Priceline Hotel: NYC Last Minute 10-7 to 10-10

[umichgirl2011]

I'm headed to NYC this weekend for a reunion with some college friends, and found out just yesterday that I need to book a hotel (our friend who lives in the city now can't house everyone that's coming).

We'll be spending most of our time around the East Village, LES, and Murray Hill. We're in our 20s so a 3 star would be fine too. Ideally, MTE, MTW, Empire State, MSQ, Times Sq, and Chelsea.

The glaring obvious omission is the Downtown-SoHo-Financial District zone, but last time I did that I ended up too far south for my liking (Club Quarters Wall Street--the hotel was nice though!) and it was pretty inconvenient. But since this is last minute I'm also reluctantly open to that.

We're looking to spend $140-$180 per night.

I tried unsuccessfully to bid once. I thought last minute might get me a great deal but I'm coming up short. Could the fact that we're staying the extra night--and its a holiday weekend--make it more difficult?

Any bidding strategy/help would be much appreciated!

Thank you in advance!!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please start by reading your messages.

What bids, and for which zone(s) and star ratings, have you already made?

From your post it sounds as if you'd prefer a less expensive 3* property vs. a more expensive 4*? Also, do you need more than double occupancy as there are some zones you may wish to avoid if your trying to put more than two people in a room. Lastly, some hotels in the MTE zone can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway... would this be acceptable?

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

Let us know the above and we'll take it from there.

[umichgirl2011]

Thanks! Love your avatar by the way, Go Blue!

Yes, a 3* or 3.5* property is probably preferable. 2 people definitely staying in the room, but maybe a third. Is it ridiculous to even try and get three people in a room? It seems hard to book a room with more than 2 in NYC, so that is what I've focused on looking for (the third person can find another place to stay if necessary).

We'll be cabbing about 80% of the time, so subway access shouldn't be an issue.

I just went through the system once, adding all the zones I listed above, with the exception of Downtown-SoHo-Financial. I was mainly bidding in the 150-160 price range. I also misspoke before, we stayed at Club Quarters World Trade Center, not Wall Street. But the hotel was nice, so I'm open again to the Downtown-SoHo-Financial District zone since it's about 24 hours before we're coming.

Hope that's enough info, and thank you again for your help! I will definitely book through the betterbidding links.

[thereuare]

Triple occupancy in NYC can present a big issue, as real estate is so expensive so many hotel rooms are notoriously small, and therefore there are a high percentage of room with only one bed in them. Many hotels don't even stock rollaway cots and rooms with two beds are often considered an upgrade.

As your budget is going to be tough, and you have recently bid up to $160 in your preferred zones without Downtown, and Downtown is not acceptable, i would bid as follows (NOTE: this assumes your previous bids were at the 3* level, if they were actually at the 3.5* level, then report back before bidding):

At the 3* level in NYC you have ONE 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 3* Downtown...

Bid $120, if rejected add MTE...

Bid $130, if rejected add MTW...

Bid $140, if rejected add ESB...

Bid $150, if rejected add MSG...

Bid $155, if rejected add TS...

Bid $160, if rejected add Chelsea...

Bid $165, if the above is rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE and MTW and re-bid zone...

Bid $170, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* ESB and MSG and re-bid zone...

Bid $170, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* TS and Chelsea and Downtown and re-bid zone...

Bid $170, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* TS and MTW and re-bid zone...

Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE and MSG and re-bid zone...

Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* ESB and Chelsea and Downtown and re-bid zone...

Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE and MTW and TS and re-bid zone...

Bid $180, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* ESB and MSG and Chelsea and Downtown and re-bid zone...

Bid $180, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* ESB and MTW and TS and re-bid zone...

Bid $185, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE and MSG and Chelsea and Downtown and re-bid zone...

Bid $185, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE and MSG and TS and re-bid zone...

Bid $190, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* ESB and MTW and Chelsea and Downtown and re-bid zone...

Bid $190, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE and MTW and Chelsea and re-bid zone...

Bid $195, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* ESB and MSG and TS and Downtown and re-bid zone...

Bid $195, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE and MTW and Chelsea and ESB and MSG and TS and Downtown and re-bid zone...

Bid $200

I went up to $200 as you don't have much time so you now have a strategy to go higher if $180 or less fails, but of course you're free to stop at whatever amount you decide. If $200 isn't enough for a 3* i have another idea at that point.

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.

GO BLUE!

[umichgirl2011]

I figured as much on the triple occupancy. Room enough for 2 is what I've been planning on.

(NOTE: this assumes your previous bids were at the 3* level, if they were actually at the 3.5* level, then report back before bidding)

when I bid yesterday I did start at 3.5* but added 3*. Does that make a difference?

Yes, would likely be willing to go up to $200 if necessary. Although, I see a 3.5* on Hotwire right now for $188 in Chelsea. That's my next move if nothing comes of Priceline.

[hohogap]

Be sure to check this board's listing of HW hotel wins and associated ammenities for your 3 1/2* in Chelsea. You may be able to identify the specific hotel you're bidding on by matching the star ratings and HW ammenities to previous wins. Good luck!

[thereuare]

when I bid yesterday I did start at 3.5* but added 3*. Does that make a difference?

As long as you included all the previous zones (except Downtown) in your 3* bid then that is fine.

That 3.5* Chelsea property may be a new addition in the last few minutes as i don't recall seeing it when i researched your dates just a short while ago. Is it the one with no amenities showing? If so, the Wyndham Times Square South, The Distrikt Hotel and the Ramada Plaza New Yorker have all been seen without any amenities icons in this zone, so any of these would be my best guess for this one (although i'd slightly favor the Ramada New Yorker being a bit more likely then the others, but you should be prepared for any of these... or some other 3.5* HOTWIRE rated property)

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

Good luck.