BumbleBug Posted January 17, 2013 Report Posted January 17, 2013 So we made a deal with my 11 year old son that if he saved $1000 we would take him to New York. Well, a little more than 2 years later, the little dude did it!So now we plan the trip! Looking to come into town (based on flights) on March 6th (arrive around 6am) and leaving the evening of March 11th.It will be my wife and I, our 11 year old, our 16 year old and our 9 month old(at the time we travel) I just want to stay somewhere safe (obviously) where we can get around to all the cool sights relatively easily (subway is cool with us!)Any suggestions for sites and/or bidding strategies? Through Priceline Express deals, I see 4*, Midtown East, Pets allowed, Business Center for $146 or Midtown West, 4*, Pets allowed, business center, Restaurant for $158. I'd LOVE to keep this below $200 a night preferably for a 3.5 star or higher. I'd LOVE some suggestions especially since it seems like you guys know New York really well. The last time I was there I think I was 9 and I stayed at the hotel at the base of the twin towers, so it's been quite a while!Thanks in advance!!D!
thereuare Posted January 17, 2013 Report Posted January 17, 2013 Congratulations on your son's accomplishment... and to you for teaching him how to save for something he wants and the value of a dollar!How many rooms are you looking to book?PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, after that it's at the discretion of the hotel, and you could receive a room with only one bed. While you can call the hotel you win and request a room with two beds, the hotel may not be able, or willing, to honor your request. This is especially true in NYC where a large percentage of rooms at most hotels only have one bed and may can't accommodate a rollaway, and at some hotels rooms with two beds are considered an upgrade from 'standard'. Were you intending to book two rooms or take the the risk of landing a hotel with only one bed? If seeking you're trying to book only one room HOTWIRE may still be a better option as they allow you to search for up to quad occupancy and ensure sleeping accommodations for everyone you include in your search (although this usually means two beds, the second 'bed' could be a sofabed, rollaway, etc). Although you'll actually be five people, HOTWIRE only has you declare the number of children aged two and above, so i think if you search for 2adults/2children you're still abiding by their rules (and can have them help resolve any issues if the hotel has an issue with five people when you only declared four when booking)Let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
BumbleBug Posted January 17, 2013 Author Report Posted January 17, 2013 I'm probably leaning toward two rooms if I can get the total down below $300 for the two rooms. That opens up the PRICELINE option more. I'm very open to suggestions!Thanks!D!
BumbleBug Posted January 17, 2013 Author Report Posted January 17, 2013 Whoops! I had the wrong week! It's 3/12-3/18! :lol:
thereuare Posted January 18, 2013 Report Posted January 18, 2013 I'm probably leaning toward two rooms if I can get the total down below $300 for the two rooms.I assume you mean $150 all-in per room per nite? (which is about a $125 bid price) Is that correct?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
BumbleBug Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Posted January 18, 2013 That would be the goal. Do you think it's realistic?
thereuare Posted January 18, 2013 Report Posted January 18, 2013 It could be worth trying, but at current rates I think a win at $125 or less for a 4* hotel in Midtown will be difficult.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know if/how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
BumbleBug Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Posted January 18, 2013 So what do you think is realistic? Like I said, it's been a while since I've been and I'm open to area suggestions. Just want to be somewhere safe and accessible.How would you recommend bidding it?Thanks a TON!!D!
thereuare Posted January 18, 2013 Report Posted January 18, 2013 So what do you think is realistic?I think a bid price of $150 (before fees/taxes) would be enough... but if looking at $150 all-in i think will fall short.How would you recommend bidding it?Let us know your maximum bid and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
BumbleBug Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Posted January 18, 2013 I'll stick with your suggestion. $150 bid for each room max (not including fees)Thanks!D!
