Trying

Disappointing attempt at Hotwire using Better Bidding and Priceline; attempted to get hotel in Laguna Hills, thought the 2* listings I pulled up had to be Holiday Inn or Courtyard, but sadly came through with "Best Value Inn" in Lake Forest. Farther away than expected and a very negative review in Trip Advisor, and pictures look like sorry property. Fortunately only one night. Dates of stay 8/5-8/6. Amenities: complimentary breakfast (turns out to be coffee and donuts), pool, self service laundry facilities.

Was about to book the Drake when I realized I have lots of travel reward miles to be used! Am staying at the Ritz Carlton, gratis. Thanks to all for your tips. This board is the hot tip!

We would like to spend about $200/night, we will take one room at that or two at around $100, whichever is our best value (probably $125 max). Sadly, I can't seem to find the $138 deal you found a few days ago. In fact, I have been searching daily for a week or so and I seem to see rates rising each time. Have I waited too long already? Meanwhile I keep seeing others getting 4* hotels at $108 and $111 and wondering can I do that? Any strategy you can suggest would be great. Thanks.

Answering your second posting first, yes, I still get the 3.5* in Midtown South, accomodating 4 guests, at $212. I'm really wondering what property this is. Looked at Grand Hyatt, it has good reviews for location and sounds fine. I am less enthusiastic about the Beekman Towers location. We'd really like complimentary breakfast and/or refrigerator and coffeemaker in our room, which Hyatt doesn't have, but the location is great. I'm open to other options. We could go the 2-room route, but half the fun is staying together, so I think we would prefer one room. I'm wondering if we got one room at the $138 rate with 2 double beds-- could all 4 of us stay there? Would they nail us with an extra $30 or $50 per night for the extra guests? Or would they refuse to allow all 4 of us to a room? It looks like some NY hotels have a policy of max 3 guests to a room-- is that enforceable if the beds would accomodate 4? If we end up doing 2 rooms, then do you recommend priceline over hotwire?

Dates searched were 3/26-3/30 in Midtown South. Came up with a 3.5* hotel at $212 with Restaurant, Complimentary Breakfast, Fitness Center and Business Center. Both the Michelangelo Hotel and Hotel 41 at Times Square offer breakfast and seem to be in that class, but neither says it will accomodate 4 in a room-- which was a search criteria. Any ideas?

I love this site, everything in it seems to be so helpful. It has gotten me very excited for our upcoming trip to NYC! We are staying from March 26-30, 4 nights. I am having some trouble figuring out whether I can safely use hotwire to buy a room for 4 of us-- my friend and I and our two teenage daughters (ages 13 and 14). We need two beds, at least doubles if not queens. When I search with hotwire, I find properties that I think I can identify from your postings; but when I check out their rooms on their websites or other travel websites (ie Travelocity, trip advisor, Expedia), the room descriptions often show only a single bed in the room or a policy limiting to 3 guests per room. Does hotwire guarantee that the room will sleep 4? What happens if we get to the hotel and it doesn't? Also, I seem to be coming up with a lot of properties that I can't recognize from your posted list. I was wondering whether lots of new properties came online in January or something. I would appreciate any strategies or help you can provide for finding a room. I was looking for a 4* and I saw lots of people who've managed to get a room at the Westin Times Square for $150 and less. I have a back-up reservation there at $269 but I'd sure love to have that room for half the price. Ideally I would like near theatre district but not right on times square-- more toward midtown west or central. I keep seeing references to rooms being "released" and I am wondering whether I ought to wait until closer to our travel dates? Thanks so much.