Priceline Hotel: 3* NYC (MTE) Radisson on Lexington

[ali5]

Seems as though MTE or MTW would be my best bet as far as location. Any other suggestions for a first time visitor? I will be there Sept. 8-12th and would like to spend right around $200 if at all possible. Would greatly appreciate a breakdown of how I should start bidding. I have used this once before, but they took my first bid so I never had to do all of the re-bidding. I have read everything I can on here, but would still love any suggestions!

Thanks

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

We would also recommend the UM/CPS zone to better your chances as it's also a zone that works well for out of town visitors. You may also want to read this thread: NYC ZONE DESCRIPTIONS.

I assume your maximum bid is $200 per nite? At the 4* level you have two re-bids, if you're not familiar with re-bid zones please read RE-BIDDING EXPLAINED and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board.

Let us know if you understand your re-bid zones and if you also want to bid the UM/CPS zone... we'll then be able to provide a step-by-step strategy for you to follow.

[ali5]

Yes, I think UM/CPS would be fine and yes, I would like a max of $200 if possible. I have read the re-bidding page and think I have it down. I need to do the research and figure out what my free re-bid zones would be with those zones though. I am also fine with a 3 or 4 star hotel.

thanks, any help is greatly appreciated.

[ali5]

Alright, I have tried bidding 3 and 4 star hotels for MTE, MTW, UM-CPS for up to $200 with no luck!

I really can't pay over $300, is it smarter at this point to just book off of the hotel web-sites where I have found some for $299 that are 3 stars or.....keep upping the bid to get a 4 star for that price if possible? I really want to lock something down asap.

Thanks,

[thereuare]

If you'd like our help please give us the courtesy of ample time to reply before bidding.

Do you want us to look at your dates further or do you want to go it on your own?

[ali5]

I would like to look at these dates further. I just found other postings with my same dates and preferred zones and followed the suggested bidding stradegy, sorry. I just really want to get something secured right away. Any further suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

[thereuare]

Are you willing to SPLIT YOUR BID or is that not an option?

[ali5]

Would be willing if it made a significant difference, otherwise I would rather not.

[thereuare]

Forgive my Clinton moment, "what do you consider significant"?

[ali5]

That is a good question....Being that it is my first time in NYC I would rather not deal with taking the time to switch hotels so I would rather use that as a last resort. I have found some through your PRICELINE link that are anywhere from 200/nite to 299/nite and are 2.5 to 3 stars. My #1 concern after being clean and safe is that it is in a good location to be able to walk to alot of the major attrations. Other than sleeping, I hope to not be spending a whole lot of time there. I do not want to go over 300 a night. So..........my question becomes, will I get a better deal if I continue to bid on my areas starting in the 200's or do I just take one off the priceline web-site and know what I am getting?

[thereuare]

If you let us know the name(s) of the hotels and the prices we will be in a better position ot advise.

[ali5]

Courtyard by Marriott Midtown East $239

Hotel Wolcott $246

Murray Hill $238

Mayfair $257

Thirty Thirty $209

Metro Hotel $258

Milford $238

These are all 2-3 stars, but seem to have gotten decent reviews. Now it is just the question of should I try and get a nicer hotel for the same price through bidding or maybe book one of these as a back-up?

Of these choices in your opinion, which would be the best location wise?

[thereuare]

This is a good example of why Priceline is sending users who have failed bids to their "shop and compare" section.... you probably would have not considered them otherwise and below are some reason why you should consider looking elsewhere for the properties you listed above:

Courtyard by Marriot Eastside for $239/nite... same price, no booking fee, fully cancellable, and earns reward points for your stay.

Hotel Metro availalbe for $248/nite... cheaper and refundable

Hotel Wolcott for $190/nite... cheaper and refundable

Milford Plaza for $194/nite... cheaper and refundable.

These last three have a few different room classes so make sure you're comparing apples-to-apples and the fully refundable appleis to "pay when you stay rates"... if you see a "pre-pay" rate then those have a $10 cancellation fee.

Personally i would stay away from the Milford Plaza as i have read too many negative reviews about the place.

I would also re-try Priceline at the 3* level (we'll suggest a strategy if you choose that route) before spending $200+ for a hotel room.

To answer your question regarding location... it's not as important in NYC as you might think. Just about any midtown location will be convenient to subways, busses, and taxis... it really is one of the easiest cities to get around inexpensively.

[ali5]

What would you suggest for a 3 star stradegy???

Are the prices you listed for the same hotels I listed, but you got them through a different site or are those just different hotels in the area with cheaper rates?? Or one hotel? I'm confused. I'm guessing that what you are saying is that you can get the same hotels I listed for cheaper through a site other than priceline?

Obviuosly I would be thrilled to pay under 200 a nite/ and will try any suggested stradegy, I'm ready!!!

Thanks again

[thereuare]

We need to back-up a minute... do you see links at the end of this sentence: MARRIOTT or HOTEL METRO

... or do you only see the word "or"?

[ali5]

I just see the word "or"

Does that help?

[thereuare]

I'm guessing you have Norton Intnernet Security installed on your computer... which removes your ability to see certain links all of the internet and the pages the way they were intended to be viewed by the publisher. Great program, huh?

Read the instructions at this link to either turn ad blocking off entirely, or at the very least, allow links at BetterBidding:

Norton Fix <-- hopefully you see this link

Let us know if you see it now after following the above.

[ali5]

ok, now we are in business, everything is a little clearer now, thank you.

So, with keeping those deals that you listed in mind, should I do a bidding stradegy for 3 stars and see what happens and then book one of those if it doesn't work? Which of those would you recommend?

thanks again.

[thereuare]

I think your best price above is $190, so i would bid as follows:

Select 3* MTW...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 3* MTE...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 3* UM/CPS...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 3* MTW and UM/CPS...

Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $170, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 3* MTE and UM/CPS...

Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $170, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 3* MTE and MTW and UM/CPS...

Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $180, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

If rejected you can wait 72 hours and increase each bid by $10.

Any questions feel free to ask.

[ali5]

Thanks, Are there any ways around the 72 hr lock???

Should I bid a back-up and if so which of the following would you suggest?

Hotel Chandler

Hotel Wolcott

Hotel Metro

Belvedere Hotel

Courtyard Marriott East

The reviews aren't really pushing me in one direction.

Thanks

[thereuare]

I prefer namebrand chains as it gives me a bit more insight as to what to expect, and if there is ever a problem, there is a "chain of command" to complain to... but in your case it is also the most expensive. Depending upon your budget i would either go with the Marriott or the cheapest option.

Please use the links (which you can now see) in the post above to make whichever reservation you decide upon.

[ali5]

So I should book a back up?

My 72 hrs are up today so I will try the 3 star stradegy, what is the highest I should bid for a 3 star considering the Marriott is going for $250/nite?

[thereuare]

Strategy was posted above based upon your the maximum bids you previously provided.

[ali5]

Tried stradegy you posted and got rejected on all of them. Ahhhh......... Should I try the same stradegy, but start at 200 and not bid over 250 since that is what I can get the Marriott for or just book one of the above hotels?

Thanks

[thereuare]

You need to book something above which is the whole point of a back-up reservation. Countless times we see users waiting to book a back-up (for whatever reason) and then when they need it the rate is no longer available.

Are you willing to split this stay?

You can book what i believe to be the Millenium UN for 9/11 for $175 thru Hotwire. Then you can piggyback this with a reservation thru QB for the nite of the 10th for $249/nite... giving you at least two consecutive nites at this property for an average of $215/nite.

Let us know your thoughts on the above option.