AlwaysBooking

Last minute trip to NYC 1/17-19 - used your PRICELINE link. I wanted to stay in the ESB area at a 4* and started my bidding at $80. Was rejected, but offered an opportunity to bid $120, which I declined. Added rebid zones and when I got to $90, won the Affinia Shelburne which is very close to where I need to be. I've read good things about this hotel (and walked by it many times when I used to live in the area) so am looking forward to it.

Was looking for 3* in the Chesapeake Greenbrier area for arrival on 15 January and departure on 17 January. Used your PRICELINE link and started my bid at $40, with no success. Upped bid by $5 increments adding rebid zones and won the Aloft Chesapeake for $55 per night. I've stayed there before and like it so am pleased with this deal.

Started bidding at $50 for 4* Downtown/Pike Place. Rejected and added rebid zones in $5 increments. Won Vintage Park at $70. I've always liked Kimpton properties and am looking forward to this stay. I used your PRICELINE link.

First bid using your PRICELINE link for 4* Loop arriving 10/14 and deaparting 10/15 - bid $85 and won the Hyatt Regency. The website lists the least expensive room for that date at $259, so am pleased. :)

Success! I waited 24 hours and decided to rebid the same strategy (skipping CPS for now, thinking I could add it later). No luck with first two scenarios, but when opened third PRICELINE window - using your link - (including TS and the other zones) at first bid of $143, was rejected but offered a win if I was willing to increase bid to $168. I declined and continued to rebid. At $148, I won the Waldorf-Astoria! I've never stayed there but have walked through their beautiful lobby on more than one occasion. And it's close to Ess A Bagel. Very happy camper here! Thanks again.

Alas, no luck. But I could almost taste it! ;)

The website is saying average rate is $288 for those zones and dates, so I'd hope I'm getting close. I could add CPS and give it a shot - would I have to wait 24 hours or just adjust the above strategy? Thanks!

Hi - I'm headed back to the Big Apple again for a few days arriving 8/15 and departing 8/18. I checked a few OTA sites and see the rates don't seem to be as crazy high as they were when I was there last month. Do you think I might reasonably expect to get a 4* in MTE, ESB, Chelsea, HK, MTW, Downtown, Soho/Tribeca, or TS for $160 or less? If so, would you be able to offer a strategy? I figure if it doesn't work, I'll still have time to either add other zone(s) or increase bid. Thanks very much - this is a great and very helpful site!

My earlier try for a 4* on 7/10-12 didn't work out (see other post) so used friend's couch. Have to go out to Long Island for one night and back into NYC for one night 7/13. Used the exact strategy that you kindly offered for the other stay, but as I saw rates were running a bit lower, I lowered the initial bid to $95 (cheeky of me, I know). After a few refusals, won the Hotel Indigo Chelsea for $115. I've never seen it, but the location is perfect. I of course used your PRICELINE link. Thanks for your help P.S. I notice that on your hotel list, the Indigo is listed as a 3.5*, but they apparenlty are now 4*.

Sorry to report the couch wins this time. Bid up as directed using your links, but no success. Will try again as I have another short trip coming up. Thanks for your help though - much appreciated!

No problem - Would be happy to stay in Chelsea, Downtown/Financial, ESB, Hell's Kitchen, MTE, MTW, Tribeca, Times Square or CPS. If can't get it, would consider raising bid and adding UWS. I have an emergency back up of a friend's couch, but would prefer a hotel :)

Thanks for the help!

A quick trip to NYC just came up and could use some help with a bidding strategy. Ideally, would like a 4* in any Manhattan zone EXCEPT upper west side arriving 7/10 and departing 7/12 In the best of all possible worlds, would love to keep it to $150 plus fees per night, but might be able to boost it a bit. Thanks for your help!

What an incredibly busy time in NYC! But perseverence - and flexibility on my part - paid off. I just need to soak my fingers in warm water to recover from all the typing! Long story short - I upped my bid substantially after reviewing the going rates for hotels and I am staying the first two nights on the aforementioned friend's couch. Ended up with the Intercontinental Barclay for 5/19-23 at a rate of $265 per night. I like this hotel and just stayed there in December. Used your links to the PRICELINE site. Thanks for all your excellent advice. I'm happy with this. :D

Thanks. I've still got a little time and will give it a shot. I've got a back up of a friend's couch for the first two nights if I get desperate!

