vladman Posted April 27, 2011 Report Posted April 27, 2011 Hi, new here, and new to Priceline and Hotwire.I've read the FAQs here, and some information on other sites too, so I feel I (kind of) know what I'm supposed to do.One thing I'm uncertain about, does it make a difference how far in advance of my stay I start trying to get a room? I will be coming to the USA (I live in the UK) in the second half of June, and then travelling through the country until the end of July, and will need a room in quite a few places, some big cities, such as NYC, Washington DC, Las Vegas, possibly San Francisco, etc.Is it too early to try to get some rooms now? Or is there no such thing as "too early"?Also, as a UK user, should I be using the UK or the USA versions of the websites (or should it make no difference)? I initially intend to try Priceline first.Many thanks for your help.Vlad.
Colfax Posted April 28, 2011 Report Posted April 28, 2011 Welcome to the board!One thing I'm uncertain about, does it make a difference how far in advance of my stay I start trying to get a room?See this thread:Should I bid early or close to time?Is it too early to try to get some rooms now? Or is there no such thing as "too early"?Priceline allows you to bid up to a year in advance. If your plans are firm (PL and HW reservations are noncancellable and nonchangeable) it's not too early to bid for your visit 6-8 weeks away. If parts of your itinerary aren't firm yet you can bid for the cities/dates you know and bid for the rest later as your plans come together.If you want help with a particular city please start a thread in the appropriate state category.Please use these HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links for your puchases.p.s. I'll let a board moderator answer your question about US vs UK Priceline versions.
vladman Posted April 28, 2011 Author Report Posted April 28, 2011 Thanks very much for pointing me to that thread - the consensus seems to be, nothing wrong with bidding early, and it's not even THAT early actually, my trip begins in less than 2 months! :) Yes, I hope someone can answer the questions which site I should bit at. If it's ok to bid on the US site, then I will use the links on this forum. :)
AaronJB Posted April 28, 2011 Report Posted April 28, 2011 July isn't too terribly far away. What I would suggest at this point is to start to research availability for your particular dates and get a sense of demand, looking at both HOTWIRE and regular rates. After getting a sense of rates/demand, you could then start to plan bidding. Please post the separate stays in the appropriate forums of the board (and let us know dates of travel, desired zones and desired budget per night) and we would be happy to help from there.In terms of non-US users using the US site, this thread provides a guide: Priceline Bidding Tips for Canadian/Non-USThank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
vladman Posted April 29, 2011 Author Report Posted April 29, 2011 Hi,I've been reading a lot on this forum about PRICELINE and my head is spinning.So, I need to stay in the NYC for two nights, checking in on the 19th and checking out on the 21st. I think I've narrowed down the Priceline zones where I'd want to stay. Rather, the only zones I don't want to stay in are (1) Brooklyn, (4) Coney Island, (5) Downtown (SOHO), (8) Long Island City and (12) Queensborough Bridge.Now, I don't know anything about the star ratings for NYC. I think 4 and 5 star places are out of my budget. My budget is around $150-160 per night tops, but I wouldn't mind spending less. My requirements are that the room is clean (no bed bugs! - worried about this, I saw it mentioned a few times, but don't know how to go about checking about this), quiet and secure, preferably has free wi-fi, and that it's non-smoking (but I know this can't be guaranteed). The room doesn't have to be large.So basically, I could really use some help figuring out which star-level places will be ok for my requirements and my budget. Am I basically looking at 3 and 3 and 3 1/2 star places? Are 2-star places best avoided? I tried searching for a thread with general descriptions of star levels but didn't manage to find one.Any specific advice on particular places would be welcome too, either to avoid, or recommend.Many thanks in advance!
