darzinger Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 Hi,I was looking for TWO rooms at a 4* hotel during 6/4 - 6/7 in the zones of MTE, MTW, and CPS but am willing to expand to MTS and SoHo as a last resort. The highest I'm hoping to bid is $180 but feel like I might have to push it up to $200. Any ideas on strategies would be greatly appreciated!Also, we will have someone else joining us on 6/5 - 6/7 in which case, will PRICELINE give us another room in the same hotel for the same price if I call them? Is there absolutely no way we could Priceline and get the same hotel for this 2nd party? Thanks in advance! Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 Welcome to BetterBidding!There is no way to get the second room, for a shorter period of time, at the same hotel (other than being lucky enough to win the same hotel on a subsequent bid).There are two ways to play this:1) as above, bid once for a stay from 6/4-6/7 and then bid again for 6/5-6/72) if being at the same property as the other party is important, you could bid for 2 rooms 6/5-6/7, and then either bid for one room for the nite of 6/4 (which would involve you having to change hotels after the first nite) OR purchase the hotel you receive for the nite of 6/4 (although keep in mind it may be prohibitively expensive to do so OR the hotel could be sold-out for that nite and you'd then be 'forced' to change hotels anyway)Let us know know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
darzinger Posted May 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 Thanks for the reply! I think we're going to try for option 1 and bid separately. I read in the other thread about the four re-bidding zones when bidding for a 4* in NYC. Are those zones Brooklyn, Long Island, Upper West, and Upper East? Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 19, 2008 Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 In the last 24 hours priceline has re-defined their zones and boundaries, you now have SIX re-bid zones available. Please go back to PRICELINE and confirm your re-bid zones with the board.If you'd like a strategy to follow feel free to ask.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. (please ask your friend to do the same)Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
darzinger Posted May 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 Oh! Interesting.. yes a strategy to follow would be great! Thank you for all your help. :)EDIT:: The new zones I see (from when I was bidding last night around midnight) when I go to the bidding page are:Chelsea AreaEmpire State Building AreaMadison Square Garden - Convention Area Midtown South is now gone although that's around the same area as MSG area I believe.It looks likeChelsea Area - No 4* hotelsEmpire State Building Area - two 4* hotels 70 Park Avenue Hotel W New York - The CourtMadison Square Garden - No 4* hotels Link to comment
darzinger Posted May 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 Also, is it true that you should try booking for 1 night and then Priceline will ask if you want to add dates for the price won? Link to comment
darzinger Posted May 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2008 Yes, there are SIX re-bidding zones: Brooklyn, Chelsea, Long Island City, Madison Square Garden, Upper East Side, and Upper West Side. This is according the Priceline website.Brooklyn- 0Chelsea Area- 0Long Island City - 0Madison Square Garden - 0Upper East Side - 0Upper West Side - 0Downtown/SoHo/Financial - 3Tribeca Grand Hotel60 ThompsonSoHo Grand HotelEmpire State Building Area - 270 Park Avenue HotelW New York - The CourtMidtown East - 5Intercontinental the BarclayGrand Hyatt New YorkWaldorf - AstoriaW New York HotelOmni Berkshire PlaceMidtown West - 3Sheraton New York Hotel and TowersHilton New YorkRoyalton HotelTimes Square / Theatre District - 4Millenium Broadway HotelWestin New York Times SquareThe Muse Hotel, A Kimpton HotelHilton Times SquareUpper Midtown / Central Park South - 3Loews Regency HotelJumeirah Essex HouseLe Parker Meridien Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 You have your re-bid zones correct, but you're not using the correct method to check your re-bid zones (so you're re-bid zones are correct, but only by coincidence)You CAN"T use PRICELINE's "retail" product to determine what star ratings (or hotels) are available thru the "opaque" version of priceline. While the two services have a lot of overlap, they use a different pool of hotels. For further info on this topic see the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ. The correct way to determine your re-bid zones is expalined here: Priceline Re-Bidding ExplainedYou can't bid for just one nite and then use the extend your stay option to complete your stay. First, the extend your stay option isn't always offered (and when it is you're still not guaranteed success), and second, you can only extend your stay for the same number, or fewer, nites than the original bid... so you wouldn't be able to book one nite and then extend your stay two nites.To confirm you're looking to bid for a 4 star hote in the MTE, MTW, or UM-CPS zones, for 6/4-6/7, at $200 or less. Using your six re-bid zones you can try as follows...Select 4* MTE and MTW and UM-CPS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.Select 4* MTE and MTW and UM-CPS and re-bid zone5...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.Select 4* MTE and MTW and UM-CPS and re-bid zone6...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $200.Any questions feel free to ask.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
