Cynthia1984 Posted March 19, 2013 Report Posted March 19, 2013 Goodafternoon,First of all.. Let me introduce myself. My name is Cynthia, I'm from the Netherlands (Amsterdam). From june 1st until june 7th I will be visiting your beautifull and vibrant city New York with my sister! This is my third time. And I decided to book my hotel via priceline (name your own price). I like the Madison Square Garden area. It's nearby the subway and Macy's. I would like to get the Pennsylvania Hotel (**1/2 stars) or The New Yorker (**** stars). Can you guys, please help me with the bidding? Thank you so much!
AaronJB Posted March 19, 2013 Report Posted March 19, 2013 Welcome to Betterbidding. :)With bidding, there is no way to try to target a particular hotel - if you bid for a 4* (for example) in a particular zone, you can possibly get (and have to be willing to accept) any 4* within the selected zone. What would be your desired budget per night for this stay?Additionally, PRICELINE only guarantees 1 bed - this is particularly true in NYC. Would this be acceptable?Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
thereuare Posted March 19, 2013 Report Posted March 19, 2013 Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.... and please click each of these links before replying.Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Cynthia1984 Posted March 20, 2013 Author Report Posted March 20, 2013 Yes, I have clicked on the two links! Allright, I would accept any 3* or 4* hotel within the zone of Madison Square Garden. That is no problem. Eh.. Is it only 1 bed for 1 person or can I sleep in it with my sister? A two persons bed? - My budget is $125 per night (if this is too low, I would be willing to raise)- From june 1th - june 7th Thank you so much!
thereuare Posted March 20, 2013 Report Posted March 20, 2013 Is the Chelsea-MSG zone the one one you're willing to accept? Including more zone enables more hotels to have the opportunity to accept your bid, which increases your chances of landing a great deal. As well, $125 is not realistic for these dates for most of Manhattan, let alone if you're only bidding one zone. If you include most of the midtown zones you have a chance in the $150-$170... but closer to $200 is more likely. If you search MAPS and HOTELS.com for your dates (use 1 mile from Times Square New York City as the search point) and you'll see rates at 3* and higher hotels are quite a bit more then you've likely anticipated.PRICELINE guarantees double occupancy, which could be any type of room configuration with bedding that can accommodate 2 or more people (and at some hotels a double bed is considered enough to accommodate double occupancy)Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know 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
Cynthia1984 Posted March 20, 2013 Author Report Posted March 20, 2013 I'm new to this, so I don't know what is reasonable. I would like to have a hotel in the MSG zone, Empire State Building or Times Square zone. It is important that the hotel is nearby a subway station, and close to (a) tourist attraction, such as Times Square, Macy's etcetera. - $ 150 per night- 3* is okay, but would like to have a 4* hotelIf you have any other recommendations, please tell me!
thereuare Posted March 20, 2013 Report Posted March 20, 2013 At current prices i just don't think you're budget is high enough, but if you want to give it a try...At both the 4* and 3.5* level you have FOUR 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* MSG...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, 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* TS...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, 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* ESB...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, 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* MSG and TS...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $138, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MSG and ESB...Bid $128, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $133, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $138, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MSG, ESB and TS...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 $150If the above is rejected you can close the browser, use this link to re-access PRICELINE, and try the same strategy but at the 3.5* level. If that too is rejected we can then discuss your options between waiting it out and hoping for lower prices in the weeks ahead, trying for a 3* property, etc.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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Cynthia1984 Posted March 21, 2013 Author Report Posted March 21, 2013 I have tried it all. But had no luck.. :-(. Priceline rejected them all. Also with the 3,5 star rating. I can't go up in budget, because I see that the taxes are added later on in the progress. Do I have more luck by trying to get a 3* hotel? Or add more areas?Any suggestions are welcome!
AaronJB Posted March 22, 2013 Report Posted March 22, 2013 $125 for a 3* or above hotel looks as if it's going to be difficult for these dates - rates are going to be higher for these date/s due to the nicer weather. At the 3* level, I think you're possibly looking as high as $140-160 (before taxes/fees). Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
thereuare Posted March 22, 2013 Report Posted March 22, 2013 You had bid the above up to $150, correct?As noted i didn't think this would be enough for the zones indicated... at current prices even $150 for a 3* in these zones might not be enough. I think your best chance at the moment would be Downtown, but note that this area is a bit less convenient than midtown... subways are usually not too far away, but it can be a 20+ minute ride to midtown if that is where most of your activities will be.Of course you could also try to wait it out and hope for lower prices in the weeks ahead, but rates could also move up in stead of down while you're waiting.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know 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
Cynthia1984 Posted March 22, 2013 Author Report Posted March 22, 2013 Can you give me a strategy for getting a 3* hotel? I don't want to wait, because I think the price will get higher..
Cynthia1984 Posted March 22, 2013 Author Report Posted March 22, 2013 Can you give me a strategy for getting a 3* hotel? I don't want to wait, because I think the price will get higher.. Downtown is no option.. I have to raise my bid I guess.. Do you think I have more chance bidding 160?
thereuare Posted March 22, 2013 Report Posted March 22, 2013 We will suggest a strategy with whatever bidding limit you'd like, but based upon current rates my guess is that in one of the three zones you're now bidding you will need to be closer to the $180-$200 bid price.Please confirm that these are the only three zones you're willing to accept as well as 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
Cynthia1984 Posted March 27, 2013 Author Report Posted March 27, 2013 Thank you for your help. I think I will wait it out.. Hope that the prices will drop. And try again in 1 month. But thank you for your help on bidding!
AaronJB Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 Thank you for your help. I think I will wait it out.. Hope that the prices will drop. And try again in 1 month. But thank you for your help on bidding!Thank you for keeping us updated. If you want to wait a month, I would occasionally take a look at rates to get a sense of direction on prices. The first week of June is not a slow period, with nicer weather and (traditionally) higher rates.Thanks for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
Cynthia1984 Posted May 13, 2013 Author Report Posted May 13, 2013 Goodmorning,I did something really stupid. I made a booking via priceline (the standard deals), but did not see that the hotel is non refundable. So it can not be cancelled. But now, my mom died suddenly. I was going to New York with her, so I have to cancel my reservation. I also have no money left, dealing with her funeral, paying for all that etc.. I contacted priceline and booking.com and they where SUPER nice to me! They contacted Hotel Pennsylvania, but where not willing to cancel my reservation. Here is what they wrote:Hello,Thank you, for choosing the Hotel Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, becauseyou have reserved a nonrefundable reservation we cannot cancel or modifythe below listed booking. We apologize for the inconvenience.Thank you, BibiDo you have any suggestions for me?? I really can not pay this hotel now. And now I also see that the price for this hotel has dropped big time! I payed like $200 more. But what can I do? Cancel my creditcard? So that the hotel can't charge my creditcard? Or try to contact hotel Pennsylvania again? Please help me!
thereuare Posted May 13, 2013 Report Posted May 13, 2013 Sorry to hear of the loss of your mom.From your post it appears it's the hotel that is not allowing the cancellation, so any attempt to resolve will likely need to be done with the hotel directly (who can then contact PRICELINE). Usually for non-refundable purchases your credit card is billed at the time of booking, so i would double check your credit card statement to see if it already has been billed.Good luck with this situation as well everything else that is on your plate at the moment. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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