msilverhammer

Bid 4* @ $45 in Universal, then bid 4* in WDW for $50. Both rejected. :) Bid 3* and was accepted on first bid at $45 for 3* Wyndham ORL Intl. Dr. :)

:o Thanks for the word on the Murray Hill East Suites. My firends are there now and have reported similar sentiments. They are very happy. Someone at TOBB just reported a new win at about $85 for late July. :) On AlleninLAs recent win in MTW 4*at $180, I am curious as to how many days this was for? It seems much harder at least for 6-9- to 6-13 to get a low rate on a four (4) day stay. One day stays are fairly easy to get, but to be honest, I had trouble getting a low rate in all areas for a two (2) day stay also. :)

Hi, See my posts related to the Murray Hill East Suites. This is rated 2* by PL, but 3* by others, and the reviews are great! Looks like a good find, and perhaps you can get it for less using my learning experience below. Hotel is near the UN and GCS, about 1.5 miles SE of CPS. The hotel is all suites so you will do better there because you need extra room. They have full kitchen, sofa beds, etc. Here is my current strategy, based upon current NYC conditions for this week only. as 5, 4, and 3* hotels do not seem to be available for under $200 in all of the NYC areas, especially if you have a stay of 3 days or more, so I would probably start with 2.5* and 2* hotels. Even sites like Hotel.com, etc., do not show availability. Start bidding $100 for a 2* in the MTS area first. Then if not accepted use free bids in UES, UWS, UMT/CPS and move up around $15 each time. If not accepted for a 2* by the time you have reached $145 you can then bid in the MTE and MTW areas and raise your price by $10 each time. You will be at $165 by this time. If still not accepted by PL, I would increase by $5 and bid again in the SOHO area. You should be successful with this strategy. Good Luck and let me know how everything worked out! By the way...there is also a Howard Johnson's right near Central Park, which is rated as a 1*, so you might try to bid that also. You can also go directly to the HOJO site and get the room if all else fails. Also you can buy the Mayfair 2* directly from Priceline using their regular (non-bid) reservation system. I believe that the Mayfair is a boutique hotel in either MTW or MTE, which can be had for around $185. Good Luck!

Hi, I thoroughly checked all of the reviews that I could find, and closely examined the neighborhood, and depending on where you looked, the Murray Hills East Suites is rated 3* by sites such as Expedia and Travel Advisor. PL ranks it a 2*. Let's not split hairs...Based upon the reviews, ranking from other sites, and after talking to someone I know who stayed there, I am going to consider this hotel a 2.5* and possibly a minimal 3* as you thought. This (my) rating might go up or down after my stay is complete, but if 99% of the reviewers are right, it will probably not go down to a 2*. Perhaps PL goes by the old adage of "under promise and over deliver"! I am sure that you have noticed the disparity of star ratings between the different sites such as PL and Hotwire, etc. My personal experience also has shown me that what some people would consider a 3* is actually a 4* and vice versa. Star ratings are like personal preferences for food, cars, clothing, homes, hobbies, etc., and are very subjective! When I travel, I do not spend alot of time in my room anyway, so my hotel is used mainly for sleeping and bathing. I am always pleasantly suprised with so-called 3* hotels, that are in excellent condition, with excellent service, in excellent locations. Resort type services and amenities are usually lost on me. The Murray Hill East Suites looks like a good find formy purposes. By the way I bid 5*, 4* & 3* up to $180 in UES, UWS, UMT/CPS, without success, then I started to bid 2.5* and 2* in MTE, MTW starting at $150 without success, and when I finally bid in MTS @ $170 I was successful. Perhaps if I had started in MTS @ $150 or lower I would have been successful sooner, but I have to be in NYC on 6-9. Learning experience! If I had more time my strategy would be to start bidding 2.5* to 2* in MTS, then UES, UWS, UMT/CPS, finally moving to MTW. MTE and SOHO if necessary. I also tried using various conbinations like one and two day reservations without success for 5, 4, and 3* hotels. Not available. By the way, in doing my research I noticed a 1* HOJO right near CPS that might be picked up at a decent price. Great neighborhood, and hotel was just renovated. Anyway, I can't complain after all of the 3*, 4* and resort stays that I have obtained for $60 to $35 dollars! By the way the hotel address is as follow: Murray Hill East Suite Hotel 149 East 39th Street New York, New York 10016 United States 212-661-2100 This hotel should not be confused with Murray Hill Shelburne which is close by, as you mentioned, and is a 4*hotel, if I am not mistaken. Murray Hill East Suites is near the UN, and Grand Central Station, and just 1.5 miles SE of Central park. Murray Hill is simply the name of the residential neighborhood that the hotels lie in.

