Priceline Hotel: 4* NYC (MTE) InterContinental The Barclay

[happybunny75]

Hi

Am currently planning a trip to NYC in November. According to flights from Dublin, Thanksgiving week is the same price as the previous 2 weeks. Also checked hotel prices, some even seem to be less Thanksgiving week (than previous week). Is this a general trend at Thanksgiving?

Once I've booked flights, will start compiling a bidding strategy. So far the above areas seem fairly central. Have looked at some of the 2.5* hotels and they don't seem too bad - but will find time to try and check out others from the list given.

Hoping to spend no more than $150 per room in total (inc taxes etc) and may have to try bidding for 2 rooms as my folks may also be coming along with us. Do you think this would be do-able for the price?

Many thanks in advance for anyones help.

PRICELINE link used.

Regards

Nicky

[thereuare]

The days just before thanksgiving and thanksgiving day itself are generally fairly expensive, then rates drop for Friday and the rest of the weekend.

We typically don't recommend bidding below 3* in Manhattan as while there may be some 2.5* and under hotels which meet your needs, there may be others which do not, and with PRICELINE / HOTWIRE you can't choose which type you will get.

With this noted, it really depends upon your dates... if you are including Thanksgiving Day and nites before it, i would think your chances are somewhat low... if you arriving after Thanksgiving your chances are slightly better, but still low, as rates ramp up after that weekend too in start of the holiday shopping season.

We don't see too much 2.5* bidding in Manhattan (for reasons outlined above), but $150 all-in is about a $125 bid price, and this typically is not enough for this time of year.

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

[happybunny75]

Thanks for your response.

I take it the week before maybe more realistic then for my price range, or would it still be a tight budget?

We've been looking at either 11/14 - 11/19 or 11/21 - 11/26 but being in NYC for thanksgiving is not a necessity.

Any tips for bidding if we choose the w/c 11/14 within our current budget and for the areas quoted (inclusing ESB as missed that one out)?

Many thanks for your help.

Regards

Nicky

[thereuare]

The second set of dates, 11/21-11/26 looks like it would be better than the preivous week... although a $125 bid would still appear to be a tough win... a bid of $150 would begin to be a bit more realistic.

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 and we'll take it from there.

[happybunny75]

Thank you so much for your reply (and deleting my duplicate posts!).

My mind's a bit fuzzy (from reasearching hotels and dates). So to get this straight, you would recommend thanksgiving week as opposed to the previous week?

I honestly thought from the flight prices that the week before may have been classed as low season. I'm assuming from your response then, it isn't really, which is why I'm assuming you're suggesting a higher bid price compared to others I've seen posted ($125-135 for 4*).

I'm hoping that we'll make a decision and book flights tonight, so I'll let post in the next few days our finalised budget etc, but think we could try and stretch to a max $150 bid for 3*.

Thanks once again for your help.

[thereuare]

If you search HOTWIRE for 11/14-11/19 the 3.5* hotels are ~$225... the 3* properties start at ~$199.

Change the search to 11/21-11/26.. there are 4* hotels for ~$215, 3.5* properties for ~$175 and 3* properties for $160-$175; so at this time this second set of dates appears to be the on with lesser demand (and therefore lower prices)

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

[happybunny75]

Hi

I see what you mean now!

Have booked flights now, so will be over from 11/21 until 26/11. Looking for 2 rooms. Would like to look initially at 3.5/4* but willing to go to 3*. This reflects new revised budget of max bid of $230 (inc taxes). Hopefully this is more realistic? Areas include TS, MTW, MSG (1st choice areas) then CPS, MTE, ESB as additional areas we would be happy staying in.

Does this sound sensible and if so could you suggest a bidding strategy?

Many thanks for all your help.

Regards

Nicky

[happybunny75]

Thanks for the help.

Managed to get 4* Intercontinental Barclay (MTE) $160 (2 rooms).

Regards

Nicky

PRICELINE link used to bid.

[yellowdog]

happybunny75

Congratulations on your success!

Thank you for sharing your win with the board and using our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding :)

We hope you're satisfied with the outcome and will like the hotel.

Enjoy your stay.

Yellowdog.