Priceline Hotel: How much to expect to pay NYC

[szwliew]

Hi,

Bidding + area help (8/27-9/1), First timer to priceline and to NYC

I have never used PRICELINE and have never been to NYC. My wife and I are trying to plan a last minute vacation to NYC. I've read on a separate board that for first timers, it would be good to stay in midtown east or midtown west. We want to do typical touristy things, so easy access to the subway would be very important to us.

We don't require a very nice hotel, as long as it is clean and safe. I think a 3* would be fine. The tripadvisor review of Courtyard in Midtown East was a 3* and the reviews sounded very good. I don't have a budget, I just want a good deal. That is why I'm here, just asking for someone to hold my hand and tell me my best bet would be to choose a bid of XXX in what area, and what is considered a decent price.

Since the the vacation is quite short notice I'm a bit anxious to get things booked and I don't think I have the time to read a lot about how to bid more effectively. Thats the reason I'm asking for all the handholding here!

I'm looking to book within 24 hours of this post. Please let me know if you require any further information! I will be sure to use this forum's affiliate link.

edit: Actually I am not really familiar with hotel * rankings. If you guys think an upgrade to a better hotel would be a wise way to spend a bit of money, I would take your word for it.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Would ~$165 (or less) be within your expected budget?

Thanks in advance for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your bidding.

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

[szwliew]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Would ~$165 (or less) be within your expected budget?

Thanks in advance for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your bidding.

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

Yes that would be acceptable for me but I would hope that would include taxes and fees and all that. Would that be possible? Obvious less would be even better. Is the time period of my trip known for higher prices or lower prices? I saw some posts in this forum for early/mid august that had 4* for under 130 which sounds like a good deal.

Thanks

[AaronJB]

Early August is around the height of the "low" season, as NYC prices are lower (than usual) due to hot weather. As the month progresses and September nears, prices start to noticeably climb again. While these dates aren't as bad as later into September (which are quite expensive), they are a few steps higher than early August, looking at regular rates.

I wouldn't recommend staying in TS, but MTE/MTW are fine choices and some of the other outlying areas would not be bad options if you needed/wanted to expand your options.

A few notes: The 3.5* level in MTE does include the Millennium UN, which is rather far East in MTE. The Hilton Manhattan East is another 3.5* in MTE in a similar location situation. There are not many 3*'s in MTE, and if you bid for a 3* in MTE, you could be upgraded by the service to 3.5*.

$165 "all-in" (taxes/fees included) is about $130. I don't think a $130 bid is going to be enough for a 4* in Midtown and probably a limited chance at being accepted at the 3.5* level. If you were to up your budget to $185 "all-in", I would guess you would have a better chance at the 3.5* or 4* level in Midtown.

I'm guessing a 3* in Midtown should take possibly $115-130. It all depends exactly on which zones you want to include.

There is a 4* "Top Secret" property on Travelocity for $160 and another for $166; not sure what either property is or where exactly in NYC they are, but thought I'd present them as options.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE or Travelocity links to start your purchases and searches.

[szwliew]

Wow you are fast, thanks for the tips.

I looked at that Travelocity secret hotel and I am interested because of the fact you dont' have to bid. I matched the ratings of the secret hotel and I am pretty sure the one for $160 is St Giles The Tuscany. It says midtown on Travelocity, but on this forum's hotel list its described as ESB and I want to stick with the recommendations I've heard about MTE or MTW.

Regarding your note, I definitely would not like to get stuck with a hotel that is kind of far out, especially when I could have gotten a better location for not much more money. So I will not bid for 3* or 3.5 in MTE. However, if I bid on MTW 3* do you have any suggestions about that? I feel most recommendations on this forum tend to suggest 3.5* - 4*. Is bidding on a 3* a little suspect? in other words...is it a bit riskier because there are some hotels in that range which aren't too desirable in some way or another?

To give you an idea of what I'm looking for, I don't really care how nice everything looks (good quality furniture, or amazing lobby), however I am looking for cleanliness in the rooms, decent bathroom, etc.

