Priceline Hotel: Priceline NYC 4 nights 15-19 March 2012

[han___c]

Hi there

I am hoping for some advice on bidding on Priceline for a hotel in NYC:

- 4 nights 15-19 March 2012

- 1 double room

- 4/5* hotel

- Times Square or potentially midtown East areas

I currently have a fully refundable booking in a Times Square area 3* hotel costing total

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

If you're willing to stay outside of Times Square, yet still centrally located, i think can do better than your back-up reservation in both price and star rating, if only willing to stay in the Times Square zone it will be significantly tougher.

Do you want to only try Times Square first or are you willing to consider other area(s): MTE, ESB, CPS, MTW???

What is the name of your back-up reservation?

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

[han___c]

Thanks for response - we're probably happy to be a bit flexible on location if there's a chance of a higher star rated hotel. Or we could start with Times Square and if not accepted broaden the zones? What's a reasonable start point do you think?

Backup is also a priceline hotel - Mela.

[thereuare]

Thanks for response - we're probably happy to be a bit flexible on location if there's a chance of a higher star rated hotel. Or we could start with Times Square and if not accepted broaden the zones? What's a reasonable start point do you think?

Your starting point and strategy will differ depending upon whether you want to start with Times Square only first OR if you're looking for the least expensive, centrally located, 4* hotel.

What is more important to you... staying in the Times Square zone OR a 4* hotel?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (and please click each of these previous links before replying)

Thanks.

[han___c]

I've clicked the links...

I've discussed with the other half and staying in Times Square zone. We'll put a bid in over the next day or so for 4*, what do you think a reasonable start point would be?

[thereuare]

If you're only looking at Times Square i'd guess you're somewhere in the $180-$200 area. For comparison purposes, HOTWIRE has a 4* hotel in the ESB zone which i'm guessing to be the Roger Williams Hotel for $138/nite (although this property is one of the only hotels in NYC that charges a 'resort fee' (~$20/nite) so equates to a $160/nite room rate vs. a hotel which does not charge a resort fee)

If only bidding TS, what do you want to use for your maximum budget?

[han___c]

Given we already have Mela at 185/night, I guess we'd look to start at 150 and if we fail either try again up to 185 and if we still fail then expand zones but revise the bid back downwards as from what you said MTE, MTW or ESB would be significantly cheaper?

if we end up adding zones - what's best to add next in your opinion?

I'll let you know how we get on over the next couple of days? If you have other advice please let me know however...

[thereuare]

Let's take it one step at a time, first bidding to the maximum bid in your first step, then if that is rejected increasing the bid as you've indicated (assuming that is still the path you want to take at that time), then looking at other zones if that too is rejected.

So bidding 4* Times Square only with a maximum bid of $150:

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* Times Square...

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 add re-bid zone...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $148, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $150

Any question 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.