celk Posted February 19, 2011 Report Posted February 19, 2011 First, I like to say thank you for this very helpful forum!We need two rooms (4 people) from 8/27/11 - 9/4/11 (8 nights). My preferred districts are TS, MDW, CPS, MDE, in this order. Do you think it's realistic to win a 3.5* or 4* Hotel for $120 limit per room (ex tax) at this time? I tried a couple of times without success :-(2 years ago (2008), we won the Warwick 4* hotel for $120. Thanks
AaronJB Posted February 20, 2011 Report Posted February 20, 2011 Welcome to Betterbidding. :)August is generally not a busy time in the city, but September really does start up the busy period (conventions, milder weather, etc.) Additionally, rates vary substantially from day-to-day and there are seasonal factors, as well, but rates as a whole have edged upward since 2008. Looking at rates, I don't think you're too far off from a win at the 4* level in MTE, although MTW and TS would likely require a higher bid. This many dates in a row may be an issue at times in NYC, but these dates seem pretty even in terms of rates.Additionally, at this far out, you do have some time and rates may cool off, but if you do wait, I'd keep track of rates and be fairly persistent to try and get a win in your desired rate range (have a desired "ceiling" and keep trying up to that ceiling; if 1.5-2 months pass and that max isn't accepted, then move up the ceiling.)Will there be 4 people in each room or 2/2?Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
thereuare Posted February 20, 2011 Report Posted February 20, 2011 I'm guessing at the moment you'll need to be in the $135-$150 area for a 4* possibly slightly less for a 3.5*.My preferred districts are TS, MDW, CPS, MDE, in this order.Are you willing to pay more to be in your first choice of zone vs. second vs. third, etc, etc OR is your goal the least expensive 4* (or 3.5*) in any of these zones? Are you willing to pay more for a 4* vs. a 3.5*?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
celk Posted February 20, 2011 Author Report Posted February 20, 2011 AaronJB: We need two rooms for 4 people in total.thereuare: My goal is to get the least expensive hotel in any of these zones and it doesn't matter if it has 3.5* or 4*. MTE district is only for emergency case ;-)
thereuare Posted February 20, 2011 Report Posted February 20, 2011 MTE district is only for emergency case ;-)So have you not included this in your bidding yet and have only bid the TS, MDW, CPS zones? Have you bid up to $120 at the 3.5* level or was that only at the 4* level? (if the latter have you done any 3.5* bidding yet?)Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
celk Posted February 20, 2011 Author Report Posted February 20, 2011 So have you not included this in your bidding yet and have only bid the TS, MDW, CPS zones? Have you bid up to $120 at the 3.5* level or was that only at the 4* level? (if the latter have you done any 3.5* bidding yet?)Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.No, I included MTE on my last bid: $120 at 3.5* level on TS, MDW, CPS, MDE. Previously I've bid up to $120 at 4* level on TS, MDW, CPS, MDE.I try to trace back:1. try:$100 TS with 4*$105 TS + Re-bidding zone with 4*$110 TS + 2nd Re-bidding zone with 4*$115 TS + 3rd Re-bidding zone with 4* - closed my browser2nd. try:$100 MTW with 4*$105 MTW + Re-bidding zone with 4*$110 MTW + 2nd Re-bidding zone with 4*$115 MTW + 3rd Re-bidding zone with 4* - closed my browser3rd try:$100 CPS with 4*$105 CPS + Re-bidding zone with 4*$110 CPS + 2nd Re-bidding zone with 4*$115 CPS + 3rd Re-bidding zone with 4* - closed my browser4th try:$100 TS + MTW with 4*$105 TS + MTW + Re-bidding zone with 4*$110 TS + MTW + 2nd Re-bidding zone with 4*$115 TS + MTW + 3rd Re-bidding zone with 4* - closed my browser... and so on, tried all combinations, up to $115. At the last bid (TS+MTW+CPS+Re-bidding, 4*), I bade $120, without success.After that, same procedure with 3.5* - without success as well.
