Seabs Posted June 15, 2011 Report Posted June 15, 2011 Looking for help with a bidding strategy for one hotel room for November 11-19. 2 travellers from Newfoundland, Canada - the trip will be our honeymoon. Our preferred zones are Midtown East, Midtown West, Central Park South and Times Square. Willing to pay a little extra for a 4* as opposed to a 3.5* but either would ultimately be fine. Based on my reading here, at 3.5* we would prefer MTW or TS as opposed to MTE (location issues) or CPS (the Hudson). We are booking a backup, fully refundable room at Park Central New York (3.5* in Central Park South) for $1899+taxes/fees = $2207.31 for the 8 nights total (average - $237.38/night; 275.91 with fees/taxes) so that we can bid agressively and not worry about having nowhere to stay. Our preferred budget would be $200/night for a 4* or $175/night at a 3.5*. Less would be even better (of course).I've never used Priceline before so any advice is greatly appreciated. I've tried to read as much as I can and I've got a basic understanding of the rebidding zones and that process. Thanks in advance - I've already learned alot from poking around the site.
thereuare Posted June 16, 2011 Report Posted June 16, 2011 Our preferred zones are Midtown East, Midtown West, Central Park South and Times Square. Willing to pay a little extra for a 4* as opposed to a 3.5* but either would ultimately be fine. Based on my reading here, at 3.5* we would prefer MTW or TS as opposed to MTE (location issues) or CPS (the Hudson).So to confirm you want to want to bid:4* MTE, MTW, CPS, TS up to $200, then if that is rejected try:3.5* MTW and TS (and not include CPS and MTE in your bidding)Please confirm if the above is correct and we'll suggest a strategy to follow.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (and please click this PRICELINE link before replying)PS- congratulations on your upcoming nuptials :) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Seabs Posted June 16, 2011 Author Report Posted June 16, 2011 This is what I was thinking in terms of a bidding strategy more or less. Are there other zones we should consider to give us the best chance of getting a good deal? (our main concern is that we be relatively centrally located, not planning to spend much time in the hotel other than sleeping). The more we can save on our hotel, the more money we will have to enjoy ourselves! I'm open to suggestions if you think they will help in this regard.I wouldn't eliminate CPS and MTE completely at 3.5* but the first preference would be MTW and TS. Also, the figures quoted in our original post would ideally be the upper limit, so I think I might try 4* up to $175, then 3.5* up to $150, then 4* up to $200, then 3.5* up to $175. Does this make sense?Thanks again for your help.
thereuare Posted June 16, 2011 Report Posted June 16, 2011 Are there other zones we should consider to give us the best chance of getting a good deal?At the 4* level, in addition to the above, usually the ESB zone works fine for the average user too.I wouldn't eliminate CPS and MTE completely at 3.5* but the first preference would be MTW and TS.I understand your thinking, but this doesn't tell us how to incorporate it into a bidding strategy... what is more important, the lowest price (at which point you would include these zones) or comfort/convenience (at which point you would not include these zones). At 3.5* and under, the CPS could be a comfort issue... the MTE zone could be a convenience issue.I think I might try 4* up to $175, then 3.5* up to $150, then 4* up to $200, then 3.5* up to $175. Does this make sense?It makes sense, but based upon current prices for this time of year, it's probably not realistic.Let's take one step at a time, what do you want to try first? A 4* hotel in MTE, MTW, CPS, TS (and should we include ESB or not) up to $175? Is this correct?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
Seabs Posted June 16, 2011 Author Report Posted June 16, 2011 In terms of the 3.5* in CPS and MTE, my inclination would be not to include them, unless we are unable to get anything up to our max in the other areas at which time we might reconsider.Yes, I think a 4* hotel in the zones you've listed, including ESB, up to $175 is a good starting point.Thanks again for your help
thereuare Posted June 16, 2011 Report Posted June 16, 2011 Let's start with 4* bidding first and we'll take it from there...At the 4* level you have SIX 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, MTW, TS 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 close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* 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 close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, TS and ESB...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...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 add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175Any questions feel free to ask. If the above is rejected we'll then revise for a 3.5* property if that is the route you want to try next.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
seabs fiancee Posted June 17, 2011 Report Posted June 17, 2011 When should we start the bidding? Is it best to start now or wait a while?
thereuare Posted June 17, 2011 Report Posted June 17, 2011 OK, it's now officially a family affair! :)When should we start the bidding? Is it best to start now or wait a while?See the related 'bid early or close to check-in' thread in our PRICELINE FAQ.However, i'll add that this is generally an expensive time of year in NYC, and a 4* win in the zones you're bidding above at $175 or less would be a very good deal imo (i even commented above that i thought a $175 win for a 4* hotel didn't seem very likely), so i don't think there is much downside if you begin bidding now and are accepted (in fact it could be argued that you're very lucky)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
seabs fiancee Posted June 17, 2011 Report Posted June 17, 2011 Thank you very much! You've been extremely helpful. We're going to start bidding this weekend and will definitely keep you updated!
