skwiltjer

These suggestions sound great! We will definitely check them out.  Thank you!

Success!  4* hotel in NYC lower east side.  Holiday Inn NYC-lower east side for $143.

Yes, it makes perfect sense.  My other rebid zone is Harlem. 

I will try this using the strategy you outlined.  Thanks for the help.  I'll let you know if I am successful and I will use the link from this site.

Brooklyn –  4*
Central Park South –  5*
Chelsea Area –  4.5*
Coney Island –  2*
Downtown - Financial District –  5*
Empire State Building Area –  5*
Greenpoint - Williamsburg – 4*
Greenwich Village –  4*
Hell's Kitchen –  4*
Long Island City –  4*
Lower East Side –  4.5*
Madison Square Garden - Convention Area –  4*
Midtown East – 5*
Midtown West – 4.5*
Morningside Heights - Harlem –  3.5*
Queensborough Bridge – 4*
SoHo - Tribeca –  5*
Times Square - Theatre District –  5*
Union Square - East Village –  4*
Upper East Side –  5*
Upper West Side –  4*

Okay, I think what I just typed is wrong.  I looked at the boards and found that Chinatown, Harlem, Bronx, and LGA have no 4* or 5* hotels.  So, maybe those are the rebid zones I need to use in each of your scenarios?

So when you say,

Select 4* TS, MTE, ESB...
Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...
Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

You really do mean that I should start my bid with TS, MTE, ESB, correct?  Then when I rebid, I can either add in others that I would be okay with, OR, add in one of the zones that doesn't have any 4* or 5* hotels.

So, I could do this for the first go-round:

Select 4* TS, MTE, ESB
Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone CT
Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone Harlem

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Is this what you mean?  Sorry I'm being so dense.  I don't want to do it wrong.

Okay, great, I'll try this.  I understand the rebidding strategy. 

Just to be clear, when you say, for example:

Select 4* TS, MTE, ESB...
Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...
Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Do you mean:

Select 4* TS
Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone MTE (so now I am bidding both TS and MTE)
Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone ESB (so now I am bidding TS, MTE, and ESB)
Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

I would be willing to bid a maximum of $145 for a 4* hotel.  My preference would be Times Square but would be willing to stay in the other zones I have already mentioned.  Let me know your suggested strategy. Thank you!!

I added more zones and upped my price and got rejected twice more today.  The first unsuccessful bid was 3.5* for TS, MW, ME, ESBA, and LES for $130 - dates are still July 28 and 29.  The second unsuccessful bid I added CPS and upped the price to $135.

Any suggestions?  Keep increasing the price?

I can expand my zones but I don't know which ones I should choose.  Can you suggest a couple others?  Since you think I can possibly get a 3.5* or 4* at the $125-$145 price, should I NOT include 3* in my bid?  Since I still have a bit of time, I thought I might continue bidding $125-$130 before taxes for another week or so, then bump up the price a little.  3.5* and 4* are nicer/more expensive than 3*, correct?

I forgot to mention, I have already had two bids rejected today - the first one was for 3.5* Times Square 7/29-7/31 $125. The second one was for 3* Times Square + Midtown West 7/29-7/31 $125.

I am looking for a hotel in Times Square or nearby vicinity for two nights in July - July 29 and July 30.  I would ideally like to spend no more than $150 per night (including taxes and fees) but could go a bit higher.  I could also go down to a 3* hotel if needed.  Do you think that my budget is appropriate for the time of year and location?  What other zones would you recommend and what should my starting bid be?  Thanks in advance.