Priceline Hotel: Help for Hotel in New Jersey Close to Public Transit to NYC

[kindheartedguy]

Hi all! I'm back again.

I need your expertise again, very similar to my case last time:

I would like to find a hotel close to NYC for 2 nights (April 6 to 8, 2012). I will be driving to the hotel (from Quebec), then taking public transportation to go to NYC.

Last time I got the following and I was very satisfied: 3* Newark - Meadowlands (Secaucus - North Bergen) Crowne Plaza Meadowlands $65 ... 11/19/11-11/20/11

This time, I want to try and lower my cost even more. (Budget: preferably under 60$, max 65)

My situation:

- I am a bit hard up so that's why I'm considering staying in a satellite city next to NYC.

- I would like to take the public transportation from the hotel to get to NYC.

My criteria for hotel:

- I would like to stay in a 2.5*+ hotel (preferably close to a bus or train station)

- I am quite impecunious(lol, that's why I'm here) so I would like to pay as little as possible.

My questions:

- Which New Jersey neighborhood(s) should I choose?

- What should be my bidding strategy/How should I proceed?

Thank you! You're expertise is greatly appreciated, and I will definitely use the link you provide from here!

[thereuare]

Is a zone where you might need to drive 10-15 minutes to catch a bus to NYC be acceptable?

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

[kindheartedguy]

i wouldn't mind driving 10-15 minutes to catch a bus/train as long as i can park my car (preferably for free)

[kindheartedguy]

I made a mistake in my original post:

instead of 2 nights, i would like to stay three nights.

check in: april 6, check out 9 april.

[thereuare]

My suggestion would be to consider the Secaucus-North Bergen and Meadowlands-Rutherford zones. As well, Jersey City could be considered too, and while it is unlikely you will win a hotel in this zone, note that hotels in this zone typically charge for parking (~$25/day) although there is parking on the street within a mile of the hotels from Friday 6pm-Monday 7am (last time i checked) so depending what time you arrive/depart into town you would need to pay for parking for at last part of your trip (the alternative is to stop your trip en-route, park your car at a train station, and come the rest of the way to this area via mass transit... then do the same to get back to your car for the ride home). Again, i think unlikely you win a hotel in the Jersey City zone, but these are options if you did, but the advantage is that this zone offers the quickest and most convenient options to commute to NYC.

Please confirm if the Secaucus-North Bergen and Meadowlands-Rutherford zones are acceptable, and if you would also want to include Jersey City in your bidding, and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[kindheartedguy]

Yes, the Secaucus-North Bergen and Meadowlands-Rutherford zones are acceptable, and also Jersey City too. Thank you!

[thereuare]

At the 2.5* level there are no re-bid zones, but you can try as follows:

Select 2.5* Secaucus...

Bid $40, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 2.5* North Bergen...

Bid $40, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 2.5* Jersey City...

Bid $40, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 2.5* Secaucus and Jersey City...

Bid $45, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 2.5* Secaucus and North Bergen...

Bid $45, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 2.5* Secaucus and Jersey City and North Bergen...

Bid $50

I'd start with the above, if rejected post back and we'll revise to try again in 24 hours. 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.

[kindheartedguy]

im just assuming you meant meadowlands instead of north bergen...

i did the following :

Select 2.5* Secaucus...

Bid $40, rejected

Select 2.5* Meadowlands...

Bid $40, rejected

Select 2.5* Jersey City...

Bid $40, rejected

Select 2.5* Secaucus and Jersey City...

Bid $45, rejected

Select 2.5* Secaucus and Meadowlands...

Bid $45, rejected

Select 2.5* Secaucus and Jersey City and Meadowlands...

Bid $50 rejected

what should i do next after 24h?

[thereuare]

Yes, i did mean Meadowlands in stead of North Bergen, sorry about that, but glad that you were able to easily figure it out. :)

24 hours after your last rejected bid i'd re-try:

Select 2.5* Secaucus...

Bid $53, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* North Bergen...

Bid $53, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* Jersey City...

Bid $53, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* Secaucus and Jersey City...

Bid $55, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* Secaucus and North Bergen...

Bid $55, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* Secaucus and Jersey City and North Bergen...

Bid $58

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.

[kindheartedguy]

hi, i tried until the last step

Secaucus and Jersey City and North Bergen...

Bid $58 --> rejected

what should i do now?

[thereuare]

If you're still willing to go as high as $65/nite you can try one last time:

Select 2.5* Secaucus...

Bid $60, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* North Bergen...

Bid $60, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* Jersey City...

Bid $60, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* Secaucus and Jersey City...

Bid $63, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* Secaucus and North Bergen...

Bid $63, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* Secaucus and Jersey City and North Bergen...

Bid $65

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[kindheartedguy]

hi.. i did not succeed. so i ultimately gave up. Although I do appreciate all the help! Thank you so much!

[thereuare]

If you were willing to pay $65 + $25 parking for the Jersey City area you may want to bid a little higher in only Secaucus and/or North Bergen since parking at hotels in these zones is typically free... assuming you really want to visit the area this time of year.

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

[dahammer]

hi.. i did not succeed. so i ultimately gave up. Although I do appreciate all the help! Thank you so much!

I have stayed at the 1* Extended Stay America located in the Meadowlands-Rutherford zone. While it's not my favorite hotel chain, I feel It offers good value, I have bid around $50 and won it. Parking is free and wifi is $4.99 for the duration of your stay. You could drive to the NJ Transit Park and Ride and take the 320 bus into the city, a round trip ticket and parking was $9.50 the last time I used it. Don't give up, anything worthwhile takes time and effort.