feh Posted July 12, 2011 Report Posted July 12, 2011 Hi folks!My family (myself, my wife and 11 yo son) are taking a family trip to NY 8/17 -> 8/23 (6 nights). I'd like to use priceline for our hotel, as I used it once before for a Chicago stay and was very happy with the results.We'd like to be in Manhattan, hopefully close to a subway. If folks have an area of the island that would make the most sense as a base for standard sight-seeing, I'd appreciate it.Is it too early to start bidding? We'll need 2 beds and 3+ stars in a decent neighborhood. What price should I start at?Suggestions welcome! I'm not familiar with the city...
AaronJB Posted July 12, 2011 Report Posted July 12, 2011 Welcome to Betterbidding. :)PRICELINE guarantees one bed/double occupancy, and while this isn't as much of an issue during some seasons and/or some cities, using PRICELINE for more than one bed in NYC is a high risk and very unlikely. Most rooms in NYC are quite small (even at higher-end properties, some not big enough for a rollaway) and rooms with two beds quite often go for a premium.If you do want to take the risk of possibly getting one bed, please let us know and we would be happy to offer suggestions on how to proceed.Otherwise, HOTWIRE - where you can indicate how many people are in the party - would be a better option.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
feh Posted July 12, 2011 Author Report Posted July 12, 2011 Thanks for the info!Two beds is a must...I've never used hotwire. Being somewhat familiar w/ priceline, what are the differences between the two?
thereuare Posted July 13, 2011 Report Posted July 13, 2011 Two beds is a must...Is one bed and a pullout sofa bed, rollaway, etc sufficient... or do you need two actual beds?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
feh Posted July 13, 2011 Author Report Posted July 13, 2011 No, a pullout or rollaway would be ok - our son is 11.
thereuare Posted July 13, 2011 Report Posted July 13, 2011 ...I've never used hotwire. Being somewhat familiar w/ priceline, what are the differences between the two?For your purposes, the most important difference is that 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. On the otherhand HOTWIRE allows you to search for up to quad occupancy and guarantees sleeping accommodations for everyone you include in your search... which enables you to 'force' at least 2 separate beds since 4 people can't sleep in one bed (but as noted above the second 'bed' could be a rollaway, pullout sofabed, etc)Therefore, i think HOTWIRE is a better option for you for this stay... unless you're willing to take the risk of using PRICELINE and possibly (very likely in NYC) receiving a room with only one bed. For more differences, and similarities between the two services, see this I've Never Used Priceline or Hotwire thread.What is your expected budget (per nite before fees and taxes) and desired star rating for this stay?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
feh Posted July 13, 2011 Author Report Posted July 13, 2011 We'd like 3+ stars, in Manhattan somewhere (safe neighborhood). Don't really have a budget; just looking for the best price to save some money on the trip. I'm hoping it will be less than $200 per night...
thereuare Posted July 13, 2011 Report Posted July 13, 2011 The 'problem' is that rooms to accommodate more than double occupancy in NYC often come at a premium, and rates on HOTWIRE (and at hotel websites and online booking agencies) often rise when searching for more than two people in NYC.Just to start/open the discussion... what would your thoughts be on the Holiday Inn 57th St for $195/nite or the Holiday Inn Sixth Avenue for ~$205/nite? About what you expected, better, worse?Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID something you would consider?Let us know your thoughts regarding the above 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
feh Posted July 13, 2011 Author Report Posted July 13, 2011 I couldn't find the HI 57th on PRICELINE, so I can't comment. The HI on sixth isn't bad (the reviews are mostly good), although for a 3 star, that price seems a little high. But again, I really can't pass judgment, since I've never booked a hotel in NYC before.We don't want to switch hotels during our stay.
thereuare Posted July 14, 2011 Report Posted July 14, 2011 Here is info on the Holiday Inn 57th StreetTo put prices in perspective if you go to Expedia and search for 2adults/1child you can see the majority of 3* hotels are in the $250-$300 range.As another comparison, if you head to HOTWIRE and search for your dates but for only 2adults, you'll prices are a bit less than we're quoting (~$200) above which is an example of the 'more than double occupancy premium'.Are you able to find better deals elsewhere? (make sure you're searching for 2adults/1child to compare apples-to-apples)Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know the above and we'll take it from there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
feh Posted July 14, 2011 Author Report Posted July 14, 2011 I haven't done any general searching - I'm assuming priceline/hotwire will be my best deal.If it will be $200 for a 3 star, then so be it. What price should I bid at, and when should I start? Or is bidding out of the question since we need 2 beds?Thanks!
