westsidejeff Posted October 1, 2010 Report Posted October 1, 2010 Hi all, long time fan of the site, and just decided to sign up.Im trying to gauge how much I can get a 4* hotel for from 10/26-11/2. I basically need to be in either MTE or CPS.I bid $185 for the CPS and got rejected, then I tried $195 for MTE as well. Also, rejected.Interestingly they offered me a 1 time promotion of bidding $225 for a 4 star at CPS, but I turned it down, as I didn't want to rush into it. Wondering if I'll regret that!Any advice is appreciated!
thereuare Posted October 2, 2010 Report Posted October 2, 2010 Welcome (officially) to BetterBidding!Please start by reading your messages, then if you let us know your maximum bid for this stay we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
westsidejeff Posted October 2, 2010 Author Report Posted October 2, 2010 Thanks for the reply, checked the email. Happy to help the site. I'd like to get a 4 star for $200 a night, give or take a few dollars. Do you think it's realistic or will I need to go to $220 or $230, or more?Also, do hotel prices normally increase every day (i.e. the longer I wait the more expensive it will be)? The reason I ask is that I got that $220 offer at the time of my first bid of $185. That led me to believe I could get it for that price. Now Im wondering if I bid $220 in a few days, will it be available or will it then be $240 or so?Thanks!
thereuare Posted October 2, 2010 Report Posted October 2, 2010 Hotel prices can change multiple times a day or can stay stagnant for weeks at a time... it's all based upon occupancy levels at the hotel an how reservations/cancellations come in relative to expectations, while also taking into consideration how much time is left to see vacant rooms. For additional info see the related 'bid early or close to check-in' in our PRICELINE FAQ.Rates are a little high and $200 in just these two zones may be a bit of a reach, but not so far out of reach that it's not worth trying. However, are you familiar with re-bidding? Using your r-bid zones (you have FIVE re-bid zones at the 4* level in NYC) will allow you to start low and gradually increase your bid all within the same bidding session. For more info see this thread, Priceline Re-Bidding Explained, and you're new to the concept, it's strongly encouraged to confirm your re-bid zones before proceeding.If you let us know your maximum bid at this time we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow (or feel free to any questions you may have regarding re-bidding)Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
westsidejeff Posted October 5, 2010 Author Report Posted October 5, 2010 Hi, thanks for the info. My max is about $240 or $250 give or take. Today I started at $190 in the Empire State area, moved to $205 in Central Park South, and then $220 in Midtown East. All no go and no secondary offers to bid without making changes.I'll try again tomorrow, perhaps starting at $200.
thereuare Posted October 5, 2010 Report Posted October 5, 2010 The way you're bidding risks an overbid in the CPS zone and especially in the MTE zone... are you not comfortable with re-bidding or do you not understand the process?Even if you don't want to use re-bids you can bid better than you have been.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
westsidejeff Posted October 6, 2010 Author Report Posted October 6, 2010 Sorry, didn't understand what you meant. I was offered the 225$ option after I bid $185 the first day, so I assumed a room could be had for appx $225. So on the second day, I decided to bid starting under $200 and build up towards the $225 price in my acceptable areas. Even then it proved to be low. Why would that be an overbidding risk?Thanks in advance for your advice.
westsidejeff Posted October 6, 2010 Author Report Posted October 6, 2010 Now I got it! Just read the re-bidding section. So what would a good strategy be for bidding if my max is $220?I have 2 or 3 zones I would prefer (UES, CPS and maybe ESB) and it appears that there are 5 zones with no 4 star. What approach would be most sensible?
thereuare Posted October 6, 2010 Report Posted October 6, 2010 There are no 4* hotels in the UES zone... did you mean UWS or did you just want to bid on the CPS and ESB zones?Feel free to confirm your re-bid zones with the board if you're unsure.Please confirm the zone(s) you're want to bid this first cycle and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
westsidejeff Posted October 6, 2010 Author Report Posted October 6, 2010 Right, MTE (not UES) along with CPS are the 2 zones I am sure about. Cheers!