[szwliew]

I tried the bid, I bid up to 175 for mtw (with rebids coney island, long island, and one other). All rejected.

I am considering the ESB district. The 160 and 166 from Travelocity are both st. giles (the court and the tuscany) I believe and it is close to grand central station (3 min walk from google maps).

So....what do you think would it still be a convenient location for a first timer....

(sorry my question mark key isn`t working now)

[thereuare]

What star rating did you choose when you bid up to $175?

Either of the St Giles hotels would be fine location-wise... as you point out it's just 3 blocks to Grand Central, about a 15 minute walk to Times Square if you were heading to the Theater, and there are plenty of stores, shops, restaurants and bars along Third Ave. (as well as on 34th St which is a major East/West cross street)

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

Let us know what you decide or if we can be of further help.

[szwliew]

Planning a trip to NYC, no specific dates but probably 4-5 days somewhere between August 25th-Sept 2.

I was in NYC last year during the same time and got a Travelocity "secret hotel" deal that turned out very nice. Approx $150 per night for what was the nicest hotel that I have ever stayed in (was formerly W hotel, I don't remember the new name of the hotel)...I believe it was rated 4* on Travelocity.

Anyways, I am hoping to spend less for more modest accomdations. I would like to spend $100-$120 per night for smaller hotel (2 people but one bed) as long as it is clean and in a safe area and close to a subway station. Midtown preferred since that is where we stayed last time (I think MTE?...it was a couple minutes walk from grand central station), however I would consider staying a bit farther out.

Finally...there is an option to drive to Jersey City and take the PATH, which I have read is a popular option. While I did not do any bids, just looking up hotel prices in the area seem to suggest it isn't worth it at that time since NYC seems to be cheaper during this period. Anyone with more experience can confirm/deny?

Sorry my post kind of rambled on...basically I am looking for something in NYC close a subway for $100 - $120 per night. We don't need luxury or amenities but I would need it to appear clean and in good repair (I am always afraid of bedbugs). I don't mind staying in "downtown" bidding zone either if the savings are worth it.

Is this doable and can you suggest a strategy? Last time for my NYC trip I bid a few times, then decided to stick with the secret hotel.

[AaronJB]

Please post what you decided for your stay in your prior NYC Priceline thread (post the details of what you decided for that stay - the Travelocity purchase - within that thread, then reply to this thread.)

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

[szwliew]

Sorry forgot to update here. I eventually went with your suggestion of the Travelocity secret hotel. This was a very luxurious room, trendy hotel and decor ( a little too trendy for me...felt like it was trying to double as a nightclub...but oh well...bottom line is that it was very nice. Room was huge and nicely appointed, much more than I require.

Thanks for your help.

[szwliew]

Hi,

Sorry for forgetting to close that thread. I have updated it. Could you move this one to the NYC forum though?

[thereuare]

I think $120 for NYC is going to be a bit tough, $140-$150 is probably a bit more realistic, but we can try whatever amount you'd like. Hoboken will likely be ~$115-$135, but more likely on the higher end of the range depending upon the dates. To begin...

Would a very small room, such as that of the Hudson Hotel, be acceptable? Is a 15 minute walk to the subway ok?

Would you wan to start trying for a 3.5* up to whatever you limit you designate OR do you think a 3* would be acceptable?

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

[szwliew]

15 min walk to subway would be not so good...but doable if it was cheap. I am fine with tiny hotel rooms like the Hudson. I would rather have a tiny room than a longer walk to the subway. 3* would be fine.

Is Hoboken very easy to get to NYC? I read it was very easy from Jersey City. Is parking cheaper/free if I stay in NJ?

Thanks

[thereuare]

Hoboken and Jersey City are the same PRICELINE zone, and at the 4* level both provide very easy access to NYC.

If you want to try for a 3* in NYC up to a $120 maximum bid, let us know which zones, by PRICELINE name, 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.

[szwliew]

Please close this as I have decided to go to Chicago instead

[AaronJB]

Thank you for closing the thread.