Priceline Hotel: Bidding strategy for NYC hotel 1/13/11-1/16/11

[cubbyfan]

Hey I am new to this and wondering what kind of bidding strategy I should use. Need to book a hotel room in NYC for the dates from 1/13/11 to 1/16/11.

Would probably prefer 3.5* and up but 3* is OK if a bit cheaper.

Interested in staying in Manhattan - basically anything near subway access and restaurants/things to do. Not familiar with the city but just from looking at a map this seems like Midtown east, midtown west, times square, hell's kitchen, madison square garden, and empire state building.

Thanks

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

Please provide your desired max bid per night. Additionally, would you rather push for the cheapest 3* or push towards the top end of your budget for a 3.5*? At the 3.5* level, a couple of issues of note - 1) MTE has a couple of properties at the 3.5* level that are rather far East in MTE, the Millennium UN and the Hilton Manhattan E and 2:) Rooms at the Hudson (3.5* CPS) are extremely small - around 130/150 sq ft.

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

[cubbyfan]

Would like to find something under $100 per night if possible and push for the cheapest 3*. No real problems with small rooms, location definitely more important than room size.

[thereuare]

Please start by reading your messages.

Your budget shouldn't be an issue for this stay, but let us know if we should include/exclude MTE given some hotels at the 3.5* level and under can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway... would this be an acceptable outcome? Please confirm 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.

[cubbyfan]

I would prefer to avoid a 15 min walk to the subway

[thereuare]

For the best chance at proximity to the subway at the 3* level, i'd stick with: ESB, TS, MTW, CPS. Other zones which you previously listed: MTE, HK and MSG all have at least one 'known' hotel in the zone which could potentially put you further away from the subway than you prefer, so i'd stick with the previous ones first, then you can decide to add these others if you're rejected with the first group of zones.

Assuming ESB, TS, MTW and CPS are all acceptable, i'd begin as follows:

At the 3* level 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* ESB and TS...

Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $70, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW and CPS...

Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $70, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW and TS...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* ESB and CPS...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* CPS and TS...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW and ESB...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* CPS and TS and MTW and ESB...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100

Any questions feel free to ask. If the above is rejected we'll discuss your other options and next best zones to include.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.