Priceline Hotel: Advice Needed - 3* Chelsea/MSG

[krichard10]

Hi,

I'm a new BetterBidding registrant, though I've been researching on the forums the past few days. I'm trying to book one night (Sat 11/13/10) in NYC, preferably in the Chelsea area. It seems like the Chelsea Four Points is my best bet, and I've seen other users get it for $130 or so for the same approx time frame.

I've tried bidding on Priceline, all the way to $185 with no luck. I see Hotwire has it for $209, so I figured $185 would have been good enough.

I know my dates aren't exactly the same as theirs, but Four Points' rack rate for my date is LESS than the rack rate for others who are getting it for far less on Priceline. So it stands to reason that my bid should be accepted, right? Given that others are getting the hotel for less, I'm concerned that I'm doing something wrong.

Help?

Thanks!!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

There was a window of about 3-4 days where the Four Points was lower then most other hotels in the area and it is within this window when most bids at $130 were being accepted.

You have the right mindset in checking direct rates for your dates vs. when the other wins were being accepted at lower rates, but there are a few flaws in doing so given how hotel room nites are priced...

• the other stays may have been for more then one nite and hotels can load lower rates for multi-nite stays then the one solo-saturday nite arrival you're seeking
  
• rates are constantly changing so while your research is a good first step, it's also not conclusive since you don't know what were rates at the time the other user had their bids accepted (the hotel could have had low occupancy, sold some PRICELINE rooms at deep discounts, and also received a large block of rooms from a tour group... any PRICELINE inventory still available for those dates gets pulled and they raise the hotel direct rate (which is what you're seeing now))
  
• i'm not currently seeing the what looks like the Four Points offered for your date when searching HOTWIRE
  

Is the Chelsea zone the only one which you have been including in your bidding? What is your maximum bid for this stay?

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

[krichard10]

Thanks for your insight, and sorry for the delay in replying.

I'm not locked into Chelsea. Anywhere within a reasonable distance of midtown/Penn Station would be fine. Given how rates have climbed the past few days, I'd go to around $250 for a 3* or higher. Unrealistic?

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

I'm seeing the Doubletree Chelsea for $251 regular rate for this date, and that appears to be the cheapest 3* Chelsea possibility. I'm also seeing the Ramada Plaza - a 3* in the MSG-Convention area for $280. Would Chelsea also be acceptable, or would you primarily be interested in MSG/Convention? I think you could likely get something under $250 in either zone (based upon the prices I'm seeing.)

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

[thereuare]

Also, not sure of your needs for this trip (i assume you're arriving/departing from Penn Station or similar) but Jersey City might be an option too? What i believe is the Westin Jersey City is offered for $202/nite and a 15 minute PATH train takes you one block from Penn Station. You lose the 'vibe' of staying directly in Manhattan, but depending upon your needs it could work and save you some extra money.

Let us know your criteria/plans for this stay.

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