Mr_Conlin

Based on what I read on this board, I bid, through the PRICELINE link above, the following:

$69 4* started in USE.

Accepted. No problems. Only complaint is the $49 a night parking. If only there were a priceline for parking...

Starting my bid through the PRICELINE link above, we started the following:

4* MTE $90 - declined

Added CPS and raised to $95 - declined

Added MTW and raised to $100 - declined

Added Time Square and raised to $105 - accepted at the Grand Hyatt.

We know not to bid hoping for a particular hotel, but this time it worked out. This will be two nights in Manhattan, then we take a train to visit relatives in Connecticut. Perfect for our needs

Thanks for the site!

Quick weekend getaway, we needed a single room Friday night before heading to Carmel. Started bidding friday morning via the PRICELINE link above, at $80 for a four star and our offer was declined.

Didn't take too many notes as we were in a rush, but suffice to say we were accepted at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa On Del Monte Golf Course for $90.00, final charge was 108.76.

It was definitely not a 4* property. I would argue that the in-room amenities are 3*, and the service was also 3*.

Down the road from the Hyatt, right on Del Monte, is a fantastic fish restaurant. Monterey Fish House. No view, but great fish in a local-filled bustling little bistro.

Via the PRICELINE Search link on this site, I started the bidding at $75 in Embarcadero, was declined, and was offered the Add $22 to get the room now. I ignored that offer, and raised to $80, added SOMA and was awarded the following:

Your Price Was Accepted

Congratulations, your price of $80 was accepted by Hilton San Francisco Financial District.

This time I am traveling with friends of the family for a one night trip to SF, so we bid on and received three rooms.

We are happy and are looking forward to our getaway before the year starts in earnest.

A follow up to our trip.

The Millenium Hilton physically was a bit worse for wear, but the staff was great. The teenage girls had no problems at all. They used the subway to get around, and Century 21 is right next door.

We ended up eating at Adrienne's Pizza Bar on Stone street for our "breakfast" friday morning. What a great place. The crust was crisp and flavorful, the Moretti beer and Chianti flowing. I think NY pizza and bagels are better because of the water.

Thanks for the recommendations and thanks for this site.

That is a great rate, for a great hotel. The rooms are a bit small, but the beds are oh so comfortable. The location is great as well. I once stumbled upon a cuban bar near the Barclay Inter-Continental late one night, and don't remember getting back to the hotel.

Wow. That is a great deal. Thereuare, have you seen this property at this price this low recently? I remember getting this property for around $140 in 2002, but never below! Interesting...

I am officially jealous. :)

My hobby is eating and drinking (and traveling and bidding on hotel rooms, of course). Grimaldi's is on our list, as is Ray's and John's. And Katz's / Ess-a-bagel / 2nd Ave Deli. And my daughter and I love Momofuku Ssam Bar, and my wife loves Peter Luger!

My best friends live in Brooklyn (Williamsburg) and work in Manhattan. We eat well whenever we get to NYC.

But something is bothering me. I know I have a decent deal at the Millenium Hilton, but I feel like we are a bit away from the neighborhood action. Just too far for my meandering around the neighborhoods. I am second guessing my bidding. I should have left out downtown and focussed on Midtown, CPS. We loved the quiet of Murray Hill, and still felt connected. The teenage girls want to go shopping and to see Rockefeller and to see the department store windows (they are at that age), and I think that the time in transportation might be better spent. I know we'll have fun, we always do, but the buyer's remorse is kicking in. I'll assess if Wall Street has any impact on the teenagers and how this location affects their enjoyment and report back. My intent is to give them travel skills.

At least my wife and I will have our own room this time.

Thereuare, thanks for the recommendation. I checked it out on google earth. Not too far away. I'm bringing my daughter, who is 18, and a niece, who is also in college and 19. Pizza is relevant to their interests. We are also going to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge (I know, its cold in december) so we will make a detour to show them Wall Street and stop along the way.

Successful on my first session, because of this board! I monitored the prices, and all the successes. I started my search via the PRICELINE link above.

I needed two rooms for two nights. A total of four room-nights. My budget was $1000.00 for rooms. I knew that $180 to $210 was the sweet spot, so started at $165.

Select 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, TS, ESB and Downtown (i'm assuming all of there are still acceptable)...

Bid $165, rejected, add re-bid Chelsea...

Bid $170, rejected, add re-bid MSG...

Bid $175, rejected, add re-bid UES...

Bid $180, rejected, closed browser and used your link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, TS, ESB and Downtown and UWS...

Bid $185, rejected, add Chelsea...

Bid $190, Success!

Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $190.00 (USD)

Number of Rooms: 2

Number of Nights: 2

Room Subtotal: $760.00 (USD)

Taxes and Fees: $141.04 (USD)

Total Room Cost: $901.04 (USD)

Under budget by $100.00

I've never stayed here, but am familiar with the area. We'll try our luck at an upgrade when we check in. We are far away from Midtown, but we get around on the subway pretty easily.

Thank you for this board.

I agree that the prices might drop. I am doing this exact same trip, arriving 12/12 and leaving 12/14. I will need 2 rooms for 2 night. I have a backup cancelable reservation, so I have the luxury of waiting a bit. Thank you for updating your progress.

I am probably going to start my bidding on the 28th or 29th, when the hotels are finished with Thanksgiving and the start projecting December.

I'll post my own, of course.

Through the PRICELINE link above, we were awarded 2 nights at the Grand Hyatt near Union Square.

Started:

USE 4* $90.00 - declined

Added USW 4* $95.00 - declined

Added Fishermans Wharf 4* $100.00

Success at the Grand Hyatt for $100.00

Thanks for this board; it gives us a great baseline to start our bidding.

Room is nice, nothing great. SF is just about 100% booked this weekend. We feel fortunate. The front desk says they are 70% European and that SF is more popular than DC, NYC, Boston, Chicago, Seattle or LA. Good for SF tourism.

After trying for a few days, always coming back to better bidding to start my bid, we were awarded this. We didn't think we were going to be able stay the night, and $150.00 is a bit outside of our comfort zone, but I think it will be worth it. We check in in 20 minutes.

I will not use the PRICELINE link from the email. I'll come back. I waited an additional day before I rebid to make sure we took care of you.

Larry

Question for the board moderators:

After a few days of unsuccessful attempts, Priceline sends and email asking us to try the bid again. Do you retain syndicate credit for these rebids? Or should we return to the site to initiate the bid?

Thanks

We are heading to listen to live music this tuesday, and decided to stay the night. Bidding through the PRICELINE search above, we were awarded the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero for $105.00 for the single night.

Started at $90 for USE

Rebid $95, adding USW

Rebid $100, adding Fisherman's Wharf

Rebid $105, adding Civic Center

Awarded at $105

This is perfect as we always start with oysters at Hog Island in the Ferry Building.

It looks like that weekend in New York is still pricey. The hotel prices are staying the same. I guess a three day weekend in NYC in October is a fairly popular time.

We made another attempt this morning through your PRICELINE link above, following your bidding strategy but adding $20.00 to each bid. We started at $140 and hoped to max out at $235.00 a night.

Luckily we did, as my $230 bid was rejected. I had one rebid before giving up and trying tomorrow. Well, my $235.00 a night rate request was accepted.

$235.00 a night - 70 park avenue hotel - a Kimpton Hotel.

Friday, October 10th to Monday, October 13th, 2008.

The hotel gets fairly decent reviews on TripAdvisor. We are Kimpton InTouch members and have stayed in this group's hotels in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. I just hope that our membership might get us a king bed instead of the double double for our romantic 4 day NYC getaway.

Thanks again

-- Larry

Thereuare, yes lets confirm that strategy for the next few weeks. As we get closer, I will be open to increasing the budget to $250 a night.

- Larry

And my pleasure using your PRICELINE Link...

Yes, you are correct, but after discussing this with my bride, we'll take a 4* anywhere in Manhattan.

I just realized there are no 4* in certain areas, such as Chelsea. Is that rebid wasted? Should I rebid those 4*-less zones at the end? Or does it matter?

Thanks in advance for your help.

(all the while bidding through your link a the top of this page)

- Larry

Using BetterBidding's PRICELINE link above, we have been attempting to win our room for the Columbus 3 day weekend.

I do not need any assistance with how to bid, but need advice on my bidding strategy, and am posting this for tracking and historical purposes

We are looking for Friday, Saturday, Sunday night. Downtown is not in the running because my bride doesn't want to chance overlooking ground zero. She is sensitive to that. We are posting in her preferred nabe order.

In any case, our strategy, for the past 3 24-hour periods have been:

Select 4* CPS

Bid $180, rejected, add MTW

Bid $185, rejected, add Chelsea

Bid $190, rejected, add MTE

Bid $195, rejected, add ESB

Bid $200, rejected, add TS

Bid $205, rejected, add UWS

Bid $210, rejected, add UES

Bid $215, rejected, add MSG

Rejected

We will keep this strategy going, not increasing our maximum until mid september, hoping for an inventory release 30 days out. Or should I change my timing?

The Eurostars Grand Marina is a great hotel. All business hotel next to the world trade center. It is a bit of a trek to La Rambla, but worth the walk.

The beds at the Barclay are very, very comfortable. If you get in late, there is a japanese Izakaya called Donburi-ya on 47th between 3rd and Lex. I've been there at 3:00am and the place is filled with japanese tourists and sararimen eating and drinking up a storm. The food is great!