Priceline Hotel: Going For It - NYC's heart

[mauied]

Aloha.

Mr. Budget here!

Just landed my Saver travel for 2 passengers, round trip, Maui to NY (80,000 miles per passenger round trip vs. 160,000 miles per passenger for Standard).

Had to work real hard on that - 1 minute changes are a killer with United in award travelvelle...

Anyways...

Arriving 9/28/2010

Departing 10/13/2010

No place to stay yet

Praying on Priceline

I have 26 days to "play:

I would say I am experienced using priceline having nailed down $50 rooms at the Hyatt in Orlando, $75 rooms at the Marriott in Orlando, and a few more I can't recall (as I stare at my red wine glass...)

Just tried $50 for the Soho district, 4-Star Delux.

Deeeeeenied!

Before I "play" some more, I have a question.

I have never seen the red box pop up as I am quoting saying:

"Based on recent data, your price has only a small chance of being accepted."

Being the chincy guy that I am, I went dollar-for-dollar to where this statement finally vanished. For example, my same 4-Star Delux above, as I creep up by dollars, ends up at a "Name Your Own Price" of $114.00 and vwallah, the "Based on recent data, your price has only a small chance of being accepted." disappears!

Right below this: "Median retail price for a 4 star hotel in the areas selected: $434.00"

Does this mean that priceline is allowing me to cheat and hinting that I should use $114.00 and that it will be accepted (wink, wink)?

Looking for advanced priceline users to try and answer this one before I resume my playing.

Mahalo,

Maui 'ed

[dahammer]

Greetings!

I have had bids accepted when the "little chance" warning appears, it has little or no relevance to what will be accepted. So what is your budget per night for this trip, your minimum star rating, and what zones are you willing to consider? Have you had a chance to look at the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wiins for your dates of travel? $50 might get you a shared room with a shared bath at the YMCA.

Looking forward to your successful bidding and please report your future PRICELINE wins to this board, posting your wins makes this a great community to save on travel costs.

Please use the PRICELINE links on the board for your searches and bidding.

thanks!

[mauied]

Through an agency associated with a class we are taking in NY, I was just offered a furnished a recently renovated studio apartment near Gramercy Park.

Recently renovated furnished studio

Brownstone in fashionable Murray Hill/Kips Bay

Stainless steel kitchenettes with granite counter tops.

Trundle bed for one or two persons (additional blow-up bed if necessary)

Cable television and DVD

Linen

Dishes

Microwave oven

Telephone

Air conditioning

Full kitchen

High-Speed Internet

Price? $2500 for 14 days ($178.57 per day). This includes all taxes and has a $1000 security deposit that will be returned at the end of your lease. This is not a scammer like craigslist is riddled with!

If I am lucky enough to land a hotel for $150 per night through Priceline, after taxes and fees through Priceline, I am looking at exactly $2,542.54. Therefore, the studio looks like a pretty good deal. The full kitchen is not something a hotel offers so grocery shopping may save a few on the food and drink bill.

I will still try Priceline for up to $150 per night but do not have my hopes too high!

Will report my findings back here.