Priceline Hotel: New York City with two daughters

[engrdad]

We recently had a tragedy in our family (lost my beautiful wife of 27 years) and I would like to take my two daughters to New York City as a way to bond and help them heal. We had always wanted to make this trip as a family but never got around to it mostly due to my job which had us living in other countries for the past 10+ years. I visted New York City once on a high school trip (30+ yrs ago) but my daughters nor my wife ever got the chance to visit this great city. We plan to make the trip in May of this year (between May 8th - May 25th). My youngest will be taking a summer college class on Tuesdays so I was thinking of making the trip leaving on Wednesday morning and returning on Sunday. Therefore, idea dates would be either:

May 8th - 12th OR

May 15th - 19th OR

May 22nd - 26th

Looking for recommendations of WHERE TO STAY and BIDDING STRATEGY. Some points of note:

1) We will be using Delta skymiles to book the tickets (either into LaGuardia or JFK; will not have a car

2) My two daughters are ages 18 & 22. One is finishing her freshman year of college and other her first year of grad school.

2) My youngest is in college studying to become an artist so Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is high on her list of things to see

3) Broadway show is also on the list for one evening (recommendations for when and what to see would be appreciated)

4) Other normal sites such as Statue of Liberty, Empire State Bldg, etc.

5) The World Trade Center 9/11 memorial is high on my list. We left for a 2 year assignment in Saudi Arabia a few months after 9/11 so my family is extremely patriotic and this is a must see for us. Also, my company was involved in the planning & building of this memorial.

6) Would like to stay in a 4* (perhaps 3.5*) and in great location for above itinerary items.

7) Of course, would like best deal for money but need to keep it under $199/night

FYI.. I have read the message and clicked the Hotwire and PRICELINE links (understand financial reasons for this and booking through site's link). I promise to be a good forum participant and post results of this priceline and/or hotwire adventure. I have used both in past but usually for rental cars.

Would very much appreciate any and all advice as I want to make this a memorable trip for my two amazing daughters.

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

I am so sorry to hear about your loss! I really hope this will be a memorable and enjoyable trip for you and your daughters.

One other suggestion in terms of sights would be the Intrepid Museum, which is an aircraft carrier that has been turned into a museum parked on the Hudson river. It's a remarkably interesting museum, but standing on the deck of an aircraft carrier and looking out at New York City and across the Hudson is a highly memorable experience. (http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/) MoMa is also a must, as is the Museum of Nat History.

Unfortunately, in terms of hotel, the May/Spring period does see rates start to go higher (nicer weather, graduations, baseball, etc). I do think you may be able to get a 4* for your date/s, but unfortunately I think that - if it is possible - it will likely be near the top of your desired budget, given the rates that I'm seeing. Additionally, it will also depend on zone, with some areas likely requiring over $200. The other issue with PRICELINE and NYC is the small rooms. PRICELINE only guarantees 1 bed/double occupancy, and nowhere is that more true, unfortunately, than NYC, with its small rooms (two beds often go for a premium when available.) You can request two beds with the hotel after booking, but there is no way to know whether or not the hotel will accept the request.

HOTWIRE is a better choice in the case of three people (as you can indicate three and get some form of bedding for the entire party - either 2 beds or 1 + rollaway or 1 + sofa), but indicating three on HOTWIRE results in more expensive (and fewer) options.

Would the risk of 1 bed on PRICELINE (which would be the cheapest option) be acceptable?

Also, PRICELINE has their express deals section, which is not bidding but a set of listings, similar to HOTWIRE. Some of these listings will note "bed choice available" - although the choice of two beds will likely be more expensive. There is a new coupon code for this side of the service, METRO10, which should work for 10% off. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing much in the way of listings with two beds for these date periods when searching this morning, with a couple of exceptions - a 3.5* in MTE for the last set of date/s for $252 w/two beds, for example. This would still be over your desired budget unfortunately, but the express deals listings + 10% coupon would most likely be a cheaper way to try and ensure two beds than indicating three people on HOTWIRE.

Please let us know your thoughts, as well as if you have any additional city/hotel questions.

Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[thereuare]

I haven't researched rates for your dates just yet since whether whether you're willing to take the risk of PRICELINE and receiving a room with only one (not typically recommended in NYC, especially when all guests are of adult age) OR need to go with HOTWIRE (or possibly PRICELINE EXPRESS) will play a big factor as to what is possible, but i will add that Sunday nite is usually the least expensive nite of the week in NYC so you may be better planning your trip for Thursday-Monday as opposed to Wednesday-Sunday (if that is possible within your arrangements)

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

[engrdad]

Thanks for the tip. Thursday through Monday is definitly do-able as well. I think I will take the advice and try to go with HOTWIRE or PRICELINE EXPRESS. I would not want to risk +$1000 and not have a place for all to sleep. Will do more research with that in mind. What locations would you recommend for the stay based on the main topics of interest I posted? I was originally thinking Time Square area but read on the board that this might not be best choice.

