Priceline Hotel: Shared

[yarty]

Hi

First of all, I wanted to let you know that this is a great forum..it is cool to see the sharing and help people are getting.

as for my question:

I'm planning on visiting NY for 14 nights in the begining of October. I've heard about priceline and hotwire, but a bit confused regarding the differences between them.

also, I'm willing to spent top 160-170$ per night, and we prefer (me and my wife) the chelsea area since we've been there before, but we're not limiting it.

I'm not a gambler, and it's pretty difficult for me to 'bet' on more than 2000$ especially when I could receive a lausy hotel.

what do you thik I should do? is it too early to try on booking? should I wait a few more weeks?

also, is my budget reasonable? we are lookin for a 3-4 star clean with private toilet hotel. we don't care for gym or any other features.

and one last question, what is it with the priceline insurence policy? they say it is 5$ a day..is it valid for any reason?

Thanks

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

I'm planning on visiting NY for 14 nights in the begining of October. I've heard about priceline and hotwire, but a bit confused regarding the differences between them.

If you haven't yet, see this I've Never Used Priceline or Hotwire thread which gives an overview to the similarities, and differences, between the two services.

also, I'm willing to spent top 160-170$ per night... is my budget reasonable?

October is typically a busy, and therefore expensive, time of year in NYC, but if you let us know the actual date(s) of your stay we'll have a look at current rates.

I'm not a gambler, and it's pretty difficult for me to 'bet' on more than 2000$ especially when I could receive a lausy hotel.

Most of us were the same way, but eventually get hooked on the deals received. It's not a perfect system, but the majority are much more satisfied then not, and with the forum's help we should be able to assist and 'keep you out of trouble' from any 'known' dogs or problem areas (but of course nothing is guaranteed). For your first purchase HOTWIRE may be a better option since you can often take an educated guess as to the property you may receive, but more importantly for your trepidation, you can use the previous HOTWIRE guest reviews (and sometimes TripAdvisor information if shown) to increase your comfort level.

and one last question, what is it with the priceline insurence policy? they say it is 5$ a day..is it valid for any reason?

No, the insurance mostly covers health issues and sickness. You can/should read the full terms of the policy to see what is/isn't covered, but 'buyers remorse' and 'not liking the hotel received' are not covered conditions for a claim :)

Let us know the actual dates of your stay (are your dates firm??) and we'll have a quick look to discuss your options.

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

[yarty]

Hi

Thank you for your quick response.

We still don't have tickets, but we are aiming to 30.9-13.10 (14 nights).

What would consider to be a decent rate for a decent hotel?

Thanks

[thereuare]

For something 'nice' you're probably looking at low-$200s/mid-$200s.

Let us know once your plans are firm and we'll take it from there.

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

[yarty]

Hi again

We have dates!

We will arrive to new york on october 6th,and we are plannign to stay until the 19th. that's total of 13 nights.

Now as I said, we don't familier with the zones, what consider good or bad. the last two times we were there, we where in the chelsea area which was really great so we don't mind returning there.

can you please help us with bidding strategy?

Also, could you explain what is the re-bid zones?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Please start by reading your messages and clicking this PRICELINE link... then reply to this thread and we'll have a closer look at the dates of your stay.

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

Thanks.

[yarty]

Hi

I have read it and I will use those links.

my dates in the NY will be october 12 - october 26. I need some kind of bidding strategy if you could assist me with that.

I prefer 3.5 star hotels in the chelsea zone but I'm also flexible.

Thanks

[thereuare]

We will arrive to new york on october 6th,and we are plannign to stay until the 19th. that's total of 13 nights.

my dates in the NY will be october 12 - october 26.

Have your dates changed and are they now firm?

I prefer 3.5 star hotels in the chelsea zone but I'm also flexible.

Does this mean you only want to bid the Chelsea zone at first, then if rejected up to your limit, star over and include other zones... or is just about anything in midtown acceptable?

