noodles81 Posted January 15, 2012 Report Posted January 15, 2012 Hi, help needed ID'ing a Midtown Central Hotel - $173, 80% recommended. April 1-5.Fitness CenterPoolRestaurantHigh-speed InternetThanksOn a side note, we're traveling to Manhattan April 1-5, we were thinking MTC, but also considering Chelsea, Central Park South, Time Square. What area gives the best value? MTC seems to have the lowest prices.
AaronJB Posted January 15, 2012 Report Posted January 15, 2012 This would likely be a match for the Holiday Inn Midtown. The best value in terms of areas can vary quite a bit by dates, but Midtown East and Empire State Building are usually reasonable, while Times Square is generally the most expensive area. From a pure location standpoint, the MTC region is very nice, although I also have found MTE/ESB enjoyable areas of the city to stay, as well.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
noodles81 Posted January 15, 2012 Author Report Posted January 15, 2012 Thanks very much for the reply. Quick question, could this hotel be had on PRICELINE for less?
AaronJB Posted January 16, 2012 Report Posted January 16, 2012 PRICELINE is generally cheaper than HOTWIRE, but is also less opaque - with HOTWIRE, the information given can often lead to an "educated guess" as to which hotels are showing. With PRICELINE, there is no way to ensure/increase the odds of a particular property. If you bid for a particular star rating and area (for example, 3* Central Park South), you have to be willing to accept any property at that star rating in that zone or possibly at the next level up.Please let us know if you would like to proceed with PRICELINE and, if so, which zones/star ratings would be of interest, as well as your desired budget per night.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
noodles81 Posted January 16, 2012 Author Report Posted January 16, 2012 In your experience, the quoted prices available on PRICELINE.com (non-bidding), does bidding get up to 60% off those quoted prices? Or generally, how much off?
AaronJB Posted January 16, 2012 Report Posted January 16, 2012 As stated, bidding is up to 60% off, but there are the occasional instances reported that there are slightly/somewhat over that. However, discounts can vary significantly based upon season, if there's something going on (convention, etc) and more. Prices - especially in major cities like NYC - can vary very significantly from day-to-day.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
thereuare Posted January 16, 2012 Report Posted January 16, 2012 If you decide to pursue PRICELINE let us know your maximum bid and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow... or let us know how your HOTWIRE purchase goes.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
noodles81 Posted January 18, 2012 Author Report Posted January 18, 2012 Help ID:2* Central Park area - fitness, rest, business center, highspeed internet, 70% recommended. $138.2.5* Chelsea MSG - complimentary breakfast, internet, 90% recommended. $163.Thanks again. Trying to narrow down my options here. Would you say there's a big difference between 2 and 3 stars? Cleanliness in particular?
thereuare Posted January 18, 2012 Report Posted January 18, 2012 There can be a wide range of quality even within the same star level, but if you're considering each of the above, the 2.5* would be the better choice in my opinion based upon the user recommendation and the MSG zone is more centrally located then the Central Park zone which can go a bit too far north.A guess is that you may be looking at the Best Western Convention Center upgraded from the last time it was reported to the board at the 2.5* level. If so, this property is a bit far west, but i'd still choose this one over the Central Park property.Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID and/or staying outside of the city (in Jersey City-Hoboken) an option?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know what you decide and how it goes or if we can be of further help. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
noodles81 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Posted January 23, 2012 Hi,Going to give priceline a try, my first time!Looking for a nice place in central Manhattan :-central park south -empire state building-MSG-midtown west-time square-hells kitchenLooking for 4* - max price $175.Can you suggest a good bidding strategy?
thereuare Posted January 23, 2012 Report Posted January 23, 2012 Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread.Click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, then reply to this thread and we'll have a look at the offer above.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... and your searches too! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
noodles81 Posted January 24, 2012 Author Report Posted January 24, 2012 gotcha:Hi,Going to give priceline a try, my first time!Looking for a nice place in central Manhattan :-central park south -empire state building-MSG-midtown west-time square-hells kitchenLooking for 4* - max price $175.Can you suggest a good bidding strategy?
thereuare Posted January 25, 2012 Report Posted January 25, 2012 There are no 4* hotels in the MSG zone so we won't include that in the bidding below. Also, i noticed that you didn't include MTE in your bidding, and at the 4* level all the 'known' hotels are generally considered centrally located. Not sure if you've omitted this zone intentionally (if there is a hotel here you're trying to avoid) but it's up to you if you'd like to include this in the bidding below (i've added the zone in parenthesis and you can decide to include or not)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* ESB, MSG, MTW, TS, HK (and MTE??)...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* CPS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* ESB, MSG, MTW, TS, HK, CPS (and MTE??)...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $173, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175Any 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
noodles81 Posted January 25, 2012 Author Report Posted January 25, 2012 So for the first selection - it says ESB, MSG, MTW, TS, HK - am I selecting all of them at the SAME time and changing the bid? Or going through them one by one at high bid amounts? OR am I adding adding one until I have a whole list:1. Bid on ESB $120 4* - reject2. Bid on ESB and MSG 4* - reject3. Bid on ESB and MSG and MTW 4* - and so on..?Does that sound right?
