Priceline Hotel: Great British resident needing some help

[Mpw2081]

Hello as you can see I am a newbie on this site. I would firstly like to say a warm hello from the uk and happy new year. I am very new to this sort of thing and this forum might be of a great help. Right in the uk I have been looking for a hotel in new York for 2nd may 2012 till 6 th may 2012 for 2 adults, one room only required. I am looking for at least 4* minimum. I have been quoted approx $1000 for the 4 nights inc taxes. This equates to around

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

1. Best way to bid, do I start very low and work my way up... would it be wise to start very low and risk getting a very budget 4* star hotel or bid a little more and hoping to getting a better quality hotel.

It's best to start low and your work way up, see this Don't Bid Higher for a Specific Hotel thread for more info on this subject. Once you're ready to bid we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

2. Do I have to accept the hotel they give me.

Yes, PRICELINE and HOTWIRE reservations are non-refundable.

3. Does the prices inc tax and is the payment taken straight away to secure the room from the credit card or paid on date of arrival.

Your credit card is charged upon your accepted bid... if your bid is not accepted there is no charge to your credit card.

4. will the result be shown straight away when I bid

After you place your bid you'll learn in ~30 seconds if your bid is accepted. If accepted, your credit card will be billed and you'll learn the name of the hotel you receieved.

Let us know if/when you're ready to move forward or if you have any additional questions. I will add that i see what i believe to be the Roger Williams hotel available for $180/nite, if this is of any interest to you.

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

[Mpw2081]

4-star Hotel in Empire State Building

This Hotel features the following amenities:

Boutique Hotel

Property offers a distinctive, unique or eclectic atmosphere. Many boutique hotels are smaller, hip properties in an urban setting, or renovated hotels with historical flair.

Smoke Free Rooms

Guest rooms at this hotel are always smoke-free.

Fitness Center

Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply.

Business Center

Guests have access to business equipment and services; an additional charge may apply.

Please note that Hotwire cannot guarantee the level of services offered at a property and/or if services are operational at the time of visit. Services may be closed due to seasonality reasons and/or may be closed for renovation.

What hotel could this be if this is shown

Thank you for your time, I would looking around that price for a good quality hotel in that area of new York, they seem to be very nice and of good quality in the empire state area

[Mpw2081]

Is the roger Williams hotel via a certain website

Also like the 70 the park avenue hotel, kempton hotel, the Carlton etc.....

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding! :)

A few notes/questions:

1. You definitely do want to start low (within reason) and work higher. Given that this stay is a bit of a ways off, you do definitely have some time to try lower bids.

2. When you go through the checkout process, you are shown tax/fees and the final total. This is charged at the time of purchase and is non-refundable. Any additional fees (internet, etc) are charged at the hotel. Only one hotel that I'm aware of in NYC has a resort fee-style fee (the Roger Williams), but this is definitely not common in NYC in the way it is in Las Vegas and NYC.

3. You do have to accept the hotel you are given after the purchase is made in terms of both HOTWIRE and PRICELINE. With HOTWIRE, one can make an "educated guess" (still no guarantees, but a somewhat better chance at getting something you may like) as to which hotels are showing in some/many (depending) cases, so while more expensive, HOTWIRE may be more comfortable for the first time user.

4. If you make a purchase on HOTWIRE or have a successful bid on PRICELINE, the hotel will be revealed at the end of the purchase process and at that point, it's not refundable/changeable.

What would be your desired max budget per night (in US$) and which NYC zones would be of interest on PRICELINE or HOTWIRE?

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

[Mpw2081]

3. You do have to accept the hotel you are given after the purchase is made in terms of both HOTWIRE and PRICELINE. With HOTWIRE, one can make an "educated guess" (still no guarantees, but a somewhat better chance at getting something you may like) as to which hotels are showing in some/many (depending) cases, so while more expensive, HOTWIRE may be more comfortable for the first time user.

So even after I have put in a bid and been successful I don't need to accept the hotel if I don't like it

[AaronJB]

You do have to accept the hotel in both cases and the reservation is not refundable. However, HOTWIRE offers some information before the purchase that could lead one to make an educated guess (no guarantees) as to which hotel/s may be being offered before making a purchase.

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

[Romelle]

3. You do have to accept the hotel you are given after the purchase is made in terms of both HOTWIRE and PRICELINE. With HOTWIRE, one can make an "educated guess" (still no guarantees, but a somewhat better chance at getting something you may like) as to which hotels are showing in some/many (depending) cases, so while more expensive, HOTWIRE may be more comfortable for the first time user.

So even after I have put in a bid and been successful I don't need to accept the hotel if I don't like it

No.

When you accept a Hotwire offer, it is final.

The "...comfortable..." AaronJB mentioned, is having a pretty good idea what you might get BEFORE you accept the offer. The educated guess isn't 100%, but is generally right.

I like your approach.....get all the little details checked out first. Don't hesitate to keep asking questions. Not only will you get the answers, but there are often a lot of others reading the threads that might not have even thought of asking the questions. They get the benefit of your questions and the answers also.

Romelle

PS - if you haven't been to the US before, not only do we drive on the wrong side, we therefore tend to walk on the wrong side of sidewalks too. I find the Lonely Planet guide books particularly useful, but there are lots of other good ones. If you ask thereuare, he probably will dig up that list of his favorite New York pizza places.

