Arista

Stayed here one night, Saturday July 10, for $95. I was in the room only to sleep, so I can't give many details, but I was very pleased with the hotel. The room was smallish, but that is standard for Manhattan, and there was enough room to move around (a bit). They didn't ask at check-in what kind of bed(s) I wanted, but since I was alone it didn't matter. I got one double bed, good firm mattress. The bathroom was new and spotlessly clean. Effective A/C, cable TV. One thing: at check-in, they gave me something to sign, and by reading the fine print I noticed that they were charging me $1.09 per night for use of a safe. Since I was not planning to use this I drew this to their attention and they told me to cross it out. A lot of people don't bother with the fine print, so be aware of this sneaky practice. The hotel is well located, across the street from the Public Library and fairly convenient to transportation. There is no subway very close, however, which may be an issue to some. All in all, though, this is the first 3* Priceline hotel I've stayed at in Manhattan that lived up to expectations. Last year I stayed at the Shoreham, which was then rated 4* (it has since been downgraded to 3*), and I was not very happy -- the Clarion is newer, brighter in appearance, and has a more comfortable bed -- and several years ago I stayed at Club Quarters Downtown, which was then rated 3* (it has since been downgraded I believe) and was disappointed in the room and the hotel's location. I'd happily stay here again.

After striking out three or four times bidding for a 4* (starting at $95 and going up to $115 for all zones except Lower Manhattan), I tried for a 3*. No luck with that last weekend. Today I bid for a 4* (same parameters) and came up empty, but my first try for a 3* was accepted. Room: $95.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $20.43 TOTAL $115.43 I'm not familiar with this hotel but it looks good from the website: Clarion Hotel Fifth Avenue

Yes, that's the difference. I need both nights, the 13th and the 14th. It's Valentine's Day that killed me. :)

I didn't try bidding for Jersey City because I wanted to be as close as possible to a PATH station and didn't trust a blind bid. I ended up at the Doubletree by the Pavonia/Newport station. I did check Hotwire, several times, and came up with nothing lower than $288. How on earth did you get $103?

Last night I bid for a 4* in Manhattan, starting out with a couple of zones at $95 and adding $5 with each subsequent bid with additional zones (except Lower Manhattan). Got up to $118 without success. Today I tried for a 3* and went up to $120, again excluding LM, but nothing. Ended up direct booking a hotel in Jersey City. All the hotel booking websites showed extremely low availablity. I don't know if this was due to Valentine's Day or President's Day weekend, or both.

Stayed here for one night, 6/21/03. Exactly what I expected -- large clean room, two double beds, HBO, Neutrogena toiletries, etc. Plastic food at the restaurant, but I was expecting that, too. The real advantage to this hotel is its location, right off the Garden State Parkway (and it is in Iselin, not Woodbridge, despite the name) and just a short drive from Exit 11 of the Jersey Turnpike. Moreover, it's supposed to be within walking distance of the train station, where Amtrak and NJ Transit both stop. Easy to get to New York City from there. I'd stay there again.

The Woodbridge Hilton is located at 120 Wood Ave. South, Iselin 08830. I bid only for Iselin, not Woodbridge. Arista

Offer Price: $45 Number of Nights: 1 Taxes & Service Fees: $8.82 Total $53.82 First bid of $40 rejected 72 hours ago.