Priceline Hotel: 7/2 - 7/7 NYC (CPS) Le Parker Meridien?

[Senator23]

Because of it's proximity to an event I'm attending and my preference for Starwood hotels, I am hoping to stay at the Parker Meridien in NYC (CPS) from 7/2/11 - 7/7/11. I've noticed that over the last two months, winning 4* NYC CPS bids have ranged from $101 - $130 at Le Parker. Since I'd like to stay below or near $150 all in, I'd be happy if I won a bid like those that have already been posted. What I've also noticed is that during that same time, no other 4* hotels in CPS have winning bids listed in the calendar, just Le Parker Meridien (although a year ago the Renaissance Hotel 57 in CPS had a winning bid around this time of the year).

So my main question is, should I feel reasonably confident that if I start my bidding for CPS at $100 and re-bid at $5 increments, I will most likely win a room at Le Parker Meridien? I know nothing is guaranteed, but I'm wondering what my odds are that a room between $100 - $130 will land me at the Renaissance or 6 Columbus Circle or Jumeirah Essex House or Loews Regency Hotel? It seems as though most people win 4* CPS bids at Le Parker, and I'm hoping to be one of them.

My secondary question is, is there anything preventing me from bidding for just the first night to confirm which hotel I'm getting? That way, if I get Le Parker I can bid again for the next 4 nights, and if I don't get Le Parker for the first night I can go to Hotwire to book my preferred hotel for the other 4 nights.

Many thanks to those that respond...I've tried to research the site as much as possible before asking the questions above. And I will gladly use the links to Priceline when eventually bidding on my room.

[FOEDOGG]

Senator23,

First of all, welcome to the fantastic Better Bidding website :) Next, to answer your questions: No & Yes. Unfortunately, in that order too. Everything on Priceline depends upon availablity for a particular hotel in a certain area on specific dates. So, a cursory glance at your dates and area show that retail rates for the CPS hotels start @ $199/nt (Renaissance 57) and work their way up from there with a couple inbetween until you arrive at the Le Parker Meridian retailing @ $257/nt. You clearly understand that ANY 4* hotel in your preffered area is up for grabs on any PL bid you make, so availability is the key here. While it is absolutely possible that Le Parker Meridian may have a lower PL monetary threshold to accept a lower bid than the others, it would have to discount it's room price 60% to reach your $150 spend limit, while the Renaissance only has to drop 25%. Is it possible? Definitely. I scored the Conrad Hong Kong once when it was retailing $125 over it's competitiors' prices. The likelihood though, that's more of a gamble.

As for your 2nd question, yes, you could bid to see which hotel accepts your 1st night and try to extend your stay with PL's "Extend Your Stay" option if you win the Le Parker Meridian. However there is NO GUARANTEE whatsoever that it will be accepted by the same hotel for the remaining nights or accepted at all period. This happened to me earlier this year at the Westin Boston. Nailed the 1st night for $88, couldn't get the next 2 nights at all, even bidding up to $125/nt. Your strategy can often work for Hotwire, but using myself as an example, I know fully that it can backfire with Priceline :)

Hope this helped a bit. And again, welcome!

[thereuare]

As for your 2nd question, yes, you could bid to see which hotel accepts your 1st night and try to extend your stay with PL's "Extend Your Stay" option if you win the Le Parker Meridian.

Actually, with PRICELINE's extend your stay option you can only try to extend the stay for up to as many nites as your original purchase... so if your original purchase is only for one nite, you wouldn't be able to add the additional 4 nites you need, you would only be able to add one nite since that is the number of nites of your original purchase.

Personally i think to expect the Le Meridien is a pretty bid leap of faith and while it may ultimately work out, you also stand a pretty good chance of being disappointed.

Midtown NYC isn't that big geographically, would you rather pay full price to be exactly where you want to be OR could you deal with a moderate walk and/or inexpensive taxi (or subway) ride in exchange for the savings??

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

[FOEDOGG]

Thereuare,

Thanks for the info. Now that you mention it, I've never needed to extend my stay for more nights than my original win's amount of nights (usually it's just been for one additional night) so this is good to know for future reference. Apprecate all that you guys do here!