Priceline Hotel: need help rebidding 8/24-8/26

[Ellabella]

Greetings,

I bid last night, and was rejected, for a 4* in ME. I started at $120 and gradually added with my 6 rebids (Brooklyn, Chelsea, Coney Island etc) until I reached $130. I finally added a zone (CPS) at $135 and was rejected. I was hoping to get a 4* in this price range after I saw that 'dentin' won the Benjamin for $129 on 8/29-8/31 yesterday.

I would like to rebid tonight and would like help with a strategy. I don't want to go over $135, but could consider adding a few zones. Acceptable zones are: ME, MW, CPS, TS, and possibly Downtown/Soho (any input on this zone?).

If after all that, I don't win, I would add 3.5*.

Can you suggest how to proceed? Thanks very much!

[thereuare]

Your budget is more likely in the 3.5* range then the 4* range...

Downtown is worthwhile if you can save significantly over midtown rates, which for your dates Downtown may be a little cheaper, but not enough, imo, to compensate for the lesser location. If you think many of your activiities will be centered around Downtown then by all means include this zone, if not, i'd sooner opt for a 3.5* in Midtown should your 4* bids for the midtown area fail.

You also don't mention the ESB zone but i'd include that as well; odds favor your not winning a hotel there, but given the fact that i think you're going to come up shy for a 4* in the other zones, including ESB can't hurt... and it could help. If you don't want to stay in this zone for some reason then don't include it, but i think if you do end up in this area the hotels are generally well reviewed and should be convenient for getting around the city.

If you want to try for a 4* again first i would bid as follows, using your SIX re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

Select 4* MTE MTW, CPS and TS (and see notes below regarding ESB and DT)...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $135

Any questions feel feel to ask. If the above is rejected we'll then suggest a 3.5* strategy along with some zone additions/deletions.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Ellabella]

HI again,

Well, as you suspected, the $135 was rejected again, after following your bidding suggestions. I bid 4* for CPS,DT,MTE,MTW,TS,ESB. I started at $110 and after all the rebids ended up at $135.

I am considering upping my budget to $150 for a 4*, but what would the "all in" price be for that? Do you think I would stand a chance at that price?

Would I be able to try for the 4* at $150 or below, and then if rejected, try a strategy for a 3.5*, at a lower price, in the same 24 hour period?

I would appreciate a scenario like that if it's possible. Time is running out so I'd love to settle this tomorrow evening.

Regarding Downtown/Soho...you didn't seem too keen on the zone, but I ended up adding it because I will be visiting Battery Park and the HIgh Line on this visit. But I'm not sure I want to bid on a 3.5* in that zone.

Thanks very much for your helpfulness!

[thereuare]

A $150 bid would come to about $177/nite all-in... you can determine the actual amount by 'pretending' to bid 4*, enter $150 in the bid amount and click the NEXT button. On the ensuing page where PRICELINE asks you to review all of the information before submision (ie- you have NOT entered your credit card details yet) the total amount, if your bid is accepted, will be shown.

You have a chance for a 4* at $150, but not a very good one.. i'd say less than 25% likelihood.

Yes, if your 4* bids are rejected you can then re-try at the 3.5* level at a lower price if you'd like.

Let us know if you want to try increasing your bid price for a 4* (if the all-in amount is still within your budget) or if you'd next like to try for a 3.5*.

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

[Ellabella]

I would like to continue to try for a 4*, going up to $150. If that doesn't work I would immediately want to try for a 3.5*, but need advice on which zones to try for. I'll be bidding around 10:30 tonight (EST).

(4* zones remain CPS,DT,MTE,MTW,TS,ESB)

[Ellabella]

Hi, I tried to bid tonight:

4* starting at $135

but I think I may have bid a few minutes too early, because they said that I had made a duplicate bid. Does this mean I have to wait until tomorrow night to bid again?! I looked everywhere and could not figure out the exact time that I bid last night, so that I could accurately count the 24 hours. Is there any record posted of bid times on Priceline?

I am frustrated now that my travel time is drawing near, but it's my fault I guess for jumping the gun.

[thereuare]

Assuming you used re-bid zones, you have to go by the last bid you made... not the time you started bidding.

If you have the email that PRICELINE sent informing you of the failed bid you can use the timestamp on there to track your last bid. Usually bidding early will not reset your 24 hours clock, but sometimes it does.

