jimaleg

Thanks guys for looking...I ended up booking directly with Hilton One UN Plaza on AAA special for 185 including tax for a queen. I figured with the double points offer through 8/31 plus being gold (28 points/$) plus Amex Hilton (12 points/$)....I should clear 40 points per $ or close to 7400 HH points which was worth the extra $16 (I had a 10% off express which brought the total to 169 and change). The hotel is now sold out for sat night. I'm 90% sure that Express offer was for the Hilton Millinium one UN Plaza but I now I know. Sometimes the express deal or NYP isn't always the best deal. Even with double points and no AmEx card is would have been 3700 points which is worth about $18.50...

I guess you're still not seeing it?

yes I know you know NYC you helped me identify barclays last Oct. Anyway, I just did another search and I found the same 4.5 in grand central. It's a PRICELINE EXPRESS deal. I am signed in which maybe makes a difference? I also can click through to booking. Here's all the info from the website. I don't really have a budget....just want a nice hotel at a great price. If this is Hilton UN, it looks like a good deal. Any ideas? About This Hotel Sports, cocktails and city views await your arrival here. When you book a 4.5-star Express Deal, you'll get an excellent brand-name or independent hotel with impeccable service, attention to detail and distinctive decor. .5-Star Hotel Grand Central Terminal - UN AreaWith prices this low, most hotels won't let us show their identity until after you book This deal saves you 32% or more compared to similar hotels $135 /night Best Price. GUARANTEED Business Center Fitness Center Non Smoking Areas 8+ Very Good Guest Rating

My date is this Sat 1 night 7/28-7/29 $139 Express it's a 4.5 star Grand Central Bed Choice Business Center Fitness Center Non Smoking 8+ rating Is this One UN NY Millennium Hilton?

It was a nice property....pool was closed but it's outdoor....huge property/complex (14 floors). Near an excellent Sicilian restaurant in Collingswood...I even got club level (no service on weekends) but 12th floor view of River/Lake and Philly in the distance plus 2 comp drinks for being IHG Gold. Given the prices of (3.5*-4) hotels and parking near the historic district....this was a relative bargain (if you have a car) especially since I decided to bid (and now you can see that express is just under 10% higher than NYP!).

You were right...crown plaza cherry hill.... Got it through bidding I also had a 10% off PRICELINE EXPRESS but this was $1 cheaper than the Express less 10% ($81.87)plus I saved my coupon. Room subtotal:$65.00 Hotel Fee: Taxes & fees:$15.55 Taxes:$15.55 Total charged today:$80.55

Good to know about the airport.....thank you both...I think I'll try for Cherry Hill. When I bid on your site does it automatically update the board?

I appreciate your advice and guess. How confident are you in your guess on the airport? (I don't care so much for Bensalem so don't worry about that unless you think my guess is pretty good) My guess was DoubleTree for the airport 3.5 star and Holiday Inn for 3.5 Bensalem. You see I was really hoping for a IHG or Hilton Honors property but if you're confident on your guesses then I'll definitely NOT go for either one. I agree the airport is not that "convenient" to downtown but relative to Trevose-Bensalem it is : (). Because I have my car I didn't mind being out of the 3 downtown zones (Plus I don't really want to pay over $120 PLUS Hotel Parking (which is where I was at with my 101 last bid for 4 stars for the 3 downtown zones)......Maybe I'll go for Mt Laurel....like I say I really want a IHG or Hilton Honors property! I will bid through your site. Let me know what you think....you're usually right and Philly can use some current posts!

