Priceline Hotel: 4* New York City (Midtown East) The Roosevelt Hotel New York

[Robbie1]

I have been reading this great forum for the past few days and have been really putting a lot of thought into my trip in May. I realize I have a problem with the length of my stay when using Priceline. I will be there for 9 nights. My number one goal is to have our average night stay be less than $160/night (max $175) with taxes and fees for the trip. I am willing to break this up into 4 different hotels, 3 different hotels, 2 different hotels, or 1 if that is possible but I know that is highly unlikely.

I would love 4*, or 3.5* hotels, but I will be fine with a 3* hotel if that’s what it takes to hit my price.

Questions:

1. I am also thinking of booking 3 cancellable options to breakup my cancellable options as well. That way if I have certain problems with certain nights I wont have to alter a lengthy backup. Does that make sense?

2. Are there any areas I have included in my zones below that you would avoid for a 3*?

3. Some things I have read say this is way too early to start bidding. Others say it’s ok to start early. Should I start now and try a few bids every day until my trip?

4. Am I crazy for trying to average $160 for all of these nights?

Here is my info:

People: 2

Rooms: 1

Dates: Saturday, May 18- Monday, May 27

Preferable Stars: 4, 3.5, 3

The zones I am ok with as long as long as I meet my price range are as follows in no particular order:

1. MTE

2. UWS

3. Downtown

4. Hell's Kitchen

5. CPS

6. Chelsea

7. SoHo

8. MTW

9. TS

10. MSG

11. Upper East

12. Upper West

My rebids:

4 *

1. Morningside Heights

2. Long Island City

3. Coney Island

4. Queensborough Bridge

5. Lower East Side

6. Upper East Side

3.5*

1. Long Island City

2. UE

3. Coney

4. Morningside

5. Queens borough Bridge

3*

1. Coney

Thanks!

[Robbie1]

Also, to get a sense of where I am at, if it were between a 4* at $175 and a 3* at $125, I would prefer the 3*.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Questions:

1. I am also thinking of booking 3 cancellable options to breakup my cancellable options as well. That way if I have certain problems with certain nights I wont have to alter a lengthy backup. Does that make sense?

2. Are there any areas I have included in my zones below that you would avoid for a 3*?

3. Some things I have read say this is way too early to start bidding. Others say it’s ok to start early. Should I start now and try a few bids every day until my trip?

4. Am I crazy for trying to average $160 for all of these nights?

ANSWERS:

1) yes, but as you don't know how your SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID will yet be divided, or which nites may prove to be the more difficult then others, you may want to book individual consecutive nites at the same hotel(s). For instance, if you can get a Mon-Thur rate of $150/nite, you may want to book a solo Monday nite, a solo Tues nite, and a solo Wed nite so that if you're successful with PRICELINE or HOTWIRE for including Monday and Tuesday nites in your win, you can simply cancel those two nites and still have the Wed nite back-up reservation. If you were to book Mon-Thur complete, when you go to cancel Monday and Tuesday, your Wed nite rate will likely change to the current prevailing rate, and that is what you're trying to avoid by making a back-up reservation. Use our sister site, MAPS and HOTELS.com, or the links in our Support Page for hotel direct bookings, for your back-up reservations (but always double check the terms to ensure that the rate is fully refundable.

2) it really depends upon the star rating. For example, CPS is perfectly fine at the 4* level, but at the 3.5* level and below it contains the Hudson Hotel which is well located but has notoriously small rooms (this may or may be an acceptable condition for you if it falls within your budget). At the 3.5* level and below in MTE some of the hotels can be up to a 15 minute walk t the subway, again, this may or may not be an issue for you. Personally i'm not a fan of the UES and UWS since they each go a bit too far north for my liking... although all the 'known' hotels at the 4* level in the UWS zone are not too far north.

3) i would be begin bidding now as your budget is not that much for this time of year (~$145 bid price before taxes/fees based upon your upper $175/nite all-in price). For more on timing your bids see the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

4) as noted above, you now only have along stay (not as much of an issue since SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID is an acceptable option for you, BUT this is also a very expensive time of year in NYC. A bid price of $160-$175 is much more reasonable, but to reach that on an all-in basis you're looking at $132-$145 bid price, and that is not that much for most dates this time of year... but you never know, you may get lucky, which is why you begin bidding early. ;)

You have your re-bid zones correct, but always double check just before bidding to make sure that nothing has changed since you last looked.

Also, to get a sense of where I am at, if it were between a 4* at $175 and a 3* at $125, I would prefer the 3*.

What is it (star rating and maximum bid) that you want to try for first? If that is rejected, do you then want to lower your star rating or begin splitting the dates?

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

[Robbie1]

Wow that is a great idea to book solo night cancellable backups. I didn’t even think of that! That must be why you get paid the big bucks. Ok, so I will definitely do some solo night cancellable backups.

After speaking with the lady and gone through all of the great information and ideas you have given, we have decided that the price is more important than the star rating as long as it is no lower than 3 stars. So, I think we have just lowered our standards to the possibility of staying in a 3 star if it is in those price ranges of the $130’s (or even lower would be incredible).

So, would it makes sense to start somethere with four star in the $100 - $110s range in case some ridiculous deal occurred? Then, if nothing happens with the 4 star, lower to a 3.5 then 3 and if none of those work, then start raising? I could stop at $135- $140 and continue that strategy throughout the next few weeks? I can start by splitting into two dates and continue splitting if needed from there?

