Priceline Hotel: 4* New York City (Midtown East) Intercontinental The Barclay

[NavyWife]

So I am trying to get a last minute surprise trip for my husband to NYC this weekend put together. Two nights 2/18-2/20 I want to be very aggressive as I have found a rate for the Hilton Millennium (financial district I think) for $179 and if I am only going to save $10/night I would rather pick the place. I am not stuck on staying in the Times Square area but I really need to have subway access as we don't want to have to continually pay for cabs. I wouldn't mind downtown if I could get a really good deal. Looking for 4 star. Any ideas on a plan for bidding I have only done it once BEFORE I found this site and I did not get a good deal LOL!

Thanks in advance!

Elizabeth

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please start by reading your messages and clicking each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links... then reply to this thread and we'll have a look at your post above.

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

[NavyWife]

Done :) Thanks for the information. This site seems extremely helpful and I will always remember to use your links!

[thereuare]

I think you can do better, but my thoughts differ than your own in at least one aspect... unless you have reason to be downtown, i would sooner take an 'unknown' centrally located 4* hotel vs. a 'known' 4* downtown hotel, even if it was a few dollars more than the downtown property. Unless you know your activities will be focused around Downtown, the midtown location is worth a premium, imo, and the downtown location is only worthwhile if it represents some significant savings.

So some additional questions:

Would you pay a little more than your 4* Downtown property if it was in midtown and/or you had a 'reasonable' guess as to what it was?

Does ti have to be a 4* hotel... what is if was a 'good' 3.5* or similar property for the same price or less?

Let us know your thoughts on the above and we'll take it from there.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

[NavyWife]

I would much prefer a mid-town location but I don't want to pay excessively for it. I would consider a 3.5 if I had an idea of what kind of property it was. It feels a bit like there is more variance at the 3.5 level than the 4 but if you think there is a chance to get an awesome deal at 3.5 I would definitely try it.

Elizabth

[thereuare]

Here are some 'suspects':

The New York Palace for $207/nite (great reviews)

Omni Berkshire for $189/nite

Doubletree Chelsea OR Ramada New Yorker for $183/nite

Yotel for $166/nite (i don't know much about this one)

... or you can 'roll the dice' a bit and use PRICELINE to try for a 4* hotel in the centrally located zones (MTE, MTW, TS, CPS and ESB) for a better price than anything above.

Let us know your thoughts.

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

[NavyWife]

I am definitely going to try PRICELINE. I would love your recommendation for a bidding plan for a 4 star in any of those areas.

[thereuare]

What would you like to use as a maximum PRICELINE bid?

[NavyWife]

What would you like to use as a maximum PRICELINE bid?

$160

[NavyWife]

I got the Intercontinental Barclay 4* Midtown East (close to the train station which is awesome as we are arriving by train with our luggage!) for $145/night 2/18/12 - 2/20/12. VERY happy with the decision to not go with the Downtown hotel at $169/night. Looks like a beautiful hotel. I of course booked through the link provided here. Thanks for the reassurance to try a better location!

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Awesome last-minute deal for this very well-located (and historic) Midtown property. Glad you are pleased with the deal and looking forward to your stay.

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

Enjoy your stay.

[thereuare]

I'll add that you're also near my often recommended Ess-A-Bagel (Third Ave at 51st St) which has one of the best bagels in the city, makes for a nice, and relatively inexpensive, breakfast among local NYers.

Have a great trip!

[NavyWife]

I LOVE ESS-A-BAGEL!!! Totally forgot we would be close. Thanks for the help.