3.5 star Philly Airport 1 night 11/4/17 Express $89 Airport Shuttle Business Center Fitness Center Non Smoking Pets Allowed Restaurant Swimming Pool 7+ Guest Rating 500 verified guest reviews We choose the hotel, you save 34% EXPRESS DEAL SAVE 34% I don't care about being at the airport. I'm driving from DC and want to go sightseeing in the historic area of Philly. Cheapest Hotels in Historic Penn, UniversityCity and City Center east and west for 4 star on Express was 3* for $184 and 4* in historic Penn is $227. I bid up to 101 for this Sat for 4*s in the 4 aforementioned areas with no luck (4.5 star for Univ City). So I'm moving down to 3.5 star and the airport came up for $89 on express. I'd like to stay around $100 (with fees for 3.5 star). I'm pretty sure I can get the airport express deal on NYP for $100 including fees (I have a 10% express I may use if bidding goes over $80) First question: any idea what hotel is the above described? 2nd Opinion: Any other areas besides the airport (and the aforementioned 4 star zones) that are convenient and safe to the historic area? I see a cheapie express 3.5 star in Trevose Bensalem for $41 but other than being North of Philly, I have no idea whether this area is safe but I can see it's not as convenient as the airport from DC (but the price is right). Any opinions on what hotel it might be and what the area is like. I will have a car. Thanks in advance! 3.5-Star Hotel Free Internet Free Parking Business Center Fitness Center Non Smoking Restaurant Swimming Pool EXPRESS DEAL SAVE 52% $ 41

On the Ess A Bagel. I walked by at 8 15 am on a Sunday and the line was out the door....had to be at least 50 in line....Is this place a local favorite or are those all tourists from the Hotels that surround it? I didn't have time to wait.

IHG put my IHG gold elite member number on the reservation but it didn't show up as a reservation (or points which I didn't expect). They did provide me an upgraded room and early & late check in/out.

I just put my IHG number in the reservation....IHG is pretty accommodating to it's members....the lady in guest services said to call her the night before and she would see if she could upgrade me from a deluxe to a premier on the IC. I'm sure I won't get points since you never do with PL but I should get the comp. drink and she requested early check in.

To finish the Marquee and Marriot reward story...They did end up giving me a high floor room with a gorgous view...I had 2 queens so I think it might have been a deluxe room. I had to call the Marriott early that morning and remind the person that assigns rooms that I was gold.

I was thinking about paying the $100 (2 people) for concierge lounge (don't get it with my IHG gold) but I may take your suggestion after dropping 235 on a hotel. Lounge includes pre show wine and snacks and full American breakfast. Also many thanks for the article....I'm going to try to get a high floor room facing Lexington. It's funny but at first I was bidding without the link. I then remembered to switch to the link....when I did my next bid (187) was accepted....do you think the link improves the odds of a bid being accepted. I wouldn't think so but it was an interesting coincidence. When I think about 186 or 187 relative to 195 express price....there was not a huge discount relative to express using NYP but I guess I can't be too greedy. I wish my 10% off my next PL stay wouldn't have expired..... I think I got the Marriot Marquee in Oct 2014 for like 170 something all-in.

I bid through the board PRICELINE link and got the Intercontinental Barclays for 187 for total $235 (PRICELINE EXPRESS was 195 total $247) for Oct 28. I basically saved $12 by bidding vs express. I limited my bids to ME and used free rebids since I figured this hotel would be on NYP and express. I bid increments of $2 and my last unsuccessful bid was $185 (so someone might get it at 186). I think the PLexpress fees might be 1% higher than NYP ($48 on 187 and $52 on 195). Anyway, I thought about the new Crown and Aaron's preference/tastes but IC is not that old and was $36 cheaper than Crown even with the $20 coupon. I'm gold on IHG so either way I should get a late checkout or possible higher level room. I've stayed at Waldorf towers (gov rate and upgrade to towers), Marriot Marque (NYP), Fairmont Plaza and Hyatt Place (the last 2 were freebies from a credit card deal) but I've never been to the IC in ME only the historic IC in Chicago which was fantastic....hopefully this will be the same! thanks for all the help!

for the HOTWIRE hotel in MSG area for 217 it says : 95% recommended Amazing! (5 reviews). It's not 100% and do you think 5 reviews is sufficient basis to judge? I'm gold with IHG so Crown or IC would be great....I'll try one more NYP then probably go for the IC unless you really think a new CP can compete with an older IC?

