Hotwire Hotel: NYC - A Party Of Five

[turtleiris]

I'm looking for some strong advice if I may from anyone who is willing to offer it.

In 2010 I along with my partner and my parents traveled to NYC for thanksgiving, unwittingly, and missed the parade, stumbling onto Black Friday in the meantime. This year we're returning, with her parents and a new baby in tow (she'll be 1 at time of traveling).

Our travel dates are 21st - 27th Nov and I have been looking at holiday apartments to try to keep the costs down. The girlfriend doesn't seem too keen on them though, I know this as every one i show her she tells me something is wrong. "the bathroom looks dirty........the kitchen is too small........there isn't a headboard on the bed". And so i've resorted to attempting to find a ridiculously overpriced hotel in a maze of overpriced hotels. Until of course i stumbled across Priceline and then Hotwire. And herein lies my dilemma...........

Preferably I want 2 rooms, 2 adults (both over 63 at time of travel - in case any discounts apply) in one and 2 adults and an infant in another. I would however accept 1 room but am i right in thinking i couldn't guarantee a big enough room that would keep me immune from the father in laws snoring?????????? Definitely 2 rooms i think.

The mother in law has had some work done on her knees (both replaced) and is a good walker but we want to be pretty central to Times Square or surrounding areas (Midtown East, West, Central, Central Park South) so as to get about easily. Anything from that point we can taxi or subway. The only thing I've tried to date is Midtown East on Hotwire and come up with a 3.5* for

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Note that PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy which means that the room may only have one bed, and there may be little (or no) room for a Pak n Play (and the hotel may not have them onhand either). I wouldn't be too concerned about the occupancy issue as i'd think the risk is fairly low that the hotel would take issue given the age of your child, but you do need to be aware of the room size issue depending upon your plans on where your infant will sleep.

PRICELINE is usually a little cheaper than PRICELINE, but while PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy (with no distinction for adults/children), HOTWIRE allows you to search for up to quad occupancy per room and ensures accommodations for everyone you include in your search (although searching for more than double occupancy per room can often raise the price). HOWEVER, HOTWIRE has you search for adults/children and qualifies children as ages 2-17, so i would think that you could search 2rooms/4adults/0children, and should you have an occupancy issue (or even room size issue with no room for a Pak n Play or for your child to sleep) you could bring the issue to HOTWIRE since you did indeed search as per their indications (ie- not including the baby in the search since under 2 years old)... whereas with PRICELINE should have a problem, they could state that they only guarantee double occupancy per their terms (and you're triple occupancy in that one room). That's along winded explanation, but hopefully enough for you to weigh the risks and make an informed decision.

Your budget should be fine and it comes down to what type of hotel you want for this stay. Searching HOTWIRE there is a 4* hotel in the MTE zone for $158/nite ($2286 all-in for 2 rooms) which i'm guessing to be the W New York (NOTE: 'standard' rooms at this property are typically on the smaller side). A 3.5* in the MTE zone for $105/nite i'm assuming to be the Helmsley New York or the Radisson on Lexington... thoughts on either of these options, or given my comments above, trying for a better price thru PRICELINE (but accepting the room size/occupancy risks)

Let us know your thoughts (and questions) and we'll take it from there.

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

[turtleiris]

Thanks for the quick response, some excellent advice which is very much appreciated.

I think after taking everything on board, the occupancy risks etc, consulting the girlfriend, we've decided to go with HOTWIRE, 2 rooms, and for the lower of the 2 prices. I think she'd rather spend the excess in Macy's on cut price Christmas decorations on Black Friday.

Now that's decided, how do I go about booking it? I'd like to get it sorted asap if possible.

Thanks

[thereuare]

Click this link to go to HOTWIRE. Enter "New York City, NY" as the destination and 2rooms/4adults/0children along with your travel dates. (assuming all this previous information is correct)

The first listing (or near the top) should be a 3.5* hotel in the Midtown East zone for $105/nite (your price may differ by a few dollars) and the amenities of: Restaurant, Business, Hi-Speed Internet (best guess is the New York Helmsley)

Click the BOOK NOW button and complete your purchase.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.