Hotwire Hotel: Help with NYC Trip

[kelly7]

I am obviously new here.

I look on Hotwire and I dont see where one is able to put in "bids".

Is there a trick to it?

I am just starting my planning.

Here's my trip plan:

I want to plan a trip for me & my 24yr old daughter to NYC this spring/summer.

Looking at 6/2-6/7/11 (dates flexible) Thurs-Tues or whatever is best.

We're going to shop, sightsee & eat.

I dont want a hotel with: shared bathroom, musty & dingy or too small.

I'd like a hotel that has many floors(we like the top) as long as the elevators work.

Hotel can be new, trendy, artsy, old fashioned or whatever, just clean.

We'd like the top floor pool or sundeck.

I'd like to keep the room cost to approx 120.00/night.

I also need to book our flight. Is that best done on Hotwire or Priceline too?

Help

Kelly

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

There is no bidding on HOTWIRE... see this I've Never Used Priceline or Hotwire thread which discussed the similarities, and differences, between PRICELINE and HOTWIRE.

I'd like a hotel that has many floors(we like the top)...

We'd like the top floor pool or sundeck.

With the opaque providers you're not going to be able to pick the size of your hotel, how many floors, etc... you're giving up choosing some of the characteristics in exchange for a deeply discounted price. As well, your purchase is for a 'standard' room, and many hotels may charge extra for the higher floors and/or a room with a view (which is what i'm assuming you're after)... and pools are a rarity in NYC, maybe 2-3% of the hotels have them. If these are must haves as opposed to wants the opaque providers will not likely be the best means for you to book your hotel room... but i'll also add that finding something nice with all of these traits thru conventional booking channels for $120/nite will be a tough feat as well.

I also need to book our flight. Is that best done on Hotwire or Priceline too?

You can try PRICELINE or HOTWIRE for airfare, but in the current environment, savings have been far and few between... and you often give up too much (ie- choosing schedule, must be willing to accept a layover, layover city, etc) to make airline tickets worthwhile, imo. Where are you traveling from?

Start with the above and feel free to ask any questions you have and we'll take it from there once you're ready to commit to a non-refundable purchase.

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

[kelly7]

Oh, I see now.

HOTWIRE shows you the price but not the name.

PRICELINE has the bidding feature.

I suppose I would give up my preferences for deep discounts. I guess I am spoiled as I have vacationed in a lovely

highrise Chicago Hotel with a pool included. I'd rather have the discount.

I'm traveling from NE North Carolina using ORF Norfolk Va as my departure airport. We are also considering driving.

Now my 2 sister-in-laws want to be included in the trip which would make 4 adults. And trip dates would be better at the end of June instead of the beginning.

In researching NYC hotels, a hotel like Affinnia Shelburne would be perfect. I did search for the same time period from last

year & saw a $130.00 win.

Thank you for your time and I will keep posting my progress.

Kelly

[AaronJB]

HOTWIRE shows one a set of listings that offer information such as star rating, amenities that the hotel offers (there may be others not listed in the set of icons) and zone. It is generally somewhat more expensive than PRICELINE, although the degree can vary depending on the area and/or date/s. Since it is less opaque than PRICELINE, HOTWIRE is more expensive.

Keep in mind with NYC that hotel parking is extremely expensive and will definitely add to per night costs.

If you are planning on 4 adults in the same room, I would use HOTWIRE, as PRICELINE only guarantees 1 bed/double occupancy, and that is particularly true in NYC - using PRICELINE in NYC with the expectation of getting two beds is definitely a high risk.

When searching for 4 adults on HOTWIRE for your dates, are there any listings of interest?

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

[kelly7]

Hi,

Thanks for all the input.

Here is what I have researched so far.

The TRAVEL INN Midtown: Free parking, Close to the Lincoln Tunnel for easy navigation, Fairly good reviews(clean), POOL, Double beds, $215 night.

This would be a good option for driving to NYC as Google maps states its approx 8 hr trip. Savings of 4 round trip air tickets @ $221 each.

I saw the MILFORD PLAZA for approx $900 for 5 nights, 28 floors, mixed reviews during this "renovation"

I noticed on another post that someone won the Le Parker Meridien for $130.00/night for june 2011. What a great deal!

So now I am back interested in Priceline for a great deal such as that.

Here are my bidding questions.

I have read the How to re-bid post.

