Priceline Hotel: Manhattan 3* or 4* 10/18/12-10/20/12

[corydon]

At one time I was an old hand at the PL bidding for Manhattan, but have not been to the East for 6 years. Not sure if the bidding strategies have changed since then (using free re-bids, etc.), but would like to get 2 nights during the more expensive October period (inc. one Friday stay) for 200 or lower for 4*, 150 or lower for 3*. Midtown, Chelsea, preferred but can also do Dwtn, UWS if that's where the deal is. Please advise if you need quotes from hotel sites, etc. to get going. An example ideal would be Hotel Indigo in Chelsea (currently listing 345/night for standard or king).

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

We will suggest a strategy for whatever you'd like, but at current rates i believe anything 3* or higher will likely cost you more than $200/nite.

To begin, did you first want to try for a 4* hotel up to your $200 limit? If so, which zones, by PRICELINE name, are you willing to accept at the 4* level?

Let us know 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.

[corydon]

Here are the zones with 4* properties:

NY - New York City (Central Park South)

NY - New York City (Chelsea)

NY - New York City (Downtown - Financial District)

NY - New York City (Empire State Building)

NY - New York City (Hells Kitchen)

NY - New York City (Midtown East)

NY - New York City (Midtown West)

NY - New York City (Soho/Tribeca)

NY - New York City (Times Square)

NY - New York City (Upper West Side)

Do you suggest that I get a reservation (that I can cancel with 7 days notice) and keep on bidding for a good deal? In other words, is it likely that highly discounted rooms will be released closer to my stay?

[thereuare]

Are you willing to accept a hotel in any of the zones above... if not, which zones are acceptable?

If you fail for a 4* hotel will you then wait it out and try for a 4* hotel again at a later point OR would you then immediately try for a 3.5* and/or 3* hotel? I do think you can get a 3* at $200 or less (depending upon the zones you select) BUT if your 4* bidding fails and you plan on holding-out for a 4* hotel at $200 or less, then i would find a cancelable back-up (use our BiddingHelper.com and/or Priceline Maps to assist in your back-up hotel, but don't forget to always confirm the cancellation terms during the check-out process)

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

Let us know the zones and how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

[corydon]

I am looking for a deal during a pricey hotel season, and will broaden my criteria if I don't get anything the first time. So my strategy will be to bid on this group of zones, then come back and bid on an expanded list of 4* in more zones with a cancelable backup, then finally go to 3* and 3.5* on the short list, then 3* on the larger list, if nothing else has worked out. Does that make sense? If you believe that I'm misguided to proceed in this way, please explain why for the edification of us all.

So the first round of bidding would be 4* for:

NY - New York City (Central Park South)

NY - New York City (Chelsea)

NY - New York City (Empire State Building)

NY - New York City (Hells Kitchen)

NY - New York City (Midtown East)

NY - New York City (Midtown West)

NY - New York City (Soho/Tribeca)

NY - New York City (Times Square)

As always with the services that are provided by sites like this, I will use the correct links to place bids to ensure you get the credit.

[thereuare]

Madison Square Garden now offers 4* properties (a change within the last 24-48 hours)... is this zone acceptable as well?

So we don't suggest a strategy that goes higher than you're willing to pay, what is your maximum bid for a 4* hotel?

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

[corydon]

Madison Sq Garden is OK to add on the first round of bidding. As I said in my first post, my goal is to get 4* for 200 or lower, or 3* for 150 or lower. I'll start with the 4* and adjust my expectations accordingly. I have been perusing comps for that time on this board and I see that 200 or lower for 4* is not turning up in a lot of properties for late October.

[AaronJB]

At the 4* level, you can start at $150 and work higher by $5's using re-bidding (and it is worth trying lower), but my concern is that, given HOTWIRE and regular rate prices for these dates, you're likely looking at over $200, and depending on zone, probably somewhere between $225-250. $150 very likely may also be difficult for a 3* for these dates, as well.

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

[corydon]

Upon reviewing my trip plans, I see that I'm going to have to try to economize the hotel in NYC a bit more. Therefore, I would like to change my bidding strategy to get a 2.5* for 100 or less in any of the following zones:

I would be trying for 2.5* 100 or less for:

NY - New York City Madison Sq Garden

NY - New York City (Central Park South)

NY - New York City (Chelsea)

NY - New York City (Empire State Building)

NY - New York City (Midtown West)

Then, if not successful, I would be bidding to get a 2.5* or 3* at 150 or less for the following zones:

NY - New York City (Central Park South)

NY - New York City (Chelsea)

NY - New York City (Empire State Building)

NY - New York City (Hells Kitchen)

NY - New York City (Midtown East)

NY - New York City (Midtown West)

NY - New York City (Soho/Tribeca)

NY - New York City (Times Square)

Does this require a new thread or can you give me a bidding strategy here?

[thereuare]

I think your budget may still be too low at both the 2.5* and 3* levels, but to give it a try:

When bidding 2.5* 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 2.5* MSG and CPS and Chelsea...

