Priceline Hotel: 3* New York City (Long Island City) Holiday Inn L.I. City-Manhattan View

[gqboy]

Hello!

I just finalized my air tickets last night and am looking for accomodations in NYC from September 6 - 10. I am looking for 3.5* from September 6 - 10. My preferred areas are MTE, MTW, CPS, ESB and possibly Chelsea and MSG if all else fails. What kind of strategy can I employ here? Also, is it wayyyyy too early to book? What kind of cost am I looking at during this time?

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

It's definitely not too early to book for September, and I'd recommend looking to try to lock something in reasonably soon, as September tends to be a busy?expensive time of year in NYC.

What would be your desired budget per night for this stay?

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

[gqboy]

I guess I'll start bidding in the next few days. I'm hoping to land on something around the $150 mark. We'll most likely be using the public transportation to get around so being close to the subway will help.

[thereuare]

Note that when bidding 3.5* and lower:

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?

Let us know once you're ready to begin bidding, as well as if either/both of the zones above are acceptable, and we'll have a look at current rates and suggest a strategy at that time.

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

Thanks.

[gqboy]

I'm ok with the walk and small room. I can sacrifice size for location and cost.

[thereuare]

I guess I'll start bidding in the next few days.

Let us know once you're ready to begin bidding...

Are you ready to start bidding now? Do you have any reason to wait?

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

[gqboy]

I'm ready to start bidding now. We were contemplating about Long Island City and weighing the pros and cons. If we can't find anything within our parameters in Manhattan, we might have to look at that route. Thanks!

[thereuare]

My preferred areas are MTE, MTW, CPS, ESB and possibly Chelsea and MSG if all else fails.

Given the difficultly it will likely be to find a hotel for these dates at $150 or under, did you want to include Chelsea and/or MSG in the initial bidding or only if MTE, MTW, CPS and ESB fail?

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

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

[gqboy]

I'd like to try for MTE/MTW/CPS/ESB first and if there's no success, add in Chelsea and MSG. Thanks!

[gqboy]

Hi All,

After reading other posts, I think I know the strategy to bid for MTE/MTW/CPS/ESB. However, I think we are going to go the Long Island City route with the target hotel as 3* Holiday Inn L.I.C. Manhattan View. Is this the only 3* in LIC (closer to Manhattan side)? Can you provide a strategy to bid for a 3* in LIC? From other people's winnings, I think around $130 is achievable.

Thanks!

[thereuare]

The Holiday Inn is the only 3* hotel reported to the board in this zone but there are likely others (and this area has new hotels sprouting up all the time).

If the same price, are there any Manhattan zones that you would prefer a 3* hotel in vs. a 3* in Long Island City? If so, we can use these are extra zones in a bidding strategy in order to help ensure the best price... or at the 3* level there are no Manhattan acceptable zones?

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

[gqboy]

Hi thereuare,

The Manhattan zones we are comfortable with are MTE/MTW/CPS/ESB. It'd be golden if we could score a 3* in the Manhattan area if it's the same cost as the one in LIC. :D We can give it a try anyhow!

[thereuare]

Including the Manhattan zones is really more of a strategy to get more bidding opportunities than expecting to win something in Manhattan.

So to confirm you're looking for the least expensive 3* or better in the MTE/MTW/CPS/ESB/LIC zones with a maximum bid of $130? If this is correct i'd proceed as follows:

Select 3* LIC...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80, if rejeted close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, MTW, ESB...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone..

Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* CPS and LIC...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone..

Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* CPS, MTW, ESB...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone..

Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE and LIC...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone..

Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, CPS, ESB...

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

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

Select 3* MTW and LIC...

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

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

Select 3* MTE, CPS, ESB, MTW...

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, CPS, ESB, LIC...

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, CPS, ESB, MTW, LIC...

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

Bid $130

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.

[gqboy]

Just tried the above method and haven't been successful. I went up to $138 ($130 + $8 bonus cash from Priceline). I'll try again tomorrow by increasing my $$.

[thereuare]

Since you've been turned down at $130 for LIC, what are your thoughts about Downtown Manhattan? Relative to LIC would this be worth more, less or about the same?

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

[gqboy]

I'll have to do some research on Downtown Manhattan vs LIC. Some things I'll have to compare are:

- Travel time via public transportation to the core area (Times Square, Central Park, Grand Central Terminal, etc...): Not sure which location is better.

- Convenience to a subway/train/bus stop: The Holiday Inn LIC has a stop within a block from the hotel. I'm not sure about the hotels in the Downtown area.

- Safe area: Not sure. LIC sounds like there are parts currently being developed. Downtown is probably more established.

- Things to do/walk around in the local area: Downtown probably wins here.

[thereuare]

If it were me i'd sooner stay Downtown than LIC, and i'd even pay a premium for Downtown vs. LIC, but it's not so 'cut and dry' that i could understand if somebody saw it differently.

Let us know once you decide how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[gohawks8941]

FYI I have also seen the Wyndham Manhattan view in Long Island City won on Priceline in that zone. I also tried and lost at $150 today in Long Island City 3 star for September 17-21st.

[gqboy]

Great news! I just won the Holiday Inn LIC for $145/night. Total is $580 + $135.20 taxes and fees = $715.20. Thanks you thereuare, AaronJB and others for all your help.

PS: I'm not sure if you can change this thread title to reflect my winning to help others out.

[gqboy]

gohawks8941, see my post above which I just won. Good luck to you!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you're pleased with the win and looking forward to your trip.

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.