Priceline Hotel: Bidding Help 7/13-17 NYC

[mjean]

4 nite stay in NYC 7/13 - 7/17. Never used PL before.

I am interested in 4* or 3* in MTE.

Also interested in Murray Hill East Suites (MTS) which I believe is 2.5* but worried about getting stuck in another dive.

Any bidding strategy advice?

Top price willing to pay is $200.

Thanks!!!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Are you only interested in MTE, or will you also bid MTW and/or UM/CPS (these three zones are the most popular among tourists).

Also, you'll need to know and understand re-bidding. At the 4* level you have two re-bid zones available, please read RE-BIDDING EXPLAINED and let us know if you can figure out which two zone are your re-bid zones and/or ask questions if you're unsure.

Let us know regarding the above and we'll suggest a strategy to follow.

[mjean]

Yes, I am willing to re-bid in the other two areas you have suggested MTW and CPS.

[thereuare]

Those aren't your re-bid zones, those are 'live' zones because they contain hotels at the 4* level.

If you're confused about re-bidding, do this:

-list each zone that priceline offers in NYC

-write down the highest rated hotel available in each zone:

The way to check what star levels are available in each zone is to open a Priceline page, check ONLY the zone you are inquiring about, and then proceed to the next page (as if you were going to select a zone)... this will give you the available star ratings in that area. You can then hit BACK on your browser, uncheck the current box, check the next box, and repeat the process. It is important to do this before EACH attempt at adding a zone that you really don't want, as new hotels can be added and the star ratings can change at any time.

Post the results of your findings and we'll explain it further from there.

If i've misinterpretted your comment above and you have re-bidding understood just let us know (confirm the re-bid zones with us if you'd like) and we'll move forward.

[mjean]

Thanks for the reply. Here goes:

ME 5* (1st choice)

MS 4* (2nd choice)

UMT 4* (3rd choice)

Other zones I don't want:

DT 4*

MW 4*

UES 3*

UWS 2.5*

So for a 4* search I could use UES and UWS as my rebid zones, correct?

So I'm thinking of bidding:

ME

ME, UES

ME, UWS

ME, UES, UWS

Or should I go

ME (1st choice), MS(my 2nd choice)

ME, MS, UES

ME, MS, UWS

ME, MS, UES, UWS?

What should I use as a reasonable start bid?

TIA for your help!

M.

[thereuare]

Stick with us here....

Do you understand your re-bid zones? (<-- this is what we're working on here first, so let's please make sure you're understand the RE-BIDDING concept and then we'll move on to your other criteria).

You have two re-bid zones when bidding 4*... do you know which they are?

[mjean]

From my last post:

>... for a 4* search I could use UES and UWS as my rebid zones, correct?

My rebid zones are UES and UWS, since they don't have any 4* hotels, no?

So my plan is:

Initial bid. ME - my 1st choice

bid 2 (rebid)- ME, UES - add UES since it doesn't have any 4*

bid 3 (rebid) - ME, UWS - replace UES with another dead zone, UWS

bid 4 (rebid)- ME, UES, UWS - my 1st choice plus the 2 deadzones

Am I on the right track?

[thereuare]

Yes, you have the re-bidding correct.

This is how i would bid (i don't necessarily agree with you avoiding the MTW zone, but it's your stay)....

(edit to add: just noticed you designated 5* in the MTE zone, but i don't think that is very likely at the hotel only comes up rarely and then only at times close to check-in... the data below assumes that a 4* in the MTE is also acceptable. If not, don't proceed and post back).

Select 4* MTE...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone1....

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTS...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone1....

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* UM/CPS...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone1....

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTE and UM/CPS...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $155, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTE and MTS...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $155, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTE and MTS and UM/CPS...

Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $170.

If all of the above are rejected i would then book a studio suite at the Eastgate Tower for $175/nite. It's in your prefered zone of MTE and the reviews are very good.

Let us know how your bidding goes and/or if you have any questions.

[mjean]

I tried the above and got rejected. My highest offer was $180.00. I am considering going down a star level for my next try.

[goodricb]

there are a few decent deals on travelzoo.com for new york.

http://hotels.travelzoo.com/new-york-hotels/