Would a hotel with a 15 minute walk to the subway be acceptable? What about a very small room (even by NYC standards)?

What is your maximum bid for this stay?

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

[yarty]

Hi

thanks for your reply.

my dates are now firm, I have the tickets.

We really don't mind about the area, I liked the chelsea but it really doesn't matter much to me.

We want to spend 150-160$ per night, we want a decent place with private toilet and beth..we don't really care for the other amenities.

15 min walk to the subway is a bit long.

size of the room need to be logical, we need to put suitcases and move around the room...we don't want a bed only room.

I know that this is a busy time in NY, but I think I could get a good place within our budget.

hope that helps.

regards,

[thereuare]

We really don't mind about the area, I liked the chelsea but it really doesn't matter much to me...

15 min walk to the subway is a bit long.

So there are some limits to where you will/won't stay.

I know that this is a busy time in NY, but I think I could get a good place within our budget. We want to spend 150-160$ per night...

I believe this is going to be quite a bit more difficult then you think. What is the best rate you're able to find at an acceptable hotel thru conventional booking channels?

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

[yarty]

Hi

I do have some limits...but for a good deal I'm willing to consider every limit.

when you say 15 minutes walk to a subway station, on which zone are you talking ? because I remember stations all over manhattan when I was there..and I don't remember walking too much to get one.

Currently the prices for a decent hotel are starting from 220+ for a 3 star hotel. since we will be there for two weeks, the difference between this and our budget can be quite big.

Regards,

[thereuare]

when you say 15 minutes walk to a subway station, on which zone are you talking ? because I remember stations all over manhattan when I was there..and I don't remember walking too much to get one.

Look at the Millennium UN (enter "One UN Plaza, nyc" into the search box at MAPSandHOTELS.com)... less out of the way but still a moderate walk to the subway see the Desmond TuTu Center ('180 10th Avenue, NYC').... and Ink48 (653 11th Avenue, NYC)

Currently the prices for a decent hotel are starting from 220+ for a 3 star hotel.

Your last comment regarding star rating was for a 3.5* property... is 3* or 3.5* your desired target? What is the name of the hotel you found for for $220? Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?

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

[yarty]

Hi

when bidding, how can I be sure that I will not get a room with shared toilet for example?

Thanks

[yarty]

also, I will be in new york between october 12th and the 26th (14 nights) and I need a good place to stay.

I have read the posts here before and I will use the proper link but I need to know if we have a chance of finding something decent, without shared toilet, for less than 200$. we don't care about the zones, we just want the subway to be near, and for the hotel to be clean.

I guess that we are looking for a 3 stars and up hotels..

any help will be highly appreciate...

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

Please keep all posts regarding this stay within this thread.

The Fall period is generally expensive in NYC and it can definitely be difficult to secure a deal at times for a 2-week stay - are you willing to split your stay? Are you okay with a hotel that may not be right near a subway (as discussed above, there are possibilities not right near a subway and there's no way to guarantee a hotel near a subway.) At the 3* level shared bathroom is not an issue, but at the 2* level (I don't believe there's any 2.5*'s with shared bathroom) you may run into this issue in NYC. What is the best regular rate option that you have been able to find?

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

[thereuare]

...we just want the subway to be near...

Which brings us to where we left off 2 weeks ago:

when you say 15 minutes walk to a subway station, on which zone are you talking ? because I remember stations all over manhattan when I was there..and I don't remember walking too much to get one.

Look at the Millennium UN (enter "One UN Plaza, nyc" into the search box at MAPSandHOTELS.com)... less out of the way but still a moderate walk to the subway see the Desmond TuTu Center ('180 10th Avenue, NYC').... and Ink48 (653 11th Avenue, NYC)

...I will use the proper link...

Please click the PRICELINE and/or HOTWIRE link before posting and asking or help. Please click this PRICELINE link and reply to this thread and we'll have a closer look at the options for your dates and answer your question(s) above.

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

[yarty]

the treasure, you are a saint!

I truly appreciate your help here on this forum.

