jcaan Posted September 7, 2011 Report Posted September 7, 2011 I will be traveling to NYC 9/22/-9/25. I'm attempting to use priceline to save a bit on my lodging cost. I signed up for Priceline notification and the past few days, I've received emails stating that 4* hotels in my preferred area had winning bids for $160. My plan was to wait a little closer to my travel date to start bidding, however with those winning bids I figured I'd jump in now. Well, I started with one of my preferred areas, Midtown West at $160 and was unsuccessful. I then added other areas in Manhattan and increased my bid to $220 and was unsuccessful. How reliable is that Priceline notification of recent bids?I'm willing to go to $250/night; is there a better startegy I could use, or is $250 just too low for this area?How volatile are the winning bids at different times for the same area? Is it possible that I could bid again and get a 4* for less than $250.Any help would be appreciated.Thanks.
Romelle Posted September 7, 2011 Report Posted September 7, 2011 How reliable is that Priceline notification of recent bids?Not very. Best ignored, IMO. Rates are way to date-specific for the results of other dates to have much meaning.A much better indicator is actual results on your specific dates. Have you checked the Calendar of Wins yet? Center of this page. Enter your dates and select New York - Priceline. You can click on any results in the little boxes, and be taken to the actual post too. Also, checking Hotwire for your dates will give you a cap for your bidding. It is a good "worst case" checker.Romelle
jcaan Posted September 7, 2011 Author Report Posted September 7, 2011 Thanks Romelle. Good point about the dates of winning bids not being relavant to my dates. Looks like I'll be dropping my choice down a star, but I may try up to $300 first to see what I get. Thanks again.
thereuare Posted September 7, 2011 Report Posted September 7, 2011 Welcome to BetterBidding!Exactly which zone(s) have you been bidding?Also, the first nite of your stay is more expensive then the last 2 nites... is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?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
jcaan Posted September 7, 2011 Author Report Posted September 7, 2011 Hi thereuare. I started with MTE, MTW, TSQ, SOHO, Chelsea, Empire State, Madison Square Garden, and finally Hell Kitchen.I initially was contemplating staying out at the airport, Newark, since my friend is flying in to Newark at night. Airport is now Laguardia with a 9PM arrival, so yes, staying out at the airport for Thursday night is a pretty good strategy. Any thoughts on how I can wing this. Thanks.
thereuare Posted September 7, 2011 Report Posted September 7, 2011 Airport is now Laguardia with a 9PM arrival, so yes, staying out at the airport for Thursday night is a pretty good strategy.So you're looking to bid 9/22 around LaGuardia and 9/23-9/25 in Manhattan? Is this correct?I started with MTE, MTW, TSQ, SOHO, Chelsea, Empire State, Madison Square Garden, and finally Hell Kitchen.Is this at the 4* level? Note that some of these zones don't offer 4* bidding. If moving forward with just 9/23-9/25 in NYC, is $300 your maximum bid for a 4* hotel? (i do think you should be able to get something at $300 or under for these shorted dates)Please confirm the above 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
jcaan Posted September 8, 2011 Author Report Posted September 8, 2011 Yes, willing to do LaGuardia on Thursday and Manhattan on Friday, Saturday. Yes, $300 is my max. What do you know about the W in Hoboken, NJ. It appears to be right on the river, great view, and it's beside a Path station - short ride to Manhattan.
thereuare Posted September 8, 2011 Report Posted September 8, 2011 What do you know about the W in Hoboken, NJ.The W Hoboken is a relatively new hotel which does sit right on the river and all rooms feature a city view. However, this property doesn't come up all that often and the more often result when bidding this area is the Westin in Jersey City (which is a fine hotel in it's own right, but the W Hoboken is a bit nicer, imo)Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know how you'd like to proceed 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
jcaan Posted September 8, 2011 Author Report Posted September 8, 2011 Hi therusare. What strategies can you suggest for a 4* in Manhattan for Friday, September 23, checking out Sunday 25th. Bidding up to $300.Thanks.
thereuare Posted September 8, 2011 Report Posted September 8, 2011 Which zone(s) are acceptable to you at the 4* level?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
jcaan Posted September 8, 2011 Author Report Posted September 8, 2011 Zones in this order: Midtown East, Midtown West, Times Square, Central Park South, Empire State Building, Chelsea, Downtown SohoThanks
thereuare Posted September 8, 2011 Report Posted September 8, 2011 Zones in this order: Midtown East, Midtown West, Times Square, Central Park South, Empire State Building, Chelsea, Downtown SohoAre you willing to pay more for a hotel in your first choice of zone vs. your second choice, more for a hotel in your second choice vs. your third, etc, etc... OR is the goal the least expensive 4* or better in any of your acceptable zones?Please confirm and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
jcaan Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Posted September 9, 2011 Least expensive 4* or better in any of the acceptable zones.Thanks.
thereuare Posted September 9, 2011 Report Posted September 9, 2011 At the 4* level in NYC you have FIVE re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.Select 4* MTE, MTW, TS, ESB...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* CPS, Chelsea, DT...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, Chelsea, TS, ESB...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* CPS, MTW, DT...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, MTW, DT, ESB...Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $215, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $220, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* CPS, Chelsea, TS...Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $215, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $220, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, MTW, TS, ESB, Chelsea, DT...Bid $225, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $230, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, MTW, TS, ESB, Chelsea, CPS...Bid $225, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $230, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, MTW, TS, ESB, Chelsea, DT, CPS...Bid $235, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $240, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $245, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $250, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $255, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $260If the above is rejected, HOTWIRE has a 4* hotel in the ESB zone for $265/nite (your price may differ slightly be a few dollars) with:Boutique, Restaurant, Complimentary Breakfast, Hi-Speed Internet, Business... and an impressive 4.5/5.0 Tripadvisor ratingMy best guess would be the Morgans upgraded back to the 4* level, and i would go with this should your bids up to this point be rejected and you find this offer suitable for your needs.Any questions feel free to ask.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
jcaan Posted September 20, 2011 Author Report Posted September 20, 2011 I got the Intercontinental Barclay $238 for Friday, September 23 - Sunday 25. I'm going to bid for something out at Laguardia airport for Thursday since I'm getting in late, after 9PM.I tried using the bidding strategy as described but was unsuccessful a number of times. When I tried this past weekend, I started bidding at $180 and this was rejected. Priceline then says, I can get a 4* for $58 dollars more in the zone just bid, MTE. I ignored that and tried to bid again at $190 with another zone, but the system would not take the new bid, and offered the $238 option again. I took it because of time constrains in nailing down my itinerary. It honestly took a bit of anticipation out of the bidding by basically changing the format to a Hotwire setup. At any rate, I got what I got.Thanks for the suggestions.
thereuare Posted September 20, 2011 Report Posted September 20, 2011 Congratulations on your success!If faced with the counter-offer situation again in the future, note that if you want to try to under-cut the suggested price, you can use re-bid zones (if avaialble) to simply continue bidding towards their suggested price.Glad the counter-offer at least made the process a little easier for you and you're happy with the results.You're also near my often recommended Ess-A-Bagel (Third Ave at 51st St) which has one of the best bagels in the city, makes for a nice, and relatively inexpensive, breakfast among local NYers.Thank you for sharing your win with the board. If you'd like help with the La Guardia airport leg of your trip please start a NEW TOPIC.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.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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