Priceline Hotel: NYC 3* 11/8-11/11

Rod04 · October 18, 2012

Please help me come up with a bidding strategy for our trip to NYC - details as follows:

check in 11/08/12

check out 11/11/12

I would like to bid for 3* hotels but not lower.

Areas I would consider to stay are:

MTE, MTW, ESB, TS, and MSG

Is it reasonable to want to spend $150/night ? If not what rate would you suggest as reasonable ?

By the way, what's the only 3* re-bid zone for NYC ?

Thank you !

thereuare · October 19, 2012

Welcome to BetterBidding!

If you haven't yet please start by reading your messages.

You need to know how to determine your re-bid zones on your own as they need to be checked before every bidding cycle to make sure that nothing has changed since you last checked.

If you've read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and are still confused try the following:

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter 'New York City, NY' and your dates, and click "GO".

2) List each zone that is offered in this region.

3) Next to each zone list the highest star rating offered in the zone. The way to determine the highest star rating offered in the zone is by selecting the first zone i the list, then scrolling down to see the highest star rating selectable (ie- not greyed out). NEXT UNcheck the selected zone, place a checkmark in the next zone, and repeat the process for each zone in the region. Each time you take note of the highest star rating in the zone, make sure that only ONE zone is selected above.

4) post your findings and we'll take it from there

If you don't follow the above just post back and we'll break it down further.

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

Rod04 · October 19, 2012

Thanks for the reply. The only 3* re-bid zone I found for NYC is Coney Island. Do you think I will be able to

get a 3* room for about $150 or does it make more sense for me to try for a 4* since there are 6 re-bid zones at 4* ?

Is $150/night reasonable for a 3* hotel ? In Hotwire I just saw a 3* TS Hotel for $200. When is the "sweet spot"

for starting to bid ? We're 3 weeks away from the trip.

Thanks !

thereuare · October 19, 2012

At current rates i think a 3* at $150 or less will likely be difficult for these dates, but nobody can say what will happen with rates over the next 3 weeks... then could come down to your $150 target price OR they could move even further away. My current guess is that you'll likely need to be at least in the $165-$185 range for a 3* or better property. As far as timing the bid see the related 'Bid Early or Close to Check-in' link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

If your budget of $150 is firm and you're concerned about finding something within Manhattan, you may also want to consider Hoboken-Jersey City where there is currently a 4* hotel for $142/nite that i believe to likely be the Westin or Hyatt on the Hudson... both a very nice hotels with easy access to Manhattan via PATH train, but you do lose a bit of convenience and the 'vibe' of staying directly in Manhattan.

Let us know your thoughts and 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.

Rod04 · October 19, 2012

Thanks for the reply. I am willing to pay up to $185 to stay in Manhattan. In Hotwire, I just saw a 3* TS hotel for $201

but it only has a 45% recommended rating. I also saw a ESB 3* hotel for $207 but with a 90% recommended rating.

I would like to bid in the $140-$170 price range for a 3* hotel in Manhattan and then, if rejected, probably book the ESB property.

Do you have an idea what the hotwire 3* TS and ESB hotels mentioned above are?

Can you help me with the bidding strategy ?

Thanks !

thereuare · October 19, 2012

Areas I would consider to stay are:
MTE, MTW, ESB, TS, and MSG

Note that at 3.5* and under in MTE some hotels can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway... would this be acceptable?

Please confirm and we'll advise accordingly.

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

Rod04 · October 19, 2012

Thanks for pointing that out but it's fine. By the way, I read a post from yesterday that someone won a bid for the 3* Affinia 50 (MTE) for $105. I've stayed

there about a year ago and it's very nice hotel with an awesome location for that price. Hopefully I'll be able to get something like that !

thereuare · October 20, 2012

Using your ONE re-bid zone at the 3* level i would bid as follows:

Select 3* MTE...