OscarBluth Posted June 13, 2012 Report Posted June 13, 2012 My girlfriend and I are planning to fly into EWR and stay in Manhattan to be as close to public transit as possible. Just doing the typical touristy-type things. We'd like something 2-stars or higher, and keep the total around $900-1000 for the 8 nights, plus or minus some fudge space. So around $100-$140 a night or so.Priorities are safety and walking distance to transit, within that price range. Free WiFi would be ideal. Also, does pretty much every hotel have a safe in the room? Really don't feel like losing our passports.We're willing to look at Long Island City as well but hesitant about being able to easily get to transit.First-time bidder, but I've sorta seen how it works, second-hand. Just want to make sure we're going about this in the optimal way. Thanks in advance for your help! :)
thereuare Posted June 13, 2012 Report Posted June 13, 2012 Welcome to BetterBidding! Please start by reading your messages and clicking each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links... then reply to this thread and we'll have a look at your post above. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
OscarBluth Posted June 13, 2012 Author Report Posted June 13, 2012 I followed your instructions and will make sure to use your links to support the site.Thanks again :D
thereuare Posted June 14, 2012 Report Posted June 14, 2012 Let's start by clarifying your budget a bit...NYC hotel tax is ~14.5%, plus PRICELINE and HOTWIRE charge a booking fee of ~$6/nite. So your $1000 all-in for an eight nite stay, or $125/nite all-in, comes to about a $103/nite bid rate. While this might be enough for a low rated hotel, the difference between $100 and $140 (the upper end of your quoted range) in NYC can be quite different and that may be enough to get you a 3.5*/4* hotel.Can you clarify what you want to use as your maximum bid price. Also, are you willing to pay more for a higher rated hotel (if still within your stated budget) OR is your goal the least expensive 2* or better for this stay? (NOTE: we typically recommend sticking with the higher rated hotels in NYC as the quality can vary greatly at the lower rated properties... you could get a diamond in the rough which meets your needs quite well OR you could get something that you can't wait to leave each morning and dread coming back at nite).Also, when bidding 3.5* and under, note the following:MTE - some 'known' hotels can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway... is this acceptable?CPS - has the Hudson Hotel, which while well located, has notoriously small rooms (~140 sq. ft.).. is this acceptable?As well, at any star rating, most Downtown-Financial District hotels will be near a subway, but it will also be ~20-25 minute subway ride to midtown each time your plans take you there... would this be acceptable?Let's start with the information above and we'll take it from there.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
OscarBluth Posted June 14, 2012 Author Report Posted June 14, 2012 Our goal isn't just the lowest price, but more extracting the best value within rough limits. I feel like reading some of the posted results here, getting something higher-rated than 2.5* while staying in a reasonable price range isn't out of the question. I didn't know about the tax and such, so let's bump it up to $150 all-in which if I understood the math correctly would be a $125/night bid. If it's only a few dollars more (< $10) to jump up say a full star level, then I'd be willing to consider that. For now I'll say the limit is $125.15 minute walk to the subway is acceptable.Smallish rooms are okay as long as it's still good quality, comfortable and has a private washroom (i.e. not dorm-style). We'll be out most of the day anyway. We don't mind sitting on the subway for a while each day.Thank you for the guidance and info!
thereuare Posted June 15, 2012 Report Posted June 15, 2012 Smallish rooms are okay as long as it's still good quality, comfortable and has a private washroom (i.e. not dorm-style).All hotels won thru the 'bidding' side of PRICELINE will have a private bath... but comfort and quality are a bit more subjective. Using the CPS property i referenced, at ~140 sq. ft. some might considered it 'just fine' while many others too small for comfort... so it's something that you'll need to consider if it suits your needs or not.Let us know if we should include CPS in the bidding or not. Also, what star rating do you want to try for first?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
OscarBluth Posted June 26, 2012 Author Report Posted June 26, 2012 Apologies for the long delay between posts. I was away for a conference for the past week and time to look at this forum was hard to come by.A smaller room is okay so I'll include CPS. We're easy to please.If a bid at the lower end of my range ($100) is remotely realistic for a 3* I guess we could start there.
thereuare Posted June 26, 2012 Report Posted June 26, 2012 At the 3* level i'm assuming most midtown locations are acceptable... MTE, MTW, CPS, TS, ESB and MSG are all acceptable? If so:When bidding 3* in NYC you have ONE re-bid zone. 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, MTW, CPS...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* TS, ESB and MSG...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* TS, MTW, CPS...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* MTE, ESB and MSG...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* MTE, ESB, CPS...Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* TS, MTW and MSG...Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* MTE, MTW, MSG...Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* TS, ESB and CPS...Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* MTE, MTW, MSG, TS...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* MTE, MTW, MSG, ESB...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* MTE, MTW, MSG, CPS...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* TS, ESB, CPS, MTE....Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* TS, ESB, CPS, MTW...Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* TS, ESB, CPS, MSG...Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* MTE, MTW, MSG, TS, ESB...Bid $138, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* MTE, MTW, MSG, TS, CPS...Bid $138, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* ESB, CPS, MTE, MTW, MSG...Bid $143, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* ESB, CPS, MTE, MTW, TS...Bid $143, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 3* ESB, CPS, MTE, MTW, MSG, TS...Bid $148, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150Any 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
OscarBluth Posted June 28, 2012 Author Report Posted June 28, 2012 Thanks for all that! I'm in the middle of it right now, around the $120 mark and no luck so far.I just wanted to ask why the SoHo, Financial District, and LES weren't included. Out of curiosity.I'll let you know if I have any success!
OscarBluth Posted June 29, 2012 Author Report Posted June 29, 2012 After a bunch of failed bids in Manhattan that were waaaaay below the median retail (which was about 250 for most of the areas), we started to feel like our budget wasn't really realistic for the area and star level. We decided to start bidding on Long Island City, especially knowing that there was only one 3-star in the area, and it's really close to the subway. It'll be a bit of a trek from EWR but that's something we're willing to put up with in exchange for the price.Thank you so much for the help! We're both really excited for our first-time visit. :D
thereuare Posted June 29, 2012 Report Posted June 29, 2012 Congratulations on your success! While not in Manhattan, glad to see you found something that works for your needs and budget and that you're lookign forward to your arrival.Thank you for sharing your win with the board. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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