Priceline Hotel: 4* or 5* NYC 9/27 - 9/30

[dave]

Helping a friend book either a 4* or 5* on PL.

Budget $150 / night. 3 nights from 9/27 - 9/30.

He would like to stay in the area of 5th to 7th Avenue. Is this the MTW area?

Has previous stayed in Sheration & Helmsley but not able to obtain corporate rates this time.

Any suggestions on bidding strategy appreciated. :)

[dave]

An update - if $150 is too low for these dates, please suggest higher rates for the bidding strategy. Thanks

[dave]

Bid 4* MSE & MSW using free rebids up to $185 with no luck :)

[thereuare]

Rates are very high for these dates and you're likely looking at prices north of $200.

The Eastgate Tower is available for $209/nite (complete stay) while the Beekman Tower is available, but only for the first two nites of the stay, at $201.

If willing to split the bid i would book either of the above, if not willing to split i would book the Eastgate Tower.

You can use these as a back-up while you continue to look at Priceline, but based upon current prices the above rates are an excellent value.

[underdunk]

I have the exact same travel dates. Will the Beekman provide a room with 2 beds?

I'm also flexible on the travel dates if I can get a cheaper price. Is there anytime in late Sept/early Oct when a 4* can be had for under $180?

[thereuare]

The 1BR suites at The Beekman are all configured with one bed in the bedroom and a pull-out couch in the living room.

underdunk, if you'd like to discuss other dates please start a NEW THREAD so the original poster still has a place to follow-up regarding the outcome of their own stay.

[dave]

Friend decided to extend stay, so now need rooms from 9/27 - 10/1.

Backup booking at the Helmsley $259 (29/9) made through EasyClickTravel, on waitlist 9/27-9/28 & 10/1.

Tried bidding up to $210 for 4* (10/1) no luck.

Now willing to consider 3*, would like MTW or MTE.

Please suggest a bidding strategy, thanks :)

[thereuare]

What is the limit at 3*?

[dave]

Best rates for this period in the area my friend prefers is the Washington Jefferson at average of $192 / night.

So I would say the limit would be $165-$170 per night.

Thanks

[thereuare]

Dave, why not have your friend include UM/CPS?

It's just as convenient as MTE and MTW and will increase his chances by adding more possible hotels as well as more bidding opportunities.

[dave]

He is in his 50s and claims that for "safety reasons" he isn't comfortable bidding areas outside 5th-7th avenue. That is why he didn't go for Beekman Tower & Eastgate Tower which you suggested earlier.

I think that as long as he can be convinced that an area that we are trying for is "safe" I might be able to persuade him.

By the way, bid up to $160 3* MTW, MTE & using free re-bid no luck. Looks like might have to split up the stay. Any suggestions on how to split? Thanks

[thereuare]

Before splitting... he (you?) does realize that the MTE zones extend far beyond 5th-7th Avenues, as does the MTW zone?

[dave]

Oops...have informed him of this possibility (MTE out of 5-7th Avenue) and he is agreeable as long as the areas we bid for are relatively "safe" tourist areas. Thanks

[thereuare]

I don't see any dates within this stay that stick out as being much more expensive than the other nites, so i would just systematically try different date combinations.

I'll also add, again, that you're bidding zones that are outside of your friend's targeted area... if the Beekman was not acceptable, the Millenium UN (a 3* in the MTE zone) won't likely be either.

[dave]

Decided to book through EasyClickTravel (through betterbidding's link of course :)) the Ramada New Yorker as failed with many bids.

Suspect for some dates there wasn't any availability at all.

3* (MTW, MTE, UM/CPS) bid up to $250 (9/27 - 10/2)

2.5* (MTW, MTE, UM/CPS) bid up to $185 (9/27 - 10/2)