darzinger Posted May 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 I would be happy with either MTE, MTW, or CPS. Should I start with one of these at a time + re-bidding zones to increase my chances/# of bids? Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 The strategy presented above gets you up to your stated maximum bid all within the same 'bidding cycle'... why would you want to break it down further?Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
darzinger Posted May 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 I see.. no luck today on Priceline. How soon before the trip should I give up bidding as the trip is 2 weeks away? I think I can add Empire State Building Area and Times Square area if that gives me a better chance of winning. Are 2 rooms enough for 8 people generally in NY? I'm afraid some NY hotels only have enough room for 2 persons/room. For some reason, rates that weekend seem a little high - $400 - $500. Should I increase my max bid? Also, what is the deal with Quikbook? Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Are 2 rooms enough for 8 people generally in NY? I'm afraid some NY hotels only have enough room for 2 persons/room.This is something you should ask in your FIRST post before you bid :) It is generally considered risky to bid on PRICELINE when seeking more than double occupancy as rooms are notoriously small, there is a higher percentage of hotel rooms with only one bed (given the small rooms), and many of these rooms don't have any space for a rollaway bed (again, given the small rooms).if you're seeking quad occupancy for each room, how will you handle it if you receive a room with only one bed?You can use HOTWIRE for up to quad occupancy per room... they will guarantee sleeping accomodations for as many people as you include in your earch.What is it that you'd like to know regarding Quickbook? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
darzinger Posted May 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Yes, I realize that now! haha... I should just have "Newbie" written on my forehead.It looks like Hotwire only has one 4* hotel available...I've never heard of Quikbook before. Is the cancellable feature the only advantage of booking through them? Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Quikbook uses a different business model than most online booking agencies, this gives them better pricing on some properties. The lower price, in addition to the cancellability feature of most (not all) of their properties, makes it a good resource. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
lavendersblue28 Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Hi,Another suggestion is a fully refundable deal at the Millenium Broadway (a 4* in Times Square).My dates are similar to yours and I had bad luck on PRICELINE and so booked this as a back up. The rate is for $189 per night but it's for a Superior King room or a Superior room with 2 twins. Not sure if this works for you but incase it does here's the link thru Hotwire travel ticker: http://www.hotwire.com/travelticker/detail...king=deal-titleYou can always make a reserveration here (refundable up to 24hours prior to check-in date) and keep trying on priceline. Good luck! Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Please click our HOTWIRE link before clicking the travelticker link above so that we get credit for any stays.Thank you. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
darzinger Posted May 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Thanks for the options! Greatly appreciated. :) Link to comment
Angelnot Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 I'm not sure if this is always the case but in the month that I watched the NYC board it seems most of the really good Priceline wins (read this as cheap) have been won less than a week before or even the day of the stay. To guarantee beds for eight people you would need 4 rooms and I'm guessing that is a pretty difficult last minute win. Last minute bidding is a not a strategy for the faint hearted, those without a cancellable back up or those who can't be flexible with their travel arrangements. Even if you wanted to gamble and bid on only 2 rooms it was noted by another poster that in NYC the hotel may not allow extra people in the room (even if they are willing to sleep on the floor) because of fire code. Link to comment
darzinger Posted May 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Thanks for your thoughts, Angelnot. I'm definitely faint-hearted here because I don't want to disappoint everyone in my family. I agree it would be difficult with the 8 people situation. Some rooms allow cots but probably more than not they won't due to firecode. I think I'm going to try and find the best deal via Quikbook instead since Hotwire isn't giving me many options either. Thanks for all the input! This is an awesome board. Link to comment
thereuare Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Do note that on Quickbook even though you select 2 rooms/8 adults there will still be many hotels shown with "2 people maximum" as they don't seem to filter rooms that don't fit the selected occupancy.Let us know whatever you end up with or if we can be of further help. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
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