Priceline Hotel: 3* New York City (Madison Square Garden - Convention) Affinia Manhattan

[Danglam]

Hi!!

I'm trying to get a room in Manhattan between 4/20 - 4/23 (a few days from now).

I travel alone and need a single room.

Acceptable areas are:

Empire State Building Area, Madison Square Garden, Midtown West, Times Square, Upper West Side, Chelsea Area

My questions are:

1. How much should a winning bid be for 3*, 3.5*, and 4*? Do I have a good chance, given the short notice?

2. Will I have a nearby subway station in all these areas which can get me anywhere around Manhattan?

3. Can I use Coney Island as my re-bidding zone (even if I search for a 3* hotel)?

4. Do the hotels usually have luggage storage? I will arrive to Manhattan much before check-in time and leave much after check-out time.

Thanks!!! :)

Daniel

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

If you haven't yet, please start by reading your messages.

With six different zone options, and three different star levels, there are too many different combinations to properly answer your question(s) above. Let us know your expected budget for this trip (per nite before fees and taxes) and we'll then be able to filter down your options from above and advise accordingly.

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

[Danglam]

Thanks for the answer!

I was hoping to pay no more than $150 per night before fees and taxes, and the most important things for me are proximity to the subway, so I can get anywhere (including at night), and that the area will not be "rough". If you think that this is too low - please tell me where I should aim (or maybe $150 is enough for even more than 3*?).

Also I understand how the re-bidding works - just want to make sure that I can use Coney Island as a re-bidding zone.

I guess that I should start the bidding ASAP, since it's really close...

Thanks!!!!

[thereuare]

Your $150/nite budget is at the very low end of the range that would likely be accepted for a 3* hotel; in other words it will probably not be enough for these dates, but it's worth trying as you never know what can happen this close to check-in.

At the 4* level i would think all of the following zones should be fine given your needs:

MTE, MTW, CPS, TS, ESB

At the 3* and 3.5* level: MTW, TS, ESB, MSG plus:

-how do you feel about a very small room (~140 sq. ft.?)... if this would be acceptable then you could include CPS as well

-i'm assuming a 15 minute walk to the subway is too far? (and thus the reason for not including MTE)

For all star ratings you'll can also decide if you want to bid Downtown or not. As you'll still likely be near a subway station, if most of your time will be spent around midtown it will be a 20-25 minute ride each time. Downtown is not as convenient as midtown, but certainly do-able for the right price.

NOTE: if you have any type of safety issue it most likely wouldn't be the walk home from the subway at nite, but more likely the subway itself... i DON'T recommend tourists riding them late at nite (not after sometime between 10pm-midnite depending upon your comfort level), it's best to just take a taxi home as even many locals don't ride the subways very late at nite (after 11pm/midnite)

Given the zone information i've included above, what are your thoughts about the zones suggested and those that are 'flex'? Do you want to try for the highest star rating your $150 budget will buy OR is the goal the least expensive 3* or better for this stay?

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

[Danglam]

Thanks so much for all the info...

Would you say that around $150 the only probable option is 3*? Are the 3* hotels convenient in Manhattan? Wןill I necessarily have my own bathroom? If so, I guess I will aim for the 3*.

How low would you advise me to start my bidding?

I guess I won't aim for the "flex" zones.

So, can I use Coney Island as my re-bidding zone?

Thanks again so much for the help, this is VERY valuable...

[thereuare]

Would you say that around $150 the only probable option is 3*?

As noted above, anything can happen on a last minute bid, but i'd guess your chances of a 3.5* or higher rated hotel at $150 or under is less than 25%... but you can certainly try if you'd like.

Are the 3* hotels convenient in Manhattan? Wןill I necessarily have my own bathroom? If so, I guess I will aim for the 3*.

At the 3* level all the 'known' hotels in the MTW, TS, ESB, and MSG zones are generally considered well located and you will have your own bathroom.

So, can I use Coney Island as my re-bidding zone?

Yes, but always double check just before bidding (using the method at Priceline Re-Bidding Explained) to make sure that nothing has changed since you last looked.

If you wanted to move forward trying for a 3* first in any of the following zones: MTW, TS, ESB, MSG, with a $150 maximum bid and using your ONE re-bid zone:

Select 3* MTW and TS...

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

Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* ESB and MSG...

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

Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW and MSG...

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

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* ESB and TS...

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

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW and ESB...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* TS and MSG...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW and TS and ESB...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $140, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW and TS and MSG...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $140, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW and TS and ESB and MSG...

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

Bid $150

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.

[Danglam]

THANKS!!!!

Affinia hotel, $155/nite :)

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you're pleased with the results and just a few dollars over your desired budget.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

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

Enjoy your stay.