golionsgirl

Thanks! All great ideas! I put the Intrepid on our list of possibilities and the Brooklyn Bridge walk as well. I was going back and forth between the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock....I'm thinking Top of the Rock....cheaper and maybe less of a wait? Thanks again for all of your help :D

oh yes.....and of course I used the PRICELINE link on this website! :)

I originally started my bidding on Thursday (7/12) looking for a 4* in Times Square. Started at $90 and added the 7 re-bidding zones for a final rejected bid of $130. After some research, I decided to bid again today but in the Midtown West and Central Park South zones. I just thought that maybe this area would be just as good and possibly better for myself and my 16yr old son on a 1 1/2 day whirlwind visit to NYC. Below is my bidding strategy: Selected 4* MTW, CPS Bid $90, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $95, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $100, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $115, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $120, ACCEPTED!! So.....if any native New Yorkers have any thoughts on some must see things in New York for a 16yr old and his mom, I would appreciate that input. We are arriving at 7:30am on Friday and have to head back to LaGuardia around 2:00 on Saturday. The kid expressed an interest in Times Square (of course), 9/11 memorial and Statue of Liberty. I have tickets for the Memorial at 11am on Friday, and am thinking we will hop on the Staten Island Ferry to view Miss Liberty. I'm thinking our meals will be hot dogs for lunch and Pizza for dinner, anything other than that would be lost on his 16yr old palate and to be honest I'm looking forward the tasting that authentic New York fare as well! (any suggestions on the best HD and Pizza venues would be greatly appreciated!....or any other restaurants or eating venues.....) Also toying with the idea of taking him to UCB on Friday night? I figured a comedy club might be a good choice since bars and nightclubs are obviously out of the question. Thanks in advance.....can't wait to go!!!!!

so.....back from NOLA! Had a great time! The hotel was very nice, clean with a nice roomy bathroom. The room was smallish, expected in a boutique style hotel, but we asked for and got a corner room so the windows on two sides definitely made it roomier. The bed was odd, but still very comfortable. It was a murphy bed and because of that, i guess, there was no bed skirt so you could see the mattress. It took me by surprise at first glance, but like i said it was very comfortable and that is all that really matters to me. The concierge was very helpful in booking our swamp tour.....which was quite fun! On Saturday evening, one of the front desk people upgraded our room keys so that we could access the club level and partake in the morning breakfast, which, of course....we did. it was nice, pastries, bagels, cereal, scrambled eggs and some sort of breakfast meat....coffee and juice. We did not get a chance to eat at the hotel restaurant, Mila, so no opinion on that. The location was perfect! close to the French Quarter, within walking distance of the convention center, and right by a street car stop. We couldn't have asked for a better time....no complaints!

4* (Downtown) Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette $170......4/1/11 to 4/5/11 4* FQ 160 - rejected added rebid zone 170 - rejected added rebid zone 180 - rejected added rebid zone 190 - rejected added rebid zone 200 - rejected added rebid zone 210 - rejected closed browser and used PRICELINE link 3.5* FQ 180 - rejected added rebid zone 190 - rejected added rebid zone 200 - rejected added rebid zone 210 - rejected closed browser and used PRICELINE link 4* DT 160 - countered with a $200 offer added rebid zone 170 - ACCEPTED!!!!!! I am so excited! While true this is not in the FQ, it is just the other side of Canal so within easy walking distance and it seems to be a wonderful hotel! Canceling my Cotton Exchange reservations (for $189....so yes, I went from a 2.5* to a 4* and am paying $20 less!) Thanks so much for all of your help, I will definitely use this board (and links!) again whenever booking a hotel. New Orleans......HERE I COME!!!!

i'm thinking i might just keep the cotton exchange for friday and saturday and bid on a 4* in DT or FQ for sunday and monday. I think I will still use priceline....not hotwire, and just use my previous bidding strategy of starting at 150 and going up to 200. going to wait until Monday and/or Wednesday though.....just in case something opens up for the entire stay. I can use my previous strategy for 4* for the entire stay and then change dates and do it all over again on the same day, right?

messing around on Hotwire, it seems that Saturday night is the day that's throwing the wrench into the whole operation. I just might consider Hotel hopping. Maybe we only have to spend 1 night at the Cotton Exchange....what would your suggestions be?

