Priceline Hotel: Time Square NYC Hotel in December

[azergrl]

I've never used any online tools like Priceline or Hotwire to book a hotel. I'm looking for more than a hotel. I'm responsible for finding the best room rates for a hotel on Times Square for 9 people, 4 rooms! We were thinking we could get a cheap enough rate on a Marriot Hotel; we previously stayed at a the Renaissance Marriot and got a discounted rate on the rooms. It would be the same case this year but the prices seem to be very high. We are going December 3rd-8th. I don't think it's gong to be a possibility to get good prices on the rooms without trying something else so I'm looking to try Priceline or Hotwire. Can you give me suggestions on where to begin? Or am I'm currently trying to do an impossible task?

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

There are a few issues you're facing...

The dates you're traveling are some of the most expensive of the year, so there is little reason for hotels to need to offer deep discounts to fill unsold rooms (as the majority of their rooms will be filled by guests paying full price). With this noted you can still probably save some by using PRICELINE or HOTWIRE, but it may not be as good of deal you're seeking/expecting. Using MAPS and HOTELS.com and/or BiddingHelper.com, what is the best rate you're able to find thru conventional booking channels?

Also, i'd suggest looking beyond only 'Times Square' as this will be one of the most expensive locations and there really is no need to stay directly in Times Square, imo. With NYC being so compact, most midtown locations typically work well for the average user.

Lastly, one of your rooms will require more than double occupancy. PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, after that it's at the discretion of the hotel, and you could receive rooms with only one bed. While you can call the hotel you win and request one room with two beds, the hotel may not be able, or willing, to honor your request. Is this a risk you're willing to accept? If not, HOTWIRE may still be an option as they allow you to search for up to quad occupancy and ensure sleeping accommodations for everyone you include in your search (although this usually means two beds, the second 'bed' could be a sofabed, rollaway, etc)

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

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

[azergrl]

Thank you for the links...this is getting stressful. I think I need to figure out what the discount will be for the Marriot Hotel. If the discount won't be much then I might try hotwire. Also, I'm talking with the group about getting out of Times Square.

[AaronJB]

You're not likely going to get much (if any) in the way of discounts booking direct for these dates, which are extremely busy. I'd second looking in other zones (such as MTE) instead of Times Square.

Please let us know the group's thoughts and we would be happy to offer further suggestions.

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