Priceline Hotel: First time bidding

[rbbraz]

Hi, this is the first time I'm attempting to use priceline, so I'm thinking someone might be able to help me a bit.

Dates for travel: 08/29 - 09/05)

I've placed a couple rejected bids already:

- MTE/Times Square 4* up to 160 USD

I would like a rather central location, but could settle for something more downtown, provided most possible hotels for the combination are near a subway station (similarly to MTE, where 4* + are all close to a subway).

My budget is basically that, 160 USD, can stretch it to 170, which is what I found a couple regular fallback options at.

I initially considered these options:

- CS 4*

- MTE 4*

- TS 4*

- MTW 4*

Is there another area that might serve my needs? I could also try bidding for a 3* or a 3.5* hotel in some of the above areas (if my budget isn't enough for a 4*), but I did some research and there are a couple hotels badly rated on TA on the lower end of the *-spectrum (I'm aware this is a possibility, just mentioning this is a concern of ours).

I've noticed a couple 135 accepted on MTE 4* recently, would I have to split my stay to get near that? I'm not willing to do that, though.

Thanks for any help, and I've used your link for my previous searches. Might have forgotten to include something here, not sure..

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option? Assuming you're flying into the area, what time (and from which airport) does your depart on Sept 5?

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

[rbbraz]

My flight departs from JFK at 21h40.

As far as splitting my bid, I'm not sure. I would rather not, unless it means I'll be able to get a much better deal than I can without Priceline (so, 120-140 tops, in that case).

I don't really want to sound unreasonable - I've been to NY twice, but both times in the winter, when hotel prices are a bit cheaper, and didn't resort to Priceline in either time. I'm thinking about it this time around due to a couple things - last time we had another pair of friends with us, so we could get a room for 4, and in the first time I went I got an excellent deal for a MTE 3* hotel that is very highly rated on TA, but.. MTE at 3* has a couple undesirable hotels at Priceline (near the UN, for example, so way too far from a subway station).

Not sure if I can name the hotels I've stayed to give an example of hotels I liked in the US or not..

I've just used them to take a look at the hotwire options :)

EDIT: I've just taken a look at the distances, and it appears the subway is not THAT far from the UN. It may have been the cold that changed my perception of distance. Therefore, what kind of bid would it probably take to get a 3* hotel in that area? Or even a 3.5..

[thereuare]

To help you make an informed decision, for 8/29-9/4 i think you could likely get a 4* hotel in one of the zones above for $135-$160... but you would then need to change properties for the last nite of your stay (or purchase the last nite at whatever hotel you win thru traditional booking channels)

If you do decide to lower your star rating, note that the CPS zone has the Hudson Hotel which has notoriously small rooms (~140 sq. ft.) so you'll need to decide if you want to include this zone in your bidding if you bid 3.5* or less.

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[rbbraz]

Just out of curiosity, is there some sort of event or something in that last day (Sept 4th/5th)? (I do know about US Open, but it starts before and ends after that date)

If I do lower my star rating to 3 or 3.5, excluding CPS, how much do you think I can get a room for? Depending on that I would either do the splitting thing or just try to get a lower rated hotel. If I do split it, I would probably stay the last day near JFK or something like that.

I can also do another area, just don't know the others much.. the ones I listed are based on where I haved stayed and on looking at a google maps overlay with some of the possible hotels & distance to subway, etc. Not sure if Chelsea, MSG or ES might be good for me as well. I don't intend to do as much sightseeing this time, mostly shopping (and may try to get some sports tickets).

[thereuare]

I don't know of anything specific happening for Sept. 4-5. There is always something happening in the city, but this could simply be the changeover from Summer rates to Fall rates.

Not sure how much you feel the need to get this done, but it's still somewhat early to be compromising on too much of what you want.

At the moment, i'm guessing a 3* will run you about $130-150.

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

[rbbraz]

I see.

Ok, I'll keep this in mind and watch a bit for jetsetter deals as well for a couple weeks and try to place some bids periodically without compromises. If I decide what exactly I'll do I'll ask for further help, if needed.

Thanks very much, if I happen to use PRICELINE I'll use your links!

[thereuare]

Please close this thread with whatever you decide to do for this stay (even if you book direct, cancel the trip, etc)

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

[rbbraz]

Gave it another try today, adding a couple more zones at a different star level:

- MTW, Chelsea, MSG at 2,5*

Went up to 130$ and had no luck.

