Priceline Hotel: New to this Forum - Need help with NYC hotel 5/29 - 5/31

[carlo822]

Hello Everyone,

My girlfriend and I have a last minute trip to New York City May 29 - June 1 before we head to Boston. I would like to find a reasonably priced hotel for $100-$150 max. We have thought about Midtown East, West, Chelsea, Empire State Bldg area, Hell's Kitchen, Times Square area. Close to subway would be nice.

Thanks for your help.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

What is the minimum star level you're seeking? Are you willing to pay more for a higher rated hotel OR is your goal the least expensive hotel at the minimum star level you choose?

Let us know the above and we'll take it from there.

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

Thanks.

[carlo822]

My goal would be to get at least a 3 star possibly 4 star. I have seen on Hotwire some 3 and 4 stars going for less than and around $150.

Let me know if you need more info. And what strategy would be recommended for Priceline?

Thanks

[thereuare]

My goal would be to get at least a 3 star possibly 4 star.

You can't bid for, nor can we suggest a strategy for "at least a 3 star possibly a 4 star". You need to decide what you want to try for first... the least expensive 3* (or 3.5*) hotel... OR try for a 4* up to your $150 limit? (although if you're trying for a 4* property you may want to consider including UWS in your bidding as that may improve your chances)

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

[carlo822]

Hello,

Here are a few hotels I have been looking at on Hotwire as of today 5/22. Does anyone have an idea of what they may be. I have included the posted amenities from Hotwire. Thank you for the help.

Chelsea-Madison Square Garden Hotel 2.5* $122/night

Suite, Fitness Center, Business Center, Laundry Facilities (self-service), High-Speed Internet Access,Kitchenette,Accessible for the blind,accessible for the deaf,Accessible path of travel, free internet,accessible path of travel, in-room accessibility, accessible bathroom,handicapped parking, roll-in shower

Empire State Building Hotel 3* $147/night

Suite, Kitchenette, Fitness Center, Laundry Facilities

Downtown - SoHo - Financial District 3.5* $158/night

Fitness Center, Laundry Facilities(self-service), High-Speed Internet Access, Free Internet

Times Square Theater District 3* $161/night

Smoke Free Rooms,Restaurant(s),Business Center,High-Speed Internet Access,Accessible for the blind,

Accessible for the deaf,Accessible path of travel,In-room accessibility,Accessible path ,Accessible bathroom,Roll-in shower

Chelsea-Madison Square Garden Hotel 3.5* $163/night

Boutique Hotel, Smoke-Free Rooms, Fitness Center, High-Speed Internet Access,Free Internet, In-Room Accessibility,Accessible bathroom

Chelsea-Madison Square Garden Hotel 3* $163/night

Fitness Center,Restaurant(s),Business Center,High-Speed Internet Access,Accessible for the blind,Accessible for the deaf,Free Internet,Accessible path of travel,In-room accessibility,Accessible bathroom,Roll-in shower

Midtown East area Hotel 4* $164/night

Fitness Center,Restaurant(s),Business Center,High-Speed Internet Access,Accessible for the blind,Accessible for the deaf,Free Internet,Accessible path of travel,In-room accessibility,Accessible bathroom,Roll-in shower

[carlo822]

Okay I would like to start with 3* or 3.5* up to $150 limit.

[thereuare]

Have you started by checking the Hotwire Hotel List?

Is there a reason you're SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID from your other Priceline NYC for the dates 2 nites after these? dates?

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

[thereuare]

Okay I would like to start with 3* or 3.5* up to $150 limit.

When you bid on PRICELINE you need to select the minimum star rating you're willing to accept for the bid you're about to price, and you can only select ONE star rating... do you want to bid for a nicer 3.5* property which would likely cost a little more OR a lower priced 3* property?

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

[carlo822]

I would like to try doing both but I have a limit of $150.

[carlo822]

I have tried to look up in the hotel list but some are not very clear. Sorry I do not understand what you mean by "splitting my priceline bid from other priceline NYC for the dates 2 nites after these?"

