Nick1986 Posted September 12, 2013 Report Posted September 12, 2013 Hi,This is the first time I have used Priceline and I saw lots of people recommend this site to help get the best possible deal.I'm going to New York from the 13/02/14 - 18/02/14. Its my first time in the city so would like to be centrally located, I was thinking Times Square but I am open to suggestions and advice if I'm likely to get a much better deal in another well located area.Ideally I would like to get a 4* hotel as I'm going with my girlfriend but would drop to 3* if necessary as my budget is only about £80 a night.Please could someone help me with a strategy, I'm pretty sure I understand how Priceline works but any tips would also be really appreciated.Thanks,Nick
thereuare Posted September 12, 2013 Report Posted September 12, 2013 Welcome to BetterBidding!What is your maximum budget per nite in US Dollars?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... and your searches too! (please click each of these previous links before replying)Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Nick1986 Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Posted September 12, 2013 Thank you,My maximum budget is $120 per night so hopefully thats possible. I know its the week after the superbowl but don't know if it is an expensive time of year regardless.
thereuare Posted September 12, 2013 Report Posted September 12, 2013 The super bowl won't be an issue, but these dates do occur over Valentine's Day and that will be more of a factor. However, other than Valentine's Day rates this time of year are some of the lowest they are all year, and at the moment i don't think that your budget will be an issue.For the average visitor to the city, at the 4* level MTE, MTW, TS, CPS, MSG and ESB are all generally considered convenient and centrally located. The one caveat is in the MTE zone the ONE New York Plaza was recently upgraded to the 4* level this property can be up to a 15 minute walk to the subway, so you'll need to determine if this is acceptable or not and whether you want to include this zone in your bidding. If not, i think you may still be successful at a 4* hotel at under $120, or if you are rejected at $120 or under, i think there is a way to make a 4* purchase in this zone and be reasonably assured of not getting the ONE New York Plaza.Please take a look at the recommended zones and let us know if these, or any others, are acceptable (and if you want to include MTE or not) 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
Nick1986 Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Posted September 12, 2013 Thank you for your reply.I had neglected to consider Valentines Day which is funny seeing as its also my birthday but glad to hear you think we should still get something with our budget.Will probably leave out MTE to begin with and add it in later if we are struggling to get something in the other areas.On that note with time being on our side are there one or two areas that you think it's worth concentrating on because they have a better selection of hotels than the others? I'm more than happy to wait 24 hours between bids if you think it's worth it or are the areas you mention all of a similar standard?If they are I'm more than happy to go with the areas you have named and I'll add MTE in if we don't have any luck with them.Thank you again for your help.
thereuare Posted September 13, 2013 Report Posted September 13, 2013 At the 4* level there is not really any zone that i would avoid due to the hotel selection within the zone (other than the previously mentioned MTE if the potential walk from the ONE New York is an issue). Unfortunately there is no universal rating system in the industry, so there will always be some hotels in the zone (even at the same star level) which are more/less favorable then others. Some may be near the top of the range and on the verge of being upgraded to a 5* hotel... others may be near the low end of the range on the verge of being downgraded to a 3.5* property... but for now, each is classified as a 4* property.If lowest price is the objective then PRICELINE is often your best option, but it requires more flexibility on the actual hotel you will receive. If you want to know a little more about the hotel before your purchase, then HOTWIRE may be best for this trip, although with the current offers you would need to go a little beyond your $120 budget as all the 4* hotels on HOTWIRE (other than MTE which appears to be the Doubletree Metropolitan) are priced a little higher than $120.Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.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
Nick1986 Posted September 13, 2013 Author Report Posted September 13, 2013 Thank you again for your reply.That all makes sense and my aim is only to get a decent centrally located hotel so I think I will use Priceline to get the best deal possible. If you could help me with a strategy to achieve this I would be really grateful. Please can we concentrate on the zones MTW, TS, MSG and CPS.Thank you for all your help.