thereuare Posted January 25, 2012 Report Posted January 25, 2012 No, that's not correct. If you haven't yet, please see Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask any questions that you may have.If you have already read that thread, try the following and post back your findings:1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter 'New York City, NY' and your dates, and click "GO".2) List each zone that is offered in this region. 3) Next to each zone list the highest star rating offered in the zone. The way to determine the highest star rating offered in the zone is by selecting the first zone i the list, then scrolling down to see the highest star rating selectable (ie- not greyed out). NEXT UNcheck the selected zone, place a checkmark in the next zone, and repeat the process for each zone in the region. Each time you take note of the highest star rating in the zone, make sure that only ONE zone is selected above.4) post your findings and we'll take it from thereIf you don't follow the above just post back and we'll break it down further.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
noodles81 Posted January 27, 2012 Author Report Posted January 27, 2012 Thanks Guys, I figured out the rebid zones for NYC - So I will use these:Coney island 3*Long island 3Lower east side 3Long island city 3MSG 3.5Morningside 3Queens borough 3Upper east side 3The question I have is on your bidding strategy, am I using the rebuy zones for each 4* area that I want to book? so:ESB 4*rebid x 7 rebid zones starting at $120 - $140?And so on for each area?Or do I bid exactly as you've outlined there?Are 4* in manhattan available for around $170-$180 for this time?
thereuare Posted January 27, 2012 Report Posted January 27, 2012 You should bid as outlined from the post above:Select 4* ESB, MSG, MTW, TS, HK (and MTE??)...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* CPS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* ESB, MSG, MTW, TS, HK, CPS (and MTE??)...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $173, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175If you were to bid the way you previously described you would risk an overbid in one of the zones you cycled-thru later in the bidding strategy.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Any other questions feel free to ask.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
noodles81 Posted January 27, 2012 Author Report Posted January 27, 2012 When you say: "Select 4* ESB, MSG, MTW, TS, HK (and MTE??)..." does that mean - click all esb+msg+mtw+ts+hk+mte and then bid? and then add the rebid zones?Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE
thereuare Posted January 27, 2012 Report Posted January 27, 2012 Yes, your first bid will be for all five zones (or six if you include MTE) zones. (essentially you're staying "Give me the least expensive hotel in any of these zones")If that is rejected then you'll simply add one zone (your first re-bid zone) to the previous bids and increase your price.So-on, so-on, so-on...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
noodles81 Posted January 27, 2012 Author Report Posted January 27, 2012 thanks!another question :let's say there's 5 rebid zones - for a simplified example, zone 1,2,3,4 and 5so after the first bid, I add zone 1.. do I then add zone 2 (so z1 AND z2)? i assume yes because z1 will be checked but n/a.
thereuare Posted January 28, 2012 Report Posted January 28, 2012 Correct.If your first bid is for FIVE zones, your second bid would be for SIX zones (the original FIVE + 1 re-bid zones), your second bid would be for SEVEN ZONES (the original FIVE + 2 re-bid zones), etc, etc.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
noodles81 Posted January 28, 2012 Author Report Posted January 28, 2012 Ok, thanks for the tips.I went through the bid amounts, and didn't end up winning. I'm thinking I want to move down to 3.5*s for the area to see if I can get something cheaper.ESB, MSG, MTW, TS, HK, MTE, CPSCan you devise a bidding strategy?What do you think these will sell for?
thereuare Posted January 28, 2012 Report Posted January 28, 2012 At current prices i'm guessing a 4* would go for ~$200+ and a 3.5* for ~$175+ (perhaps a little more/less for each, but that's probably the right ballpark). Given this difference do you want to bid higher for a 4* or try for a lower priced 3.5*? For whichever star rating you decide, what is your maximum bid?Also, note that at the 3.5* level and under some hotels in the MTE zone can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway, is this acceptable?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
noodles81 Posted January 28, 2012 Author Report Posted January 28, 2012 Is it only the 3.5s that are 15 minutes to the subway? Or is it the same for 4 star.I will try for the 3.5 star, max 160.
thereuare Posted January 28, 2012 Report Posted January 28, 2012 All the known 4* hotels in the MTE zone are well located, it's only at the 3.5* level where the distance from the subway becomes an issue.Did you include MTE in your bids above? If not do you want to first try for a 4* while including the MTE zone? If ready to bid 3.5* should we include/exclude MTE in a bidding strategy?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
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