[thereuare]

So do you want to try a 3.5* hotel up to your limit, then if rejected try for a 3* property?

Also, since you're bidding less than 4*, note that in the MTE zone some hotels can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway... would this be acceptable?

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

Let us know the above, especially if we should include MTE in your bidding, and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

[thereuare]

Sorry I do not understand what you mean by "splitting my priceline bid from other priceline NYC for the dates 2 nites after these?"

The NYC trip in this thread is for 5/29-6/1, and you have this Priceline NYC thread for 5/31-6/1... why are you making two separate purchases for two nites each vs. one purchase for all 4 nites? (or are you only going to be in NYC for 2 nites and not sure yet which set of dates it will be?)

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

[carlo822]

Sorry about the confusion. I am wanting two nights 5/29 - 5/31.

[carlo822]

Yes, I would like to try a 3.5* up to my limit then go to 3*. I am also interested in the Lower Manhattan hotels (Lower Eastside, Tribeca, Chelsea, etc.) I like this area because of the nightlife and easy walking distance to most areas. We can take the subway Uptown as long as Metro Station is nearby.

Thanks!

[thereuare]

I have merged your threads.

Please list the zones you're willing to accept, by priceline name, and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow for a 3.5* property up to $150, if that is rejected we'll then revise to try for a 3* up to $150.

Note that when bidding less than 4* in the following zones these conditions apply:

MTE - some hotels can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway

CPS - had the Hudson hotel, which while well located has notoriously small rooms

If you include the above zones in your bidding make sure you're comfortable with each of the above.

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

[carlo822]

Okay, so here are my requested areas. Lower Eastside,SoHo-Tribeca. I like to be close to subway for easy access to Uptown.

Thanks!

[thereuare]

I like to be close to subway for easy access to Uptown.

The LES and SoHo-Tribeca zones aren't that geographically large and there are quite a few subway stations within them, so i would think you should be fine in being near a subway. HOWEVER, there is no way to target a specific location within the zone and you need to be willing to accept a hotel anywhere within the zone(s) that you select.

There are no 3.5* hotels currently offered in the LES zone so we will only include Soho-Tribeca for the first round of bidding.

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.

(NOTE: 're-bid zone1' is not the same as priceline's Zone1, 're-bid zone2' is not the same as priceline's Zone2, etc, etc)

Select 3.5* Soho...

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone3...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone4...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone5...

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

Select 3.5* Soho and re-bid zone6...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $143, if rejected add re-bid zone3...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone4...

Bid $148, if rejected add re-bid zone5...

Bid $150

Any questions feel free to ask. If the above is rejected we'll revise to try for a 3* property (or i think you could get a 3.5* or better in the midtown area within the limits above, if you'd prefer that as your second option)

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

Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[carlo822]

Thanks for the strategy. One question though, are the star indicators the same for hotels on the Priceline retail site as the stars for the Name Your Own Price site? For example, Hotel East Houston is 2.5*. If I am looking for a 2.5* hotel in SoHo-Tribeca, would this one of the possibilities if my price is accepted for a 2.5* property? And if I am looking for a 3.5* property which is the strategy you provided, if there are not any 3.5* properties, would I be dropped to a 3* property or pushed up to a 4* property?

Thanks

[thereuare]

The star ratings on the 'retail' side of PRICELINE are almost always the same as on the 'bidding' side. HOWEVER, not all hotels participate with both sides of their service... many participate with both, but some hotels only participate on the retail side, while others may only participate on the bidding side, and therefore you can't use the hotels listed on the retail side to determine your re-bid zones (as well, the zone names/boundaries are different). The only way to determine your re-bid zones is the method discussed in Priceline Re-Bidding Explained. If you read the previous thread and are confused just post back and we'll break it down further for you.

The star rating you choose is the minimum you are willing to accept, PRICELINE will always try to upgrade you to a higher rated hotel if possible... but you'll never receive a hotel less than the star rating you've selected (as per PRICELINE's star rating system).

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