Priceline Hotel: 3 or 4* Jersey City June 6-12

[Timmeh]

I'm looking to stay in Jersey City for the convenience of getting into NYC. My backup plan to Priceline is the Jersey City Ramada, but that's looking like at least $120. Any chance of getting one of the three of four star Jersey City options for that price, or maybe a bit more (I could go as high as $140)?

Thanks.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Are you willing to pay more for a higher rated hotel (a 4* vs. a 3.5* vs. a 3*) OR is your goal the least expensive 3* or better for this stay?

Also, since you're 'settling' for a 3* hotel in Jersey City for $120/nite... what about trying for a similarly priced property in Manhtattan?

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

[Timmeh]

When you put it like that, I think my goal is to get the least expensive 3* or better.

I honestly hadn't even really considered Manhattan because I just assumed it would be more than I was looking to spend, but that's an excellent point. I should get out of my Jersey box and take a hard look at what I can find in Manhattan.

Thanks a lot.

[thereuare]

For your complete stay HOTWIRE has a 3* hotel in the ESB zone for $136/nite (your price may differ slightly) with Restaurant and Internet amenities listed. Best guess is that this is the Hotel Bedford, which if correct, is well located (close to Grand Central Station) and generally gets good reviews.

If this is acceptable you could either purchase this on HOTWIRE, or you could try to bid on PRICELINE, HOWEVER, note that this property has never been reported to the board via PRICELINE so it's unknown if they participate with PRICELINE's service or not. While this might be a few dollars more than staying in Jersey City, and this property is not fairly new like the 4* Jersey City hotels, it would be worth the extra money and trade-off t stay directly in the city, imo.

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

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

[Timmeh]

Thanks, that's a really good find. The only problem is that I neglected to mention that we're going to have three people in a room, and at three it goes up to $186. We may still consider it, even at that price.

I gather that with three people, using Priceline for Manhattan is just too big a risk, as it's very likely that you'll get a small room with one bed. But my sense was that this would be less of a problem in the 3* and up Jersey City properties. I know Priceline still only guarantees double occupancy, but would you agree that at least there's less risk with using Priceline for 3 in Jersey City?

[thereuare]

The only problem is that I neglected to mention that we're going to have three people in a room...

Yes, double vs. triple occupancy in NYC is a significant difference/distinction.

The risk of triple occupancy in Jersey City is less as 1) there are a great percentage of rooms at the hotel with two beds vs. their NYC counterparts, and 2)if you do get a room with only one bed there is a great chance that the hotel has a rollaway and that it will fit in the room. With this noted, Jersey City for triple occupancy is still a risk, and there could be an additional fee for a rollaway, room with two beds, or for occupancy more than two.

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

Let us know how you decide you want to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

[Timmeh]

We talked it over and we're willing to take the risk in Jersey City. We're looking to spend less than $140 a night, and we'd be willing to pay $15-20 to upgrade from 3* to 4*, but no more than that. Any advice you could give on how to proceed on PRICELINE would be greatly appreciated.

[thereuare]

Please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, then reply to this thread and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

Thanks.

[Timmeh]

Please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, then reply to this thread and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

Thanks.

I clicked on the links. Thanks.

[thereuare]

At the 4* level you have SEVEN re-bid zones... at the 3* there are none. 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.

I would bid as follows (read the entire post first before bidding):

Select 4* Jersey City...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125

Where ever you stop above, closer browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* Jersey City...

Bid $80 (increase $5 every bidding cycle)

Since you're only willing to pay a $20 premium for a 4* vs. a 3*, your first 4* bid will only go up to $100, then close the browser, re-access using the board's PRICELINE link, and bid for a 3* in Jersey City (only) at $80.

Assuming the above is rejected, wait 24 hours and your next 3* bidding will be for $85, therefore your maximum 4* bid will be $105. Therefore following the 4* strategy up to $110, if that is rejected try for a 3* at $85.

If the above is rejected wait 24 hours and your next 4* bidding will be up to $110 and your 3* bidding up to $90.

Then $115 / $95... then $120 / $100... then $125 / $105.

At this point if you're still rejected (very possible) post back and we'll revise to continue higher at the 4* level.

Any 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.