thereuare Posted April 30, 2011 Report Posted April 30, 2011 There is an outside chance your budget may be enough for a 4* hotel and should be enough for a 3.5*.Do you want to try for a 4* first up to your limit OR do you want to try for the least expensive 3.5* or better for this stay?Also, do you really want to stay in the UES and/or UWS which are a bit out of the way for the average visitor to the city? To avoid any confusion, please list the zones (by PRICELINE name) which you're willing to accept 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
vladman Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Posted May 2, 2011 There is an outside chance your budget may be enough for a 4* hotel and should be enough for a 3.5*.Do you want to try for a 4* first up to your limit OR do you want to try for the least expensive 3.5* or better for this stay?Is there a post briefly explaining how the star system works? What's the main difference between the 3, 3.5 and 4* places?I probably wouldn't mind starting with some 3 or 3.5* places...Also, do you really want to stay in the UES and/or UWS which are a bit out of the way for the average visitor to the city? To avoid any confusion, please list the zones (by PRICELINE name) which you're willing to accept 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.Ok, so here are the areas (copied and pasted from the Priceline website where I would want to stay: 2 Central Park South 3 Chelsea Area 6 Empire State Building Area 7 Hell's Kitchen – detail map 9 Madison Square Garden - Convention Area10 Midtown East11 Midtown West 13 Times Square - Theatre District 14 Upper East Side 15 Upper West SideRegarding 14 and 15 (UES and UWS), as I've been to New York before and done most of the "touristy" things and stayed in Times Square, I thought it might be nice to stay in the more residential parts (and also close to the Central Park), and when/if I want to go south from there, I can easily hop on the subway or take a taxi? Please feel free to correct me if I'm making any wrong assumptions.
thereuare Posted May 2, 2011 Report Posted May 2, 2011 Is there a post briefly explaining how the star system works? What's the main difference between the 3, 3.5 and 4* places?If you enter your location and dates into the search box on the top right corner of the board, on the ensuing page (where you got the list of zones), you can click on the stars in Step2 (in the middle of the page) and you'll be given a description of how PRICELINE defines that star level. However, it is extremely general in nature and i'm guessing not going to provide you much insight as to what you should really expect at each star level.Bottomline is that star ratings are somewhat subjective, and in any area there may be some 3.5* properties that you like better then 4* properties, there also may be lower rated hotels which you wouldn't want to stay in at all, so it's usually best (especially in NYC) to stick with the higher rated hotels to increase the odds of getting something which you'd likely find satisfactory.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know how you'd like to proceed regarding the star ratings and we'll take it from there.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
vladman Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Posted May 2, 2011 Bottomline is that star ratings are somewhat subjective, and in any area there may be some 3.5* properties that you like better then 4* properties, there also may be lower rated hotels which you wouldn't want to stay in at all, so it's usually best (especially in NYC) to stick with the higher rated hotels to increase the odds of getting something which you'd likely find satisfactory.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know how you'd like to proceed regarding the star ratings and we'll take it from there.Ok, I'm going to take your advice, and go for:try for the least expensive 3.5* or better for this stayThank you VERY MUCH for all the help, it's really very much appreciated.
thereuare Posted May 3, 2011 Report Posted May 3, 2011 Before bidding, take note of the following two zones:MTE - has some hotels which can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway, is this acceptable?CPS - has the Hudson Hotel which has notoriously small rooms... would this be acceptable?Let us know your thoughts regarding the two zones above 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
vladman Posted May 4, 2011 Author Report Posted May 4, 2011 Hi, thanks for that.Ok, I suppose MTE shouldn't be at the top of my list, so it can be a "backup" zone. Regarding this Hudson hotel, how small do you mean? As long as it's got a bed, room to move around it, a cupboard, maybe a table and a chair, I'm ok with that. I'm not very demanding, it just needs to be clean, decent bed, somewhere not too loud (or double-glazed windows) and no nasty surprises (like bed bugs!). Do you think I'll need air-con in July? Do all hotels have them, or only better ones?Thanks for all the help, it's very much appreciated!
vladman Posted May 4, 2011 Author Report Posted May 4, 2011 Just checked the reviews for the Hudson hotel on TripAdvisor... I think I'd probably be ok with that. Like someone else said there, I'm not going to be spending much time in the room, other then sleeping. Also, I'll be on my own, so the rooms are probably totally fine for one person.