thereuare Posted January 19, 2013 Report Posted January 19, 2013 When bidding 4* in NYC the following zones are all generally considered centrally located:MTE, MTW, TS, CPS and ESBHowever, note that the Hilton Manhattan East has recently been upgraded to the 4* level and is a little further away from the subway than ideal, but certainly do-able. See the hotel location and let us know if you think this zone would be acceptable as well. (i'll include MTE below in parenthesis and you can decide if you want to include it or not)When bidding 4* in NYC you have SIX re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.Select 4* MTW and TS (and MTE)..Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $113, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* CPS and ESB..Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $113, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW and TS and ESB (and MTE)..Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $133, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW and TS and CPSBid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $133, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW and TS and CPS and ESB (and MTE)..Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $138, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $143, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $148, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150Any questions feel free to ask.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
BumbleBug Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Posted January 22, 2013 ok, I'll definitely try this! Thanks! What are the rebid zones for NY? I know what the concept is, I'm just wondering which zones I should use to rebidThanks!!D!
BumbleBug Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Posted January 22, 2013 Scratch that! I figured it out! It had been a while since I've done this!D!
thereuare Posted January 22, 2013 Report Posted January 22, 2013 Feel free to confirm your re-bid zones with the board if your unsure (or just wanted a bit more confidence)Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Good luck... let us know how it goes! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
BumbleBug Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Posted January 22, 2013 ok, I seeConey IslandLong Island CityMorningside Heights - HarlemQueensborough BridgeUpper East SideDo those look right?Thanks!D!
BumbleBug Posted January 22, 2013 Author Report Posted January 22, 2013 Tried all of those combinations with no luck. :( Should I just keep trying the same combo every couple days? Or if they don't work once, are they not likely to work and I need to restart and up my starting bid?Thanks!D!
thereuare Posted January 22, 2013 Report Posted January 22, 2013 If bidding 4* you actually have SIX re-bid zones... not just the 5 you included above (please confirm and/or ask question if you're unsure of the sixth re-bid zone)Rates are dynamic and change all the time based upon new reservations and cancellations the hotel receives. You can try every day if you'd like, but you'll likely get frustrated as rates are not likely to change that frequently. I would try bidding every 2-3 days, if still not successful in another 3-4 weeks we can look at you options of SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID, expand to include other zones, increase your budget, lower your star rating, etc.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Keep us updated on your progress and let us know if we can be of further help along the way. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
thereuare Posted January 23, 2013 Report Posted January 23, 2013 You need to check your re-bid zones before every bidding cycle to make sure that nothing has changed since you (or we) last checked... otherwise you could end up in a zone you didn't intend.Start with the following and we'll walk you through the additional re-bid zone: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 thereIf 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
BumbleBug Posted January 23, 2013 Author Report Posted January 23, 2013 Got it!I actually realized that I'd used the extra zone in my bidding, just forgot to mark it down above!Thanks again!D!
thereuare Posted January 23, 2013 Report Posted January 23, 2013 Great... glad to hear you have all your re-bid zones identified.Keep us updated on your progress and let us know if/how we can be of further help along the way.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
BumbleBug Posted January 24, 2013 Author Report Posted January 24, 2013 Thanks!I'll check in here from time to time as I rebid or whatever and update what happens!D!
mogulman1 Posted January 24, 2013 Report Posted January 24, 2013 I just tried Priceline for a similar time period, 3/27-3/30. Went all the way up to 180, with nothing happening.Jeff
BumbleBug Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Posted January 30, 2013 Ok, so I've been looking at both priceline and Hotwire options to try to figure this out. I know that the Hotwire deal hotels can be guessed with pretty good confidence, but I wasn't sure about the Priceline ones. I'm looking at a Priceline express deal for a 4 star, Midtown East, but the only amenities it shows are business center and bed choice available. $296 for similar hotels and they are asking $165 per night.Any ideas?Is there something going on in NY at this time that would cause the prices and availability to be less than favorable?Thanks!D!
AaronJB Posted January 30, 2013 Report Posted January 30, 2013 The PRICELINE Express side is a newer feature of the service and few hotels have been reported to the board. Is business center the only amenity showing? Is there a guest rating showing?Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
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