thereuare Posted October 6, 2010 Report Posted October 6, 2010 At the 4* level in NYC you have FIVE 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.(NOTE: 're-bid zone1' is not the same as priceline's Zone1, 're-bid zone2' is not the same as priceline's Zone2, etc, etc)Select 4* MTE...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone5...Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* CPS...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone5...Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE and CPS...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $200, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE and CPS and re-bid zone5...Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $215, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $220, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $225Any 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
westsidejeff Posted October 7, 2010 Author Report Posted October 7, 2010 Outstanding system. i actually went up to $245 on my last bid but still didnt get anything. quite frustrating!
thereuare Posted October 7, 2010 Report Posted October 7, 2010 Sorry to hear your bids have thus far been rejected. What is your current game plan:wait it out and try againraise your maximum bidlower your star ratingadd other nearby zonesLet us know your thoughts and we'll take it from therePlease use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
westsidejeff Posted October 7, 2010 Author Report Posted October 7, 2010 I have about a week and a half, so Ill try a few more times. I may raise the max by about $20 or so.I find Priceline's star rating to be slightly overstated so I dont want to go to a 3.5 (which will most likely be a 2.5 or 3 star in reality). I may expand zones to include Midtown West, but I read a bunch of hotel reviews and I think they are a bit lower in quality (judging by the reviews) than what is found in CPS and MTE. Any thoughts on that?In the end, if I buy it straight up, its going to be over well over $350 so it makes sense to wait a bit more and to keep bidding. Thanks for your help!
thereuare Posted October 8, 2010 Report Posted October 8, 2010 I may expand zones to include Midtown West, but I read a bunch of hotel reviews and I think they are a bit lower in quality (judging by the reviews) than what is found in CPS and MTE. Any thoughts on that?I"m comfortable with any of the 4* hotels in the MTE, MTW, CPS, TS and ESB zones. (see my next comment below)In the end, if I buy it straight up, its going to be over well over $350 so it makes sense to wait a bit more and to keep bidding.It comes down to paying full price for exactly what you want vs. getting a deep discount for something that, while perhaps not the perfect hotel, will likely meet your needs. It comes down to striking a balance between price vs. value.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
westsidejeff Posted October 9, 2010 Author Report Posted October 9, 2010 Thanks for the reply. Just wanted to post an update in case anyone is thinking about bidding for the same dates.I tried the same pricing scheme for the 4* as last time, but didnt get anything.Also tried for a 3.5* in MTE, using the same bidding scheme. Took it up to $190 but it was no go.
thereuare Posted October 9, 2010 Report Posted October 9, 2010 Thanks for the updated.Do you have a back-up reservation anywhere? Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
westsidejeff Posted October 10, 2010 Author Report Posted October 10, 2010 Hi, glad to hear from you. No back up reservation, though I am thinking about locking something refundable up just in case.Splitting is a great idea. I have no problem doing that. I'll post more as I continue bidding. Cheers!
thereuare Posted October 10, 2010 Report Posted October 10, 2010 If you're willing to SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID i would try the following date ranges:10/26-11/210/27-11/210/26-11/110/28-11/210/26-10/3110/29-11/210/26-10/3010/30-11/210/26-10/29Any 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
westsidejeff Posted October 10, 2010 Author Report Posted October 10, 2010 Thanks for that. I actually arrive on the 19th. So my first night would have to be then. Do you recommend making it, say, 19-21 and 22-24? Or is it easier to go in 1 night increments?Also, just for the record I slightly expanded my search, but no luck in bidding. I went with MTE up to 250, CPS up to 250, and then I also bid on ESB up to 220, UWS up to 220, and Jersey City up to 180.Looks like a tough week for a reservation!
thereuare Posted October 15, 2010 Report Posted October 15, 2010 Im trying to gauge how much I can get a 4* hotel for from 10/26-11/2.Thanks for that. I actually arrive on the 19th.What are the full/complete dates you need?Please click this PRICELINE link before replying. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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