Priceline Hotel: Assistance w/NYC 7/19-21, 2011

[FOEDOGG]

I'm usually pretty good finding excellent deals on PL for all of my trips when required, but this one sort of has me stumped. It's my first trip to NYC (other than hanging out at one of the airports), and I'd like to stay Midtown somewhere as I'll be arriving/leaving from Penn Station.

Looking for 3.5* to 4* in any suitable areas nearby. I've read this is actually a bit slower time of year, but I've bid up to $145 already in MTE, MTW, TS & CPS for 4* and still no luck. My max budget is $150/nt bid before tax, but I'd really like to stay lower (in an excellent hotel/location of course :) ). Any ideas? Should I add another zone or start trying 3.5* hotels? Help would be much appreciated.

[AaronJB]

This is generally one of the better times of year for NYC, although still expensive. I'm a little surprised that your $145 bid wasn't accepted, given that HOTWIRE rates are not substantially higher (around $175ish for most Midtown zones.) I wouldn't go much higher, given the HOTWIRE rates, but if you wanted to try $150, that may be enough. You certainly are close at $145, so if you do proceed higher, I'd go slowly. Again, I don't think you're far off for 4*, but if you want to try for 3.5*, please let us know. The only issue with 3.5* is that some MTE properties at the 3.5* level are rather far East, and the 3.5* Hudson in CPS does have very small rooms (even for NYC.)

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

[FOEDOGG]

Thanks AaronJB, I appreciate your experience & wisdom regarding the subject matter! I'll try my luck again in a bit & since there's plenty of time & free re-bid ops, I'll take it slowly. I'll stick with 4* for now also.

[FOEDOGG]

Well, this is my first time PL failure in my 12 years of doing this. I went all the way up to $260/4* for all zones (save for UPW & Brooklyn), $240/3.5 TS, MTW, MTE, Chelsea, ESB & DT. Did it for each date separately for 1 night stays on 19th & 20th too, no dice. Declined on all. Apparently I picked a tough week (or start day) in NYC. Drives me crazy because I saw people won the Helmsley & Hilton Manhattan East for $125 or less on same dates. I bid on same day they posted on with similar & slightly higher prices & didn't even receive a sniff of a rebid offer. :) I ended up w/Affinia Manhattan for $270/nt on the Big O. Not a great deal price, but better than some alternatives. Thanks for all of the help guys!

[AaronJB]

Thank you for closing the thread.

Enjoy your stay.

Please use the site's PRICELINE, HOTWIRE or Orbitz links to start your purchases and searches.