Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* NYC (MTC) Moderne

[cat111719]

I have two tickets I need to book in the next few days. I am planning on taking my 16 yo daughter and seeing a Broadway musical. We only have a few days and since our focus is Broadway, I think that is where we'd like to stay.

I am not seeing a huge difference in prices between the two times. Should I try to get rooms first and then book flight?

And I am clueless as to how this works!

thanks in advance for any help.

[thereuare]

Where are you flying from? Both months are typically very expensive in NYC, with October usually being even more expensive near the end of the month, and December being more expensive at the beginning of the month and getting 'almost cheap' for a few days on each side of the Xmas holiday. If you can delay this trip until January rates will likely be significantly cheaper.

I would research airfare costs for each set of dates, then use HOTWIRE rates as your 'worst case scenario', in order to determine a budget. Then also check hotel+package deals at Expedia (please use this previous link) to compare prices. Assuming booking airfare on your own and a HOTWIRE hotel is the least expensive, you could then try bidding on a hotel to beat the HOTWIRE rate. Note that both hotel and airfare rates will fluctuate, sometimes substantially (especially airfare).

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (or our Expedia link if you go that route)

Let us know what you find and we'll take it from there.

[cat111719]

We are flying out of LAX. I am using vouchers and a credit with Southwest so the airfare is no problem, as there is a huge sale right now but travel must be completed by 12/14.The bigger challenge is with my daughter's school schedule, which completely knocks out November.

We have actually decided on mid-week in early December, Dec 7-10, although I haven't booked anything yet.

[thereuare]

If the cost and availability of airfare isn't a factor then you only need to focus on the hotel side of things... what is your maximum bid for this stay?

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

[cat111719]

I really don't know what my bid would be. I guess my highest bid is the cheapest I can a hotel room for without bidding. From searching, that is looking like $250 a night is the low side. On Hotwire is says prices as low as 60% off so should I use that as my gauge?

(And when you say to use the HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links, you mean the ones at the top of the page, correct? I just go in through there, and then do whtever I need to? I just want to make sure Im doing it right. :)

[AaronJB]

Please use the site's PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links at the top of the page. Thanks. :)

In terms of HOTWIRE, the discount is going to vary significantly from day-to-day and season-to-season. This is unfortunately an extremely busy period - hotels are not going to be aggressive discounting and rates are going to be high due to demand with holiday shopping/festivities. HOTWIRE is showing a number of Midtown 4*'s anywhere from the very high $200's to the $400's. PRICELINE would be less expensive, but still extremely high.

Are you only looking for the Times Square-Theater District area?

[cat111719]

I think we would like that. My daughter is an aspiring Broadway Star :)

But something close would be okay.

[cat111719]

How did I know whether to use HOTWIRE or PRICELINE? Or should I just try on both?

[thereuare]

PRICELINE is usually a little cheaper then HOTWIRE, but with HOTWIRE you're given some additional information about the hotel (amenities offered and often travel review information, both of which can be used to try to take a guess as to the hotel being offered). So if bottomline price is the most important aspect of a given stay, PRICELINE is usually a better option... if you're looking for specific amenities, or would like to take a guess as to the hotel being offered, or take comfort in knowing that others have enjoyed the hotel you're about to purchase, then HOTWIRE may be the better choice. However, the trade-off is that HOTWIRE typically costs a ltitle more. For further information on this subject see this thread: I've Never Used Priceline or Hotwire.

$250 seems pretty cheap (on a relative basis) for a 4* Times Square hotel this time of year... what hotel are you seeing at that price point? Also, 60% is probably not realistic for these dates since it's such high demand this time of year. Often when hotel prices climb it's an indication of strong demand, and hotels may therefore be reluctant to discount too deeply (if at all), if they feel they can sell most rooms on their own at full price.

Let us know about the $250 hotel you're finding (or if that was not a bonafied quote for a room for these dates, then the best deal you are able to find), as well as your thoughts regarding PRICELINE vs. HOTWIRE, and we'll take it from there.

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

[cat111719]

Okay, so I'm rethinking this. The offer I saw was on Hotwire for $248 for a 3.5*, Mid-town West.

I think we can stay somewhere else, as long as it's a safe, fun area. I really need to go for price over location.

[cat111719]

Ok, after talking to a few friends, I am switching gears, and now focusing on staying in Brooklyn.

I have a reservation at the NU for Approx. $325 a night. It is showing on Priceline at $302 a night.

So how would I bid to get that or something similar for less?

[cat111719]

Should I start a different thread on Brooklyn?

[cat111719]

I am trying to bid on Hotwire for a hotel in Brooklyn for 12/07/11 - 12/10/11. I have a reservation at the NU at $325 per night as a backup.

Can anyone tell me if this is the NU?

Help Identify Brooklyn 3.5*

$235 per night

Boutique Hotel, Smoke-free, Complimentary breakfast, Fitness Center, Business Center

Also,

if I get the insurance can I then cancel if I don't like the hotel?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Please continue this thread for all posts regarding this trip.