[Mpw2081]

Right let's get this right in my mind which runs abit slow......

If a place a bid on either site for example $130 for any 4* hotel in empire area and is accepted, and details are given to me of the amenities I presume that have been obtained from the hotel that accepted my bid but I still don't know the name of the hotel until I confirm the booking. At this stage can I reject that bid and start again or his this final and I must proceed with the booking. If I am reading this right which I proberbly not.........

if not can somebody explain the process for me thanks.... I have read so much on here over the last few days my head hurts. My thought process was that if I bidded and won that bid for the above amount in that area of NY that was it and I would automatically pay via method of payment and then I would learn what hotel I have booked

So prior to paying for the hotel and prior to the hotel name being revealed I can cancel the bid

[Mpw2081]

These educated guess worries me, it would be ok for you experienced members but I would proberbly get Norman bates motel

[Mpw2081]

4-star Hotel in Empire State Building

This Hotel features the following amenities:

Boutique Hotel

Property offers a distinctive, unique or eclectic atmosphere. Many boutique hotels are smaller, hip properties in an urban setting, or renovated hotels with historical flair.

Smoke Free Rooms

Guest rooms at this hotel are always smoke-free.

Fitness Center

Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply.

Business Center

Guests have access to business equipment and services; an additional charge may apply.

Please note that Hotwire cannot guarantee the level of services offered at a property and/or if services are operational at the time of visit. Services may be closed due to seasonality reasons and/or may be closed for renovation.

What hotel could this be if this is shown

Thank you for your time, I would looking around that price for a good quality hotel in that area of new York, they seem to be very nice and of good quality in the empire state area

As above this has been listd as $180 so I would I use an educational guess to see which hotel this could be

[AaronJB]

The PRICELINE process is bidding - you select the area/s, star rating and bid until accepted. HOTWIRE is not bidding - when you search for your dates, the service offers a set of listings that displays amenities, price (which can change), star rating and zone. You are not given the name of the hotel until after the purchase, either, but the combination of amenities, star rating and zone can lead one to make an educated guess as to which hotel or hotels it can possibly be in many cases. Still, there is no guarantee and when the hotel name is revealed after the purchase is finalized, the purchase cannot be refunded/changed.

In either case, when the purchase is finalized, you are presented with the hotel name. At that point, the purchase is not refundable and cannot be changed/cancelled. This thread also offers a detailed discussion of both services: I've Never Used Priceline or Hotwire.

[AaronJB]

The HOTWIRE listing would be a likely match for the Roger Williams. If you click to look at the detail page for the listing and then scroll down, it says "This hotel typically charges all guests a resort fee regardless of how the room is booked. The hotel collects this fee of about US$ 20 per room per night directly from you, so it won't show in your Hotwire

[Mpw2081]

Ar right thank you very much

[AaronJB]

Happy to help! :)

Please let us know if you have any questions at all and what you decide. The forum also has lists of the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE hotels that have been reported to the board at this link: Priceline and Hotwire New York.

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

[Mpw2081]

Will do thanks very much, I will keep looking and post any issues I have or help needed to narrow down any hotel offers I find

[Mpw2081]

Still looking

[Romelle]

If you haven't been in New York before, getting around it is not a whole lot different from getting around London. Taxis, buses, metros, and on foot. You will improve your odds of finding a hotel at a more reasonable rate if you select as many Priceline zones as you feel will work for you.

Sometimes when people are struggling with which zones to bid in London, I suggest taking a map and marking the attractions they wish to visit. Typically they pick things scattered all over the city, so it doesn't make too much difference just where they stay. They will usually have to transport themselves somewhere each day anyway. You haven't mentioned whether you want/need to be in a particular area, or are open to quite a few of them?

Romelle

[Mpw2081]

Thanks mate I have been to new York last year. I am looking very central to city, namely times square, I can just about recall some of the bars around that area which me and the wife enjoyed

[Mpw2081]

Rebidding is a little confusing for me, so here goes I am looking for a 4* or above for my above dates what is the best strategy for bidding . I am looking to book very soon? Location would east, west and theatre district

[thereuare]

Rebidding is a little confusing for me...

Any strategy we suggest is going to involve re-bidding, so you may want to start with Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and confirm your re-bid zones with the board (you have SEVEN re-bid zones when bidding 4* in NYC). If you read the previous link and are confused post back and we'll break it down further for you.

I am looking to book very soon...

When will you actually be ready to bid?

[Mpw2081]

Ready now if the price is right, I have seen prices go up in the last few days in the new year

[thereuare]

Do you understand re-bidding and able to identify your re-bid zones? What is your maximum bid at this time?

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

[Mpw2081]

I am looking for a minimum 4* star hotel in times square or east or west of that location. I have been notified that a few people have won hotels around this area for $100 per night so looking around that budget

[thereuare]

Do you understand re-bidding and able to identify your re-bid zones?

???

I have been notified that a few people have won hotels around this area for $100 per night so looking around that budget

I'm assuming the $100 wins you saw were not around this same time frame as your dates... $100 for a 4* hotel is probably not realistic for this time of year.

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