Here's where I get lost:

""""The way to check what star levels are available in each zone is to open a PRICELINE page, check ONLY the zone you are inquiring about, and then proceed to the next page (as if you were going to select a zone)... this will give you the available star ratings in that area. You can then hit BACK on your browser, uncheck the current box, check the next box, and repeat the process.""""

I cant seem to figure that out.

If someone could show me an example of where to start & which zones to add for the Le Parker Meridien maybe I could understand better.

Here's what I'm thinking using Betterbidding Priceline Hotel list as a reference:

choose 4* & CPS for $125, if rejected

add MSG & $130, if rejected

add LIC & $135, if rejected

add LGA & $140, if rejected

add JFK & $145, if rejected

add Upper East Side & $150

(and guide me on how to lower to 3.5*, Can I start again using 3.5* then adding the zones from above?)

My other hotels of interest are:

The Marcel at Gramercy

Affinia Shelburne

Affinia Dumont

Areas are:

MTE

TIMES SQUARE

ESB

CPS

I am open to all suggestions/recommendations on any 3*-3.5*&4* hotel possibilities.

Thanks & sorry if I am "talking too much here"

Kelly in NC

[thereuare]

My other hotels of interest are:

The Marcel at Gramercy

Affinia Shelburne

Affinia Dumont

Areas are:

MTE

TIMES SQUARE

ESB

CPS

When using PRICELINE or HOTWIRE focus on zones of interest and not hotels of interest... you can't target or bid on a specific hotel, so focusing on zones instead of hotels will leave you less likely to be disappointed in not receiving the hotel you were hoping for.

Both the Travel Inn and the Milford Plaza are generally considered less than 3* properties, so if you're looking for something 3* or higher, i wouldn't really include them in the mix, imo.

Here's what I'm thinking using Betterbidding Priceline Hotel list as a reference:

choose 4* & CPS for $125, if rejected

It states at the top of the Priceline Hotel List NOT to use the hotel list to determine your re-bid zones. Since you're confused on this aspect, let's try to break it down further and get you up to speed...

Start with the following...

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter New Orleans and your dates, and click "GO".

2) List each zone that is offered in this region.

3) Next to each zone list the highest star rating offered in the zone. The way to determine the highest tar rating offered n the zone is by selecting the first zone i the list, then scrolling down to see the highest star rating selectable (ie- not greyed out). NEXT UNcheck the selected zone, place a checkmark in the next zone, and repeat the process for each zone in the region. Each time you take note of the highest star rating in the zone, make sure that only ONE zone is selected above.

4) post your findings and we'll take it from there

If you don't follow the above just post back and we'll break it down further.

[kelly7]

Thanks Theruare!

I finally figured out the star ratings for the zones(duh!)

Ok, now my focus area is ESB (1st) or CPS (2nd).

Thanks

Kelly

[thereuare]

Are you trying for a 4* hotel first OR looking for the least expensive 3* or better for this stay?

Did you want to bid for the ESB zone first up to your limit and then, if rejected try for a hotel in the CPS zone... or are you looking for the least expensive hotel in either of these zones?

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

[kelly7]

Hi,

I'll take whatever. lol

A 4* sounds nice though.

I had put the star ratings for each zone in my last post.

Did that get edited?

There are 5 zones with less than 4* ratings in my NYC locations for Priceline.

There's a 5* in MTE.(rated 4*)

Yes, I would like to try for the ESB zone first up to my limit and then, if rejected try for a hotel in the CPS zone.

I suppose I could even up my limit to $150-$160 in the ESB zone.

I can also add MTE to my target zones.

Prefer 3.5* to 4*

Another question:

When you place a bid on Priceline and it finds a hotel for you, can you reject it or is the deal sealed?

Thanks for your time,

Kelly

[thereuare]

I'll take whatever. lol...

Yes, I would like to try for the ESB zone first up to my limit and then, if rejected try for a hotel in the CPS zone.

It's your stay, but if you're flexible in your plans, why not take the least expensive hotel in any of your three acceptable zones? OR would you prefer (for example) a 4* hotel in the ESB zone for $160 vs. a 4* hotel i the MTE or CPS zone for $135? Like i said, it's your stay, so it's up to you how you'd like to bid it, but it doesn't seem as if you have a lot of preference from one zone to the next so including all acceptable zone in your bidding will give more hotels the opportunity to accept your bid as well as the lowest price possible (ie- assuming a hotel is available in MTE for $135 and a hotel is available in ESB for $160... first bidding your limit for the ESB zone only would never give you a chance to win the lower priced hotel in the MTE zone) Hope that makes sense.

