Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* New York City (Midtown Central) Manhattan Centre Hotel

[NannyCoke]

My husband and I are planning our first trip to NYC for 4-nights, 9/18-22. I have been bidding periodically for the past 3-4 weeks thru Priceline(primarily) and Hotwire. I have experimented with rates between $125-175/night, in areas including Pricelines areas of 2/CPS, 11/ME, 12/MW, 16/TS, 17/UES, and 18/UWS. I have bid as low as 2.5 star hotels, although I am thinking a 3-star hotel might keep me from being disappointed in the quality of my room (although we are not too particular as long as the room is clean and safe) ... doesn't have to have a restaurant or any special amenities. I know from reading forums that our travel dates (which can't be changed due to booked flights) mean paying a premium in NYC for hotels. Can you give me some suggestions on how I might be more successful in my bidding? Do I wait until closer to my travel dates using my same selection criteria ... or will my chances not get any better as our date gets closer unless I up my price or adding further outlying areas? Do I need to up my bid? Or does opening myself up to more areas (which I assume mean much longer walking distances)mean I can probably get a room in this price range or not? As this is our first trip I am uncertain about how spread out these areas are ... if I choose more areas to include 3/Chelsea, 10/MSG and/or 6/ESB, am I still relatively close to most typical NYC tourist areas? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[thereuare]

Please click 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... and all your searches too!

Thanks.

[NannyCoke]

Thanks for the response ... I have clicked on PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links in your response.

[thereuare]

At the moment these dates will likely run you at least $200+ per nite, regardless of zone or star level (assuming 2.5* or higher)

Is your budget flexible at all? How high are you willing/able to go?

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

[NannyCoke]

YES - my budget is fairly flexible ... the $200-250 range is manageable (just didn't want to spend more than I absolutely had to). I even tried again yesterday to bid for the same areas I mentioned in my earlier post for $200 and $220 adding Hells Kitchen area - but was reluctant to add further outlying areas not knowing how far everything really is. So your further guidance would be appreciated.

[thereuare]

Are you bidding a minimum of 3 stars?

If so, and trying to balance budget and convenience, i would suggest the following

MTW, TS, ESB are generally speaking all fine and should work for your needs.

To add other zones note the following:

MSG - usually fine and the location great, but the Affinia Manhattan has been known at times to give very small rooms to guests who book thru 3rd party websites.

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?

Downtown - do-able for the right price. Most hotels are near the subway, but for when your plans need you to be in midtown, it's about a 20-25 minute ride

Soho - a little south but many user seem to like the area

Based upon the above let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there.

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

[NannyCoke]

Great input! And yes - I am typically bidding 3.5 or 3.0 stars. Convenience is a priority with budget secondary (balance of the two is perfect). It will just be the two of us and we plan on being out and about from early morning until early/late evening ... so the size of the room is not important at all for us ... as long as it is nice and CLEAN and has a private bath (no boarding house type rooms!)

So based on this additional information, plus what you have already noted, would you suggest I try my bidding to start with MTW, TS and ESB for a 3-star at $200? Then if that doesn't work, perhaps add MSG and CPS at the same price. Then if that doesn't work, go up on the price? I think this strategy might keep me in the most convenient to tourist areas with closer commutes to midtown, right? Other suggestions? (One more question ... we much prefer a King bed, but realize that we might not get one. Can you confirm if 'typically' we will at LEAST get a Queen sized bed? Even two fulls would be ok ... but we would NOT sleep well at all on one full size.) Thoughts?

Thanks again for you help and guidance. And I will be certain to execute my bid thruough your link to PRICELINE ... once I hear back with additional input.

[thereuare]

Can you confirm if 'typically' we will at LEAST get a Queen sized bed? Even two fulls would be ok ... but we would NOT sleep well at all on one full size.)

Typically 'yes', you will usually get at least a Queen, but one double bed is always a possibility, especially in NYC.

Is this a risk you're willing to accept?

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

[NannyCoke]

After weeks of bidding on PRICELINE, I finally took advantage of a HOTWIRE offer for a 3.5 Start Midtown Central hotel. Once booked I found I am at the Manhattan Centre Hotel ... which from all the hundreds of reviews I have read ... I am VERY excited about! Seems to be just what we wanted ... a no frills room in the heart of Manhattan. And although the price was way above what I had originally planned (didn't realize until too late that our trip is planned for just about the most expensive time in NYC (late September) ... I now realize this is a very good price! Will update you later on our trip/room!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you're pleased with the results and looking forward to your arrival.

Can you please add a reply to this thread with the amenities shown before your purchase... you can still view this information by going to HOTWIRE and clicking the MY ACCOUNT link near the top right of their home page.

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.