I am considering also adding in ESB, but am a bit wary of the sparsity of subway stations in that zone. I might also go up to 150$ for these same areas, but I'm a bit averse to bad odds so I might skip using priceline at that point (and just get the known quantity at 170$).. I tried these at 2,5 since I like the Hampton, Fairfield, HIE chains, and they are apparently most of what is offered at 2,5*.

Should I maybe have tried another zone at 2,5, or if I could not get it at Chelsea for 130 I probably wouldn't in another either? (no idea if Chelsea is more/less desirable than MTW or MSG)

I checked Hotwire as well, and the lowest rates there for a 3* Midtown hotel are 163$ (a bit more for a better rated hotel), so it might just be that I am still a bit too low.

I'll most likely wait until Wednesday to possibly try again.

Will post here when I do decide what to do - I'll certainly not cancel the trip, for what it's worth.

[rbbraz]

Not sure if I should make a new post or not, since it is related to hotwire..

I've been using your website (and links) and a couple others and found an apparently decent offer on Hotwire:

3*

$151.00 per night, per room

Downtown - SoHo - Financial District Hotel

Amenities: Business Center, Complimentary Breakfast, Free Internet, Fitness Center, High-Speed Internet Access

Also a 3,5 TripAdvisor rating

I think this might be the Holiday Inn Express New York City-Wall Street.. does anyone have any idea? Also, might this help as a guideline for Priceline? For ex, trying a ~140$-150$ bid on Downtown/Soho for a 2,5+.

I haven't tried Priceline much since (I went up to 140$ a couple weeks ago on 2,5 MTW, Chelsea, MSG, Soho, ESB with no luck and 160$ TS, MTE, etc). I had found a decent hotel at 169$, but waited a bit on it (was advanced payment, so..) and it has since gone up to 194$. I still have my first backup at 171$, but it also includes a night prepayment.

I've also checked Jersey options (such as the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor @ Hotwire, but it apparently isn't very easy to get to Manhattan with that hotel) and also Long Island options (my fiancee didn't like the neighborhood of the hotels, most appear to have abandoned factories and stuff nearby..).

So, yeah, I'm still looking for a good option. Been browsing a bit the boards and lately it appears that wins have gone for higher than a couple months ago, so I might have to get The Mave Hotel (my 171$ option) and just stop worrying about it :P

[thereuare]

3*

$151.00 per night, per room

Downtown - SoHo - Financial District Hotel

Amenities: Business Center, Complimentary Breakfast, Free Internet, Fitness Center, High-Speed Internet Access

Also a 3,5 TripAdvisor rating

The Holiday Inn Express Wall Street, upgraded from the last time it was reported to the board, would be my guess for this one.

I think this might be the Holiday Inn Express New York City-Wall Street.. does anyone have any idea? Also, might this help as a guideline for Priceline? For ex, trying a ~140$-150$ bid on Downtown/Soho for a 2,5+.

You could use the HOTWIRE price to set an upper bidding limit on PRICELINE, but i wouldn't necessarily expect to win the Holiday Inn Express... you could still win any hotel in the zone at the star rating you choose.

I've also checked Jersey options (such as the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor @ Hotwire, but it apparently isn't very easy to get to Manhattan with that hotel)...

This isn't true... it's actually easy to get to Manhattan, but the commute is via Bus, not PATH train, so it lacks a 'coolness' factor as the bus isn't nearly as much fun to take as the train (especially if you're not from a city that has train/subway service)

It's still early and inventory will likely change a lot between now and the end of August.

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

[rbbraz]

My main worry with the commute via bus is traffic, not sure how far the bus has to go and if that would be a big issue in the Sheraton's case.

Thanks for the help, I'll research the bus option a bit.

[thereuare]

It's a short trip, but traffic going into the Lincoln Tunnel is a crapshoot.

The ferry is the best way to get to Manhattan as there is never any traffic... but it's very expensive ~$8 one way per person which doesn't make it a good choice, imo. You could always take the light rail to the Hoboken PATH and then take the PATH train into Manhattan, but i'd sooner take my chances with the tunnel traffic (unless i was doing something in Hoboken before taking the train in). Taxis are a $5 flat fee anywhere in Hoboken (probably double once you cross the Weehawken border) so you could always take the walk to cross the Hoboken border and then take the $5 cab ride to the PATH.

Again, all the above is what makes the Sheraton in Weehawken the 'worst of the best'... it's a do-able and inexpensive option to Manhattan, but the 4* Waterfront Jersey City hotels are better options (but sometimes simply not available or priced to close to NYC rates to not make them a viable option)

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