Priceline Hotel: 4* New York City (Empire State Building) The Roger

[Margie]

Started bidding at $75, offered a counter offer when I hit $90 (Priceline wanted another $24, I declined). Bid was accepted at $100 for The Rodger (formerly the hotel Rodger Willaims). In town for business, and love this area, it was the only area I bid. Here are the details (all bids were placed using the PRICELINE links on this forum)

The Roger (Empire State Building Area)

131 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Offer Price: $100

Nights: 5

Subtotal: $500

Taxes & Fees: $117.20

Total: $617.20 (averages to 123.44 per night including all taxes, fees)

Average price for a standard room for the same dates on the hotel's own website is $201 PLUS taxes and fees.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Looks like an excellent deal and great that you're in your favorite part of the city.

Thank you for sharing your win and using the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding.

Two recommendations in the area:

Jackson Hole (Third Ave at 35th St) - if you like burgers this is one of the best in the city, imo. They're HUGE, juicy, and very fresh. Place can be a little uncomfortable and service can be hit or miss, but it's a "burger joint", and the burgers are always spot-on.

El Rio Grande (above street level in the apartment building on the west side of Third Ave at 37th St) - for food you can go elsewhere, but their frozen margaritas are good and strong (and expensive) and the chips and homemade salsa at the bar are good too.

Enjoy your stay.

[Margie]

oops - can someone please fix the spelling of the hotel's name in the title of my post? I can't seem to edit it.Thank you!

After winning the Roger I read some recent traveler reviews and it seems that the hotel charges a mandatory $22 plus tax PER DAY service fee, which guests pay directly to the property. This fee includes wireless internet access, and 24-hour fitness center access. I do not intend to use either of those services, and I don't feel that what will be an extra $110+ tax on top of what I have already pre-paid is at all fair.

I have called the hotel, verified the fees and I have called Priceline. The hotel doesn't care if we are using the fitness center or wifi, they are going to charge us. Priceline Customer service is looking into it.

Thanks for the recommendations, I appreciate it! Looks like I might be slapped with an additional $110 + tax from the hotel. Trying hard to get it waived.

[thereuare]

Actually the topic title is now correct, if you look at your PRICELINE winning bid confirmation page the hotel is actually spelled 'Roger'.

Sorry to hear about the 'resort fee' or whatever they decide to call it at this property... let us know how you make out with getting this resolved. PRICELINE's terms do state that in addition to your bid amount there can be a resort fee that would be payable directly to the hotel, but such a fee is not likely to be expected in NYC (vs. a 'resort' location such as Hawaii, beach areas, etc)

[Margie]

Thanks, I thought when I looked at the title I wrote there was "d" in there . . . anyway, the woman at PL thought that the extra charges should not fall under the "resort fees" category either. $22 a day + tax for 5 days is a lot of money, especially for something that I did not ask for and will not use. :( I hope I can get a definitive answer soon and I am not looking forward to the check in process . . . The lady I talked to in reservations at the hotel was less than pleasant. I've used PL for years and have never had a hotel (not resort) pull this. . . . something tells me if they actually waive the fee we will be assigned a room in the basement.

[Margie]

Just wanted to report back. The renovated Roger is lovely, the rooms are spotless, and we had a nice stay. I called ahead to confirm our reservation and requested a room on a higher floor which was mentioned by the desk clerk at check in, so someone was paying attention! No snarky Priceline comments only that the room was prepaid and they fully disclosed the "service fee". I had spoken to Priceline prior to our visit about the fee and received an email response from PL stating that the "service fee" was eqvalient to a "resort feee" and that when I placed my bid I agreed to pay it. Personally I wouldn't expect a resort fee on a Manhattan hotel, it just seems wrong.

I think this is important information to have when bidding 4* in the ESB zone because if your bid is accepted by The Roger you will pay an extra $22 per night in addition to your accepted bid. We were there 5 ngights and our fees added up to more than one night's stay.

Do we have a spot here for reviews? I would like to give some details about the property that might be helpful to others and I do have some photos of the room.

[thereuare]

Sorry to hear you weren't able to get the resort fee waived, but it sounds like you didn't let it spoil your trip and enjoyed the hotel... thanks for the follow-up.

We do have a HOTEL REVIEW section near the bottom of the main page of the board.