Priceline Hotel: 4.5* NYC (MTE) The Benjamin

[ottawa_1230]

Hi, this is my first post at BetterBidding.com, and going to be first time bid on priceline too, I need some help for the bidding strategy.

my family(2 Adults, one kid, one baby) are going to stay in NYC for 2 nights, from July 01, 2011. I think we'd like to stay in 4* hotel in the Midtown West or Times Square area, before taxes, etc. we could pay up to $180. Can you help with the bidding strategy?

BTW how can I make sure if we get 2 beds(because we have a baby) in the hotel room, or I have to upgrade to two beds when I check in the hotel.

Thanks,

Lin

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, after that it's at the discretion of the hotel, and you could receive a room with only one bed. While you can call the hotel you win and request a room with two beds, the hotel may not be able, or willing, to honor your request (especially in NYC where a high percentage of rooms only contain one bed). Is this a risk you're willing to accept?

If not, HOTWIRE may still be an option as they allow you to search for up to quad occupancy and ensure sleeping accommodations for everyone you include in your search (although this usually means two beds, the second 'bed' could be a sofabed, rollaway, etc)

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

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

[ottawa_1230]

I'd like take the risk, the worst case the baby can sleep in "BB travel Bed", I also checked hotwire quad occupancy in TS, it costs $295 per night before tax, I can't afford it, I would like bid on priceline.

Thanks,

Lin

[thereuare]

Before bidding up to $180 for the TS and MTW zones, note that HOTWIRE has a 4.5* in the MTE zone for $148/nite which i suspect is the Benjamin Hotel, which has an excellent 4.5/5.0 Tripadvisor rating.

Would this be acceptable for your needs? If so you could either choose to purchase this outright, or at least lower your maximum bid for the MTW and TS zones to $150/nite, and if rejected then go for this MTE property for $148... or is it worth it for you to pay extra to stay in the MTW/TS zones?

Let us know and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[ottawa_1230]

Got the Benjamin 4*, for $148 per night (2 nights from 7/1/2011) in the MTE area as your suggested from your HOTWIRE link. Thanks a lot for your help!

I did rebid up to $160/nite for the MTW and TS zones from priceline before I booked Benjamin from Hotwire , but no luck.

Thanks,

Lin

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

While not in the either of the two zones you originally were seeking, this hotel is centrally located and gets excellent reviews... i think it's a better choice then some of the 4* hotels in the MTW and TS zones (and the lower price just makes the decision that much easier).

You're also near my often recommended Ess-A-Bagel (Third Ave at 51st St) which has one of the best bagels in the city, makes for a nice, and relatively inexpensive, breakfast among local NYers.

Thank you for sharing your results and using the HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your purchase.

Enjoy your stay.