Priceline Hotel: NYC strategy for Sept. 25-27

[rlh]

We're planning on visiting NYC from September 25-27 this year. We're looking for a 4* hotel. I know this is an expensive time of year - the cheapest 4* for those dates on the normal Priceline page is just under $300. We would like to pay less than $200 a night (ideally less than $150) though this may be unrealistic...

Friends have recommended four areas to us: UWS, UES, TS and Downtown (though I'm wondering if Downtown is too far out). It seems like CPS, MTE and MTW might also be good areas? Having never visited New York before, it difficult to know which ones to go for. We want to do the typical tourist sightseeing and shopping.

Any advice on which areas would be best and a possible bidding strategy would be much appreciated. We're trying to find a good balance between a quality hotel and a good price. For now, we'd like to stick with the 4* hotels but will consider 3.5* if the 4* doesn't work out in our first attempt.

Thanks in advance.

[deebee11]

I'm looking for the same dates.

This might help - I had already posted the question last week.

(My best advice would be to pick another weekend, if that's a possibility)

New York City Hotel Prices

[rlh]

Thanks for your reply, deebee11. Unfortunately, like you, our dates aren't flexible as they're fitting in with a larger trip to Washington DC and North Carolina. It seems I was off the mark in what to expect price-wise.

I was hoping someone could suggest a bidding strategy though I probably included too many variables. This is the first time I've looked at using Priceline and think I understand the principle of rebidding. However, I'm a bit confused about working out how many rebid zones I have and what they are.

If I wanted a 4* hotel in CPS, MTE, MTW, TS, UES or UWS, can anyone tell me how many rebid zones does that leave me and which ones are they?

Cheers!

[thereuare]

At the risk of confusing you further... the number of bids you can make in a bidding cycle will be dependent upon the number of zones you're willing to accept and the number of re-bid zones you have. However, the number of re-bid zones you have is only dependent upon the star rating you select, not the other zones you're willing to accept.

At the 4* level you have SIX re-bid zones. See this thread: Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and see if you're able to determine your re-bid zones using the technique outlined there. If you read it and are confused just post back and we'll break it down further for you.

I'll also add...

1) i'm not such a fan of the UWS for the average visitor. At the 4* level you should be "ok" in that it will be in the southern part of the zone, but you may want to leave it given the high prices and difficulty of these dates

2) there are no 4* hotels in the UES zone so that's not an option at this star level (nor do i recommend this zone for the typical visitor)

3) the Empire State Building zone is usually convenient, is there a reason you're not including it in your bidding?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board each time you access the respective sites... please click this PRICELINE link before replying.

Let's start with your re-bid zones and we'll take it from there.

Thanks.

[rlh]

Thanks for the advice.

I understand the principle of re-bidding and working out how many times I could re-bid (depending on start rating), I just couldn't work out how to identify which areas I could use as re-bid zones. I have re-read the link about re-bidding and have figured it out (I think). When it refers to the PRICELINE page, I assumed it meant the standard one rather than the Name Your Own Price one and got confused because they divide the areas differently on the standard search.

In response to your points...

1) We had thought about UWS because our friends from DC recommended the area to us. We know it's more residential and we'd be happy with that. Plus, as we're only looking at 4* we figured the hotels would be closer to the Southern end of the zone.

2) The same goes for UES, though if there are no 4* hotels in that area, then I guess that makes it one of the our rebid options?

3) From the map, ESB just looked a little far south from where we imagined staying, though if it's easily accessible then maybe we should consider it.

Just so I can check whether I've really uderstood it, using the example from my previous post, would the six re-bid zones be:

Brooklyn

Chelsea

Coney Island

Long Island City

MSG

UES?

Thanks for your help! I must have been having a 'blonde' moment last night!

[thereuare]

Yes, you hae your re-bid zones correct.

I would have no problem staying i the ESB zone and haven't heard anyone complain yet that it was 'out of the way', but it's up to you to decide if you don't think it would work well for your needs. As well, given the high prices/difficult dates, the more zones you're willing to accept can only help.

Let us know if you'd like to include it our not and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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