Priceline Hotel: Bidding for end of June.

[mohdban]

Hello Everyone,

I'll be travelling to NYC in June. I'll be arriving in June 25th, and I'm not sure yet how long I will be staying there (maybe 5 or 6 nights). I'll be travelling with my wife.

I've only bid one time before using priceline, and I managed to get a room in Affinia Manhattan with a 100$ bid, which I think was a great deal.

I'm not very familiar with the areas in NYC, but I want an area that is close to Times Square. As long as it is a walking distance, then it should be perfect. The star rate I'm looking for is 3.5, possibly? I don't want to pay more than a 100$ per night. Is 3.5* possible with 100$ this time of year?

Thank you for your help!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

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

I'll be travelling to NYC in June. I'll be arriving in June 25th, and I'm not sure yet how long I will be staying there (maybe 5 or 6 nights).

Let us know once your plans are firm as you can't start bidding until then, and rates can change based upon the addition/deletion of just one day and/or rates can change between now and the time your plans are firm.

However, i'll add that $100 is not a lot in NYC and while we can try, at current rates i'm doubtful that you'll be able to find anything within Manhattan at $100 or less for a 3.5* rated property.

I've only bid one time before using priceline, and I managed to get a room in Affinia Manhattan with a 100$ bid, which I think was a great deal.

How long ago was this (if 3-4 years ago we've seen hotel rates rise since then) and was it a multi-nite stay?

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

[mohdban]

Thanks for the quick reply!

Well, if one day does make a difference, then my dates would be flexible, as long as I take advantage and get the best offer! I'm the type of person who likes to save as much as he can, even if the ending price is still relatively expensive :D

Anyhow, let's assume for now the stay will be 5 nights (if its better for it to be more, or less, then please recommend me what the number of nights is optimal, as I plan to stay in NYC for a couple of days, then go to niagara falls, then back to NYC). So it could be 6 nights stay NYC - x number of nights buffalo - 5 nights NYC, or any combination that adds up to 11 nights in NYC!

I stayed in Affinia Manhattan in November 2011, for 3 nights and the rate was 100$ per night.

Thanks!

[thereuare]

I stayed in Affinia Manhattan in November 2011, for 3 nights and the rate was 100$ per night.

Was it the weekend after Thanksgiving, as that is usually the only cheap (or should i say less expensive) weekend around that time of year? (and even during this slower than usual weekend $100 would be a great deal)

If you'd like help with a bidding strategy let us know which zones, my PRICELINE name, you're willing to accept and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[mohdban]

Hello,

No, it was actually the thanksgiving weekend!

Dates: 25 June-30 June.

So, the areas I prefer are:

Times Square - Theatre District

Midtown West

Central Park South

If not possible in one of the areas above, include the following:

Madison Square Garden

Hell's Kitchen

Thank you.

[thereuare]

Was it the weekend after Thanksgiving...

No, it was actually the thanksgiving weekend!

That is what i was referring to... the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, after Thanksgiving Thursday.

For this coming stay, you're still want to use $100 as a maximum bid?

Also, note that when bidding 3.5* in the CPS zone the Hudson Hotel is a possibility. While well located, this property has notoriously small rooms (~140 sq. ft)... is this an acceptable outcome?

Please confirm the above and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[mohdban]

hudson is 3 stars though right? Id be willing to pay the extra cash for a 3.5*. Max bid would be 125$.

[thereuare]

No, the Hudson Hotel is currently 3.5* rated by PRICELINE.

Let us know if we should include/exclude this zone in a suggested bidding strategy.

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

[mohdban]

Actually, the rooms are very small, I checked them. No, I do not want it to be included.

[thereuare]

When bidding 3.5* in NYC you have SIX re-bid zones. 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 3.5* MTW and TS...

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

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MTW and TS and MSG and HK...

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

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125

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.

[mohdban]

Is the information about the list of hotels in NYC in this forum up to date? I mean this

Priceline Hotel List

So I can count on it for rebidding?

[thereuare]

Is it up to date... based upon all the information reported to the board it is up to date, but as per the comments at the top of the hotel list you should never use the hotel lists to determine your re-bid zones:

This list is NOT a complete list of all hotels that Priceline offers in this area, it is ONLY a compilation of hotels that have already been reported on this forum. Hotels are added/removed by Priceline all the time, and star ratings can change at ANY time. As well, the geographic boundaries of an area are subject to change, so it is always a good idea to look at the Priceline map before purchasing. DO NOT USE THIS LIST to determine what areas to add when attempting to bid again within the 24 hour window (CLICK HERE for information on how to add cities in order to bid again).

In light of the above, you MAY get a hotel that is NOT on this list, or get a hotel on this list but at a star level you didn't expect (if the star rating has changed).

If you've read the Priceline Re-Bidding Explained link and are confused post back and we'll break it down further for you.

[mohdban]

Hmm can you help me with re-bidding then, please ?

I used the list to rebid yesterday and I couldnt get anything. If not from the list, how do I know if a particular area does not have 3.5* so I can add it to the bid?

[AaronJB]

If not from the list, how do I know if a particular area does not have 3.5* so I can add it to the bid?

On the zone selection screen during the check-out process, you can select a particular zone and see the star ratings available for bidding in that particular zone. Please list the re-bid zones you are seeing and we would be happy to confirm.

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

[mohdban]

Brooklyn:

4*, 3.5*, 3*, 2.5*, 2*, 1*.

Central Park South:

4*, 3.5*, 3*, 2.5*, 2*, 1*.

Chelsea Area:

4*, 3.5*, 3*, 2.5*, 2*, 1*.

Coney Island:

2*, 1*.

Downtown Financial District:

4*, 3.5*, 3*, 2.5*, 2*, 1*.

Empire State Building Area:

4*, 3.5*, 3*, 2.5*, 2*, 1*.

Hell's Kitchen:

4*, 3.5*, 3*.

Long Island:

3*, 2.5*, 2*, 1*.

Lower East Side:

3*, 2.5*, 2*, 1*.

Madison Square Garden:

3.5*, 3*, 2.5*, 2*, 1*.

Midtown East:

4*, 3.5*, 3*, 2.5*, 2*

Midtown West:

4*, 3.5*, 3*, 2.5*, 2*, 1*.

Morningside Heights - Harlem:

3*, 2.5*, 2*.

Queensborough Bridge :

3*, 2.5*, 2*.

SoHo - Tribeca:

4*, 3.5*, 3*, 2.5*, 2*, 1*.

Times Square:

5*,4*, 3.5*, 3*, 2.5*, 2*, 1*.

Upper East Side:

3*, 2.5*, 2*.

Upper West Side

4*, 3.5*, 3*, 2.5*, 2*, 1*.

I believe these are correct. Please let me know if there are any mistakes.

[thereuare]

All that matters is the highest star rating offered in each zone, so that is all i looked at, and the above (as of this post) is correct... but you should always double check just before each bidding cycle to make sure that nothing has changed since you last looked.

Only the highest star rating is important since the star rating you select is the minimum you are willing to accept and PRICELINE will always try to upgrade you to a higher rated property. So for instance:

Let's say you were bidding for a 2.5* property and did NOT want to stay in the Hell's Kitchen zone. Even though there are no 2.5* hotels offered in this zone, it is NOT a re-bid zone since there are higher rated hotels in this zone... even though you're bidding 2.5*, if you were to include this zone you could be upgraded to a 3* (or even higher) rated hotel in this zone. Does that make sense?

So given the above, are you able to determine your SIX re-bid zones at the 3.5* level?

You mention you recently did some bidding, was it at the 3.5* level and did you include all the acceptable zones previously discussed and bid up to $125?

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