yes, just entered that search again and it came up..... Hotwire 4/1-4/5 French Quarter 3* $192 It is actually the only Hotwire hot Rate hotel to come up when the FQ and DT districts are the only areas checked. sorry.....1 room/2 adults/no kids

i just saw today on Hotwire.....FQ 3* (smoke free, laundry) for $192. That is the cheapest I've seen so far....any idea what hotel this might be? Wondering if this is the beginning of a price drop in that area......should I jump on this or wait and hope for a higher star rating within my budget to pop up on Monday or Wednesday......dilemma, dilemma

update..... still no luck on 4* in FQ or DT going up to $200/night. I've been bidding twice/week. Wondering if I should try 3 or 3.5* now or wait until my last bidding on 3/28? What are my chances of a 4* opening up rooms just prior to the event I am attending?

no, I have not bid any 3.5* yet

well, I would be willing to pay $190 for either 3* or 3.5*, of course preferring to get a 3.5*. For example, if neither a 4* or 3.5* is available for $190 on 3/28, I would be willing to pay $190 for a 3*. Does that make sense? BTW - rejected on bidding strategy on 2/25 and 3/1. :)

ok....lets go with that. I'm thinking if I have no luck by 3/28 I will lower my star rating. I will go as low as a 3*. Keeping in mind that I would prefer FQ but would take DT and will go as high as $200, what would your bidding strategy be? Can I still start with my regular 4* bid then do the same dropping down to 3.5* then finally 3* in the same day?

I think my plan will be to bid every Tuesday and Friday except for the last week which I will bid on Monday and Wednesday to ensure I have time to cancel my Cotton Ex reservation if needed. I won't post my bids until I win or finally lose on the Wednesday before I go. Thanks for all of your help and feel free to chime in if you suddenly have some amazing bidding strategy I should try!

update: I decided to book a room in the FQ or DT district directly though the hotel, first making sure of their cancellation policy. This is apparently a VERY busy 4 days in NOLA! I ended up booking at The Cotton Exchange Hotel which had mixed reviews and a 2.5 to 3* rating depending on where you looked. They do have a 24hr cancellation policy though so I'm going to keep looking for that 4* FQ room on priceline.....I just won't be so nervous or desperate! BTW.....I booked the Cotton Ex for $189/night.....the prices are definitely jacked up!

Select 4* French Quarter... Bid $140, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $150, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $160, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $170, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $180, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $190, rejected closed browser and used this link to re-access PRICELINE Select 4* Downtown... Bid $150, rejected added French Quarter Bid $160, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $170, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $175, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $180, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $185, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $190, rejected yikes! now I'm getting a bit nervous! anyone have any thoughts? I'm thinking to try again with 3* tomorrow? I will only have 2 re-bid zones though. idk....maybe I should wait a couple weeks? any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

I was told they released the hotel rooms this morning. I really would like a 4* FQ or DT so I'm going to go higher on my bid. I'm thinking my original thought of a lot of rooms being released may not be true and really, I'm just trying to get brownie points for a cheaper room.....its not coming out of my pocket! Hopefully I get something....starting at $140 for 4* in FQ and going up to $190, then the same strategy in DT...... Wish me luck, I'll post my results!

Sound advice (of course!) and I did get confirmation that they will reimburse off of Priceline itemized receipts. so...used the PRICELINE link and tried my first round of bidding.....failed, but will try again when the rooms are released Select 4* French Quarter... Bid $70, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $75, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $78, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $80, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $83, rejected added re-bid zone... Bid $85, rejected I didn't try the downtown zone yet. I think I will wait until I bid again and then add it in then if I'm not successful.....

I realize that all employers are different, but has anyone had any problems getting reimbursed for a business hotel stay with only a itemized receipt from Priceline and not a receipt from the specific hotel on hotel letterhead?

Is the Hotwire price generally the same or similar to what you would have to bid on Priceline to get an accepted bid or does one have nothing to do with the other? i.e. The price on Hotwire for a 3* is $199, would I have to bid close to $199 on Priceline to have a chance at getting a 3* hotel? Thanks!!! :)

Thanks LSU....I was looking at some of the 3* Downtown and they do seem nice. It's ALWAYS better to have more options!

Thanks for your help!!! I will use the PRICELINE link and post my results in the Louisiana thread...

and yes, the strategy you have listed is what I would like to use.....

I guess I'm thinking my maximum bid at this time is $85 (or do you think that falls into the ridiculously low category?) I did read the pros/cons of bidding late vs early and I just have a feeling that a lot of rooms are going to open up after 2/23......the registration for this conference is silly high, I just think they may not get the attendees they are hoping for.

or.....maybe I should bid a few days prior to 2/23 and stay ridiculously low.....maybe I'll do that anyway, just to get the hang of it......I'm "new" remember? :)