Seabs Posted June 19, 2011 Author Report Posted June 19, 2011 Bid up to $175 for CPS, ESB, MTE, MTW, TS. No luck. Next up, we will try ESB, MTW, TS at 3.5* up to $150. I will advise of the results.
AaronJB Posted June 20, 2011 Report Posted June 20, 2011 Sorry to hear that your bids were not accepted. :)Thank you for keeping us updated and for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Please let us know if you have additional questions and what you decide.
thereuare Posted June 20, 2011 Report Posted June 20, 2011 Next up, we will try ESB, MTW, TS at 3.5* up to $150.If you need a bidding strategy for this next round...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* MTW and TS...Bid $100, 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 add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* MTW and ESB...Bid $100, 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 add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* MTW and TS and ESB...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 add re-bid zone...Bid $150Any 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
Seabs Posted June 20, 2011 Author Report Posted June 20, 2011 No luck with the 3.5* bidding up to $150 either. I am wondering about splitting our bid. Do you think this would help us in getting the best deal possible? I wouldn't want to split it more than once - switching hotels once during the stay would be enough I think. Any thoughts on the best way to break up the dates? I'm inclined to try splitting our dates to see if we can get a bid accepted at the current levels instead of going any higher this far out. Any help/suggestions are appreciated. Thanks for all your help.
thereuare Posted June 20, 2011 Report Posted June 20, 2011 You're welcome to try whatever strategies you'd like, but I don't believe SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID is the answer... based upon current prices i think your bids are simply not high enough for this time of year (as noted above). I assume you're seeing wins accepted within the prices above for the summer and previous winter months, which is low season, and trying to get the same rates for November... but your stay is during high season and a busier time in NYC, thus the higher prices.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
Seabs Posted June 21, 2011 Author Report Posted June 21, 2011 Bid up to $200 for 4*, still no luck. I will try 3.5* up to $175, and if not I will leave it for awhile. Our backup room at Park Central NY is for $237/night+taxes/fees so I don't see bidding up any higher at this point.
thereuare Posted June 21, 2011 Report Posted June 21, 2011 I think there are better options than the Park Central for about the same as you're currently paying. Although you do have plenty of time before your stay, the trade-off is given that this is a busy time of year, your current options may not be available as you get closer to your stay.Keep us updated on your progress and let us know if we can be of further help along the way.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
Seabs Posted July 8, 2011 Author Report Posted July 8, 2011 So.... I did some more bidding today. Didn't exactly go as planned but we ended up being happy with the results as it turned out. I bid $150 for CPS, ESB, MTE, MTW and TS - not accepted. Then added Brooklyn as a free rebid zone and bid $160.... and got accepted for the Sheraton Brooklyn for November 11-19. I was lazy and didn't double check my rebid zones today, as obviously this is a new addition since the last time I bid.Once I got over the initial shock and we looked it at we are happy with the hotel and fine with staying in Brooklyn. Looks like we are close to the subway and can be in Manhattan (i.e. Lower East Side) in 10-15 minutes. Obviously a bit more of a commute to hit our main areas - Central Park, Times Square, Midtown - but we will make the trek in the morning and back at night. Hotel looks nice and we are paying about $700 less than what we had paid for our backup room at the Park Central.Any tips for the Brooklyn-Manhattan commute, or any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for all your help up to now.
Seabs Posted July 8, 2011 Author Report Posted July 8, 2011 PS - I do realize that we could have likely gotten this hotel cheaper if we had been intentionally bidding for Brooklyn..... but no sense crying over spilt milk.
thereuare Posted July 8, 2011 Report Posted July 8, 2011 Sorry to see this didn't work out as you had intended, but seems like you'll be able to make this work for your needs. There are multiple subway lines nearby, so determine your destination and take the subway which gets you closest to where you're heading, not necessarily the one closest to the hotel (as walking an extra block or two to the 'right' subway could save you a longer walk once in Manhattan or help you avoid a transfer)Worth a stop on the Brooklyn side is:Grimaldi's Under the Brooklyn Bridge19 Old Fulton St Brooklyn, NYIf you catch a nice day, you can then walk the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan, taking in the Skyline along the way.Expect a line and confirm that they're still open in November... i haven't kept up with it but their landlord wasn't going to renew their lease, a charge that the pizza shop owners claim was so he could have their brick ovens (they don't exactly move easily) and open up their own pizza place at the same location.Thank you for sharing your win with the board.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Enjoy your stay Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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