Thanks Aaron, you're great. Regarding your comment On hotwire would midtown east also include Grand Central? I've stayed at the Club Quarters GC and was not impressed with the size of the room (TINY). Location was ok. ..there's also a 181 4* in ME on PL that I posted probably after you started to research. Could this also be (or instead of the $187 mentioned by you) Guest Quarters in Grand Central? I am definitely leaning toward the 4.5* possible intercontinental Barclay for 195 less 5%. I'll post whatever I get for Halloween Saturday.

Just checked hotwire and there's a 4* in ME for 10/28/17 for 181 less the $20. Here's the amenties....any idea: Complimentary Free Internet Amenities Boutique hotel Business center Fitness center Pet friendlyRestaurant(s) it says: Book soon! The last person got the The Court - A St Giles Hotel Any idea of this hotel? Also does Hotwire ever offer 4.5 hotels for NY All that comes up is 4 or 5's. Priceline includes the 4.5 stars with the search for 4* on Express deals.

how did I miss the date....one night Oct 28 Saturday b4 Halloween. I think the 4.5 star maybe the IC based on the hotel descriptions in BB not sure on the 4*? I did not make the Cancun purchase.

It's a 4.5 star PRICELINE EXPRESS in NY- MidTown East Bed Choice Business Center Fitness Center Non Smoking Pets Allowed Restaurant Bed Choice Available 9+ Guest Rating 200 verified guest reviews It's $195 less the 5% discount by using BBHalloween....I'm already up to 180 on NYP for that & neighboring zones in MidTown for Saturday night 10/28. I haven't tried HOTWIRE yet but that's next.... The second one I'm interested in is a 4* NY Grand Central UN for the same date...it's 184 (less the 5%). I'm up to 161 on the NYP for 4* Bed Choice Business Center Fitness Center Non Smoking Restaurant Bed Choice Available 8+ Guest Rating 300 verified guest reviews Any idea on either one is greatly appreciated

Betterbidding lists this hotel on their list as a 4.5 but several of the NYP bid posts indicate it is a 5 star. On the PL non-express non-NYP reservation system it is listed as a 4.5 star. Does anyone know for sure what category this hotel is? I see a recent post for a March 2015 stay also indicates it's a 5 star. I think the BB list is correct and it's a 4.5 star.

No pardon necessary.....I guess your experience goes to show you there's no ryme or reason with Express relative to NYP. I just assumed that NYP would be less tha PRICELINE EXPRESS for a given stay.....doesn't make sense that express could ever be less assuming the same dates, location and starts...but what do I know!

I think it's a busy week in NYC on PL because it's not a hot week in NYC. Look at all the successful under 200 bids for this early Oct weekend at 4 star hotels....nothing must be going on!

Hilton (doubletree) and Hyatt honored my elite status for PL NYP rooms in Wilmington and Savanna (both 4* Waterview properties). I was able to get my HH or Hyatt number into the reservation. I think this is a strictly a Marriot prohibition since I called Marriot rewards and WW reservations and they both said there's no place to put a rewards number on a prepaid so all they can do is make a note on the reservation and hope night audit or morning assignments see it and take mercy on you. I'm not even talking reward points here...strictly amentities. I have to admit I am surprised at Marriot's treatment of elites that bid on PL. While I understand that PL NYP are hugely discounted rooms but to get elite status you need X number of non-PL stays. So why penalize a frequent stayer just because one or more times they happened to get a discounted room? IMHO that's different that shafting a PL bidder to a lousy room since there's no customer loyalty involved in the latter.

I got it on Priceline for 161 a night so I guess I got my 10%+ discount without using a code. My first bid was 161...I should have started at 159 and used my free 2 rebids to find the possible bottom! Maybe someone else will try for that Saturday night in Oct and let me know?