Priceline Hotel: 3.5* Midtown, South Central - Oct.23-27

[paulsbugg]

Is it possible to get something under $200 if I wait closer to the date? I am nervous about choosing midtown east/west because of how far out those areas can reach. We plan to visit Times Square, Rock. Center, Central Park and would like to be fairly close. Express Deals has a 2star for $204 with free breakfast and internet in Midtown West. My research makes me think this is a Comfort Inn or Best Western. Should I snag this or wait till closer to the date for a higher star?

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

If you haven't yet please start by reading your messages.

I would be more concerned with a 2* rated hotel than a 3.5* hotel that was on the outer edges of the MTE or MTW zone. If you must lower your star rating to 2.5* or below i would sooner use HOTWIRE where you can gain a little more insight into the hotel and choose one with a high user satisfaction rating, good TA user rating, and take a guess as to the property offered.

I'm currently seeing what i believe to be:

2.5* ESB for $194/nite with Free Breakfast and Free Internet and a 4.0/5.0 TA rating and a 100% HOTWIRE satisfaction rating... my guess here would be the Hotel Stanford

2.5* MSG for $190/nite with 95% recommended by previous HOTWIRE guests and a 3.5/5.0 TA rating with:

Free Internet

Hi-Speed Internet

Travel Accessible

Room Accessible

Bathroom Accessible

... my guess here would be the The GEM Hotel Chelsea

As far as rates coming down between now and your stay, nobody can say with any degree of certainty... it all depends upon how expected bookings/cancellations come in relative to expectations, but i will say that this is generally an expensive time of year in NYC and the rates i'm currently seeing are not at all unusual.

Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

[paulsbugg]

Thank you for your reply. I think we will increase our amount to up to $230 and try for a 3 or 3.5* hotel. I would like to be within walking distance to Times Squares and Central Park. I realize this elimates any chances of free breakfast, but that is okay. Would prefer CPS or something very close to that. I've never been to NY, so I am having a hard time deciding on the zone. We do plan on using the subway system so if UWS (9r other areas) would have better options in our range we could do that. I would prefer to stay north of Times Square rather than south.

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Would prefer CPS or something very close to that.

If you use the search box in the top right of this board and enter 'New York City, NY' which zones are acceptable?

Note that at the 3.5* level in the CPS is the Hudson Hotel, which while well located, has notoriously small rooms (even by NYC standards)

I've never been to NY, so I am having a hard time deciding on the zone.

You will spend less time in Times Square then you think .

We do plan on using the subway system... I would prefer to stay north of Times Square rather than south.

If you intend to make good use of the subway system (and i highly recommend that you do) you will see that it is not that important to stay in the location(s) that you are indicating. In fact, you want to be between Times Square and Central Park, not too far east and not too far east... this leaves a very small area for you to bid. Given how high rates are for your dates i would suggest being more flexible and i would consider Chelsea, ESB, MSG, MTW, CPS and TS to all be centrally located (although you will need to decide if you want to include the CPS due to the Hudson Hotel referenced above)

I'll also add that HOTWIRE has a 3* hotel for $230/nite in the Times Square zone, believed to be the Best Western Plus President Hotel at Times Square, should this be of any interest.

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we will advise accordingly.

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

[paulsbugg]

After looking at all my options I'm wondering if we should just keep the hotel we purchased a month ago on Priceline (thinking we would cancel if we got a great bid on something else). We got the Best Western Premier Herald Square (ESB area) for $250 and it includes hot breakfast and internet. I would have liked to have been near Central Park since I'm sure it is beautiful in October, but I would probably be at around $220 - $250 without breakfast and internet. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks!

[thereuare]

I'm assuming you booked the Best Western as a 'retail' property and have the option to cancel? Rates have gone up since you booked that hotel and are now priced at $325/nite... reviews are good and the location is close to Times Square, and a subway to Central Park is probably just over 5 minutes... based upon current prices for your alternative options i'd stick with what you have.

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

[paulsbugg]

Yes, we can cancel up to the day before we arrive. Ok, thanks for your advice!!

[thereuare]

Your welcome.

Let us know if any changes to your plans or if we can be of further help along the way.

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