thereuare Posted July 14, 2011 Report Posted July 14, 2011 I haven't done any general searching - I'm assuming priceline/hotwire will be my best deal.PRICELINE and HOTWIRE are almost always your best deal, but you should check rates thru traditional booking channels as well to make sure that 1) you don't over bid, and 2) that you are saving enough to 'compensate' for not being able to choose your own hotel.Or is bidding out of the question since we need 2 beds?PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, after that its at the discretion of the hotel, so bidding may not be the best option for you for this stay (assuming two beds is more of a need then a want). HOTWIRE guarantees sleeping accommodations for everyone you include in your search, so if you search for quad occupancy, you can 'force' the second bed since one bed in the room won't be enough to accommodate four people, however, the second 'bed' could be a pullout sofabed, rollaway brought into the room, etc... would this work for your needs? However, the second point is that inventory often changes and/or prices may go up, when searching for more than double occupancy (this is especially true in NYC)... does this same property appear, and for at or about, the same price when searching for quad or triple occupancy?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
feh Posted July 14, 2011 Author Report Posted July 14, 2011 Ok, I will do some general searching as well.A pullout or rollaway would be acceptable - does that mean I can bid on HOTWIRE?
feh Posted July 14, 2011 Author Report Posted July 14, 2011 Been doing some searching on Hotels.com - when they state a room "accommodates 3 guests", what does that mean, exactly? I can see the room has only 1 bed; does that imply there is a pullout?Thanks.
AaronJB Posted July 14, 2011 Report Posted July 14, 2011 It does not guarantee a pullout. My guess would be that the max occupancy for the room is 3. Is there anything of interest when searching on HOTWIRE for 3?Thank you for using the site's Hotels.com, HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
feh Posted July 14, 2011 Author Report Posted July 14, 2011 Nothing that looks superior to what I found on Hotels.com. Although I don't know what the prices would be via bidding, as opposed to the hotel listings...
AaronJB Posted July 14, 2011 Report Posted July 14, 2011 One note - do look out for "extra person" charges on Hotels.com, which will be listed during the first screen of checkout if the hotel (some do, some do not) does charge for every person over 2.Thank you for using the site's Hotels.com, HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
thereuare Posted July 15, 2011 Report Posted July 15, 2011 What is the best deal (hotel and rate) you're able to find thru Hotels.com? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
feh Posted July 15, 2011 Author Report Posted July 15, 2011 What is the best deal (hotel and rate) you're able to find thru Hotels.com?There seem to be acceptable hotels (3 star) around midtown for $190-210. Hotels.com didn't show much for downtown (or maybe I didn't search correctly)...
AaronJB Posted July 15, 2011 Report Posted July 15, 2011 The Manhattan at Times Square (formerly the Sheraton, still a Starwood property I believe) is $184.9 non-refundable via Expedia.Thank you for using the site's Expedia, PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.
thereuare Posted July 16, 2011 Report Posted July 16, 2011 There seem to be acceptable hotels (3 star) around midtown for $190-210.Specifically what hotel(s) seem to be your best deal, as i just searched Hotels.com and didn't find much in the $190-$210 range, and what they did list in that range i wouldn't consider 3* (or recommend you stay there... ie- Hotel Pennsylvania)The Manhattan at Times Square (formerly the Sheraton, still a Starwood property I believe) is $184.9 non-refundable via Expedia.If you're shopping price this hotel gets good reviews, has a good location, but it is old and a bit tired, imo. For a little more (again ~$200/nite)i i'm once again seeing the Holiday Inn 57th St ($199), if that is of interest, or the well reviewed Holiday Inn Express Madison Square Garden ($210/nite) which perhaps you could justify the additional cost with the included breakfast.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
feh Posted July 16, 2011 Author Report Posted July 16, 2011 Specifically what hotel(s) seem to be your best deal, as i just searched Hotels.com and didn't find much in the $190-$210 range, and what they did list in that range i wouldn't consider 3* (or recommend you stay there... ie- Hotel Pennsylvania)Eastgate hotel.If you're shopping price this hotel gets good reviews, has a good location, but it is old and a bit tired, imo. For a little more (again ~$200/nite)i i'm once again seeing the Holiday Inn 57th St ($199), if that is of interest, or the well reviewed Holiday Inn Express Madison Square Garden ($210/nite) which perhaps you could justify the additional cost with the included breakfast.Let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there.I'll take a look; thanks.
feh Posted July 16, 2011 Author Report Posted July 16, 2011 If you're shopping price this hotel gets good reviews, has a good location, but it is old and a bit tired, imo. For a little more (again ~$200/nite)i i'm once again seeing the Holiday Inn 57th St ($199), if that is of interest, or the well reviewed Holiday Inn Express Madison Square Garden ($210/nite) which perhaps you could justify the additional cost with the included breakfast.The Eastgate has better reviews than either of those hotels on tripadvisor.com, and has larger rooms. With the Eastgate I also don't get the impression I'd need to worry about finding a place for my son to sleep.
thereuare Posted July 17, 2011 Report Posted July 17, 2011 The Eastgate Tower is a good choice... nothing too fancy, but larger then average rooms and well kept.If you walk towards Third Ave and head South, Daniels Bagels is very good for an inexpensive breakfast... and Jackson Hole (Third Ave at 35th St) has one of the best burgers in the city, imo.Hopefully you used the board's Hotels.com link for your purchase.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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