Hotwire Hotel: 4* NYC (ESB) St Giles The Court

[ndusseau]

I've been looking through the posts, and you often comment that a certain combination of nites are likely to cost more.

I want to go to NYC for 4-5 nights in late Oct/early Nov.

My preference would be to stay in Chelsea or the Village.

But I am open.

What would be the best combo of nites to get the best rates.

I was thinking maybe Thursday-Monday?

But would appreciate your input, as I am flexible.

Gracias!

[AaronJB]

Please provide a follow-up for your prior Santa Monica Priceline thread (post what you decided for that stay in that thread, then reply to this thread.)

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

[ndusseau]

Sorry, thought I had!

Looks like my NYC dates are going to be Nov 2-7.

I went the same week last year and paid $165 for the W on Lex.

Can't believe the prices I am seeing this year.

What is going on????

[AaronJB]

While there are some exceptions, this is traditionally a very busy period of the year in NYC and these dates unfortunately look busy across the board (so not an instance where splitting the stay would appear to be a good option.) What would be your desired budget per night and what zones would be acceptable?

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

[ndusseau]

We went the same 5 day weekend last year (it's our anniv) and paid $165 for the W on Lexington (4 stars) using Priceline.

This year it seems like it is twice as much?

Huh?

Our dates are Nov 2-7.

Up to $250.

Would prefer Midtown East, Chelsea, Soho, Tribeca, Village. Midtown West is OK.

3.5 or 4.

Honestly? Just don't want to get stuck at the Hilton.

Using your PRICELINE link, I tried the above, up to $230.

With no luck.

Would appreciate your advice.

[Romelle]

Expedia lists rates by individual day. You can select a range of a couple weeks and look for low spots.

You can use Hotwire by checking just one night at a time across your possible range.

The Calendar of Wins (just above here) shows up to two weeks at a time by individual day.

And then there is always the hotel web sites and looking at their rack rates by individual dates. Some of them even have handy calendars that show you a bunch of dates at once.

There are probably lots of other ways, but these come to mind at the moment.

Romelle

Then there are some compromise options like staying out further. My son and I had a really nice visit once, staying clear out at the Newark Airport and doing shuttle/bus/train each day.

[thereuare]

Our dates are Nov 2-7.

Up to $250.

Would prefer Midtown East, Chelsea, Soho, Tribeca, Village. Midtown West is OK.

3.5 or 4.

The NYC Marathon is Nov 6th and it's one of the busier events of the year that dramatically effects hotel rates.

Using your PRICELINE link, I tried the above, up to $230.

Was this is the 4* or 3.5* level? Please also indicate the zones you've bid by PRICELINE name (ie- "Tribeca", "Village" are not the names of PRICELINE zones, so not sure exactly which zones you have/have not included in your bidding)

Please click this PRICELINE link before replying.

Thanks.

[ndusseau]

The 4* or 3.5* level

"Midtown East", "Chelsea Area", "Downtown - SoHo - Financial District "

[thereuare]

To confirm, you're aware that at the 3.5* level and under there are some hotels in the MTE zone which can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway, is this acceptable?

Also, you've already bid on these three zones at both the 4* and 3.5* levels, correct?

Please confirm and we'll suggest a strategy to use to move forward.

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

[ndusseau]

Thanks for the info. on 3.5 MTE hotels.

I think a 4* would be better in MTE, but acceptable in the other areas.

I tried 4* in MTE and used the zones that don't have 4* hotels to go up to $230.

I tried 3.5* and 4* in Chelsea and "Downtown, etc" and used zones that don't have 3.5* to go up to $230.

Thanks for any suggestions you might have.

[thereuare]

I tried 3.5* and 4* in Chelsea and "Downtown, etc" and used zones that don't have 3.5* to go up to $230.

"etc" doesn't really make it clear which zones you have already bid, but is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?

For 11/2-11/4 HOTWIRE has a 3.5* Downtown hotel for $265 with a 95% user recommendation, 3* hotel in Times Square with a 95% user recommendation, and a 3* in Chelsea-MSG for $260 with a 90% recommendation. While only Downtown is in the star rating you've already bid (assuming that these hotels offered are rated the same on PRICELINE as they are on HOTWIRE), they all are at least are highly rated by previous HOTWIRE guests. I didn't inquire further into trying to ID these as i wasn't even sure if SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID would be an option.

Just to complete the other side for this stay, for 11/4-11/7 HOTWIRE has a 3.5* MTC property for $263/nite which is 95% recommended (only 3 rooms left as per a new feature offered by HOTWIRE)

So by pairing the two you'd at least (based upon user recommendation) be at decent hotels and would be only slightly more than you've already bid per nite.

Let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there.

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

[ndusseau]

I meant "Downtown-Soho-Financial District".

I used your PRICELINE link.

I tried 3.5* and 4* in "Chelsea" and "Downtown-Soho-Financial District" started at $200 and went up to $230 (using zones that don't have 3.5 & 4*)

I tried 4* in MTE, started at $200 and went up to $230 (using zones that don't have 4*)

Splitting is not an option, unfortunately.

I just booked the Thirty Thirty at $249 as a back-up.

And I will keep trying to get something better at around that price by bidding on Priceline.

That darn marathon!

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[thereuare]

Currently HOTWIRE has a 4* hotel in the ESB zone for $255/nite with Fitness, Restaurant, Business, Internet.

My guess is the St Giles The Court, and while a few dollars more then your back-up reservation, it would be a fairly big step-up in terms of star rating/quality... but not sure if budget is the most important factor at this point OR if you're willing to pay a little more for a higher rated hotel.

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

And i'm sorry i forgot above... Happy Anniversary :)

[ndusseau]

Wow!

Got it.

St Giles, the Court for $269 (close enough!)

That was a great tip.

Thanks so much for your help.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you were able to take advantage of this deal, a pretty good deal considering how busy things get with the Marathon. Can you confirm that the amenities shown before your purchase were: Restaurant, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

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

Enjoy your stay.