Priceline Hotel: 4* NYC (ESB) Affinia Dumont

[btal]

Hello, I've been reading the posts and advice provided on this site about nyc and would like to ask for your advice. I've successfully bid for plane tix and hotels on PL before, but I am no expert and need to improve my strategy. I need a hotel for two nights in nyc on Oct 14 and 15. I've spent the past week bidding on PL and getting rejected, waiting 24 hours and then trying again. Ideally I'd like 4* hotel in MTE, MTW, CPS, UES, HK or Chelsea (even tho I know there are no 4* in Chelsea). I was hoping to get a 4* for under $200 before taxes. (I've seen and have received PL messages about successful bids between $150-186. Anyway I've tried starting at $150 with one zone and then adding a zone and raising my bid $5 each time until I've bid about 12-13 times. I've even added zones that I am less interested in. Can you 1) give me a better strategy, 2) tell me how I could try bidding for a 4* by opening and closing browsers - not sure how that works, 3) tell me how to start over and/or add 3.5* if I continue to receive 4* rejections as I would ultimately accept a 3.5* in MTE, MTW, CPS, HK or Chelsea if I can't successfully get a 4*. Thanks in advance for any help.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

I'd like 4* hotel in MTE, MTW, CPS, UES, HK or Chelsea (even tho I know there are no 4* in Chelsea).

How are you determining this... currently there are 4* hotels in Chelsea... but at this time there are no 4* hotels in the UES zone.

Is there a reason you're avoiding TS and/or ESB, as at the 4* level these typically work well for the average user too.

Also, are you familiar with re-bidding? If not, have a look at this Priceline Re-Bidding Explained thread and see if you can determine your FIVE re-bid zones at the 4* level... and your FOUR re-bid zones at the 3.5* level. If you're confused and don't understand the information in the previous link just post back and we'll break it down further for you.

... tell me how to start over and/or add 3.5* if I continue to receive 4* rejections as I would ultimately accept a 3.5* in MTE, MTW, CPS, HK or Chelsea if I can't successfully get a 4*.

Note that at 3.5* and under there are some 'known' hotels in the MTE zone which can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway... would this be acceptable?

Let's start by confirming the 4* zones you're willing to accept, as well as confirming you understand re-bidding and can identify your re-bid zones... we'll then suggest a strategy for you to follow (or answer any questions you have regarding these zones and/or re-bidding)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... and your searches too! (please click this PRICELINE link before replying)

[btal]

Hi thereuare,

Thank you for your response. (I'm not sure if I'm replying in the correct text box) I used the link provided here to go to PL and determine the max star level of each area as instructed on this site. So I'm interested in getting a 4* in CPS, Chelsea, ESB, HK, MSG, ME, MW or TS. I see that QB, LIC, CI, and UES do not have star levels higher than 3*, so would I use those areas in re-bidding? For example, should I select ME first and then re-bid with ME and QB at the 4* level? With the re-bid, I still need to raise the bid, correct? As I have received PL alerts telling me that others have successfully bid $150 for 4* in MW, is it too low to start at $140? I'm still not sure how to proceed after bidding once with ME and then rebidding with ME and QB. Should I stay in the same window and then add LIC, for example, and raise the bid by $1? or $5? Should I then stay in same window and add CI, for example, at 4* level and raise bid again by $1 or $5? I've seen that you recommend closing window and opening new browser after two bids. Why is that? and would you be willing to suggest a strategy for me? Thanks for any help.

[btal]

Hello again,

I'm writing to confirm that I have the following five rebidding zones when bidding for a 4* in nyc- are they MSQ, UES, Long Island, Cooney Island, and QB? Should I follow the strategy that you suggested to "otip"? Thanks again!

[thereuare]

Yes, you have your re-bid zones correct... but always double check just before bidding to make sure that nothing has changed since you last checked.

Ideally I'd like 4* hotel in MTE, MTW, CPS, UES, HK or Chelsea... I was hoping to get a 4* for under $200 before taxes.

To move forward, did you want to try for a 4* hotel in the MTE, MTW, CPS, UES, HK and Chelsea zones? At the 4* level is there a reason you're avoiding TS and/or ESB, as these also typically work well for the average user, and at the moment i think your $200 maximum bid will likely fall short for a 4* hotel, so at least adding as many zones which are acceptable increases the number of hotels (and therefore your chances) which are available to accept your bid price.

As you mention you have already placed bid but were turned down, how high have you already bid for a 4* property?

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

[btal]

Hi thereuare,

Thanks for your reply. Today I spent several hours bidding and re-bidding based on the strategy that you provided for "otip", but adding Chelsea at the start of the MTE, MTW, ESB and TS sequence, and adding HK to the MTE, MTW, ESB, CPS sequence and then Chelsea again to the last sequence. I started at $120 and ended at $210. No, not avoiding TS and/or ESB any longer. I now need to wait 24 hours again as I have no more zones to add. I'm planning on using the same strategy tomorrow, starting at $200 or $205, but I don't want to go higher than about $230. If I'm not successful again, I plan to start over at the 3.5* level and follow the sequence that you provided for '"otip", but in order to do that, I believe that I'll have to wait another 24 hours.

Thanks in advance for any additional tips.

[thereuare]

I didn't look at the strategy you're referencing but if you'd like us to have a look at your specific dates please list all acceptable zones at the 4* level and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow. With some many bidding combinations and re-bid zones you may want to consider starting at less than $200 in case lower priced inventory has been released in the last 24 hours (not a high probability bet, but if you have time, not a bad idea to do so)

As well, note that at the 3.5* level some zones can be added (such as MSG if you desire) and you should be aware of the caveats of MTE (some hotels up to a 15 minute walk to the subway) and CPS (contains the Hudson Hotel with notoriously small rooms)... up to you if you want to include these or not.

When lowering from 4* to 3.5* you don't need to wait 24 hours as lowing your star rating is one of the criteria to 'wipe the slate clean'.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[btal]

About a week ago I got the 4* (ESB) Affinia Dumont (see priceline win) for $225 on 10/14. I tried splitting the bids in order to get a 4* for both 10/14 and 10/15 and you will see that on another post I did get a room for 10/15 $270 at the Omni Berkshire Place. I clicked through to PRICELINE from this site for all bidding.

[thereuare]

Thanks for the additional post... enjoy this leg of your stay.

Thank you for sharing your win and using the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding.