Roserise Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 Hi everybody! After several months accessing this board, finally I'll start my biddings for our honeymoon trip, so we need help! Well, our max budget is $130 , without tax. (ideally, $110 but I know is not easy) Date: 04/17/11 – 04/23/11. Acceptable zones: 1) 4* hotels: Midtown east and west, ESB, CPS, Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, MSG, TS, UWS. 2) 3.5* hotels: Midtown west, ESB, Chelsea, MSG, TS.One doubt: Generally, the Downtown 4* hotels are distant from metro? If not, please include them in the bidding strategy which i'll follow through the links on this board! Link to comment
LSU Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 I've been bidding the past couple of days for the dates of 4/6/2011-4/9/2011 unsucessfully on 3.5 stars.Zones I've bid on up to $170:MTW, MTE, MSG, TS, CPSAt $155 I was offered in those zones a hotel at $195. I passed and kept increasing at $5 increments. I'm not sure what I'm going to do now. I've pondered waiting a couple of months and seeing if there is any change, or just pulling the trigger at some price around $190+taxes/fees. Also, Coney Island, Long Island, and Upper East don't offer better than 3 stars, so you can use those to keep upping your offer if you're bidding at a 3.5* or better.HOTWIRE has a 4* for $159 in the ESB, but I can't verify which one it is as the only amenity it lists is HIGH SPEED INTERNET. If I do it for just the first or the last night I believe it is giving me the St Giles The Court, but in a block of 3 nights it's only showing the HS internet. Not sure that would matter to you at all.I realize that these are not your dates, but close to the time period, and may give some guidance? Good luck. Link to comment
LSU Posted December 29, 2010 Report Share Posted December 29, 2010 OK....after reveiweing last years April wins I believe I'm going to wait. There were several wins in the 3.5 and 4* hotels <$150. Link to comment
Roserise Posted December 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 LSU,Thank you so much for sharing your experience! Maybe I should wait, but first I want to try. :) I believe we'll get big deals (using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links above), specially after the infalible strategies suggested in this board (Hi, Thereuare, Aaron, Yellowdog...). :) RoseriseP.S. LSU, let us know your next steps, biddings and results. I'll do the same! Link to comment
AaronJB Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 Good evening and Welcome to Betterbidding (and Happy Honeymoon!). :)While $110 is probably going to be difficult for these days, I think it's worth at least giving the $110-130 range a try, especially this far in advance. I wouldn't recommend waiting, personally - what I would recommend is to set a flexible ceiling and then move the ceiling up as the weeks go by, but continually trying (once a week or so) to see if inventory does appear within your price range.I wouldn't recommend UWS or Downtown unless it came down to a last option - I'd recommend focusing on the main midtown areas.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Link to comment
thereuare Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 Generally, the Downtown 4* hotels are distant from metro? If not, please include them in the bidding strategy which i'll follow through the links on this board!It's not that the hotels are far from the subway, but more so that unless most of your plans are in the Downtown area, you're looking at ~20 minute subway ride towards midtown each time you need t head up there (which will likely be often)... it can be worthwhile if you get the right price, but typically not ideal, imo.I'd agree that it may be a little too early to include Downtown in your bidding, but it's up to you, as it may be something to consider if budget is more important than convenience (as Downtown is often a little less expensive than midtown... although it would need to be moderately less expensive to make staying Downtown worthwhile, imo)Also, did you want to go up to $130 for a 4* hotel first, then if rejected start over for a 3.5* up to $130... is that the gameplan? Please confirm, as well as your decision if you want to include Downtown at this point or not, and we'll advise accordingly.Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your bidding. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Roserise Posted December 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 Also, did you want to go up to $130 for a 4* hotel first, then if rejected start over for a 3.5* up to $130... is that the gameplan? Please confirm, as well as your decision if you want to include Downtown at this point or not, and we'll advise accordingly.Yes, I want to go up to $ 130 for a 4* hotel first. And, at this point, I'd not include Downtown and UWS. Some more doubts: 1) I've read in one thread of this board that Hell's Kitchen 4* hotels (or just one I could not remember) are/is distant from metro station. Is that possible? 2) At this point, considering only convenience, did I make good choices, choosing the following 4* hotels zones: Midtown east and west, ESB, CPS, Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, MSG and TS?Sorry for so many questions, but it's my first time on priceline/hotwire and in NYC. :) And I'll always use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin my bids. Link to comment
thereuare Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 To be centrally located i would be the following zones at the 4* level:MTE, MTW, TS, ESB, CPSAt the 3.5* level:ESB, MSG, MTW, TS and the following zones if the following conditions are acceptableMTE - can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subwayCPS - zone includes the Hudson Hotel which while well located has notoriously small rooms, which you may not want for a nearly one week stayThese are the zone(s) i would start with at each star level.Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Roserise Posted December 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 OK! So I'll start up to $130 for 4*hotels in these areas: MTE, MTW, TS, ESB, CPS and MSG. Then if rejected start over for a 3.5* up to $130 for 3,5* in these areas: ESB, MSG, MTW and TS.Thank you in advance! Link to comment
thereuare Posted December 30, 2010 Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 There are no 4* hotels in the MSG zone so at that rating you'll just be bidding MTE, MTW, TS, ESB, CPS.At the 4* level you have FIVE 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, MTW, TS, ESB, CPS...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130If the above is rejected and you want to try for a 3.5*, close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINEAt the 3.5* level you have THREE 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 3.5* MTW and MSG....Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* ESB and TS....Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* ESB and MSG....Bid $113, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* MTW and TS....Bid $113, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* ESB, MSG, MTW and TS....Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130Any questions feel free to ask.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
