8

Thank you both. We are really looking forward to the trip. We will definitely check out Ess-A-Bagel. Thanks for the suggestion.

Well, I'm very excited. I decided to pursue getting a 4.5*, knowing that I was looking at least paying $225. I took the re-bidding advice and slowly went up in price and just kept adjusting dates by a day. I was VERY happy when my bid was accepted. Thank you for all of the advice.

Yes, I am able to add weekend dates. I can move the date up earlier in April, also, as I stated earlier. I would prefer not to split up the bidding. The savings isn't worth it to me. I did that my very first trip to NYC and it was a pain. Like I said, I am willing to pay a little more for a touch more comfort and convenience. I looked for hotel reviews on this site, but haven't been able to find them. I tried to go to winning bids, but it asks me for the area I am looking into and it just ends up bringing me back to this board. Maybe I am doing something wrong.

I think I was thinking of going more with a 4.5*, just because I felt like it was more of a guarantee that I would be happy with the hotel we ended up getting. I would like to stay closer to Times Square, because that is the area I believe we will be frequenting the most. I said MTE just because that is where I have stayed in the past. CPS was another area I was considering, but wasn't sure what it was like. So that all being said, I would prefer 4.5* in either MTE, TS or possibly CPS. If you really think that I can't get that at all, though, I am willing to go with a 4*. I guess the bidding and not knowing the hotel makes me nervous. Which I'm sure is the case for every newbie. I am also somewhat flexible with my dates. My main goal is for it to be mid to late April. I did notice a lower price, in my own research last night, when I changed it to April 12. So, if moving the date up would also help in securing a nicer hotel at the $200 range, that is also an option. My daughter is a big theatre fan, so we are wanting to be sure to see Ken Watanabe in "The King and I"(which previews the middle of March), along with catching a couple of other shows. I can go up a little in price, maybe up to $225, but if it isn't worth it and I can still get a very nice hotel paying less, then maybe I should go with that. Any thoughts from your experiences or others on this site are definitely appreciated. Thank you for helping in any way you can. I've tried to do as much research on my own, based on this sites suggestions. Since I'm new to this, though, that only gets me so far. :)

I am planning a trip with my daughter for her birthday for 4/19-4/25. I would like to stay in Midtown East. My budget is $200, but would obviously like to pay less if possible. Times square or Midtown West are options, as well. I would like a 4 1/2* hotel. Is this a reasonable price range? I tried one bid in MTE for $185 and it was declined. Nervous about re-bidding. I've never done that before and don't want to end up in Brooklyn. :) Any help would be wonderful. Looking at re-bidding the zones that are 4* or less are Brooklyn, Coney Island, Hell's Kitchen, Long Island City, Lower East Side, Madison Square Garden, Morningside Heights, Queensborough Bridge, Union Square and Upper West Side. So, is it correct that if I select 4 1/2*, but use these as re-bidding zones, that I am safe? Thanks for the help.