Priceline Hotel: please suggest an opening bid for 3.5* 10/08-10/11 Manhattan

[lindaz]

From reading posts here I'm seeing that I've picked an expensive time of year to visit my son in New York City! I haven't done any bidding yet but in researching I've checked out Quikbook (which was recommended to me in a search here a few years ago directing me to a great deal). Quikbook has a "secret sale" for a QQQ room in the Murray Hill area for $199.00 a night. What I've seen in my research here are results of $250.00 a night.

According to their map the hotel is on East 34th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues--if you can trust the map. I've searched until I can't stand it any longer and can't find any hotels that it might be. The Affinia Dumont would be GREAT at that price but it's located a block up on 34th though between 3rd and Lexington.

Opinions and thoughts please and thank you!

[AaronJB]

I'm not sure if the pointer on the map is pointing to a particular location or to a general

neighborhood; it could be indicating either. Additionally, without a star rating, it's tough

to begin to narrow down the possibilities in the area. Travelocity is showing a 4* at $210 and $234; while more expensive and not neighborhood-specific, these would be a more defined star rating versus Quikbook's "Q" rating, which isn't very specific - apparently, this listing is 3 "Q"'s out of 5 possible in each category. The price for the Quikbook listing is good, I guess I'm just not getting a sense of the star rating from the listing.

Unfortunately, these are difficult dates, as is a lot of the Fall. I think you could certainly consider bidding and may be successful in the same general price neighborhood, although more likely at the 3.5* level than 4*.

Please let us know your thoughts and what you decide, as well as if you would like to try bidding and then we can suggest options.

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

[lindaz]

I searched the following areas for a 4* and am now going to 3.5* realizing it's a crazy expensive time of year: MTE, MTW, CPS, Downtown, Chelsea, Empire.

I will NOT bid MET or CPS at this star level given the location of the hotels. I'll probably add in MSC and TS in my new search.

So, what do you think is an appropriate opening bid? I'm okay with strategy and will use the PRICELINE link here!

Thank you.

[AaronJB]

Please provide your desired max budget per night and we would be happy to offer suggestions.

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

[lindaz]

If a 4* is going for $250 would max of $200 for a 3.5* be reasonable (not including taxes/fees)?

[thereuare]

I searched the following areas for a 4* and am now going to 3.5* realizing it's a crazy expensive time of year: MTE, MTW, CPS, Downtown, Chelsea, Empire.

I will NOT bid MET or CPS at this star level given the location of the hotels. I'll probably add in MSC and TS in my new search.

Can you please clarify, by PRICELINE name, which zones you have bid at the 4* level and high you have bid? Then, also let us know which zones (again, by PRICELINE name) you're willing to bid at the 3.5* level.

We'll then have a look at rates in these zones and be in a position to answer your question(s) above.

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

[lindaz]

Four star bids were in the following zones: Midtown East, Midtown West, Central Park South, Downtown, Empire, and Chelsea. Manhattan is a must. Otherwise, if it's close to a subway stop (and I've read that a couple of the places at 3.5 are a bit of a walk) that's fine. Any of the Manhattan zones would be fine, how fussy can I be :) ?

Thank you!

[thereuare]

Four star bids were in the following zones: Midtown East, Midtown West, Central Park South, Downtown, Empire, and Chelsea.

How high have you bid in these zones?

...if it's close to a subway stop (and I've read that a couple of the places at 3.5 are a bit of a walk) that's fine.

I'm still not certain which zone(s) you're willing to accept at the 3.5* level... above you indicated that there were zones at this star rating which yo did not want to bid. Please clarify the zone, by PRICELINE name, you're willing to accept.

pricelne.hotwire

[lindaz]

I only bid up to $185 for these zones at the 4* level.

I do not want the walk to the subway associated with the 3.5* level hotels in Midtown East or Central Park South.

Thank you for your help.

[thereuare]

So at the 3.5* level which zones are you willing to bid:

Midtown East, Midtown West, Central Park South, Downtown, Empire, and Chelsea.

I've used the strikeout on MTE since that has hotel which are a bit far walk from the subway and Chelsea since that area doesn't currently offer 3.5* bidding. As well, you mention only excluding zones based upon relative subway location, but the CPS zone is well located, it's just the room size at the Hudson Hotel which is a problem for some... as you mentioned above you don't want this zone i've excluded it as well, but let us know if this is the case.

Lastly, what about MSG... this zone often has some of the least expensive rates at the 3.5* and is typically centrally located near subway lines; should we include this zone in your bidding?

Let us know the above 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..

[lindaz]

MSG (Madison Square Garden) and CPS (Central Park South) are fully acceptable.

[thereuare]

MTW, Downtown, EST, MSG, CPS

So i've re-read this thread and if i've got it right, you're now looking for a 3.5* hotel with a maximum bid of $185/nite and in any of the following zones: MTW, DT, ESB, MSG, ESB

If the above is correct, at the 4* level you have THREE 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* MTW, DT, ESB...

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

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

Bid $135, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MSG, CPS...

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

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

Bid $135, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MSG, DT, ESB...

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

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

Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MTW, CPS...

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

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

Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MSG, DT, CPS, MTW...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $165, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MSG, DT, CPS, ESB...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $165, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

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

Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $185

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.

EDIT to ADD: in the last few days PRICELINE has added 3.5* and 4* bidding to the Chelsea zone... did you want us to revise the above to know include this zone?