thereuare Posted May 5, 2011 Report Posted May 5, 2011 At the 3.5* level you have FOUR 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* Chelsea, ESB, HK, MSG, MTW, TS, HK, UWS...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 add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* UES...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 add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* Chelsea, ESB, HK, MSG, MTW, TS, HK, UWS and UES...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128If the above is rejected HOTWIRE has a 4* hotel in Times Square for $130/nite with Restaurant, Fitness, Internet, Business and you can pick that up.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
vladman Posted May 8, 2011 Author Report Posted May 8, 2011 Hi, I was just getting ready to bid, following everything mentioned in this thread, when I noticed something and now I'm confused.- You initially warned me that UES and UWS were a bit out of the way, but I said that was ok with me. After that, you warned that MTE has some hotels that can be up to 15 minutes away from a subway, and I agreed I could use that as a backup zone (but I somehow misread that, and thought you were talking about one of the Upper zones as you previously said they were a bit out of the way, and only now noticed you said MTE). I just want to confirm, you didn't mean that for either the UES or UWS? It IS the MTE that has hotels that can be far from a subway (I find it odd as it's smack bang in the middle - but I'm not questioning your knowledge!)?- Further, you warned me about Hudson and its small rooms, and after I checked it, I decided it shouldn't be a problem - yet, you've excluded the CPS area from your advice where I should bid?- Finally, you've entered HK twice (see your post above).Now I'm reluctant to bid as I'm not 100% I understand everything correctly! :) Don't feel bad, I know you weren't trying to confuse me, I find this thread enormously helpful. I'll just wait for your clarification. :)
thereuare Posted May 9, 2011 Report Posted May 9, 2011 It IS the MTE that has hotels that can be far from a subway (I find it odd as it's smack bang in the middle - but I'm not questioning your knowledge!)?Yes, i meant MTE. While most of the zone is centrally located, it does extend as far east to the East River, so any hotels that are in the eastern most edge of the zone (such as the Millennium UN) can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway.- Further, you warned me about Hudson and its small rooms, and after I checked it, I decided it shouldn't be a problem - yet, you've excluded the CPS area from your advice where I should bid?- Finally, you've entered HK twice (see your post above).My bad... one of the HK listings should be CPS :)I've re-posted below:Select 3.5* Chelsea, ESB, HK, MSG, MTW, TS, CPS, UWS...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 add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* UES...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 add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* Chelsea, ESB, HK, MSG, MTW, TS, CPS, UWS and UES...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128Hopefully it's now correct, but if anything looks out of place just post back and we'll clarify or revise.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
vladman Posted May 13, 2011 Author Report Posted May 13, 2011 Hi, ok, so I gave it a go.Followed your advice in the first of the three "sections" above, and got rejected. Now, I'm confused again as to how I'm supposed to proceed. You say to close the browser, reopen it, and "Select 3.5* UES...". However, UES is one of my re-bid zones, as it has no 3.5* or above? So I can't do what you're telling me to do... Or am I misunderstanding things now? Also, I'm not sure if you meant to ADD UES to the existing bid (from the first section), or start a complete new bid, and just select UES and bid 3.5* and above... but either way, I can's see how I can do it when there are no 3.5* and above hotels in UES... Sorry... :) Thanks.
thereuare Posted May 13, 2011 Report Posted May 13, 2011 I didn't double check your re-bid zones, was only going by the zones you said were acceptable. 24 hours after your last bid you can re-try this revised strategy:Select 3.5* Chelsea, ESB, HK, MSG, MTW, CPS, UWS...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 add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 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 add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* Chelsea, ESB, HK, MSG, MTW, TS, CPS, and UWS......Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $128Please use the requested PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your bidding. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
vladman Posted May 14, 2011 Author Report Posted May 14, 2011 Ok, I tried again, and got rejected.I haven't initially considered Hotwire, but have just read about how it works, had a quick look and couldn't find a 4* hotel in TS for
thereuare Posted May 14, 2011 Report Posted May 14, 2011 I haven't initially considered Hotwire, but have just read about how it works, had a quick look and couldn't find a 4* hotel in TS for Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
vladman Posted May 14, 2011 Author Report Posted May 14, 2011 Do you mean 130 GPB or Dollars? Did somebody (me??) state that there was a 4* hotel available for this price?Yep...If the above is rejected HOTWIRE has a 4* hotel in Times Square for $130/nite with Restaurant, Fitness, Internet, Business and you can pick that up.
thereuare Posted May 15, 2011 Report Posted May 15, 2011 Rates can/do change quickly, and the $130 rate i saw was over 10 days ago and is no longer offered.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
vladman Posted May 19, 2011 Author Report Posted May 19, 2011 Just won the Millennium Broadway in Times Square for $130 per night for two nights. Seems like a decent deal. Thanks for all the help! I used these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links for my purchases.
AaronJB Posted May 20, 2011 Report Posted May 20, 2011 Congrats on your success. :)I think this is a great deal for this TS property.Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's PRICELINE link.Enjoy your stay.
Recommended Posts
Register now, we have a huge community of travel enthusiasts to answer any questions you might have.
Sign In Now