Priceline Hotel: Manhattan 8/15 - 8/18 (having trouble...)

[thomas_hardy]

Hello everyone. I'm new here, so I've been doing my homework: looking at old posts, testing out the bidding strategy, comparing between sites, etc. Thanks in advance for all the help! This is a great resource.

I am trying to win a 4-star hotel in Manhattan (MTE, MTW, or CPS) for three nights (8/15 - 8/18). So far, I'm really jealous of the winning bids I've seen for $130-$135 at the W Hotel (MTE). Not bad! I haven't been quite so lucky.

Any winning bids out there that are more recent? I'm willing to go up to $200 for a 4-star property, which I believe should be plenty. It appears there are many other zones to use to generate "free bids," and so far I've gone up to $150 with no luck.

Should I just keep trying around $150 (starting at $130 and going up), or should I throw in the towel and set my floor bid lower? I've been at it for two days now.

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

Rates do seem somewhat higher on these dates - especially the Mon/Tues nights. $150 is not likely going to be enough to win a 4* in these zones; I'm guessing a winning bid may take somewhere in-between what you've bid to so far and your max - probably in the $165-180 range.

As one other note, the 70 Park Avenue (a Kimpton property not far South of Grand Central) is on sale for $203 on Expedia, and coupon code 10SPRING takes $10 off per night. Plus, you get a $50 debit card sent to you 4-6 weeks later (complete details on Expedia.)

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

[thomas_hardy]

That Kimpton rate sounds good, but I would perfer not to stay on Park Ave. South. So between around $180, huh? I'll try that and report back.

[AaronJB]

I'd work up to that point, and I think a possible win in the MTW/MTE/CPS area may be able to be had at that level (the $165-180 neighborhood.)

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[thomas_hardy]

WOW! I'm getting hosed! I just bid from $150 - $190 in increments of $5, and NOTHING. What gives? I'm really striking out here.

[thomas_hardy]

FYI, I had "Increase Your Price" offers starting at $165.

[AaronJB]

What was the "counter-offer" you got at $165? Additionally, HOTWIRE has a 4* in MTC for $202 (although the price you see may vary slightly.)

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

[thomas_hardy]

I don't think it was actually a "counter-offer." Rather, it simply said, "Increase your bid to $200 and we won't make you change your location." Clearly, I did not take them up on that...

Should I have?

[thereuare]

I don't think it was actually a "counter-offer." Rather, it simply said, "Increase your bid to $200 and we won't make you change your location"

That's a counter-offer :)

Clearly, I did not take them up on that... Should I have?

You can probably, at the very least, do a little better. What is teh best deal you're able find at an acceptable hotel thru conventional booking channels?

Would it be worthwhile to have to change hotels during your stay to save ~$40?

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

[thomas_hardy]

Ah, I see. I was under the impression a counter-offer was when they actually present you with an offer that is explicit on its face. For example, I've bid for rental cars on Priceline before, and at a certain price, they simply say, "You're bid for $20 was rejected. But we hereby offer you the same car for $25 if you want to take it right now."

With my NYC bookings, they never actually offered me the room; rather, they simply offered me an opportunity to increase my bid. Had they instead offered me a room - say at $195, no more bidding - I would probably have taken it. However, this was not the case.

Anyway, the best bet so far via traditional channels seems to be the one you recommended - $200/night for the Kimpton property. As I said, I would rather not stay on Park Ave. south of Grand Central, but if that's the best deal I'm likely to book it.

Should I drop it down to 3.5 stars in MTE, MTW, and CPS? Can you give me an example of a hotel in this category?

Thanks for all the help thus far!

p.s. Not willing to change hotels - would rather pay more.

p.p.s. At what time during the booking process do you input that code for the 70 Park hotel? I played around with it, but I didn't see that screen.

[thereuare]

Had they instead offered me a room - say at $195, no more bidding - I would probably have taken it. However, this was not the case.

If the PRICELINE hotel that was 'offered' in the counter-offer is still available, you can win it by bidding higher (up towards $200.. likely win it for a bit less)

Anyway, the best bet so far via traditional channels seems to be the one you recommended - $200/night for the Kimpton property. As I said, I would rather not stay on Park Ave. south of Grand Central, but if that's the best deal I'm likely to book it.

p.p.s. At what time during the booking process do you input that code for the 70 Park hotel? I played around with it, but I didn't see that screen.

After you click "Book It" on the following page, under the breakdown of daily prices, is a box to enter a coupon code.

Should I drop it down to 3.5 stars in MTE, MTW, and CPS? Can you give me an example of a hotel in this category?

You can see the hotels reported to the board in each zone in the Priceline Hotel List.

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