Priceline Hotel: NYC Midtown hotel 4* or 3.5* Nov 9 - Nov 11/10

[Vanelle]

Hello,

New to the board here and have found it both fascinating & useful. Thanks!

I'm planning to stay in New York for a couple days from November 9 - 11. There will be 2 of us staying in the room. I'd like to staying MTE, MTW, or TS at either a 4* or 3.5* hotel. Ideally, I'd like to pay no more than $165 per night for a 4* or $130 for a 3.5*, is that not realistic? I have seen lots of deals through Travel Zoo and the like, but they all seem to be for weekend rates.

I've tried the bidding plan prescribed here: Priceline NYC up to $150 with no luck and am now considering trying the 3.5* instead. Any suggestions on how I should bid for that?

Also, any thoughts on staying in the Chelsea area? Is it quite far from Times Square and other attractions?

Thank you! :)

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Is your next move to try up to $165 for a 4* OR try $130 for a 3.5*? (although i'll add that at the moment i'm doubtful that either would be successful)

Note that at the 3.5* level in the MTE zone some of the hotels are ~15 minute walk to the subway... is this acceptable?

At the 4* level most of the following work fine for the average visitor:

MTE, MTW, CPS, TS, ESB

At the 3.5* level most of the following work well:

MTW, TS, ESB, MSG, Chelsea

MTE - may be fine if ok with a 15 minute walk to the subway

CPS - may be fine if ok with the small rooms of the Hudson Hotel

Let us know how you'd like to proceed, and which zones you're willing to bid, and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[Vanelle]

Thanks for your advice!

I'd like to now try for $130 for 3.5*. I'd prefer to not have to walk 15 min to a Subway so should I just stick with bidding on MTW, TS, ESB, MSG, and Chelsea? Chelsea seems a bit far from major attractions, or do I have that wrong?

Thank you.

[thereuare]

You'll likely find yourself all over the city as there is no 'one place' that is convenient to everything... the goal should be to have easy access to everything (which basically means good subway and/or bus access), which imo, Chelsea provides. It's a bit more residential than some of the other areas, but this is often a plus, as you get a real local flavor and experience.

As well, $130 isn't much for this time of year in NYC, so if you were successful, i think it would be a very good deal. However, ultimately it's your trip so you have to decide if you think you'll be happy in this area.

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

Let us know if you want to include Chelsea or not and we'll take it from there.

[Vanelle]

I'd like to just go with 3.5*, MTW, CPS, TS, ESB, MSG.

I will definitely use the PRICELINE links from this board.

[Vanelle]

Hi,

Would love some help with identifying a hotel on HOTWIRE.

November 9 - 11, 2010

3*, Midtown Central, Recommended by 70% of customer reviews, $189 a night.

Smoke Free Rooms

Business Center

High-speed Internet Access

Thank you!

[thereuare]

At the 3.5* 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 and CPS and TS...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* ESB adn MSG...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* ESB and CPS and MTW and MSG...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* ESB and CPS and MTW and TS...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MTW, CPS, TS, ESB, MSG...

Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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

Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130

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.

[thereuare]

Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread.

A property with this amenity combination has not yet been reported to the board and with these amenities being somewhat common for NYC i don't think we'll be able to gain too much insight into this one. However, i'll point out that the percent recommended by HOTWIRE users, and the breakdown of category ratings, doesn't give the impression that this is a strong hotel.

If your budget is a little flexible i'd consider the 3* in the Chelsea-MSG zone for $213/nite with:

Breakfast, Fitness, Business, Internet

Unlike the property above, this Chelsea-MSG zone property has a higher HOTWIRE user recommendation rating of 95% and also shows a 4.0/5.0 Tripadvisor rating. My guess is that it's the Holiday Inn Express Madison Square Garden which generally gets good reviews. Yes, it's a little more than the MTC property, but perhaps you could justify it with the included breakfast?

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

Let us know what you decide and how it goes or if we can be of further help.