Roserise Posted February 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 Hi, Guys!Here I am again! :) After several bids, I have no success (today I have none accepted up to $151, 4*hotels)... Searching by web, I found Manhanttan Club Hotel for $159 (Metropolitan Suite). Is it a nice deal? Does anyone know this property? Link to comment
Roserise Posted February 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 Just for caution, I booked The Verve Hotel in Long Island for $150... It got excelente reviews, but I'm still dreamming of manhattan, so everyday I try throught the links in this board! Link to comment
thereuare Posted February 11, 2011 Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 I don't know it that well, but The Manhattan Club is a timeshare property with some mixed reviews... some hate it and others love it (i suspect many of the raving reviews may be from timeshare owners substantiating their purchase)While i know some of the Long Island City hotels get decent reviews (most of them are fairly new) i'm not such a fan of the area and for the same money (although it would be non-refundable so you'd need to forgo your hopes of landing a hotel in Manhattan) i much prefer a 4* on the Jersey City Waterfront area or Hoboken.Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option? If you're flying in, which airport do you arrive? (if driving from which direction are you coming?)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
Roserise Posted February 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2011 Well, I'll arrive at JFK... any suggestion? Like always, I'll use PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links! Link to comment
Roserise Posted February 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 Yes, I would split my bid like this 04/17-20 and 04/20-23, should my chances increase? Link to comment
thereuare Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 I'm not so sure SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID is going to help, but i wouldn't necessarily assume that splitting 3days/3days will give you the best deal. I would sooner try to get the greatest number of days on your first purchase which would leave the fewest nites remaining to fill-in.I'd re-try the previous strategy for the following dates:4/17-4/234/17-4/224/18-4/234/17-4/214/19-4/234/17-4/204/20-4/23Any questions feel free to ask.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
Roserise Posted February 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 I found for 04/17 in HOTWIRE a 3* hotel, for $ 109, Recommended in 95% of customer reviews.Amenities:Smoke free rooms, fitness center, restaurant, business center and high-speed internet.Any guess? Link to comment
thereuare Posted February 16, 2011 Report Share Posted February 16, 2011 Which zone is the 3* HOTWIRE hotel above located in? Is it only available for the one nite of 4/17? If so, do you have other arrangements for the other 5 nites of your stay? Unless you're willing to change hotels multiple times i wouldn't book any one/two nites of this trip until you get the majority of nites confirmed or planned... booking 3-4-5 nites only leaves you with the same number or fewer nites to 'fill-in', which you can usually do even if prohibitively expenisive... if you book a one-two nite stay and then are left with more than half your nites to fill-in, it becomes much more difficult to pay a little more than you originally intended.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
Roserise Posted February 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Well, while these high prices, I have searched some vacations rental, and found one for 5 nights (04/18-23) for $1025 (including cleaning fee). So I am considering this option.The property above is in downtown.How about this one (that I found through board's links, like always!):$123, Recommended in 85% of customer reviews, Midtown east, 3.5*.Amenities:Fitness center, restaurant, business center and high speed internet.Thank you in advance. Link to comment
thereuare Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Does the vacation rental include taxes or just the cleaning fee?The MTE description matches multiple properties... Hilton Manhattan East, Doubletree Metropolitan, and the Roosevelt, so any of these would be likely candidates. (the Roosevelt is one the most frequently although you should be prepared for any of them)The previous 3* Downtown property matches the Four Points Soho so that would be my best guess there.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
Roserise Posted February 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2011 Hi again, after have been bidding through these unforgettable links PRICELINE and HOTWIRE up to $ 165 ($1215, with fees and taxes, aprox 202 all in) I had no success for 4* hotels :) . I quit (for a while), because I found $205 (all in) for Hotel Mela, with free cancelation. If prices drop, I will return. :o Thank everybody, specially Thereuare who was always atencious and patient :) Link to comment
TylerT Posted February 19, 2011 Report Share Posted February 19, 2011 If it helps, Last July I got the Empire Hotel (2 blocks from Subway) for $120 for 7 days. At the time it was listed as 4* on here I believe. It was upper west side though. God luck. Link to comment
Roserise Posted February 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2011 If it helps, Last July I got the Empire Hotel (2 blocks from Subway) for $120 for 7 days. At the time it was listed as 4* on here I believe. It was upper west side though. God luck.Have you enjoy this hotel? Was it really 4*? Have/Has you/anyone ever been to Hotel Mela? Link to comment
Roserise Posted March 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 :) Hi everybody!!! I'm back and now really satisfied and happy! I just got a 3,5* downtown for the right price (like Thereuare always says) ---> Club Quarters Wall Street for $80, all period (6 days) = $590 (all in). An amazing deal, considering that I was supposed to pay $175 (for 6 days = $1230, with taxes and fee) for Hotel Mela. Ok, it is in midtown but... for the half price I'll stay very very happy in Downtown... Thanks everybody and thanks God! Link to comment
AaronJB Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 Congrats on your success. :)Fantastic deal for this property - while not in Midtown, the savings can go towards a lot of other things.Thank you for sharing your win and please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.Enjoy your stay. Link to comment
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