thereuare Posted February 21, 2011 Report Posted February 21, 2011 My goal is to get the least expensive hotel in any of these zones and it doesn't matter if it has 3.5* or 4*.Realize that this is not consistent with your previous bids, as you bid up to $120 for a 4* before trying $100 for a 3.5*... which would have you pay more for a 4* before trying for a 3.5*... just trying to make sure we're on the same page with your objectives for this stay.MTE district is only for emergency case ;-)At 6 months before your stay i wouldn't be adding any zones that you really don't want as you have lots of time before your stay to try to get what you do really want. I'll also add the following:At the 4* level i think the MTE zone (as well as the others you're bidding) are all good... but if price is a primary factor then at the 4* i'd also consider the ESB as it tends to work just as well as the other zones for the average user.At the 3.5* level i'd have a slightly different zone choice... at this star level you many choose to avoid the CPS zone as it contains the Hudson Hotel, which gets 'ok' reviews except for the notoriously small rooms (even by NYC standards) and perhaps not a place you'd want to stay for an entire week. Likewise, the MTE zone is one you may want to avoid as there are 'known' hotels at the 3.5* which can get a bit far east, up to a 15+ minute walk to the subway, which is a bit far for some. As well, at the 3.5* level you may want to considering including the MSG zone as it often offers good value and is also conveniently located for the average user.What is your maximum budget per ntie for this stay at this time?Let us know your thoughts on the board and how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
celk Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Posted February 22, 2011 Ok, my new maximum budget for a 4* hotel is $130 and for 3.5* level furthermore $120 (without tax).Thank you for the suggestions concerning the different zones and hotels! Now, I decided to bid for the following zone-level combo:3.5*: TS, MTW4*: TS, MTW, CPS, MTE and ESBWhat do you think is the best bidding strategy to me for the next weeks/months? Thank you very much for your help!
thereuare Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 To confirm... did you want to try for a 4* first up to your $130 maximum bid and then, if rejected try for a 3.5* up to $120... or did you want to first try for a 3.5* up to $120, then if rejected increase the budget by $10 and try for a 4*?Let us know 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
celk Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Posted February 22, 2011 First the 3.5* up to $120 (starting at $100), afterwards the 4* up to $130 (starting at $110). Is this strategy ok?
thereuare Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 Please click this PRICELINE link and reply to this thread, we'll then suggest a strategy for you to follow.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
thereuare Posted February 22, 2011 Report Posted February 22, 2011 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* TS...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...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 PRICELINESelect 3.5* MTW...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...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 PRICELINESelect 3.5* TS and MTW...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 $120Any questions feel free to ask. If the above is rejected we'll revise for a 4* strategy but i'll also ask if there is a reason you're not considering ESB and/or MSG in your 3.5* bidding?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
celk Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Posted February 22, 2011 Thank you for your instruction! Unfortunately I had no success with the above strategy.Regarding your question, the 3.5* level in ESB and MSQ has only the Affina hotels and I think it's not the best choice for priceline guests.
thereuare Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 Sorry to hear your bids were not successful, but i can't say i'm surprised.If you want to continue onward and try for a 4* up to $130, you have FIVE re-bid zone available. 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* CPS and MTE and ESB...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* CPS and MTE and ESB and TS and MTW...Bid $122, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $124, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $126, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130Any questions feel free to ask. There is no need to wait 24 hours from your previous bids as the above are all considered 'unique' vs. your previous bidding.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
celk Posted February 23, 2011 Author Report Posted February 23, 2011 Unfortunately still no success. What do you think, should I try out this two strategies for the next weeks - day by day?
thereuare Posted February 23, 2011 Report Posted February 23, 2011 If you want to stick with the current prices above i'd only bid 2-3x per week as i think your bids are currently too low and bidding daily will likely just cause you frustration. 2-3x per week should be frequent enough to catch any possible rate drops.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Keep us updated 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
celk Posted February 24, 2011 Author Report Posted February 24, 2011 Ok, thanks a lot. What dou you think is currently a realistic price for 3.5* and for 4*?For comparison, I could book the Park Central Hotel for $186 per night (tax+fees include).
thereuare Posted February 25, 2011 Report Posted February 25, 2011 Rates actually look a little lower at the moment then i recall them being the other day. (but i do so many searches a day i could be mistaken)At the moment i'm guess you could get a 4* in the $145-$160 area... but of course i'd start lower.Also, the strategy above took into consideration your recently failed 3.5* bids, so if you're looking to start with a clean slate after a few days of not bidding, you would want to start with a more complete/thorough strategy.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
celk Posted February 26, 2011 Author Report Posted February 26, 2011 Won the 4* Kitano for $160 yesterday. Thanks a lot for your support!
AaronJB Posted February 26, 2011 Report Posted February 26, 2011 Congrats on your success. :)Fantastic deal for this well-reviewed ESB property.Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.Enjoy your stay.
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