Actually, just to make things more complex , have now had to add the one day earlier arrival date, so now it's 5/17 - 5/23 - a total of 6 nights. Changed this yesterday but forgot to make a note of it on the topic.

Thanks for the clarification. I tried that but still no luck. I'll probably try again tomorrow, but I think I might give a try at a split if that doesn't work. On a 6 night stay, is there a recommended strategy, e.g., 3/3, 2/4, 4/2, 1/5 etc for splitting a stay?

So just to be clear - I could take the basic template above, but add in SoHo/Tribeca and Midtown West (I'm guessing separately to increase options) but keep the dollar bids the same? And I could try that again today? I reread your helpful Rebidding Explained posts too which was helpful in explaining the rebidding concept.

Thanks!

Thank you for the excellent and thorough strategy! You guys really are great and I appreciate it. I used your PRICELINE link for all bids - and I'm sure it will come as no real surprise to you (or to me, for that matter) that I had no success. I'm thinking of adding Midtown West and SoHo/Tribeca as well before I try my hand at splitting - I'm still a bit apprehensive about adding CPS because of what I've heard about the size of the rooms at 6 Columbus Circle. Since I did all of this today, I think I have to wait until tomorrow to start over adding the two new zones, correct? If I decide to try splitting, I'm sure I'll have a question or two about that

P.S. I noticed that they now have a Morningside Heights/Harlem zone for Manhattan, which lists a 3* property. Any idea what this might be? I'm guessing the Aloft, but I didn't see any wins there on a quick look at the calendar.

Done. I always use your links - Betterbidding.com has been very good to me in the past! :D

Of course I have to go to NY at one of the busiest, i.e.,expensive times of the year! I'm planning to be there from 5/18-23. I'd like to give a shot at first for 4* with a maximum budget of $200 per night plus fees. Preferred zones are ESB, MTE, Chelsea, Downtown, HK, TSQ - (skipping CPS for fear of tiny room at 6 Columbus :) ) Would you be able to offer a strategy? I've still got time so can adjust, split or expand zones later if need be. Thanks!

Thanks for the excellent strategy. I used your PRICELINE link. It worked - at the very last bid Along the way, I was offered ( 3 different times) a hotel they claimed would accept me if I was willing to go to $208 per night, which I repeatedly rejected. I ended up with the Intercontinental Barclay for $180 per night - my max. But am very happy as I've actually stayed at this hotel in the past and enjoyed it very much - and the perfect location for me. Thanks again for your help.

I'm planning on a trip to NYC arriving on 12/15 and departing on 12/20. Have been reviewing many of the posts and realize that the 15th is on the cusp of highest prices, but after that date looks more reasonable. Was interested in a 4* hotel ideally in MTE,ESB,CHELSEA, TSQ, HK or DT. Ideally at a max of $180 per night plus fees. Would you be able to offer a strategy? If this doesn't work, would consider Jersey City, where I've had good luck in the past. Thanks!

For arrival on 11/1 and departure 11/3

First bid for 3* at $45 using your PRICELINE link and won Hyatt Place. No rebids required.

Have stayed there before and enjoyed it (and paid much more too when I didn't use Priceline :) )

Very happy with the deal!

Have used your link for Priceline hotel bids often and today I used your PRICELINE link and tried my first car rental bid. Bid $20 per day for a midsize two day rental at Newark airport 9/23-25 and won! Very happy with this rate :)

Used your PRICELINE link and strategy (from the NY forum) and won the Westin Jersey City for $130 9/23-25. Very happy with this win as I've stayed at this property before and liked it very much. Thanks for your help!

Did a slight adjustment - decided to spend the first 2 nights of the trip in Jersey City and the rest on the couch (at least for now) :) I bid using your PRICELINE link and got the Westin Jersey City 9/23-25 for $130. Very pleased and will post this on the Jersey thread. Thanks again for your help - I've stayed at this property before and liked it very much.