Priceline Hotel: 3* Newark - Meadowlands (Secaucus - North Bergen) Crowne Plaza Meadowlands

[kindheartedguy]

Hi all!

I need your expertise.

I would like to find a hotel close to NYC for two nights (December 19 to 21, 2011). I will be driving to the hotel, then taking public transportation to go to NYC.

Would a hotel in "Newark - Meadowlands (Jersey City)" be a good choice? If not, what would you suggest instead?

My situation:

- I am a bit hard up so that's why I'm considering staying in a satellite city next to NYC.

- I would like to take the public transportation from the hotel to get to NYC.

My criteria for hotel:

- I would like to stay in a 3*+ hotel (preferably close to a bus or train station)

- I am quite impecunious(lol, that's why I'm here) so I would like to pay as little as possible.

My questions:

- Which New Jersey neighborhood(s) should I choose?

- What should be my bidding strategy/How should I proceed?

Thank you! You're expertise is greatly appreciated, and I will definitely use the link you provide from here!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

If you give us a sense of your expected budget we'll be in a better position to suggest your options. From what direction will you be heading to the city?

Please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links before replying.

Thanks.

[kindheartedguy]

Thank you!

I'm driving from Canada (Quebec).

My expected budget is about 45-55$/night.

But I'm quite flexible in terms of the location, so long as I can get to NYC by public transportation easily. If 3 stars+ is asking too much, then I might settle with a 2.5 stars, but the hotel has to be clean and not too shady.

[thereuare]

Please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links before replying.

2x

[kindheartedguy]

2x

:) Done!

[thereuare]

I'll start by saying that rates are not high for these dates, and a 4* hotel in the Jersey City-Hoboken area would likely provide the best experience, but rates for a 4* hotel here will likely cost ~$95-$110. So if you're budget is firm...

I would first look towards the Secaucus-North Bergen area. Most (but not all) of the 3* hotels here are in one general area for which there is NJ Transit bus service into the city (and parking is free). Should you receive a hotel outside of this area, and there is no bus service within walking distance of the hotel you receive, you could drive to the nearby Park N Ride where you can park your car and take the bus into the city from there.

Let us know if this seems like a good option to you and if you want to try this first, as well as let us know if you can stretch your budget to $60 to stay in this area, or if you need to keep it firm at $55 (either way we'll of course try lower bid prices first)

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

[kindheartedguy]

I think that the Secaucus-North Bergen area would be a good option since public transportation is within walking distance. In terms of price, i am willing to stretch it to 60$ but I would definitely prefer a lower price!

So what strategy would you suggest?

Thanks again!

[thereuare]

I think that the Secaucus-North Bergen area would be a good option since public transportation is within walking distance.

Mass transit is within walking distance to most, but not all, 3* hotels in this area.

Unfortunately there are no re-bid zones available at the 3* level in this region.

I start:

Select 3.5* Secaucus-North Bergen...

Bid $43, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $43

If the above is rejected repeat every 24hours, using the following prices: $45, $48, $50, $53, $55, $58, $60

This should bring you to your maximum bid in less than a week.

Any questions feel free to ask.

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

Good luck! Keep us updated and let us know how it goes.

[kindheartedguy]

I just selected 3.5* Secaucus-North Bergen, bid $43, got rejected, and rebid 43$ by adding Jersey City but got rejected again. I will try again tomorrow. But just to be sure, is this the way I'm supposed to proceed?

[thereuare]

My fault, this is how you should be bidding:

Select 3.5* Secaucus-North Bergen...

Bid $43, if rejected lower your star rating to 3*...

Bid $43

If the above is rejected repeat every 24hours, using the following prices: $45, $48, $50, $53, $55, $58, $60

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

[dariuschan]

HI!!! I am planning to go to NYC on Dec 15 to 19.

Do you think I can use the same bidding strategy since I will stay over the weekend.

I really need your help, please.