I'm willing to split my stay into 2 parts, I just was a decent hotel with private toilet. so I guess I'm looking into 3 starts hotels and up, with a budget of 160$ a night.

the subway location is also important to us since we come back to the hotel during the day.

The ink48 looks great but it charges over 400$. the same goes for the other 2 hotels you wrote...so how can they be in my budget?

thanks

[thereuare]

The ink48 looks great but it charges over 400$. the same goes for the other 2 hotels you wrote...so how can they be in my budget?

You don't know their 'opaque' rate... and while perhaps not the most likely scenarios, they are possibilities, so it's up to you to decide if these are zones/risks you're willing to accept.

Is the CPS zone off the table due to the small rooms at the Hudson Hotel referenced earlier?

Please confirm the zone(s) (by PRICELINE name) that you're willing to accept and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[yarty]

Dear Treasure

We really don't care much about zones as long as it is in Manhattan and as long there is a subway station near. the size of the room is obviously important but not crucial..we usually just sleep and take showers..most of the day we are outside anyway.

So as far as regarding zones, we are pretty much flexible.

what do you think? what is the proper strategy?

The Ink48 looks great by the way, I'll book it today is it will be in my budget.

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

As noted, there is no way to guarantee a subway is right nearby - is a 15 minute walk too far? HOTWIRE does have what appears to be the Murray Hill East Suites for $193 for your entire stay - while more than you wanted to stay, this would be a more "apartment-like" setting for the longer stay and having a kitchen would allow some savings on food - keeping leftovers, making meals on one or more nights, etc.

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

[yarty]

15 minutes is a bit far.. I prefer it to be close.

let summerzied it:

1. 14 nights. October. don't mind to split into two parts

2. don't care about zones as long as it is in manhatten and there is a subway near

3. budget? less than 200$ per night include the fees, taxes etc.. meaning 160-170$

4. 3 starts and up hotels.

sounds realistic?

if so, how to bid? re-bid?

[thereuare]

Here is the sticking point and why we keep going in circles...

2. don't care about zones as long as it is in manhatten and there is a subway near

There is no button to select for "subway near by" when bidding on PRICELINE... you can receive a hotel anywhere within the shaded boundaries of the zone you select. Therefore, we are trying to determine which zone(s) you need to eliminate entirely from your bidding. You mention that a hotel/location such as Ink48 is accept, but then also state that the subway needs to be nearby, which for this example (Ink48) it is not located within your parameters.

Given this contradiction, i'm not sure which zones to include in a bidding strategy.

Also contradictory...

size of the room need to be logical, we need to put suitcases and move around the room...we don't want a bed only room.

Is the CPS zone off the table due to the small rooms at the Hudson Hotel referenced earlier?

We really don't care much about zones as long as it is in Manhattan and as long there is a subway station near. the size of the room is obviously important but not crucial..we usually just sleep and take showers..most of the day we are outside anyway.

At the Hudson Hotel you will basically get a 'bed only' room... it will have a private bathroom, but the room itself will basically be 'all bed' and that's about it, so based upon the above, is this an acceptable hotel (or should the zone be eliminated entirely from bidding??)

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

[yarty]

Hi

I'm sorry if I contradicted myself.

If the hotel is a good one, we will settle for it even if the room is small, and even if it is a 15 minutes walk from the subway.

The Ink48 looks great, I would grab it now if I could.

I said that we prefer this and that but it isn't a must...only nice to have.

so basically, it is all up to the budget now, I want it to be less than 200$ including the fees and taxes. Is it doable?

thanks again and sorry for the misunderstaing.

[thereuare]

So to confirm, if within your budget a small room at the Hudson or a 15 minute walk to the subway would be acceptable?

I do think your budget will be a little bit of a stretch, so including all acceptable zones will improve your chances of coming in under budget.

[yarty]

anything is acceptable.

can you supply me with a strategy? should I start bidding with all the zones or add them during the re-bid?

Thanks,