Priceline Hotel: 3.5 to 4 Star NYC

[bobmarch]

Hi there, brand spanking new to this site so hello, hope you are well and hope you can help.

We have flights booked to New York next week, 9th - 12th (3 nights) and have a canceble booking with the Gershwin!

We would like something 3.5 to 4 star in Chelsea, Tribeca/Soho or Lower East, budget 200/220 USD

Its a bit of a weird feeling booking something at the moment because of the damage caused by the hurricane. We have been so excited about visiting NYC for so long but now feel like we're flying into a disaster zone (have Sky news been over dramatising...again!)

We would truly appreciate any advice you can offer x

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Are you willing to pay more for a 4* vs. a 3.5* OR is your goal the least expensive 3.5* or better for this trip?

Also, are you familiar with the city and have plans in/near the specific zones above, as these are not the most frequently bid areas and not necessarily the most centrally located for the average visitor (nor are you including the ESB zone which is where the Gershwin is located)

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

Let us know the above and we'll advise accordingly.

[bobmarch]

Hi, thanks for responding.

We could spend a little more on 4 star, say 240/250 usd or top end 3.5*. We booked the Gershwin on price without checking Trip advisor and having done so now we are keen to find an alternative! We wanted to stay mid to down town as we have friends staying in Meat packing District, we're planning on walking everywhere meeting half way if necessary. The storm has made it a little confusing as we're getting reports that half of manhattan is still pitched in darkness.

Again, you're advices would be greatly appreciated.

[thereuare]

We could spend a little more on 4 star, say 240/250 usd or top end 3.5*.

I don't think your budget will be too much of an issue.

We wanted to stay mid to down town as we have friends staying in Meat packing District...

Where exactly are your friends staying?

...we're planning on walking everywhere meeting half way if necessary.

You should plan on doing a LOT of walking, but you should also plan on taking subways too (and if 4 people taxis can sometimes cost less or just a few dollars more than the subway)... is taking the subway and meeting your friends at a station in between (or some place in route) acceptable as well? (assuming they are up and running by then, which i suspect they should be)

Let us know regarding if using the subway is in your plans and the location of where your friends are staying (especially if you only intend to walk and not use the subway)

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

[bobmarch]

Friends are staying in Soho House (MPD). They have been notified that there is still no power in this part of town and to expect a cancellation.

We have been to NYC before so have no plans to visit the "tourist hotspots", ESB, Times square etc

Our plan for the weekend was day 1) Land, drop bags off and head over to Williamsburg(explore, shop, eat etc)

Day 2) Boys head off to watch some sport,Giants are playing on the Sunday, Girls are heading off shopping...anywhere.

Day 3) Nursing some sore heads we thought we'd head upto the Central Park and weather permiting take a long walk, lunch, have a look around (no horse and cart action planned)

We will use the subway where applicable, most likely to head uptown.

Kind Regards, Bob

[thereuare]

Almost all of NYC from about 34th St and south has no power, and currently most of the area does not have subway access accept for the 4,5,6 trains... although it appears you can pick up the J Train at Essex St and head east towards Williamsburg, but will either need to walk or take a taxi to the Essex St subway stop (what this basically means is that getting to Williamsburg will be a bit difficult, nor do i know if they have power and/or flooding there at the moment).

So you can book something now in midtown OR hope that things improve over the next 2-3 days and power is restored to the hotels south of 34th St and book something then.

Are you now looking for two rooms and will purchase your room (and theirs) on the same purchase?

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

Let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there.

[bobmarch]

Hi thereuare, thanks for the updates.

In light of the latest updates from NYC we are weighing up our options at the moment, by Tuesday we will have made the decision on wether to come over or not (change of flight schedule dependant). We love NYC and want to enjoy all it has to offer, we also respect and aknowledge that 'all is not well' out there at the moment so feel that a return at a later date would be better.

Thanks once again and i'll be back to get some advice in the near future.

Good luck U.S, see you soon

[bobmarch]

Hi there, we have re-scheduled visit to 1st Feb 2013. Would it be advisable to book, through PRICELINE, now or wait a while?

[AaronJB]

Fashion Week starts the 7th. There may be other events going on, but this is generally a quiet time of year in terms of hotels. You can wait a bit, although I'd keep in mind realistic floors, as prices do generally not go below certain general levels, even during the slowest period of the year.

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

[bobmarch]

Hi Aaron thanks for reply. By waiting a while do you mean pre or post Xmas? Can I request a bidding plan now?

[thereuare]

Is this still a 3 nite stay so you're coming form Feb 1-4? Still looking for 2 rooms?

As rates should be substantially cheaper than your previous dates, are you willing to spend more for a higher rated hotel OR is the goal the least expensive 3.5* or better for this trip? Which zone(s) are you willing to accept and your desired budget?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... and please click each of these previous links before replying.

Thanks.

[bobmarch]

Hi, this is a 3 night stay, looking for 1 room for 2 people. Friends have re-booked Soho house so we are looking to book in an area near to them.(we are not staying at same place as our budget isn't the same as theirs).

We would love a 4* hotel and again our budget would be max 230 usd. Looking at areas we can see Chelsea as being the closest but we really would like your advice on this.

[thereuare]

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... and please click each of these previous links before replying.

2x

[bobmarch]

2x

Apologies, links clicked.

[AaronJB]

If you are looking to bid for 2/1-4, I'd start at $75 (which is unlikely, but worth trying) and work higher by $5's. These dates are in the low(est) season, so I think getting a 4* under or around $100 ($85-110, depending on zone) should not be difficult. There are a few 4*'s just under $100 on HOTWIRE and there are a number of 3.5/4*'s under $150-200 regular rate, as well, on Expedia.

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

[bobmarch]

If you are looking to bid for 2/1-4, I'd start at $75 (which is unlikely, but worth trying) and work higher by $5's. These dates are in the low(est) season, so I think getting a 4* under or around $100 ($85-110, depending on zone) should not be difficult. There are a few 4*'s just under $100 on HOTWIRE and there are a number of 3.5/4*'s under $150-200 regular rate, as well, on Expedia.

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

[thereuare]

Friends have re-booked Soho house so we are looking to book in an area near to them.... Looking at areas we can see Chelsea as being the closest but we really would like your advice on this.

You're really in "no man's land" in terms of hotels in this immediate area... if you have specific plans in NYC i would try to choose a hotel closer to where your plans will take you so that your friends are meeting you near your hotel rather than the other way around. If most of your activities will be taking place near this hotel, then i would try to choose zones that are convenient to the 1,2,3 or A,C,E subway lines as either will get you reasonably close.

If you want to be close the Hilton Fashion District at $143/nite and the Doubletree Chelsea at $161/nite seem to offer the best star rating for the buck, but if you're flexible i think you can a 4* hotel closer to the $100-$120 mark, which should certainly leave some money left over for a few taxi rides each day and still stay well within your target budget.

Let us know your thoughts and 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.