Let's back up a moment... what is your target budget? You earlier found a 3.5* hotel in MTW for $248/nite, but now you're looking to stay in Brooklyn and do better than your $325/nite back-up reservation?? (a mere $75/nite more than the better location Manhattan hotel you saw previously)

If this is your first trip to NYC i would advise not staying in Brooklyn, but if you must/insist, HOTWIRE does have a 4* hotel in the Brooklyn zone for $124/nite with a good 4.0/5.0 Tripadvisor rating. I'm not certain what property it is, but it may be the Sheraton with a 'missing' Laundry icon since it was last reported to the board.

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

Let us know your maximum budget per nite for this stay and well see what options might be available.

[thereuare]

Can anyone tell me if this is the NU?

Help Identify Brooklyn 3.5*

$235 per night

Boutique Hotel, Smoke-free, Complimentary breakfast, Fitness Center, Business Center

This does match the NU Hotel so that would be my best guess. However, see my comment above regarding staying in Brooklyn, and if you are going to stay in Brooklyn, why not the 4* for nearly $100/nite less??

if I get the insurance can I then cancel if I don't like the hotel?

No, the insurance covers specific events (usually involving sickness and trip interruption)... buyer's remorse and/or not liking the hotel received are not one of the conditions covered :)

Let us know what you'd like to do and 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.

[cat111719]

Okay, sorry to be so all over the map. NYC is so overwhelming with all its choices and I really don't know much about it.

I booked the NU just as a backup, but it really is more than I want to spend. I just felt like I had to have something. But I'm thinking you (and others) may be right and Brooklyn is not the best spot. So..back to square one. (Btw, I did start another thread about Brooklyn but I'll let it drop)

I guess I don't really care what area we stay in so maybe I'm better off knowing where NOT to stay. Price is still my biggest factor. As far as amenities, free wi-fi would be my #1, after that, I think I'd like a Boutique hotel and free breakfast but neither are necessary.

Should I go for 3* or 4* and what exact areas should I be looking at? When I bid, do I start with just one area (Which one???) or select a few?

Thanks for all your help so far! I really appreciate it!

[thereuare]

You're not buying a $50 hotel where the inclusion/exclusion of $10 internet will add 20% to the cost of your stay... get the best deal you can on a hotel and if internet ends up costing $10-$15 it will in all likelihood still be cheaper then anything you could get at the same star level which included internet.

Realistically, what is your budget and desired star level? From there i'll let you know your options.

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

[cat111719]

Bottom line, nothing less than a 3*, 3.5* would be even better, and I'd really like to keep it under $200,$250 max, though if that is unattainable, I guess I'll go higher.

[thereuare]

Here are your current options (of course these are my 'guesses' for the hotels):

Within your budget:

3* MTC Holiday Inn 57th St - $238/nite ('ok' hotel)

3* ESB Murray Hill East Suiets - $226/nite (clean and spacious by NYC standards, but very basic... nothing fancy here)

A little above your budget:

3.5* Chelsea-MSG might be the Doubletree Chelsea - $287/nite

Brooklyn (should budget win out although you'll lose much of the feel of the Manhattan):

4* possiblyl Sheraton - $124/nite

You could try bidding on PRICELINE to beat any of the above prices, but given the above and time before your stay, i would give it a month to continue to search HOTWIRE and hoe for something less/better than the above to appear. But this should give you a perspective so that if a 3.5* centrally located hotel appears for $225/nite, and we're able to reasonably identify it as something decent, you'll know just how good of a deal it is and you'll be prepared to grab it and not have to think about it. That's how i would play it... your thoughts?

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

[cat111719]

That makes sense. I'm sure I've been way too anxious. I hate loose ends! :)

Dang! There was a boutique Central Park for $247 or something like that earlier today. It's up to $351 now but I'm sure it's the same hotel.

I think I'm getting it now. Hotwire gives you a price that is lower but non-negotiable. Pricline, you bid and hope you get the price you want and it is cheaper but harder to know which hotel you are getting. Does that sum it up? Sorry to be so clueless!

So going forward with HOTWIRE, what should my search be, do you think?

[cat111719]

What hotel do you think this is?

Empire State Building area hotel 3.5* $286 Boutique, Restaurant, HighSpeed Internet.

[thereuare]

I wasn't sure of the ESB property, and based upon the HOTWIRE user feedback, and price, i thought the Chelsea-MSG property was a better option if you were going to go over your budget.

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

[cat111719]

Ok, I'm seeing a 3* Midtown Central for $238 - Fitness, pool, restaurant, Hi-speed internet, 80% positive review.

Any idea what hotel that might be?

[AaronJB]

My guess would be the Holiday Inn Midtown/57th.

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

[cat111719]

There is also a 3.5* for $280. Smoke-fre, Business Center, HS Internet. Any ideas which hotel that is? I know that is more than I wanted to spend but it is smoke-free which is a plus. Living in California, I forget that other places aren't smoke-free automatically.