RAF Posted February 14, 2011 Report Posted February 14, 2011 Hi all,The missus and I are off to NYC over Easter. The specific dates are 19 Apr - 27 Apr. We would like to stay somewhere central, 4 star rated, and to a budget of $170.I have used the following alone and in combination up to $165 using the re-bidding strategies from the forum: MTE, ESB, CPS. All attempted bids have used the link from the forum too - I'm grateful for your help! Thus far I've been unsuccessful.Am I being unrealistic on price because of the holiday?Please note I've avoided TS due to noise and MTW due to the negative reviews of the Algonquin. It appears to be listed as a 3 or 3.5 star at best on every site other than Priceline. Should I include MTW and risk getting the Algonquin? Tripadvisor has not been kind to the hotel.There is a MTE on Hotwire for $196 but my understanding (expectation) is that Priceline can do better for me.Thoughts?
thereuare Posted February 15, 2011 Report Posted February 15, 2011 Welcome to BetterBidding!Am I being unrealistic on price because of the holiday?Probably not due to the holiday, but more so due to 1) Spring being high season in NYC, and 2) the length of your stay.You're probably in the right ballpark, but at the moment will need to push just a bit higher for this complete stay. If you're not willing to bid higher (although it appears you're not yet at your maximum budget) is split bid an option?Should I include MTW and risk getting the Algonquin?If you were to receive the Algonquin at a price of (as an example) $145/nite while otherwise rejected in other zones at $165, would it be worth the savings? If so then you can bid the MTW zone at a lower bid thank you're using in other zone... if not worth the savings, then i'd avoid the zone enitrely.There is a MTE on Hotwire for $196 but my understanding (expectation) is that Priceline can do better for me.You can probably do a little better on PRICELINE vs. HOTWIRE, but at the moment not $30 better... i'm guessing ~$170-$180 is where you probably need to at the moment.Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.Thanks for using the price.lien and HOTWIRE links on the board for your bidding/purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
RAF Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Posted February 15, 2011 Thanks for the input. Apparently there's another dubious hotel amongst the 4 stars in MTW so I think I will avoid it entirely.What is you take on TS? The 4 stars there seem to be a block or more away from the Square so they may be acceptable. My understanding, however, is that this is a pricier zone.If we include TS (and if we don't) what is your recommended strategy to a high of $180? This is excluding MTW.
RAF Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Posted February 15, 2011 Also, we'd prefer to avoid a split stay.Finally, by way of comparison, the W Hotel is showing at $204 a night on Hotels.com
thereuare Posted February 15, 2011 Report Posted February 15, 2011 Times Square should be fine... we often hear users who only want to bid Times Square and for them we advise to bid Times Square but also include other areas as the midtown zones are so compact that it's not necessarily to restrict bidding to just this one zone in order to be convenient.If you're willing to bid all four zones i would try as follows:At the 4* level 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.Select 4* MTE and ESB...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and CPS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE and ESB and TS...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE and ESB and CPS...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE and ESB and TS and CPS...Bid $168, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $173, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $178, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180Any 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
RAF Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Posted February 15, 2011 I followed the above advice to the letter - and was sure to always use the PRICELINE links provided.No dice until the following set of instructions:Select 4* MTE and ESB and TS and CPS...Bid $168, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $173, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $178, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180At $168 my bid was rejected but I was offered a chance to search the same parameters at $208 - I declined$170 - rejected$173 - success!Congratulations, your price of $173 was accepted by Intercontinental The Barclay.Many thanks to thereuare and everyone else who makes this forum possible.To sum up:Apr 19 - Apr 27Intercontinental The Barclay$173 per nightHotel Web Site Price for same period - $253 per nightSavings of 32%
AaronJB Posted February 16, 2011 Report Posted February 16, 2011 Congrats on your success. :)Superb deal for this historic and well-located MTE property.Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's PRICELINE link.Enjoy your stay.
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