Priceline Hotel: 4* NYC (ESB) Affinia Dumont

[ymesaidshe]

We will be in town from 5/28-6/1. We like the Parker Meridian and want to return, but the 400/night price is pretty off putting considering a recent layoff (and we never stayed there for more then their random 250 deal). Is there anything we can do to bid successfully and specifically for this hotel and for these dates?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

You can't bid for a specific hotel, when using PRICELINE you need to be willing to accept any hotel in the zone you select at the star rating (or higher) that you choose.

Since you posted in this in the HOTWIRE section of the board i'll add that you can do a HOTWIRE search and see if what is offered matches the Hotwire Hotel List for previous reports for this property, but there are no guarantees, and as we don't see this property too often, my guess is that the chances of you finding this property for your dates is low.

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

Let us know if/how you'd like to proceed or if we can be of further help.

[ymesaidshe]

We are looking to stay at a 4 star or above from 5/28-6/1. The areas we like in order of preference are Midtown East and Central Park South. Midtown West and Times Square would be ok too if that would help with bidding. Based on some of the recent posts and dropping prices for this weekend, we would like to start the bidding at $100 and go from there. Can we get a breakdown of how to bid to have the best chance for Midtown East or CPS 4 star?

Thanks in advance!

[ymesaidshe]

Is this essentially how the process would look and would work? If our preference is 4* MTE or CPS, 6 rebid zones - Brooklyn (highest 3.5), Chelsea (highest 3), Coney (highest 2), Long Island (highest 3), Madison (highest 3.5), Upper East (highest 3). The rest all have 4 stars in them.

1. Bid 100 MTE 4* If no go...

2. Bid 100 MTE and Brooklyn 4* If no go...

3. Bid 100 MTE and Chelsea 4*. If no go...(quick question: will MTE, Brooklyn, and Chelsea all be checked at this point?)

4. Bid 100 MTE and Coney 4*. If no go...

5. Bid 100 MTE and Long Island 4*. If no go....

6. Bid 100 MTE and Madison 4*. If no go...

7. Bid 100 MTE and Upper East 4*. If no go...

8. Bid 105 MTE 4* If no go...

9. Bid 105 MTE and Brooklyn 4* If no go...

10. Bid 105 MTE and Chelsea 4*. If no go...

11. Bid 105 MTE and Coney 4*. If no go...

12. Bid 105 MTE and Long Island 4*. If no go....

13. Bid 105 MTE and Madison 4*. If no go...

14. Bid 105 MTE and Upper East 4*. If no go...

And so on. Just keep adding 5 dollars to the bid and increasing price.

If nothing for MTE ever works out up to our PL limit (150)....do the same procedure for CPS? Will they really allow this amount of rebidding in a day?

[thereuare]

Please read your messages and click this PRICELINE link... then reply to this thread and we'll comment on your stay above.

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

[ymesaidshe]

Ok, messages read and PRICELINE link open and ready to go. :)

[thereuare]

The bidding strategy you posted above is not valid as you're adding a re-bid zone but keeping the price constant.

Let us know your maximum bid for fir this stay and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

Also, are you willing to pay more to stay in the MTE and CPS zones and want to bid p to your limit there before adding MTW and TS... OR is your goal the least expensive 4* property in any of these zones?

Thanks in advance for using the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding.

[ymesaidshe]

Our maximum bid is $165 for a 4* in MTW or CPS. Once we actually tried this on our own, we figured out what was possible much better. Started at 120 adding CPS 4*...upped bid...added MTE 4*...upped bid...starting adding rebid zones that didn't have 4*s. No success. Any ideas? We do have a room that can be cancelled until tomorrow at 5 without penalty...which gives us 2 more chances at PRICELINE.

[AaronJB]

Please provide the price and name for the back-up reservation (so we can have a comparison when searching for deals.)

There is a 4* in MTC on HOTWIRE for these dates for $139 w/business, restaurant and internet, which would appear to be a match for the Algonquin.

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

[ymesaidshe]

Huh. I don't see that listing! I see a 4* in MTC for 189 with fitness, restaurant, high speed. But nothing for $139 for 5/28-6/1 at all.

Staybridge Suite - Times - 185. Seemed like a solid, basic option?

[thereuare]

Midtown West and Times Square would be ok too...

You have not yet included these zones in your bidding, correct? Did you decide to only stick with the MTE and CPS zones?

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

[ymesaidshe]

We opened up the zones to include Empire and Times....and through PRICELINE got the 4* Affinia Dumont for $150. Yay! (Started at $120 with CPS, MTE, Times, and EPS 4* being the target...and was on our second to last rebid zone).

[yellowdog]

ymesaidshe

Thank you for sharing your result with the board!

Enjoy your stay.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links to start future purchases.

Yellowdog.

[ymesaidshe]

Just wanted to note that we thought this hotel was fantastic. As I mentioned, we are very used to the Parker, its location, amenities, etc. Although the Dumont did not have the pool or Burger joint, what it lacked there it made up for in space, comfort, and location. First, we LOVED being more centrally located. With good shoes and good spirit, you can walk pretty much anywhere (we literally went as far south as Wall Street and as far north as 89th - on foot. Harlem for Ethiopian via subway :)). There are trains very close to the hotel and it's quite a short trip to/from LGA (definitely saved money on cab to/from). We travelled by foot much more then in times past and really enjoyed it.

Second, the rooms. Pretty huge for New York standards! We stayed at an Affinia one time prior and we were not impressed with its general upkeep and comfort. The Dumont was a substantial improvement. Clean, great size rooms with kitchen (we made breakfast most mornings and picked up cheese, chips, wine etc for snacks), very comfortable king beds, lots of desk space, lots of floor space, and even a chair with ottoman. The bathroom was small but well organized and it did not feel cramped. Quick elevators - never more then a minute wait. Just a very comfortable room. As much as I love the Parker, I would have to place it second in comfort to this place.

Finally, the service was good and fast. Unobtrusive, quick responses, friendly staff. Zero complaints here.

If you care more about the size/comfort of your room and a great central location then you do about a huge lobby, you can't go wrong with this hotel. We would/will return in a heartbeat.

[AaronJB]

Fantastic review, and glad to hear that you had a great stay!