Priceline Hotel: 4* New York City (Chelsea) Hilton New York Fashion District

[Hoelahoep]

Hello everyone,

So I'm going to New York in May 2012 with my boyfriend and I already booked a flight but now I'm looking for a nice hotel. We're from the Netherlands and it's our first time to the USA/NY! So obviously, we don't know much.

I already did some bidding on 4* hotels in CPS/Chelsea/ESB/MSG/MTE/MTW/TS areas with a maximum of 150 dollars. That was actually just to play around a bit and get to know more about Priceline (although I wouldn't mind winning a 4* hotel for 150 dollars).

However, I did some research and the most common price in May is 200 dollar-ish, and although that's kind of my maximum, I prefer to pay less than that (we're "poor" students).

I've already read somewhere that, if you choose 3* or 3,5* hotels, that some areas don't have the best hotels, so I want some advice from what I should do. (Before discovering Priceline, I almost booked Hotel Carter, which is famous for its dirty-ness, so yeah everything better than that is fine to us)

I know that nobody knows exactly which hotels there are available but what we want is just a nice hotel with clean rooms to have a good rest in the night after a long day walking, sightseeing, shopping in New York ;-)

So... should I stay away from the 2* hotels and only bid for 3* and up, and in which areas? (everything around the center is fine)

I've looked up some 4* hotels that won recently here and it looks so... luxurious and businessman. Maybe I don't even know if I would want a 4* hotel because of that.

Anyway enough with the talk, my absolute maximum is $200 excl taxes/fees, but since I'm okay with less than 4*, I would say my maximum is around $150.

Thank you very much in advance!!

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

Being on a budget is definitely understandable, and it may be looking at it as creating a balance of hotel and sightseeing; while you could try maxing out your budget for a 4*, if you are going to be out of the room a lot, you could consider a 3*/3.5* and save money for other needs (museums, eats, etc.) NYC properties do vary in quality, sometimes even at the same star rating. However, prices create certain expectations, and with pricey regular rates in NYC, expectations may not be met at regular rates, but expectations may be met more easily at priceline rates. A couple of concerns at the 3.5* level include properties in MTE that are a bit of a trek towards the East boundary of the zone and the 3.5* Hudson in CPS (a trendy boutique hotel w/rooms that are around 130-150 sq ft.)

I'd definitely recommend staying away from 2* (and 2.5* if possible, and I think that's not needed, given your budget), but 3*/3.5* is fine. Would you rather push towards the higher end of your budget for 3.5*/4* or try to get the cheapest possible 3*?

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[thereuare]

Please start by reading your messages and clicking each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links... then reply to this thread and we'll continue the discussion for your stay above.

Thanks.

[Hoelahoep]

Thanks for the advice!

So if I bid on 3/3,5* I may want to avoid the CPS and MTE areas? :-)

I want to try 4* but preferably around $150, maybe I should try Soho/Downtown/Financial District too then, considering my budget? We don't mind to travel, because we're getting a subwaycard for 7 days.

[thereuare]

Please start by reading your messages and clicking each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links... then reply to this thread and we'll continue the discussion for your stay above.

2x

[Hoelahoep]

I already did

[thereuare]

At the moment i don't there is too much difference in rates from 3*-4*. Given that you've already tried bidding for a 4* up to $150, i would make your next move for a 3.5* up to $150. Assuming that is rejected (i'm guessing likely at the moment) then you can decide if you want to lower your star rating further for a 3* OR perhaps re-try for a 4* a bit higher than your previously rejected bids (~$175??)

Whether to avoid CPS and/or MTE at the 3.5* level is a personal choice depending upon how much you would dislike a small room (in the case of CPS) and how you feel about a possible 15 minute walk to the subway (not as much of an issue in the <hopefully> nice May springtime weather vs. in the dead of winter in January/February)

While i mention above that i guess $150 will likely fall short, perhaps try not including CPS and MTE, then if rejected, start over from the beginning and do include these zones.

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

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

[Hoelahoep]

Whoa!!!

I was playing around a bit. I started over with first TS area, then MTW, then MSG, then ESB, and finally Chelsea. Up to $160 and got it!

4* Hilton Fashion District (Chelsea) for $160

I guess that's a nice deal :)

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

This does appear to be a nice deal for a 4* hotel this time of year. Hope you're pleased with the results and looking forward to your trip.

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

Enjoy your stay.

[Hoelahoep]

Woops! The title says 5* but it is 4* :)

The hotel looks very nice, I hope I will enjoy!

[thereuare]

FIXED... thanks.

[TOfoodie]

I've stayed at this hotel before and I think you'll be happy with it. It's clean and the bed and pillows were very comfortable.

I hope to get a similar hotel for a similar, if not lower, price.

Enjoy your trip!