Cimbom Posted July 21, 2011 Report Posted July 21, 2011 Hello,My husband and I are wanting to stay in NY for 2 weeks, ideally from the 23rd of September. We're happy to break up our stay into 2 or 3 hotels (so 4-5 nights at each) but I haven't had any luck so far. I've even tried 3 nights for $250 (4 star) but have had no luck. Ideally, we'd like to stay in the Empire State Building, Midtown East/West, Times Sq and Chelsea zones. Am I doing something wrong?Thanks :)
Cimbom Posted July 22, 2011 Author Report Posted July 22, 2011 Our ideal total spend for the 2 weeks is $3000 USD tax inclusive so about $215 a night. Should we try 3.5 stars? If so, I'd prefer the hotels in the ESB zone. Thoughts?
thereuare Posted July 22, 2011 Report Posted July 22, 2011 Welcome to BetterBidding!Please start by reading your messages and clicking this PRICELINE link... then reply to this thread and we'll have a look at your stay above.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
Cimbom Posted July 23, 2011 Author Report Posted July 23, 2011 I have read my messages. I am using Priceline to look for our hotel. I have come across a great deal on Hotwire for five nights of our stay but it is a bit more than we want to spend per night, so if we book it, we'd need to spend a bit less on the other nights.How much do you think we'd need to bid to have a chance of getting a 3.5* or above in the Midtown East zone? Our limit is about $190/night inclusive of tax - this would ideally be broken up into 5 nights (23rd to 28th of September) and 4 or 5 nights (3rd October to 6/7 October).Thanks :)
Cimbom Posted July 23, 2011 Author Report Posted July 23, 2011 I just got an email from Priceline that someone got a 4 star hotel in Midtown West for $150/night however, when I went in and added my dates, it wasn't accepted. Anyone know what to do with these emails?
thereuare Posted July 23, 2011 Report Posted July 23, 2011 When you receive an email from PRICELINE please remember to stop by the board and use the links here (and not the links in the email) to begin your bidding/purchase.The 'problem' is that hotel rates are date specific, and that $150 rate may have been for a solo Sunday nite (typically the least expensive nite for hotels), a stay in February of next year, or a stay for tomorrow... it may have very little to do with what is needed for your own trip.For a 3.5* in MTE, are you aware that some of the hotels in this zone at this star level can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway... i this acceptable?I'll also add that i think you would be better focusing on a 'great deal' for this stay in an area which is generally considered well located and convenient, as opposed to focusing on just one zone at a time. This is an expensive time in NYC, your stays are for 'moderately' long (by PRICELINE standards)... each of which is going to make this a more difficult win.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
Cimbom Posted July 23, 2011 Author Report Posted July 23, 2011 I just tried again and bid on all zones (except financial district, Long Island and Brooklyn) for $245 and got no four star hotel for four nights even though someone just won one a three night stay directly after my dates for $225. Doesn't make sense to me.
thereuare Posted July 23, 2011 Report Posted July 23, 2011 The 'problem' is that hotel rates are date specific......even though someone just won one a three night stay directly after my dates for $225. Doesn't make sense to me.As per above, rates are date specific... a hotel can be slow on Tuesday and set rates for $150 and very busy on Wednesday and set rates at $400... what somebody won a directly after your dates is not always applicable to your own dates.For which date range(s) did you try the bidding above?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.EDIT TO ADD: i found the thread where you referenced the $225/rate. To prove the point above, i searched that user's dates and rates start at $252/nite... then searched your dates (that you listed in your reply to their thread) 10/3-10/7 and rates start at $391/nite. Hopefully this makes it clearer why your bids were rejected, even though their stay is just a few days after yours. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Cimbom Posted July 23, 2011 Author Report Posted July 23, 2011 Wow, what do you suggest then? How much lower would it be for 3.5*? Not much I imagine.
thereuare Posted July 23, 2011 Report Posted July 23, 2011 That rate was for the specific hotel won, not for all rates in the area... so there may be other hotels which cost less, some which cost more, but it brings up my point above about not focusing on just one zone, and including all zones in your bid which are acceptable, as it gives more hotels the opportunity to accept your bid (which translates to a better price for you):I'll also add that i think you would be better focusing on a 'great deal' for this stay in an area which is generally considered well located and convenient, as opposed to focusing on just one zone at a time. This is an expensive time in NYC, your stays are for 'moderately' long (by PRICELINE standards)... each of which is going to make this a more difficult win.At the moment, for 10/3-10/7 i'm guessing that you're looking at low-$200's for a 3.5* and high-$200's for a 4*. Have you already purchased a HOTWIRE hotel for the 5 nites you mentioned above? What hotel did you receive or think is being offered and what is the price?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
Cimbom Posted July 24, 2011 Author Report Posted July 24, 2011 I ended up bidding on hotels in Jersey City and got the Westin for 7 nights at $135/night. I think I could have got it for less but I did a few bigger bids towards the end as I was running out of options for date changes. So this leaves me with a budget of $2000 USD for the remaining 7 nights. The deal I saw was for a 4* hotel in MTE which I am guessing is the Intercontinental Barclay. It is listed for $265/night for Oct 1 to 8 ($2190 USD in total with taxes). If I can get it for below $230-240 that would be great.When I made my bid for Jersey City, at the end, they asked if I wanted to extend my stay. Does this happen with all wins or only particular areas. Thanks :)
thereuare Posted July 24, 2011 Report Posted July 24, 2011 Congratulations on your success!Can you please add a reply to this thread with the dates you won for so we can edit the topic title accordingly and enable this win to appear in the calendaorfwins.Then please start a NEW TOPIC for the balance of your stay.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Cimbom Posted July 24, 2011 Author Report Posted July 24, 2011 September 24 - October 1 on PricelineThanks :)
Cimbom Posted July 26, 2011 Author Report Posted July 26, 2011 I am thinking of bidding on Priceline for an additional 2 nights here (so until Oct 3) as we are thinking of taking a mini-break and then coming back to NY for 5 nights or so. What's the chance of me getting this hotel again? I don't want to change hotels for two nights.
thereuare Posted July 26, 2011 Report Posted July 26, 2011 If you're not willing to change hotels then i wouldn't suggest bidding for the additional nites.Have you tried the 'extend your stay' feature from PRICELINE?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
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