The zones will be tricky since there are so many that we are ok with.

Thanks so much for your help so far!!

[thereuare]

...we have decided that the price is more important than the star rating as long as it is no lower than 3 stars.

So, would it makes sense to start somethere with four star in the $100 - $110s range in case some ridiculous deal occurred? Then, if nothing happens with the 4 star, lower to a 3.5 then 3 and if none of those work, then start raising? I could stop at $135- $140...

Your two statements above are somewhat contradictory...

If you're willing to pay more for a higher rated hotel then you would start with a 4* up to your maximum bid, if rejected, try for a 3.5* up to your maximum bid, if rejected try for a 3* up to your maximum bid...

If the lowest possible price for any 3* or better is the ultimate goal, you would start with a 3* and gradually be higher until you are successful or reach your limit.

The zones will be tricky since there are so many that we are ok with.

Actually the more zones the better as you can use various combinations to bid multiple times within the same bidding session.

Confirm which route above you'd like to take (4* bidding first up to your limit OR least expensive 3* or better) and we'll outline a suggested strategy for you to follow.

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

[Robbie1]

Thanks so much for your help so far!

We would like to take the least expensive 3* or better route.

We will definitely be using your link to do so.

Thanks.

[thereuare]

2. Are there any areas I have included in my zones below that you would avoid for a 3*?

Since we've narrowed down the star rating a bit, see my comments next to each zone:

1. MTE - some hotels can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subwway

2. UWS - some hotels can be a bit too far north for my liking

3. Downtown - not as central as midtown but do-able for the right price (~20-25 minute subway ride to midtown for when your plans take you there)

4. Hell's Kitchen

5. CPS - the Hudson Hotel is a 'known' property in this zone at less then 4*... it's well located but has notoriously small rooms (even by NYC standards)

6. Chelsea

7. SoHo

8. MTW

9. TS

10. MSG

11. Upper East - some hotels can be a bit too far north for my liking

12. Upper West - same zone as #2 above

Please confirm which zone(s) are acceptable and we'll advise accordingly.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

[Robbie1]

My only questions regard the upper east and west sides. Are the hotels higher then 90th street? If so, lets not include those two zones.

Otherwise, all zones are acceptable!

Thanks,

[thereuare]

As per the PRICELINE map boundaries for each of these zones, the UWS zone goes as far north as 105th St and the UES zone goes as high as 95th St, so we will exclude each for now.

So to confirm a 3* or better up to $140/nite in:

MTE, DT, HK, CPS, Chelsea, Soho, MTW, TS

Using your ONE re-bid zones i would try as follows:

Select 3* MTE, DT, CPS, Chelsea, Soho...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW, TS, MSG, HK...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW, DT, CPS, Chelsea, Soho...

Bid $103, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, TS, MSG, HK...

Bid $103, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, TS, CPS, Chelsea, Soho...

Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW, DT, MSG, HK...

Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, DT, MSG, Chelsea, Soho...

Bid $113, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW, TS, CPS, HK...

Bid $113, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, DT, CPS, HK, Soho...

Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTW, TS, MSG, Chelsea...

Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, DT, CPS, HK, Soho, MTW, TS...

Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, DT, CPS, HK, Soho, MSG, Chelsea...

Bid $123, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, DT, CPS, HK, Soho, MSG, TS...

Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, DT, CPS, HK, Soho, MTW, Chelsea...

Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, DT, CPS, HK, Soho, MTW, Chelsea...

Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $135, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, DT, CPS, HK, Soho, MSG, TS...

Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $135, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3* MTE, DT, CPS, HK, Soho, MTW, TS, MSG, Chelsea...

Bid $138, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $140

Any 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.

[Robbie1]

This looks great! I will keep you posted with how it goes and I will use your PRICELINE link.

Thanks,

[thereuare]

Good luck and let us know if we can be of any help along the way.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

PS- if you haven't yet, please read your messages. Thanks.

[Robbie1]

Used your strategy and your link, so far we got the Roosevelt 4 Star for $120 May 23-24th. We are very happy with this!

We also got Algonquin hotel 4 star – Times Sq – May 19-20 $129 through express deals.

We are continuing bidding on the rest of our stay.

[Robbie1]

Using your link and strategy, we got Sheraton Tribeca - $106 for 4 star at MTE! May 26-28.

[thereuare]

Used your strategy and your link, so far we got the Roosevelt 4 Star for $120 May 23-24th.

We also got Algonquin hotel 4 star – Times Sq – May 19-20 $129 through express deals.

Using your link and strategy, we got Sheraton Tribeca - $106 for 4 star at MTE! May 26-28.

Congratulations on your success(es).

Please use separate threads for each win so that others will be aware of each purchase when searching the topic titles on the board and so that each win will have its own link in the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins and Priceline Maps.

We will use this thread to reflect your first purchase of the Roosevelt for 5/23-5/24, please start NEW TOPICS for each of your other, and subsequent, wins. Also, if you recall, when posting the PRICELINE EXPRESS win(s) please include the amenities that were associated with the property and shown before your purchase.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

[Robbie1]

Thanks! I just realized the Sheraton Tribeca was also through Express Deals so I will post on in the forum that it was through express deals.

We have not been able to book a Saturday night yet. Do you think we should alter our strategy for Saturday night stays since they tend to higher prices? Or is it a little soon to do this? We are thinking of going as high as $160 for Saturday nights if we need to.

Thanks.