mogmatt Posted February 25, 2013 Report Posted February 25, 2013 Hello, I'm a newbie to this site and priceline/bidding and have been lurking this website for a while, researching information to place my first bid. These are my details:-4* hotel in NYC-April 29-May1 (can include April 27-28 as well, if we decide to stay the weekend)-prepared to spend up to $200 (not sure where to start, or whether this is realistic)-preferred locations (most preferable up top):Times SquareMidtown WestCentral Park SouthMidtown East*locations are flexible, so please direct me as to which location might be preferable based on quality of hotelsPlease let me know if I missed any info, and thanks in advance for the help. Great site btw!
thereuare Posted February 25, 2013 Report Posted February 25, 2013 Welcome to BetterBidding!If you haven't yet, please start by reading your messages.For this stay are you willing to pay more to stay in your first choice of zone vs. a zone further down the list OR is your goal the least expensive 4* hotel in any of the acceptable zones?When will you decide upon your arrival dates as rates may be different if you include/exclude the Saturday and Sunday nites.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know the above 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
mogmatt Posted February 26, 2013 Author Report Posted February 26, 2013 Hi, and thank you for the reply. In terms of zones, I am flexible on being in a zone further down the list, in order to keep prices lower. But I still want to be in a good hotel. So I guess my top priorities are: 1. quality of hotel, 2. price, 3. zoneSecondly, please exclude the Saturday and sunday nights because I think that will end up jacking up prices.I haven't been to NYC for a loooong time, and I'm not sure if I should be more picky about zones. We are basically spending a couple of nights watching theatre (sleep no more, stomp), sightseeing, dining out, and maybe some late night talk shows.
thereuare Posted February 26, 2013 Report Posted February 26, 2013 Secondly, please exclude the Saturday and sunday nights because I think that will end up jacking up prices.Including Saturday and Sunday nites will cost you more from the standpoint that you're spending more nites in a hotel, but it will likely have no effect, or actually lower your rate on a per nite basis.If you're ready to begin, when bidding at the 4* level 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* MTE and MTW...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $148, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and CPS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $148, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, CPS, TS...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $153, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $158, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $163, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW, CPS, TS...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $153, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $158, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $163, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW, CPS, MTE...Bid $168, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $173, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $178, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $183, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW, TS, MTE...Bid $168, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $173, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $178, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $183, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS, MTW, CPS, MTE...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $188, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $193, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $198, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200Any 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
mogmatt Posted February 26, 2013 Author Report Posted February 26, 2013 Hi, I am trying to wrap around the concept here as a newbie who hasn't bid before. I did read up on the rebidding document you linked me.Why wouldn't you start bidding with one area (for example, Time Square), starting at $120, and work up the price with the 6 rebid zones?I noticed that you always listed two zones (ie. MTE+MTW, TS+CPS..). *PS. could someone confirm that the rebid zones are-coney-long island-LES-morningside-queensborough-UES
thereuare Posted February 26, 2013 Report Posted February 26, 2013 Yes, 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.If you only bid one zone as you questioned, using this as an example:Select 4* MTE...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $148, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $148, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE==> if a 4* hotel is available in the MTE zone for $148/nite and a 4* hotel is available in the MTW zone for $120... you never give yourself a chance to win the lower priced MTW property, so you want to include as many zones as possible while also providing enough opportunities to re-bid. I used the zones you listed as acceptable, but used my own judgement in the order/combination in which to bid knowing a fair amount about the area and which zones are often priced lower/higher then other nearby zones. Hope that clarifies it a bit.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
mogmatt Posted April 8, 2013 Author Report Posted April 8, 2013 so I finally sat down today to try priceline after getting these tips on rebidding. A couple of things have changed since I last inquired about booking my reservations. The rebid zones currently (at time of writing) appear to be:-coney island-long island city-morningside-queensboroughThis meant that I could only rebid 4 instead of 6 times. This was what I tried:TS+CPS$120-140TS+MTE$120-140TS+MTW$120-140TS+CPS+MTE145-165TS+CPS+MTW145-165TS+MTW+MTE170-190CPS+MTW+MTE170-190Not sure if I did this correctly, but no successful bids thus far. Will try again. Any suggestions? Should I have booked this a couple of months in advance? or is there better chance at good prices closer to the date of my trip?
AaronJB Posted April 10, 2013 Report Posted April 10, 2013 This is generally a busy time of year so I'd be persistent. I think you're likely not far from a win ($195-210). Coney Island and Queensborough Bridge zones no longer appear to be available to be selected (at least for the date/s that I've been searching.)Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
mogmatt Posted April 13, 2013 Author Report Posted April 13, 2013 Ended up with the Alex Hotel for $190 for the two nights. Anyone have any experiences with this hotel?
yellowdog Posted April 13, 2013 Report Posted April 13, 2013 mogmattThank you for sharing your result with the board!Enjoy your stay.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Yellowdog.PS. I'm not familiar with this hotel so I can't gain any insight for you.
thereuare Posted April 13, 2013 Report Posted April 13, 2013 Anyone have any experiences with this hotel?You're near my often recommended Ess-A-Bagel (Third Ave at 51st St) which has one of the best bagels in the city, makes for a nice, and relatively inexpensive, breakfast among local NYers. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
mogmatt Posted April 15, 2013 Author Report Posted April 15, 2013 Thanks for this! I'm excited for the trip, and can't wait to try a NYC bagel. Specifically smoked salmon and cream cheese variations. Not sure about the Alex hotel. I have a feeling it won't top Andaz 5th Ave (where i'll be staying over the weekend)
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