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

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

Select 2.5* ESB and MTW...

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

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

Select 2.5* MSG and ESB and Chelsea...

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

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

Select 2.5* CPS and MTW...

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

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

Select 2.5* MSG and MTW and Chelsea...

Bid $93, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* ESB and CPS...

Bid $93, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* MSG and CPS and Chelsea and ESB and MTW...

Bid $98, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100

If the above is rejected do you then want to try for a 3* up to $150 in the expanded list of zones you posted above OR do you prefer to try for a less expensive 2.5* in the expanded list of zones?

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

[corydon]

Followed your bidding strategy and, you warned me, the price point was too low for 2.5*. It was a good refresher, however, on how the PL engine 'thinks' and therefore how to re-bid and set expectations. As I said, I was an old hand at this one time (2001-2005 NYC) and needed to get my feet wet again.

I would like to repeat your bidding strategy for 2.5* after the waiting period, but begin at a more realistic price point based on recent comps. I know that you base your suggested bidding strategy on the max price I am willing to pay. If I want to get a 2.5* in the next price tier going up (100-125USD), would I just use the same strategy?

I am using your links every time.

[thereuare]

To try for the second group of zones, did you want to include MSG in the bidding... it's included in the first group of zones that you have already bid but it's not in the second group of zones.

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

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

[corydon]

Yes, include MSG.

[thereuare]

Even expanding the zones I don't think your budget is going to be enough, but you can try:

Select 2.5* MSG, CPS, Chelsea, ESB, HK...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $85, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* MTE, MTW, Soho, TS...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $85, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* MTE, CPS, Chelsea, ESB, HK...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* MSG, MTW, Soho, TS...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* MSG, MTW, Chelsea, ESB, HK...

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

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* MTE, CPS, Soho, TS...

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

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* MSG, CPS, Soho, ESB, HK...

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

Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* MTE, MTW, Chelsea, TS...

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

Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 2.5* MSG, CPS, Chelsea, TS, HK...

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

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

Select 2.5* MTE, MTW, Soho, ESB...

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

Bid $125

Any questions feel free to ask.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

[corydon]

I thought HK was free a re-bid zone for 2.5*. Why would I add that to the first bid list?

[corydon]

I followed your bidding strategy, but added 5 onto the amount bid, so I ended up at 130USD with no luck.

I am beginning to realize that when I was getting all the good sub-100 USD deals on PL for 3-4*in the 2000-2005 period that I was probably living in the Age of Miracles. I should add that almost all my NYC travel since the 90's has been in either mid-late October or Xmas holidays.

Would you also consider 150 to be too low to aim for 2.5*? Would be willing to add Downtown, Queensborough Bridge, UWS if that helps. We have things to do in all those neighborhoods.

[corydon]

I've made a cancelable backup reservation, will resume bidding in October.

[thereuare]

Where and how much is your back-up reservation?

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

[corydon]

Hotel 17 for 150/night USD, must cancel by 4pm 10/17/12

[thereuare]

I believe the property above is 2* rated and has shared baths... it may be tough to get both an increase in star rating and a private bath for less money, but perhaps rates will change in the coming weeks.

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

Keep us updated on your progress and let us know if we can be of further help along the way.

[corydon]

Been trying the bids for all these NYC zones in the 150-175 range for these dates. No luck so far. Any added suggestions in your bidding strategy?

Also, regarding my bck-up, you state: ' it may be tough to get both an increase in star rating and a private bath for less money'.

Does that mean for the same amount (150), you think I can do better?

[thereuare]

Please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, then reply to this thread and we'll continue the discussion for your trip above.

Please use the requested PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin all your bidding, searches and travel purchases.

[corydon]

OK, that's done. My last bidding might have been initiated from another link, but you guys are getting plenty of site referral love, or whatever it is that you are able to verify from your end that PL rewards you for.

At any rate, I am back in your fold. If you're paid for PL clicks, you've made a load off of me this past month with all the times I've gone through this process.

[thereuare]

Are you still only bidding:

MSG, CPS, Chelsea, TS, HK

... and at the 2.5* level?

Would SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID and/or staying outside of the city (but an easy commute in) be an option?

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

[abirdlsu]

Is there a reason why this weekend may be more expensive than other weekends in October for a 4 star hotel? I have seen people win hotel rooms for October 25-28 for $155 Waldorf Astoria, 11-14 for $150 Waldorf Astoria.

Before I found this site and read this post,I had been trying 140-185 for a 4 star hotel in MTW and MTE for October 19-21 with no luck for the past week. I won 2 nights for 2 rooms for $110 at the 4 star Sheraton in MTW for October 21-23. Compared to the other two weekends and based on prices I secured two years ago for a Saturday night in October in MTE (I know prices have probably since changed since then) I would have thought I would get a room within my bidding range.

I am trying for two rooms at once. Is this the problem? I will keep trying until the last minute and not be too concerned about it but I was unsure if something significant is possibly happening in NYC that weekend causing higher prices than the two weekends around it.

Thanks for your help!