Priceline Hotel: 4 Rooms 3 or 4* NYC Oct 24-26

[Rower Rich]

Hi.

Can anyone suggest how much I should be looking to bid for these dates. I am bringing a rowing crew from the UK for a couple of nights, so have to bid through the UK Priceline site. At the moment I have bid for 4* only up to

[Rower Rich]

I forgot to ask whether trying to get 4 rooms is going to make life more difficult???

[dahammer]

what is the location of the race? I Didn't think the East River was suitable for an 8 man boat. Also, please list your exact dates of travel, and how many blokes per room. :) Priceline only guarantees Double Occupancy, so that might mean only one bed per room.

[thereuare]

Start here:

PRICELINE RE-BIDDING EXPLAINED

[Rower Rich]

The crew is racing in the Head of the Charles Regatta on October 23rd, then travelling down to Philadephia for the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta the following week as part of a tour. The two nights on NYC are the break from the hard training and racing!

I am happy with the risk that priceline may only provide one bed, as the crew are used to sleeping on floors! We are also used to slipping a couple of extra guests into a room on the odd occasion.

Thanks for your help so far.

I was hoping for advice on how much I should be prepared to bid up to, and whether the 3* hotels will be both substantially cheaper and in good locations.

[Blueskies]

Rower Rich

You don't have to bid on the UK site for the rooms. You can bid on the US main site and there are posts which explain this process. If you decide to go down that route then remember to start off through Savingsbarn.com. I am from UK and if I am bidding for a room in US then I use the US site. I think it is only fair to give something back for all the support you get from this board.

Good luck in the race.

[Rower Rich]

I will happily use Savings Barn, but don't you have to add a US state to your details when bidding on the US Priceline site?

If not, I'm on it!

[thereuare]

See the BIDDING TIPS FOR CANADIANS thread... same applies to our friends on the other side of the pond :)

[jenndon]

Rower Rich--

I think that if you are used to cramming in rooms, then a 3* in NYC will probably be fine. It is my understanding that the difference between 3* and 4* in NYC is not always apparent. You mentioned being afraid of a 3* being in a bad location, but within the areas (MTE, MTW, UM), the areas are the same regardless of 3* or 4*.

I think that any of the above areas would be good for you--I'm not sure if you've only bid on MTE thus far.

I just booked a room in MTE for this Friday night (Sept 9), only a week off. I couldn't get 4* in any of the areas I mentioned above (bid up to $175), but got a 3* for $135 in MTE.

Time is on your side. 6 weeks is not too far off, but try some other areas (MTW or UM)--all central to "the sights," and use the rebidding strategy, and then try 3* (and lower your initial offering when you switch star levels).