I have been trying to find a deal for a four day stay over the past two weeks. I had no luck bidding 5*, 4* or 3* up to $180.00 for Upper E. & W. Side, Central Park South, Upper Midtown, MTW, MTE, MTS. I tried various combinations, such as bidding for only two days, one day, etc. Finally had to compromise and look at 2* to 2.5* hotels...which is a first for me on Priceline. I guess there is something happening this coming week in NYC...could it be Father's Day? I did notice that all other hotel sites have little or no availability for this and many other hotels for this time frame. Anyway after getting turned down in all of the preceding areas for even 2* and 2.5*, I finally was accepted in Midtown South area. The hotel reviews look really good, and this is a suite hotel, but it kills me to know that others have obtained a PL booking here at rates around $65 to $100 in March 05. Unfortunately I needed four consecutive days which may have also contributed to my difficulty. I guess that I am spoiled as I usually stay in Resort 4* & 3* hotels for around $50 in places like Orlando, Boston, Reno, etc.

By the way...I forgot to mention in my original post that I noticed that the reviews on travel advisor were predominantly negative about the Wyndham Palace. Many stated that they felt that it was only a 3* hotel at best! Hope that is not true! I have yet to have a bad experience with Priceline and the * ratings are pretty accurate.

Started bidding for Resorts @ $40 in WDW Vicinity. Rejected. Bid $45 in Universal. Rejected Bid $50 in FL Mall. Rejected Bid $55 in West Disney. Rejected Bid $60 in Kissimmee. Rejected Bid $65 in Winter Park Accepted! Will be staying one night on 12-10-04

Started bidding resorts in WDW Vicinity @ $40. Rejected Bid $45 in Universal. Rejected Bid $50 in FL Mall. Rejected Bid $55 in West Disney Area and was awarded WDW Hilton Resort for one night 12-12-04!

I started bidding @$70 in downtown district. Raised bid to $80 and added Back Bay/Copley. Bid was accepted @ $80. I have to admit that I was suprised, as the lowest accepted bid for a Boston 4* that I have seen in September was around $110 to $130. This price believe it or not is 100% higher than the $40 that I paid in early July at the same hotel. I started bidding on this at least three weeks ago. It may be my imagination, but I always seem to have better success when I bid within one week of my departure date. Additionally, I have bid like this many times for Hotels in other areas when I will be there the next day. I have never paid over $40 for a 3* or 4* for areas such as Orlando by implementing this (day before or day of departure) strategy. :)

:) I know that you won't want to hear this, but I just had a bid accepted at the Hyatt in the Financial District for $80. I will be there 9-23 to 25. I also was previously accepted at the Harbourside Hyatt for $50 for 10-1 when I return. The Harbourside is convenient for leaving from the airport. The water taxi is also right near the hotel and will drop you near the aquarium and faneuil hall/quincy market area. For subway and bus info go to www.mbta.com. You can plan a trip on their site, which will give you directions to anywhere in Boston. :)

4* for downtown, back bay/copley and world trade/waterfront areas rejected up to $80. I was also rejected for $65 for 3*s in the same area. Dates were 9-23 to 9-25 :)

Tell me about it! :)

Bid $20 for premium and luxury car which was rejected. $20 accepted for standard car. :)

All bids up to $110 for downtown, back bay and world trade rejected for 9-23-25-04. :)

First bid on Priceline $50 for the 4* Harborside Hyatt accepted. :)

Bid $40 which was accepted on the first try. Great rate for the July 4th Weekend! Right near Boston Common.