willowy_mist Posted July 13, 2010 Report Share Posted July 13, 2010 I've only just joined and had a stab last night but didn't get anywhere. We are looking to stay in a 4* hotel in either midtown east, midtown west or times square. Using permutations we bid up to Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 Welcome to BetterBidding!September is a very expensive time in NYC and these dates are no exception. Based upon current prices i think you'll have to go into the $200's to have a chance at a 4* hotel in these zones... or you could also consider other zones (CPS and/or ESB... although i'm not sure this will help you too much) or SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID.What is your maximum budget for this stay?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know how you would like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
willowy_mist Posted July 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 Many thanks for your reply. Why is it so expensive in September when I'm there? Our budget is up to Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 September is a seasonally strong time in NYC... the weather is usually great as it's typically not too hot and not too cold so we get lots of visitors during this time frame.With NYC hotel tax at 14.5% and PRICELINE's booking for on a 7 nite stay ~$5/nite, if my math is correct your maximum bid is ~$270/nite, is this right?Also, is there any reason you're avoiding the CPS and/or ESB zone from your 4* bidding?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board 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
willowy_mist Posted July 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 Ah, I thought september, being outside school holiday season would be cheaper!! Yeah, $270 per night including taxes so bids of up to $210ish to allow for this. We were looking at MTE, MTW and TS before loking at EBS area as this would also be ok but thought we'd try our luck at the other 3 first but we thought CPS was a little far up for us. Link to comment
zfly9 Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 It's busy because it's just starting to cool down, it's actually cheaper to stay during the summer because it's so hot.I am staying end of September too! (waiting on reply myself, haha) Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 ...$270 per night including taxes so bids of up to $210ish to allow for this.A bid of $210 would be much less than your current back-up reservation... my calculations above give a bid price of $270 to equal your back-up hotel. I'm not saying that you should necessarily bid up to your back-up price as there is something to be said for knowing the exact hotel you will be staying in (although i think Vincci Avalon is generally considered a 3.5* property so a PRICELINE win at 4* may be considered an upgrade in quality), but i think the difference between $210 and $270 is enough to be the difference between success/failure for these dates.Please clarify your maximum bid price of if you disagree with my math let me know where we're not on the same page:$2270 / 7 nites = $324/niteless nightly tax = $283 room rate per niteless PRICELINE's booking fee ~$5/nite = $278 maximum bid to equal your back up reservationPlease use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board 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
willowy_mist Posted July 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 Sorry, got confused with exchange rates etc. $270 is indeed our maximum bid. With average prices of $354 in the areas we are looking how come a bid of around $210 (40% drop which is what most people seem to be getting) is not sufficient? Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 $210 may or may not be enough.Not sure where you're getting the average rate or the level of discount from, but discounts are not consistent throughout. If a hotel has low occupancy levels and has lots of unoccupied rooms, their hotel direct rates will be low and they will likely be able to discount them much further thru the opaque suppliers. However, if occupancy is high their hotel direct rates will be high as well, and as the hotel has fewer rooms left, they may feel they can sell them on their own rather than offer them at a deep discount. Given this scenario, the hotel may not offer rooms to PRICELINE / HOTWIRE at all, or what inventory they do offer, will only be a minimal discount.At the 4* level you have SIX re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.Select 4* MTE...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE and MTW...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $215, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE and TS...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $215, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect MTE, MTW, TS...Bid $220, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $225, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $230, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $235, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $240, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $245, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $250Any questions feel free to ask.I'd start with the above... if rejected we'll revise to try again in 24 hours.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board 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
willowy_mist Posted July 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 We know how to rebid and have been trying that, however after bidding up to $230 last night we felt that was high enough and will try again later today. $230 seems like a fair price considering what everyone else has been posting their winning bids at. Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 You have plenty of time, but keep in mind that rates are date specific and the rates you're currently seeing for the summer months (low season) will not necessarily apply to your September dates (high season).Use the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins to see any wins for dates around your own... and also use to see rates for last year during the same timeframe.Good luck and keep us updated as to your progress or if we can be of further help.Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board for your purchases. 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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