Priceline Hotel: NYC in July bidding help

[rah11]

Hi all,

I'm looking for an affordable 3* or higher room near Grand Central (so either Midtown East or Empire State Building Area) from Jul 1-13. I'm wondering how far in advance or close to the dates I should bid to get the best deal.

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

What would be your desired budget per night? In terms of when to start, it's definitely not too early to start bidding for July.

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

[thereuare]

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

... and please click each of the links above before replying.

Thanks.

[rah11]

Hi, thanks! Well I'm a student coming to town for a research trip so I'd like to keep the cost as low as possible, but would like to stay in a 3* or better hotel in walking distance of grand central station (so Midtown East or Empire State Building area). I'd be open to splitting my trip up into two parts July 1-6, and July 9-13 and could stay with friends over the weekend in the middle. What do you suggest? I've been trying each day and increasing my bid by 5$

[thereuare]

I'd be open to splitting my trip up into two parts July 1-6, and July 9-13 and could stay with friends over the weekend in the middle.

Is this something you want to do in order to not have the hotel expense of the weekend nites?

I've been trying each day and increasing my bid by 5$

How high have you bid already, and for what dates?

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

[rah11]

Well, I'd rather pay less per night and have enough to stay in a hotel for the whole period just because that is more convenient. But if I end up paying 130 or more per night (which seems likely) then I'll need to break to trip up in order to be able to afford it. I think my most recent bid was for 110 for the full July 1-13 period. I know this is incredibly low but since I'm a student on a budget, I'm starting low and moving up gradually. Any tips?

[thereuare]

It seems like your first goal would be this complete stay up to $130, so i'd suggest we start with that and take it from there.

When bidding 3* in NYC you have ONE re-bid zone at the 3* level. 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.

Select 3* MTE...

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

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

Select 3* 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* MTE and TS...

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

Bid $130

If the above is rejected you can look at SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID, but before doing so, have you considered other nearby zones? Midtown NYC is fairly compact that nothing is really that far away, and to save money you could be consider staying further away form Grand Central but in an area that would likely have good subway access to area around Grand Central. If i may ask, do you specifically need to be near Grand Central or is that your hub to be heading elsewhere? If the latter, where is it that you're ultimately heading or need to be?

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[rah11]

Thanks! I will try this today and let you know how it goes. I will be commuting from Grand Central to Tarrytown, NY each day. Since that is about an hour train ride, I'd like to stay somewhere within walking distance of Grand Central but you're right that I could probably stand to expand my zones. I'll try your suggested strategy and get back to you.

[thereuare]

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

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

[rah11]

Hi, just a quick point of clarification- what is the re-bid zone?

[thereuare]

You need to know how to determine this on your own as it needs to be checked before every bidding cycle.

If you've already read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and are still confused, try the following:

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter 'New York City, NY' and your dates, and click "GO".

2) List each zone that is offered in this region.

3) Next to each zone list the highest star rating offered in the zone. The way to determine the highest star rating offered in the zone is by selecting the first zone i the list, then scrolling down to see the highest star rating selectable (ie- not greyed out). NEXT UNcheck the selected zone, place a checkmark in the next zone, and repeat the process for each zone in the region. Each time you take note of the highest star rating in the zone, make sure that only ONE zone is selected above.

4) post your findings and we'll take it from there

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases (and please click each of these previous links before replying)

Thanks.