bidding_newb Posted December 15, 2011 Report Posted December 15, 2011 Hi,I'm looking to maximize quality/cost for a hotel on Saturday the 17th and Sunday the 18th in NYC. I've never bid on priceline before but I've been reading through the forms and trying to get a good grasp on bidding strategies.My budget is $120-$150 a night for the hotel and I'm looking to find something central where I'm close to the main attractions: (MSG, MW, TS), but seeing how NYC has a fairly good transportation system, I don't mind moving more towards SoHo if it means a significantly better hotel. I don't plan on spending a lot of time in the hotel, but it would still be nice to have a comfortable room to spend some time in with my +1. I'm looking for the nicest place I can get in that range so obviously the higher the * rating the better. If anybody can recommend some strategies or what they think would be a realistic expectation for hotels is, I will be quite grateful!Thank you kindly,T.
thereuare Posted December 15, 2011 Report Posted December 15, 2011 Welcome to BetterBidding!At the 4* level CPS, ESB, MTE, MTW, and TS are all generally considered 'central' and acceptable for the average user. While a 4* hotel may be a bit of a stretch with your $150 maximum bid, did you want to try these zones first, then if rejected, include Soho-Tribeca in the bidding (did you also then want to include Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, and Downtown Financial... or only Soho-Tribeca??). If that too is rejected did you then want to try for a 3.5* property?Also, note that Sunday is typically the least expensive nite of the week for NYC hotels (tourists have already gone home and business travelers have not yet arrived)... to save money, would SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID be an option (i think this offers your best chance at 4* hotels with an average bid price of $150 or less (or at least you'll be able to get Sunday nite at well under $150/nite)... but you'll like have to change hotels each nite)Let us know your thoughts on the above and we'll take it from there.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.... and please click each of these links before replying.Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
bidding_newb Posted December 15, 2011 Author Report Posted December 15, 2011 Thanks so much for the reply. I'm quite unfamiliar with New York so as long as I'm close to transportation which I assume isn't an issue, then yes Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen and DF would also be quite acceptable. A 3.5* property is also perfectly acceptable. I thought about the idea of splitting the bid and this sounds like a good idea seeing how we have very little baggage. Would you be able to recommend a potential starting bid on Sunday versus Saturday as you mention Sunday is often considerably cheaper?Thanks Again.
thereuare Posted December 15, 2011 Report Posted December 15, 2011 Depending how you want to proceed the strategies and price points will be somewhat different, what do you want to try first... the complete stay up to $150 OR splitting the bid? If SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID, do you want to try for Sunday nite first so that you'll then have more of a firm budget in mind for the more expensive Saturday nite (so that when you bid you'll then know just how much you'll be able to bid up to) (ie- if you're successful at $120 for Sunday nite you'll then know that you can bid up to $180 for Saturday nite in order to be within your $150 budget... and if that is rejected can decide if you'd like to bid higher or lower your star rating)Let us know what you'd like to try first 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
bidding_newb Posted December 15, 2011 Author Report Posted December 15, 2011 Sorry for the late reply. I'll go with splitting the bid first. It seems like the best way to get value for the stay.Cheers.
thereuare Posted December 15, 2011 Report Posted December 15, 2011 To begin, did you want to try for the lesser expensive Sunday nite first? Are MTE, MTW, CPS, TS and ESB all acceptable?NOTE: HOTWIRE has a 4* hotel in the Central Park zone for $104, however, i'm not a huge fan of most of this area and i'd spend a few more dollars to be someplace more convenient, given rates are not that high for this nite. However, if you think this is fine for you then you can stop the bidding below accordingly.If so, at the 4* level you have SEVEN 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 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, TS and ESB...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110If the above is rejected, HOTWIRE has a 4* hotel in the ESB zone for $115/nite (your price may differ slightly) with Boutique, Smoke Free, Internet, Business... my best guess for this one is the Hotel Chandler, but i'm not 100% confident. If you find this HOTWIRE offer acceptable and the above is rejected you can take this offer... if not acceptable post back and we'll revise the above to try again in 24 hours up to $125 or so.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
bidding_newb Posted December 16, 2011 Author Report Posted December 16, 2011 I followed you're bidding strategy @thereuare and am very pleased with the results.Select 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, TS and ESB...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Successfully booked the Affinia Dumont for $85.Now for the more difficult booking of tomorrow (Saturday). Do you have any recommendations on how to go about this?Thank you again,T.
bidding_newb Posted December 16, 2011 Author Report Posted December 16, 2011 I should also mention that even though I got Sunday at a great price, I would prefer to keep my bids under $140 (excluding taxes) for Saturday. If this means dropping down to 3.5*, that's acceptable in my book.
thereuare Posted December 16, 2011 Report Posted December 16, 2011 Congratulations on your success! An excellent deal for this very well reviewed property.If you like burgers, right around the corner of this hotel is this place which has one of the best in the city (imo) and works well for a filling lunch or an inexpensive dinner:Jackson Hole Wyoming521 3rd AvenueNew York, NY 10016 Thank you for sharing your win with the board. For help ith the remaining nite please start a NEW TOPIC.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Enjoy this leg of your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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