If you want to try it again, making sure you have waited a full 24 hours after your last rejected bid, you can bid as follows, using your SIX re-bid zones at the 4* level (If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.):

Select 4* CPS, DT, MTE MTW, TS, ESB...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $150

If that is rejected and you want to start seeking a 3.5* hotel, here are some quick caveats on some of the zones:

CPS - Hudson hotel has notoriously small rooms

MTE - some hotels are a bit far east, about a 15 minute walk to the subwa

DT - same issues as the 4* level, location is not ideal for some users depending upon your needs, but do-able at the right price

MTW, TS, ESB, MSG - are all generally 'fine'

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

Let us know how you make out with the 4* bidding and we'll take it from there.

[Ellabella]

Hello once again,

After waiting 45 minutes, I tried again and they allowed me to rebid (using your PRICELINE link). But I had no luck for a 4* at $150. So now I am ready to try 3.5*. My original zones were CPS,DT,MTE,MTW,TS,ESB. I know that MTE has the problem of the hotel near the United Nations, and that CPS has the Hudson, which gets a lot of complaints, so I guess I would nix those zones. So I guess I would want to try for DT,MTW,TS,andESB. Are there any problems that I am missing in those zones that I should know about?

I would appreciate a bidding strategy for these zones at 3.5*

Thanks for your time!

[thereuare]

What about MSG... do you want to include this zone in your 3.5* bidding?

[Ellabella]

I don't know much about the area, but after looking at a detail map, it seems centrally located, and since I'm arriving by bus from Boston, it would be close to the drop off point at Penn Station. So yes, let's include MSG.

[thereuare]

At the 3.5* level you have FOUR re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

Select 3.5* DT, MTW, TS, and MSG...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* ESB...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* DT, MTW, TS, MSG and ESB...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $148, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $150

Any questions feel free to ask.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Ellabella]

Hi,

I am ready to start bidding for a 3.5*, but am flummoxed! Where is the rebid #4? I see Coney, LIC, and UES, but all other areas have a 3.5. What am I missing?!

[Ellabella]

Well, no luck, I was rejected at all levels. I bid as you said, except that I only used 3 rebid zones (couldn't figure out what the 4th was) and so had to start my bidding at $115 instead of $110. I went up to $150.

I used your PRICELINE links, as you requested.

I am going to think about this. I really don't want to go over $150, and I don't want to reduce to a 3*, so I may hold off and go during the next off season. (Jan-March?)

Do you think it is worthwhile to start all over again in a day or two? It seems that the closer you get, the harder it is to get a room, but maybe there are last minute cancellations and inventory opens up?

In any case, I'll let you know if I try again. If not, how do I make my final post?

[thereuare]

HOTWIRE has a 3.5* in the MTE zone for $159/nite which my best guess is the Roosevelt or the Doubletree Metropolitan (the Hilton Manhattan East is a possibility as well, but i'd slightly favor the the other two) if this offering is of any interest to you? For just $9 more per nite you'll be able to take your trip :)

Would this work for your plans?

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

[Ellabella]

Hi thereuare,

You have been very helpful and patient, but I think we will have to bring our bidding on Priceline to a close, since my husband feels strongly that we shouldn't go over $150.

Thank you for the Hotwire suggestion. It is too expensive, but we are going to consider 3* hotels now. If we do go, we may have to extend our visit by one day (a family event has changed date). Because of the short time left, I am going to pursue Hotwire, which is quicker it seems. May I switch over to that board to ask you to help with some property id's?

Again, thank you for your help, and if you would like me to re-title this thread, let me know.

[Ellabella]

Hi there,

Can you help me ID this hotel?

Help ID 3* Chelsea/MSG

$129 8/24-8/27

breakfast

fitness center

business center

high speed internet

90% approval rating

(you have been helping me on a PRICELINE thread, and now, since you brought up HOTWIRE to me in the other thread, I am investigating this side of the boards. I have never used Hotwire before, but I think I understand how it works...and I will continue or bring my thread on the Priceline side to a close too)

I appreciate your patience, we are still trying to figure out what to do, whether to make the trip now, or at a later time. If this is a decent hotel, I think we'll go for it.

[thereuare]

I've merged your thread. Just continue this thread with the HOTWIRE info... if that is the service you ultimately use we'll move this entire thread to that section of the board at that time.

The HOTWIRE property above matches previous reports for the Holiday Inn Express Madison Square Garden so that would be my best guess for this one.

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

Thanks.