Priceline Hotel: NYC October 2013

[mads_101]

Hello

We are planning to visit NYC from Australia in October.

We arrive late on 18 October 2013 and wanted to stay 3 nights in mid-town east. We would consider midtown west and times square if needed. Our budget would be max $230/night.

We then are going to Washington on 21-23 October.

Then back to NYC until 1 November.

Can you please help me with a strategy? We've never tried priceline before.

Thank you!

M

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please start by reading your messages and clicking each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links... then reply to this thread and we'll have a look at your post above.

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

[mads_101]

Thanks! All done now :) Look forward to your assistance.

[thereuare]

What star level is it that you're seeing for the first leg of your NYC stay? Is there a reason you're only looking at MTE (and then MTW and TS) as there are other midtown zones which (depending upon star level) work well for the average user.

Did you want to bid up to your limit for MTE only, then if rejected add the other two zones (and any other zones you may be willing to consider) OR does price ultimately prevail and the last expensive hotel in any of your acceptable zones (within the minimum star rating you select) is the goal?

Let us know the above and we'll take it from there.

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

[mads_101]

Thanks for your help.

Sorry - I have never visited NYC so I am just trying to work out areas that are convenient, accessible to trains etc.

We liked CP South, Times Square, Times Square theatre, lower east side, Upper east side (though my concern is some hotels are way up north near Harlem), Empire State building, hells kitchen.

If you have any suggestions of better options that would be great. We're kind of running blind. For example, if you know there is a better chance of us getting somewhere better in a particular area that is still accessible/convenient - we'd love to hear it!

We're pretty flexible but we did want to be somewhere easy with transport links and also within walking distance to attractions.

Our dates are now:

Friday 18 October (we fly in at 2am on 19th october though - I'm not sure if this will be an issue?)

Weds 23 October - Friday 1 October.

Sorry for the mix up - we've slightly adjusted our plans.

Ideal star level is 4+, but from my research most 3.5* ones are decent. It appears anything 3* and below can be quite dodgy.

Price and location are our key outcomes. Our budget at $230/night was set on the basis that by the time you are slugged with tax, it will be under $300 (our very max max budget). You would probably know better than us how the tax system works (In Oz whatever the list price is must legally be the maximum you get charged - no hidden fees - so I am quite a novice).

If it came down to $20-30 difference between an ideal area and a less than ideal area - we'd choose the ideal area and pay the extra. And if it came down to 3.5* for a winning location vs 4* for somewhere inconvenient - we'd definitely choose convenience.

I hope that helps clarify :) Let me know if you have any questions!

Also - I am so sorry that we amended our dates. I promise that is the end! I appreciate the effort you guys go to to provide a bidding strategy for particular dates.

This is such an awesome service!

[thereuare]

Our dates are now:

Friday 18 October (we fly in at 2am on 19th october though - I'm not sure if this will be an issue?)

Weds 23 October - Friday 1 October.

Is your first stay just a one nite stay of October 18 (and depart Oct 19th)? Which airport do you fly in to? If heading elsewhere the following day to where are you heading?

The second leg of your stay is Oct 23-Nov 1st?

Please confirm and we will take it from there.

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

[mads_101]

You make a fantastic point! We fly into JFK and are hiring a car and leaving for DC in teh morning. A hotel near JFK would make the most sense.

The second leg will be the one where location becomes king - Oct 23 - Nov 1 (friday). We fly out that afternoon for Oz.

With location vs price you may know best which areas are more likely to give us the best deal at the best rate at a decent hotel. As mentioned, we are flexible.

Thanks :)

[thereuare]

Unfortunately the hotels around JFK are not the best, nor are they the cheapest... however i DO think this is the best option for you since at 2am upon your arrival the last thing you will want to do is drive or travel a long distance to your hotel. As well, assuming you will be picking up your rental car in the morning (which i recommend so that you're driving in an unknown area in daylight) you could take a shuttle to/from the airport and hotel (assuming offered by the hotel you receive)

Given the change in location what is your desired star rating and budget for this nite in the JFK area?

Since this will be a separate stay/purchase from your return nites in NYC, please start a NEW TOPIC for the second leg of your trip.

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

Thanks.

[mads_101]

Thanks for your help. Given the restrictions with PRICELINE and the fact we are likely to get delayed out of LAX (we have very tight connections) I might just go ahead and book directly through a JFK hotel.

Could you please just help us with a strategy for the NYC leg of our trip - i.e. Oct 23 - Nov 1 ? Thanks very much :)

[thereuare]

Please use the links in our Support Page for your hotel direct purchase or our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com which will give you a visual overview of the area around JFK and how much more/less it would cost if you go up/down in star rating or stay further/closer to the airport.

Please use this thread to follow-up whatever you decide to do for this leg of your trip (even if not PRICELINE or HOTWIRE), and for help with the second leg of your trip please start a NEW TOPIC and we will assist you there.

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

Thanks.