Boring2u Posted October 7, 2011 Report Posted October 7, 2011 I know I'm lowballing it, but I'd really like to set a cap at $150/night for 10/22-10/24. I'm flexible as to safe locations throughout NYC and Jersey City/Hoboken, but I'd like to be able to access the city within 25min/cheaply. I'd prefer 3.5 star or better. Any suggestions on bidding strategy?Thanks in advance for your help, and Go Blue (Wolverines)!
thereuare Posted October 8, 2011 Report Posted October 8, 2011 Welcome to BetterBidding!As NYC and Hoboken are in different regions, you can't bid them together on the same PRICELINE bid... which zone and star rating would you want to try for first?I'll also add that HOTWIRE has what appears to be the Sheraton Suites Weekawken for $126/nite. This is in HOTWIRE's Hoboken-Jersey City zone, but is i a different zone on PRICELINE (so you wouldn't be able to win this property if only bidding this zone on PRICELINE).While location-wise it's my least favorite 4* hotel in the zone (since it's in Weehawken, which lacks the city feel of both Hoboken and Jersey City), it does have a bus literally at the doorstep which takes you directly into Manhattan in about 15 minutes. Heading to Manhattan the hotel's bus stop is the last stop on the route before NYC, so it's pretty fast, unless the Lincoln Tunnel is backed-up, which is always a bit of a crapshoot. With the above 'cons' noted, it's a pretty good price for the NYC metro area for this time of year, and you could walk to the North end of Hoboken somewhat easily if you were looking to go out in the immediate area. (Hoboken has a new Beer Garden that just opened on the north end of town which is quite popular and i just tried the other nite... really well done on the inside, a beautiful space, but i prefer my local microbrews to the 'heavy,unknown to me' drafts they pour there, and it was a bit expensive, imo)Let us know your thoughts and we'll advise accordingly.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
Boring2u Posted October 8, 2011 Author Report Posted October 8, 2011 I would prefer to stay as close to downtown as possible. My wife and I are wanting to see WTC memorial, statue of liberty, and a few other things. Thought of Hoboken because we watch Cake Boss and thought it might be neat to see Carlos Bakery. I use the links on this forum and am welcome to suggestions. I'm a little nervous about the Sheraton after some of the warnings I've seen you leave for other bidders. Obviously it's a good value for the price, but I am looking for ease in getting into the city. Does the tunnel get backed up often on the weekend? I'm assuming the Sheraton is a ways from the Path stop?To sum it up, I'd prefer downtown or close, but if I can't get that reasonably, I'll take the Sheraton. I have a conference downtown later in the week and my company is paying for that.Thanks for your help!r
thereuare Posted October 8, 2011 Report Posted October 8, 2011 Does the tunnel get backed up often on the weekend?As noted above, it really is a crapshoot... you can fly right thru, or you could get severely backed up. Even if there is traffic this bus route bypasses a fair amount of it since it doesn't enter the tunnel from the highway but rather thru a side road, but you can still hit a fair amount of traffic.I'm assuming the Sheraton is a ways from the Path stop?The hotel is not that close to the PATH train (you wouldn't want to walk it), but there is a lightrail stop nearby which would then take you thru the west side of Hoboken and then to the PATH train. But note that on Saturday and Sunday (and weekdays after 11pm) you'll need to transfer on the PATH system to get from Hoboken to WTC. (not a big deal as the trains stop at the same platform, but the bigger issue is wait time between the two trains).What do you want to try for first... NYC or Hoboken/Jersey City? Also, your topic title mentions 4* but your post mentions 3.5* or better... are you willing to pay more for a higher rated hotel OR are you looking for a 3.5* or better in NYC but a 4* in Hoboken/Jersey City? Please confirm.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
Boring2u Posted October 8, 2011 Author Report Posted October 8, 2011 I would like to try for NYC First. Yes, 3.5* or better for NYC, but 4* for Hoboken/Jersey City. Thanks again!
thereuare Posted October 9, 2011 Report Posted October 9, 2011 To move forward at the 3.5* level in NYC, which zone(s) are you willing to accept?Note that at 3.5* and under in MTE there are some hotels which can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway, and in the MTC zone is the Hudson Hotel, which while well located, has notoriously small rooms... would either/both of these outcomes be acceptable?Please let us know regarding these two zones, as well as which zones (by PRICELINE name) you're willing to bid 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
Boring2u Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Posted October 9, 2011 Let's go with 4* for MTE, MTC then, and 3.5* for Chelsea Park, Soho, Empire Area, Hell's Kitchen, Madison Sq., MTW, Times Sq, Upper East & West side. I know that some of those areas will be re-bidding zones as they may not have 3.5 or higher. If I can't get that in my price range, then I'll try out Jersey City. My company is putting me up in Hilton Times Square during the week (reviews make it sound quite nice). Thanks again for the help!
thereuare Posted October 10, 2011 Report Posted October 10, 2011 At the 4* in NYC you have FIVE re-bid zones... at the 3.5* level FOUR 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.(there is no MTC zone on PRICELINE, so i'm assuming you meant MTW)Select 4* MTE and MTW...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINEAssuming these are your 3.5* bidding zones (CPS, DT, ESB, HK, MSG, MTW, TS, UWS) you can continue on...Select 3.5* CPS, DT, ESB, HK...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* MSG, MTW, TS, UWS...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* MSG, DT, ESB, HK...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* CPS, MTW, TS, UWS...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* CPS, MTW, ESB, HK...Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* MSG, DT, TS, UWS...Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* CPS, DT, TS, HK...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* MSG, MTW, ESB, UWS...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* CPS, DT, ESB, UWS...Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* MSG, MTW, TS, HK...Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* CPS, DT, ESB, HK, MSG, MTW, TSBid $138, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* CPS, DT, ESB, HK, MSG, MTW, UWSBid $138, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3.5* CPS, DT, ESB, HK, MSG, MTW, TS, UWSBid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $143, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $148, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150Any 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
Boring2u Posted October 10, 2011 Author Report Posted October 10, 2011 I bid 4*NYC MTE & MTW through $140 with no luck. Then I followed the suggested bidding strategy to a T all the way through the $135 levels. I was doing this from work and didn't have the time to keep cycling through, so I switched to Jersey City (might need to switch this to the NJ forum). I bid Jersey City area Starting at $102 & added rebidding zones in $5 increments. Ended up winning the 4* Westin Jersey City Newport for just $132 a night. Thanks again thereuare for all of your help. And as always, GO BLUE!
AaronJB Posted October 10, 2011 Report Posted October 10, 2011 Congrats on your success. :)Superb deal for this Westin property! Glad you are pleased with the result.Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.Enjoy your stay.
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