Priceline Hotel: New York Hotel in December

[Stamper]

I am looking for a hotel December 15 to Dec 20 2010 in New York

I have done the following bids on PRICELINE through the board connection

I was encouraged by some of the September wins but obviously December is different

4* Central Park South 160

4* +3.5 star Central Park South 190

4* + 3* Central Park South plus Mid Town West $210

Tomorrow (24 hours) I will raise the bid again

Any guess on what it will take?

On HOTWIRE, which I also accessed through the board,

any Idea of which hotel is in the Central Park Area at $209?

Boutique hotel with fitness center all smoke free rooms Internet connection

Recommended in 75% of reviews

Gerry

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

For the HOTWIRE property is there also a Business icon associated with the hotel offered?

Do you have to be in this particular area as these aren't typically the most frequently bid zones in Manhattan?

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your bidding, searches and purchases.

[Stamper]

Thanks for the reply. I would like Central Park West or Midtown East or Midtown West From the Priceline Maps link, it seemed like lots of hits in these areas. I stayed at the Library last time I was in NY in December 2008. That, I believe is in Midtown East. I just don't want to pay the $500+ per night rate so I'm a Newbie at trying Priceline.

We like to go to the Metro Museum, Central Park and visit the stores. Is something else convienient for less than I would need in my areas?

I appreciate your site-great help.

[thereuare]

We like to go to the Metro Museum, Central Park and visit the stores. Is something else convienient for less than I would need in my areas?

The 'problem' is that at the 4* CPS is usually very expensive (one of the most expensive zones at the 4* level) and there just aren't many 4* hotels in the CPS zone. As well, once you drop to 3.5* in the CPS contains the Hudson Hotel which generally gets decent reviews except for the notoriously small rooms... which may or may not be a problem depending upon what you're looking for from this stay. As well, once you get below 3.5* the CPS becomes a bit more unknown since we don't see too much bidding in this zone at the zone goes pretty far north.

While the CPS and UWS zones may be convenient for the things/events you mentioned, over a 5 day stay i suspect you'll be doing much more (as well as the stores/shops in the Village, Soho, etc) and would suggest that midtown may be a better 'home base' for your needs, as that usually works out well for the average visitor given how mass transit is readily available and relatively inexpensive. Generally speaking at the 4* level MTE, MTW, CPS, TS and ESB all work for the average user. At the 3.5* level you may want to consider NOT including CPS (due the Hudson mentioned above) and also exclude MTE (depending how far you want to walk to get to the subway) as some of the hotels in this zone at the 3.5* level can be a 15 minute walk to the subway. Likewise, as 3.5* you may want to consider adding MSG and/or Chelsea.

I'm sure you can do better than the $500 retail rates you may be seeing at some properties, but if you give us an idea of how much you're willing to pay for a 4* vs. a 3.5* vs. 3* (or perhaps your goal is simply the least expensive 'x' star or better) we can probably fine tune your bidding strategy a bit more. As well, let us know your thoughts regarding the zone information we mentioned above.

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

Let us know the information above and we'll take it from there.

[Stamper]

When we were last in NY my two daughters who are familiar with New York were along. I will run this by them and am sending them these posts. We did not take the subway always a taxi or a Lincoln. The fellows at the Library were great at running them down even in the rain! I know nothing about the subway.

However I would really like a 4* The recent wins at Le Parker Meridian, the Hiltons, the Sheratons in or near MTW at less than $200 are impressive. I'd like to be at or under $250 plus taxes for a 4*

[thereuare]

Let us know your thoughts after speaking with your daughters and we'll take it from there.

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