Priceline Hotel: Spring Break 2011

[DannyCap]

Hello there, my wife and I are planning a trip to New York over spring break week. Our thoughts are we will arrive on Monday 3/14/2011 and leave on Saturday 3/19/2011. Our logic is hotel and airfare prices will be a little less after the weekend. At any rate we can be flexible if we have a compelling reason to do so but I think we are 90% sure about these days. Is it too early to do the name your own price on Priceline? I will assume it's not. At first we wanted to stay in the time square area, but after reading some of the threads on here we decided that as long as we are in that general area we would be good. We plan on going to see all the tourist sites around town as well as 3 or 4 Broadway shows. Looking at the Priceline map I think we are leaning towards the following zones: Time Square, Midtown West, Midtown East, and Central Park South. What are the thoughts about all those selections? The main thing for us is we would like 4 stars if possible. I noticed a few 4 star hotels on the list view for ~$215 on those days so I feel like I should be able to go $150 per night but that might not be realistic. Ideally I don't want to spend more than $200 +taxes per night but obviously the less I can spend while staying in the 4 star rating the better. So my questions are:

Are the zones I'm looking at in good areas?

I'm not going to get a sketchy hotel if I pick one of these zones am I?

Should I add anymore zones?

How do I know what to place as my starting bid at?

Do you think I'm being realistic in hotel price?

I'm open to general feedback, please advise.

Thanks in advance,

Danny

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Our thoughts are we will arrive on Monday 3/14/2011 and leave on Saturday 3/19/2011. Our logic is hotel ...we can be flexible if we have a compelling reason to do so but I think we are 90% sure about these days. Is it too early to do the name your own price on Priceline? I will assume it's not.

It's not too early in terms of time before your stay, but it is too early in that your dates are not 100% confirmed. Have you actually checked airfare to see if prices drop after the weekend? NYC hotel prices are usually a little cheaper less expensive on the weekends then midweek, so even if airfare prices are a little higher by traveling after the weekend, it may be a 'wash' in that the hotel may cost you a little more.

At the 4* level rates at the moment are a little higher then i suspected for your dates above and it will probably take something near the upper end of your budget to be successful in the zones you've indicated... was hotel(s) did you see for ~$215/nite? It's still early and rates may come down in the coming weeks/months, but at the moment there appears to be much better value at the 3.5* level, imo.

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

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

[DannyCap]

It's not too early in terms of time before your stay, but it is too early in that your dates are not 100% confirmed. Have you actually checked airfare to see if prices drop after the weekend?

What do you mean they aren't 100% confirmed? Do you mean I'm not 100% sure on the dates or that Priceline won't guarantee this far out?

I used Kayak.com for my airfare search and from what I can tell they were about ~$50 on those dates. I subscribe to a few sites and I'm optimistic that in the next few months I will be able to get a deal. I was able to recently get a ticket from Austin, TX to Boston with a layover in Newark for $190 with taxes.

NYC hotel prices are usually a little cheaper less expensive on the weekends then midweek, so even if airfare prices are a little higher by traveling after the weekend, it may be a 'wash' in that the hotel may cost you a little more.

I think we are set on a five night trip. So we are open to leaving that Saturday, Sunday or Monday.

At the 4* level rates at the moment are a little higher then i suspected for your dates above and it will probably take something near the upper end of your budget to be successful in the zones you've indicated... was hotel(s) did you see for ~$215/nite?

I just looked and I think the price changed a little since yesterday, but below are the hotels in the list view with the buy it now prices. All of these are below $300 per night. My thought is I should be able the cheaper ones with a bid around $150 or the more expensive ones below in the low $200's. I'm no expert so I'll leave it up to you to tell me if my logic is right. I think we are leaning toward the midtown east area. We like that's a little quieter and next to grand central station for easy access in our touristy travels.

Midtown East

St. Giles - The Court: 178 per night

St. Giles - The Tuscany: 197 per night

70 Park Avenue, A Kimpton Hotel: 237 per night

The Carlton Hotel On Madison Avenue: 277 per night

Kitano New York: 279 per night

Grand Hyatt New York: 297 per night

W New York Hotel: 299 per night

They are a little more expensive in the Midtown West\Time Square zone

Warwick New York: 220 per night

Ink48 - A Kimpton Hotel: 230 per night

Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan: 243 per night

Royalton Hotel: 249 per night

The Strand Hotel: 256 per night

Hilton New York: 257 per night

City Club Hotel: 271 per night

Morgans Hotel: 274 per night

Sheraton New York Hotel And Towers: 279 per night

It's still early and rates may come down in the coming weeks/months, but at the moment there appears to be much better value at the 3.5* level, imo.

Should we wait? Are the difference between 3.5 and 4 star significant?

Danny

[thereuare]

What do you mean they aren't 100% confirmed?

I meant your dates are not confirmed... i wouldn't bid until your dates are confirmed, otherwise you lose all flexibility on your airfare options.

I'd book a refundable back-up for your likely dates at this time... then once your dates are confirmed try to beat your back-up reservation.

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

[DannyCap]

Well let just say we are going to get there on Monday the 14th of March and leave on Saturday the 19th of March. What you would start the bidding at based on those prices in that list?

[thereuare]

Are you going to commit to a non-refundable reservation at this time with your airfare dates unconfirmed?

Just like airfare, hotel rates may change between now and the time you're ready to start bidding, which could potentially change our suggested bidding/starting prices. Please post once you're ready to bid and commit to a purchase and we'll be more than happy to assist at that time.

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

[DannyCap]

A friend just old me that it's common for hotels in New York to have shared bathrooms. Is this true? If I was to bid on a 4 star hotel is there a possibility that I will have to share a bathroom?

I see what you are saying with about the non-refundable room so I think I'll take your suggestion and get a refundable one and maybe try the name your own price later. That depends on how the question above is answered. I'm not ok with sharing a bathroom. :)

Thanks

[AaronJB]

It is fairly common for hotels at the 1* level to have shared bathrooms, and some 2* properties do, as well. However, it is very rare to have shared bathrooms above the 2.5* level.

If you do book regular rate, you may want to try coupon code FESTIVE10 for Expedia ($10 off per night) or ORBITZ5 (5% off), although those may not be valid for dates into next year.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE, PRICELINE, Orbitz or Expedia links to start your purchases and searches.

[thereuare]

I have never seen a hotel thru PRICELINE's "opaque" service (or HOTWIRE for that matter) with a shared bath. Years above PRICELINE used to include "a private" bath among their description of even 1* rated hotels, but that has since been removed... not sure if that was removed intentionally or by accident when the description was re-written, but i wouldn't be too concerned about this issue, especially at the higher rated hotels you appear to intend on bidding for.

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