Priceline Hotel: Need help on NYC stay, looking for flights and hotel.

[Jaxxx]

From 1/3-1/8/13... Looking for at least a 4* for around $100-120 in midtown east, west, Central Park south. .. Maybe a 5*.? How much do they usually go for?

And flights are at $250 in my search.. How much should I bid in Priceline? $120.?

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

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

We will use this thread for the hotel part of your purchase, feel free to start a NEW TOPIC in the OTHER DEALS >> Airfare section of the board for your flight. HOWEVER, do keep in mind that airfare deals have been tough given the current airfare environment (decreased capacity and fewer empty seats on airplanes)... are you still able to budget for this trip should you have to pay current retail rates for airfare?

For your hotel, PRICELINE doesn't currently offer 5* bidding in any of the zone(s) you've listed as acceptable... 5* bidding is currently only available in the Times Square zone, is this zone acceptable as well? (although i think it will likely take more than $120 for a 5* property) Besides the Times Square zone, is the Empire State Building zone acceptable at the 4* level?

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

Let us know the information above and we'll take it from there.

[Jaxxx]

Just read my PM, thank you.

Worst case scenario I can pay for the current airfare rates. I wouldn't mind staying around the time square zone, what hotels do they have available for a 5*?

And yes Empire State Building zone is fine.

I also looked at the New York forum and and members posted some of the hotels they have around my time frame for a certain area, if I bid on that same area, would I get the same hotel?

I also been looking at HOTWIRE , are their prices a good idea of what airfare/hotels will accept?

[Jaxxx]

Also I just looked at PL vacation packages, I picked a hotel

, westin, and PL gave me a time frame, 6a-11a, for my flight times, which would work for me. Looks like its about $400 cheaper than kayaks pages, is there any tricks or gimmicks to this?

[thereuare]

With PRICELINE vacations tab you're buying a specific hotel with specific flights listed for the price specified... there is no bidding involved and no 'unknown' hotel since the name of the hotel (and the airline with flight times) is shown before your purchase.

With what you are looking at above, is the flight times, airline and flight numbers also shown?

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

[Jaxxx]

No flight times or airline was shown.. Just the hotel and room I'm getting

[thereuare]

I see what you're seeing now, but let's backtrack a moment...

The area you're currently viewing, but you're trying to use features that are not available thru each part of their service...

VACATIONS:

You can choose the hotel name and an 'opaque flight' where you only know the range of times and not the exact routing. On this page if you click 'Choose a Different Flight'... how much more expensive are the tickets where you can pick a specific flight itinerary? NOTE that prices here are per person.

Alternately you can purchase hotel and airfare each on their own:

OPAQUE HOTEL: you can bid for a hotel where yo won't know the name of the hotel until after a hotel agrees to accept your bid price. Assuming you could get a 4* hotel for $100-$120/nite... if you subtract this amount from the total price above for a combined airfare+hotel, how much does that leave for purchasing your airfare 'ala carte'? If worthwhile, you could then:

AIRFARE: if you buy your hotel on it's own, you can then choose to purchase airfare thru regular retail channels OR if you're flexible try bidding on PRICELINE for a better price

I couldn't do any of the calculations above to provide more concrete examples since i don't think you mentioned where you were departing from, which NYC airport arriving into, how many travelers, etc.

Let us know your thoughts/comments on the info above and more of the specifics regarding your trip (airports, travelers, etc)

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

[Jaxxx]

I'm flying from jax to lga... Price with an unknown flight was $1387... With a known flight depending on time is about $1487 this if for the westin time square. I priced the hotel alone and it's about $1220 total for 5 ni, for two people.

[thereuare]

So the question(s) are:

Price with an unknown flight was $1387... With a known flight depending on time is about $1487...

So are the 'unknowns' worth $50/ticket (i'm assuming two people traveling) savings? If some flight have a potential long layover, or the $1487 flights are direct/non-stop, then it may be worth the extra $50/ticket (each person may answer this differently depending upon their schedule, budget, how much they do/don't enjoy flying, etc)

...this if for the westin time square. I priced the hotel alone and it's about $1220 total for 5 ni, for two people.

Assuming you're fine with any 4* hotel and don't necessarily need the Westin... you can likely get a 4* hotel on PRICELINE for $120 ($736 all-in). I'm also seeing flights on USAir starting at $247/ticket (x2) brings airfare to ~$500.

Therefore you could do this ala carte for ~$1236... but not necessarily for the Westin.

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

Your thoughts?

PS- i'll also add that if you're willing to fly into/out of JFK and/or EWR i'm seeing flights as low as $238/each ticket.