[engrdad]

Your comments are very much appreciated. Very good information. I was not aware of the PRICELINE EXPRESS option. I will do research on HOTWIRE as well. Don't want to risk that much and not have a place to sleep for everyone. Also thanks for the tip on the Intrepid Museum. My dad was in the navy and always talked about how impressive the aircraft carriers were.

[AaronJB]

Personally, my opinion on NYC is that I'd definitely not stay in TS; it's too hectic and almost always the most expensive. Personally, I like the Midtown East area - very pleasant stretch of NYC and a lot of restaurants, yet still convenient to much of the city. The Empire State Building area (as it's called/designated by HOTWIRE and PRICELINE) is also a very nice spot, but starts to get a bit less central.

NYC has some fantastic sights and the big ones are certainly well-known, but I think the funny thing about NYC (and maybe it's just me) is that I always have all of these plans when I've gone there and the plans never go as planned because I get so caught up in browsing around neighborhoods. I grew up in Chicago, and I think NYC is just a lot more walkable - there's a great flow from one area to another and lots to see (shops, restaurants, etc) in all parts of the city.

There are likely others, but when changing from 5/8-12 to 5/9-13, there is a 4* in MTE for $193 (pet, business, fitness 7+), 2 bed option $243 - 10% using METRO10 coupon on PRICELINE Express. This listing has not yet been ID'd/reported to the board, but I'd guess the Doubletree Metropolitan may be a possibility. I'm also seeing a 4* in MTE for 5/23-27 w/free internet, fitness, business, restaurant 8+ rating for $213 (1) and $257 (2 bed) (and again, the METRO10 coupon can take 10% off) - that has not yet been ID'd/reported to the board either (PRICELINE Express is a newer feature for PRICELINE), but I'd guess the Marriott Eastside or Carlton may be possibilities in this case.

Please let us know if you have any questions before purchasing.

Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[engrdad]

Noticed that on PRICELINE EXPRESS that even when it gives you a bed choice and you select Standard 2 beds that the "Review Important Information" still states that all rooms will accommodate up to 2 people. Does this mean that I may get two twin beds and still not have bedding for 3 people?

[thereuare]

Does this mean that I may get two twin beds and still not have bedding for 3 people?

Yes, that would be a possibility as industry practices consider all of the following to accommodate double occupancy:

1 double

1 king

1 queen

2 doubles

2 twins

Let us know if this means you only want to pursue HOTWIRE (and searching for triple/quad occupancy)

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

[blkjck1]

As far as a Broadway show to see that would be fun to watch and where tickets would be easier to come by on a full price basis, I would suggest "Wicked." It's a re-telling of "The Wizard of Oz" from the witches' point of view. "Mathilda" just opened up to rave reviews, and is the hands on favourite to win most of the Tony Awards coming up.

If you wanted to buy discounted and same day tickets at the TKTS booth in Times Square (discounts from 20-50% off), I would say Newsies, Once, Annie, and Jersey Boys would be the best ones to attend (and not neccesarily in that order).

[engrdad]

Ok, we have narrowed down the dates to May 8th - 12th. Was able to get the best flights for these dates. Looked on PRICELINE EXPRESS and saw this option:

4* MTE for $273/night - 10% for standard 2 beds

Any guess on the hotel for this deal?

They give two choices for bedding but both state "standard 2 beds". Any idea of what the difference is between these?

Also, any thoughts on whether it would be worth the risk to bid on Priceline and then call to make sure 3 can stay in room and/or pay upgrade? Would this be less of a risk with a 4* hotel?

[thereuare]

The 'standard' applies to the room type... not the bed. What this means exactly will differ from one hotel to the next based upon what they define as their standard room.

What are the amenities associated with this property?

Also, i searched HOTWIRE for 3adults and there are some competitive offers to this one:

3.5* Times Square with a 4.0/5.0 TA rating for $239/nite

Restaurant, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Blind Accessible, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Roll-in Shower

4* Empire State Building with 4.0/5.0 TA rating for $264/nite with

Restaurant, Fitness, Free Internet, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Pet Friendly

Both of these would be booked for triple occupancy and (imo) are competitive with the PRICELINE offer above.

[engrdad]

May 8th - 12th

4 star

Mid Town East

Guest Score 8

Free Internet

Restaurant

Business Center

Fitness Center

$273/night - 10% = $245.70/night

[thereuare]

These amenities are VERY common at NYC hotels (other than the free internet) so there are lots of possibilities... the Marriott East Side would be at least one possibility, but the Westin Grand Central, Grand Hyatt, InterContinental Barclay, The Kimberly, Benjamin, Waldorf Astoria, and Omni Berkshire are all possible as well, and there could still be others as well.

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