Also, is there a reason you're not including the TS or MTW zones in your bidding? These also typically work out well for the average visitor... unless there is a particular hotel you're trying to avoid and/or this doesn't work out for specific plans you have.

When you place a bid on Priceline and it finds a hotel for you, can you reject it or is the deal sealed?

Once your bid is accepted you're shown the name of the hotel and it's a done deal... you then have a non-refundable / non-cancellable reservation at the property which accepted your bid.

Are you ready to commit to a purchase now?

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

[kelly7]

Hi,

I will further research the hotels included in the TS & MTW areas. I had crossed those areas off my

list as there were a few undesireables in TS according to many reviews I had read. I also noted that

there were "shared bathroom" hotels in the MTW area.

I am ready to bid at anytime you suggest. Is now too early to bid? or better to bid early?

I will look into those other areas and reply.

Thanks,

Kelly

[thereuare]

While some hotels, even at the same star level, may be nicer than others i don't think you can go too wrong in NYC at the 4* level... at the 3.5* most hotels are fine as well, with the caveats mostly being MTE (has a few hotels which can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway) and CPS (has the Hudson which has notoriously small rooms). At the 3* level i think you begin to hit a point where you want to start to pick-and-choose zones a bit more. A shared bathroom shouldn't be an issue when 'naming your own price' with PRICELINE.

Let us know once you decide upon the zone(s) and we'll take it from there.

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

PS- thanks for the donation to the board :)

[kelly7]

Hi Thereuare,

You're certainly welcome for the donation as this is an informative & patient board. >Thanks for helping me.

I have reviewed all 4* hotels in my zones and am happy with ESB,TS,CPS,MTW,MTE in that order

3.5* only zone is ESB (targeting Affinia Shelburne)

I would rather target 4* hotels at a great rate.

My dates are flexible in June 2011-- (6/9-6/14) -- (6/16-6/21) -- (6/23-6/28) gives me more re-bids

Zones with lesser than 4* are:

Brooklyn, MSG, LIC, Upper East Side

Price Range $120-$160

I have read & understand about closing the browser and re-opening a new one to un-check previously checked areas for use in a different combination if needed.

I am ready to bid at anytime and I am anxious to see my bid strategy plan. LOL (4* at great rate in ESB,TS,CPS,MTW,MTE)

Thanks,

kelly

[thereuare]

I have reviewed all 4* hotels in my zones and am happy with ESB,TS,CPS,MTW,MTE in that order

I assume price is more important than zone? In other words, did you want to bid the ESB zone up to your limit, then if rejected try for the TS zone up to your limit, then if rejected try the CPS zone up to your limit, etc, etc... OR is the goal the least expensive 4* hotel in any of these acceptable zones?

Zones with lesser than 4* are:

Brooklyn, MSG, LIC, Upper East Side

There is actually one more re-bid zone at the 4* level... please see if you can determine the 5th re-bid zone.

Let us know the above, or ask questions if you're unable to identify the 5th re-bid zones, and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[kelly7]

Hi,

My quiz answers are:

Coney 2*(for re-bidding)

Downtown SoHo 4*(do not want this area)

I would like to try for the least expensive 4* in my acceptable areas, ESB,TS,CPS,MTW,MTE.

LOL --as I had a dream last night that I accidently clicked & accepted a bad hotel and at high rate in the wrong area. geez!

Kelly

[thereuare]

Always double check your re-bid zones just before bidding to make sure that nothing has changed since you lest researched it.

Using your FIVE re-bid zones i'd bid as follows:

Select 4* MTE, MTW, TS, ESB...

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

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zones...

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

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zones...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zones...

Bid $140, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* CPS...

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

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zones...

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

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zones...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zones...

Bid $140, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* MTE, MTW, TS, ESB, CPS...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zones...

Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zones...

Bid $153, if rejected add re-bid zones...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zones...

Bid $158, if rejected add re-bid zones...

Bid $160

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.

[kelly7]

No success in any combination.

How often should I retry? weekly, bi=weekly, daily?

Thanks,

Kelly

[thereuare]

Once a week at this point should be sufficient.

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

Keep us updated and let us know if we can be of further help along the way.