[thereuare]

dariuschan,

We'll advise for your stay in your current Priceline hotel thread... we'll 'reserve' this thread for the OP's updates for his own stay.

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

[kindheartedguy]

Hi,

I've gone up to 60$ tonight and I've been consistently rejected (after each 24h).

If 3* is too much to ask, I wouldn't mind staying in a 2.5* hotel, or worst case scenario just a 2* hotel. But my budget is 40-60$/night (Or more if this is too unrealistic). My first priority is price, second priority is easy public transit to get to NYC (for that reason, I prefer Secaucus - North Bergen or Jersey City). (Should I consider areas farther from NYC?)

Help!

What should my next strategy be?

Thanks!!!!

[thereuare]

In Jersey City you'll like need to pay for parking, so not sure if that is a realistic option for you when considering the total cost of staying in this area.

What about the Meadowlands-East Rutherford zone... would this work for your needs?

I don't think i would lower your star rating for the Secaucus-North Bergen zone since you could then end up at one of the hotels along Route1&9 which is not a great area and you have to walk up to Kennedy Blvd. to take one of the independent vans that troll the boulevard picking up passengers into the city.

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

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

[dahammer]

You might be able to achieve your budget in the Meadowlands Rutherford zone, but it will not be as convenient to public transportation. As always, you must be willing to accept any hotel at the minimum star rating in the zones that you choose.

I have bid successfully in this zone many times, I have won the 2.5* Fairfield Inn on Patterson Plank Rd. It has all of my coveted freebies: breakfast, parking and wifi and there is a NJ Transit bus stop in front of the hotel.

I have also won the 1* Extended Stay America and while this is probably my least favorite chain, I could make this work on a budget. The kitchenette is a bonus but PRICELINE rooms have a one queen bed. The hotel has no on site staffing between 11 pm and 7 am. Public transportation into the city would entail driving to the North Bergen Park and Ride, and it's best to arrive early as this lot can fill up. Another alternative would be to drive to the Secaucus Junction train station and take the train, this is a more expensive option.

As with everything in life, its about compromise when working with a fixed budget. Stick to it and focus on what is possible.

[kindheartedguy]

Thank you for your quick reply! I do think that Rutherford would be great if I can get it for cheap! I'm pretty flexible: cheap and easy access to NYC. Please let me know what to do and I'll follow your instructions! :)

[thereuare]

I would try:

Select 3.5* Secaucus-North Bergen...

Bid $43, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* Meadowlands-Rutherford...

Bid $43, if rejected add Secaucus-North Bergen...

Bid $45

If the above is rejected closer browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* Secaucus-North Bergen...

Bid $43, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* Meadowlands-Rutherford...

Bid $43, if rejected add Secaucus-North Bergen...

Bid $45

If the above if rejected once again loop thru every 24 hours using the following price pairs:

$48/$50

$53/$55

$58/$60

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.

[kindheartedguy]

I followed your advise, but I was rejected even at 60$. I was so angry that I went back to the website and added "Jersey City" and increased my price to 65$. I waited 15 minutes, and then it got accepted!

Crowne Plaza Meadowlands

Two Harmon Plaza

Secaucus, NJ 07094

201-348-6900

Room Cost (avg. per room, per night): $65.00 (USD)

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Guests Per Room: 2

Number of Nights: 2

Room Subtotal: $130.00 (USD)

Taxes and Fees: $28.44 (USD)

Total Room Cost: $158.44 (USD)

Thanks so much!

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Excellent deal for this Crowne Plaza property! Hope the hotel will work well for your travel plans.

Thank you for sharing your win and please use the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.

Enjoy your stay.

[kindheartedguy]

Just for those who might know, what is the best way to get from the Crowne Plaza Meadownlands to Timesquare by public transit?

[dahammer]

You did very well by winning the Crowne Plaza. The NJ Transit bus stop is about a block from the hotel, I think it's the route 190. You can download a schedule from the NJ Transit web site. This bus will leave you at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and you can walk a few blocks to Times Square.