Priceline Hotel: Help please for NYC 4/30 - 5/3

[Ozoz]

Great site, I just stumbled upon priceline and this site and am keen to give it a go

I'm from Australia and would like to stay in manhattan for 3 nights - 30 April to 3 May (checkout). I am not too fussed about where in Manhattan I stay and would like to spend no more than $100 per night (excl taxes etc).

I have read and understood all the FAQs, but would be grateful for any advise on a bidding strategy

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

What is the minimum star rating you're willing to accept? Also, as the NYC region on PRICELINE has zones which are outside of the island of Manhattan, please include the PRICELINE zones, by name, that you are willing to accept and we'll advise accordingly.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Ozoz]

Thanks for the reply - I would be happy with any of the following

Central Park South

Chelsea

Empire State Building Area

Hell's Kitchen

Madison Square Garden -

Midtown East

Midtown West

Times Square -

Upper East Side

Upper West Side

and last resort

Downtown - SoHo - Financial District

I am also not too fussed about the rating - if I could get 3* for $100 a night I would be happy with that, or maybe even 2.5*. Is that possible? For lower stars I would probably rather book direct as judging from TripAdvisor some of the lower star hotels can be pretty dodgy so would rather know the hotel before I book

[AaronJB]

At the $100 or under level for a 2.5* or 3* property for these dates, I'm guessing bidding (especially at the 3* level) may be difficult and if a bid is going to be accepted in this range - and there is a definite chance it may take more than $100 - it will likely be at the top end ($90-100). I'd concentrate on the Midtown zones first, then try for the less centrally located zones (UES/UWS/Downtown)

Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[thereuare]

I agree that this will likely be a tough win... sub-$100 in NYC can often be difficult, especially during Spring dates. To give it a try i would bid as follows:

Select 3* CPS, Chelsea, ESB, Hells Kitchen, MSG...

Bid $75, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, MTW, TS, UES, UWS...

Bid $75, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, Chelsea, ESB, Hells Kitchen, MSG...

Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* CPS, MTW, TS, UES, UWS...

Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* CPS, MTW, ESB, Hells Kitchen, MSG...

Bid $85, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, Chelsea, TS, UES, UWS...

Bid $85, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* CPS, Chelsea, TS, Hells Kitchen, MSG...

Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, MTW, ESB, UES, UWS...

Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* CPS, Chelsea, ESB, UES, MSG...

Bid $95, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, MTW, TS, Hells Kitchen, UWS...

Bid $95, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* CPS, Chelsea, ESB, Hells Kitchen, UWS...

Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, MTW, TS, UES, MSG...

Bid $100

If the above if rejected, close your browser, use our link to re-access PRICELINE, and re-try all the bids above at the 2.5* level.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Ozoz]

Thanks for the advice

I tried that, also at 2.5* and 2* and was unsuccessful (although I must confess I took a few shortcuts towards the end, particularly with closing and reopening browser)

I will probably just book somethign direct in Long Island now for those 3 days

As a matter if interest, what difference does it make closing and reopening your browser??

[thereuare]

Closing the browser allows you to UNselect a zone that was previously selected.

Do you intend to commute to Manhattan daily from Long Island... what if not near a train station?

Have you considered Jersey City/Hoboken NJ? (although you need to stick with the waterfront hotels)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or if you choose to book direct please consult our support page and use the links there when possible.

[Ozoz]

I just booked Hotel 17 for the 3 days - unfortunately I didn't seem to be able to get this from any of your links.

I decided I wanted to be in Manhattan and it seemed to get the best reviews on TripAdvisor in the $100 price range. I only plan on sleeping there anyway and can put up with the shared bathroom

I will keep trying PRICELINE to see if I can get anything better

[thereuare]

I'm assuming this was a hotel direct purchase, correct? (ie- not thru PRICELINE, HOTWIRE, etc)

[Ozoz]

Yes, it was. At this star level I would prefer to go for a known quantity that I have read reviews on as I have heard some bad stories about cheap NY hotels. The cheapest price I got was direct from the hotel (and a lot of the booking websites showed those days as unavailable).

I will keep trying priceline for something better as the booking can be cancelled.

Thanks again for all the help

[AaronJB]

Thank you for keeping us updated and for using the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links. Please let us know if you are successful via PRICELINE.