thereuare Posted September 13, 2013 Report Posted September 13, 2013 When bidding 4* in NYC you have TWO 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* MTW and TS...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $83, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 4* MSG and CPS...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $83, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 4* MSG and TS...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $88, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 4* MTW and CPS...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $88, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 4* CPS and TS...Bid $93, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $98, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 4* MSG and MTW...Bid $93, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $98, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 4* MTW and TS and MSG...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $103, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 4* MTW and TS and CPS...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $103, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 4* MSG and CPS and MTW...Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $113, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 4* MSG and CPS and TS...Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $113, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...Select 4* MSG and CPS and TS...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120Any 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
Nick1986 Posted December 11, 2013 Author Report Posted December 11, 2013 Hi,Thank you for the strategy, I've tried it a number of times but I haven't managed to get anything in those areas for my budget. Would you suggest waiting until January to try and pick up a last minute deal or are prices more likely to increase the longer I leave it?If so am I likely to get the 5 nights for under £400 if I include other areas or is my budget just not big enough.Thanks,Nick
iamjwk Posted December 11, 2013 Report Posted December 11, 2013 Hi Nick,You might want to check out Hotwire. There are some properties in your price range in your desired areas available. That might make it easier than bidding and you can target a hotel that works for your needs.
AaronJB Posted December 11, 2013 Report Posted December 11, 2013 Fashion Week ends right before this (that's one main event in Feb, otherwise this is a slow period.) If you are seeing options of interest within your price range on HOTWIRE or PRICELINE Express, those are other fine options as well. Let us know if you have any questions.Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
thereuare Posted December 11, 2013 Report Posted December 11, 2013 If so am I likely to get the 5 nights for under £400 if I include other areas or is my budget just not big enough.Are you bidding in GBP or US Dollars?Please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, then reply to this thread and we'll continue the discussion for your trip above. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Nick1986 Posted December 11, 2013 Author Report Posted December 11, 2013 Thank you for your replies.I will have a look at Hotwire.I've been bidding up to $120 for the above zones as I want to pay under £400 if at all possible.
thereuare Posted December 11, 2013 Report Posted December 11, 2013 Please click each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, then reply to this thread and we'll continue the discussion for your trip above.2x Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Nick1986 Posted December 11, 2013 Author Report Posted December 11, 2013 I have found a hotel on Hotwire for £417 in Tines Square.It is rated as 3.5* property, it's score on trip advisor is 3.5 out of 5 and it is recommended by 75% of Hotwire customers.It's facilities are;Free internet, per friendly, smoke free rooms, fitness center, restaurant(a), business center and internet access, accessible for the blind, in-room accessibility, wheelchair accessible, accessible bathroom and handicapped parking.Can anyone help me identify this please?
thereuare Posted December 11, 2013 Report Posted December 11, 2013 Please change the drop down menu on the top right of HOTWIRE's page to United States and the currency dropdown to US Dollars. Then continue to search HOTWIRE and post to the board in US Dollars so that rates are consistent and not subject to interpretation due to future currency fluctuation. Once you're ready to purchase stay on the US version of their site and simply change the drop down menu to whatever currency you'd like to use and complete your purchase.Using the method above, what is the room rate per nite in US Dollars?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
Nick1986 Posted December 11, 2013 Author Report Posted December 11, 2013 The price for the 5 nights is $686 per night.They don't appear to break that down to a nightly basis so I guess it equates to $137.20 per night.Thank you again for your help.
thereuare Posted December 11, 2013 Report Posted December 11, 2013 There is a reason we ask for things to be done a specific way. Please try to follow the instructions provided and try again:Please change the drop down menu on the top right of HOTWIRE's page to United States and the currency dropdown to US Dollars. Then continue to search HOTWIRE and post to the board in US Dollars so that rates are consistent and not subject to interpretation due to future currency fluctuation. Once you're ready to purchase stay on the US version of their site and simply change the drop down menu to whatever currency you'd like to use and complete your purchase.Using the method above, what is the room rate per nite in US Dollars? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Nick1986 Posted December 11, 2013 Author Report Posted December 11, 2013 Sorry I didn't notice to change the country to US and not just the currency.I've done that now and the same hotel comes out at $106 per night.
iamjwk Posted December 12, 2013 Report Posted December 12, 2013 My best guess for this property is the Hotel Mela.
thereuare Posted December 12, 2013 Report Posted December 12, 2013 I don't think this is the Hotel Mela.3.5* Times SquareFree Internet Pet Friendly Smoke Free Fitness Restaurant Business Hi-Speed Internet Blind Accessible Room Accessible Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom Accessible Handicapped Parking ... a new amenity set for the Paramount would be my best guess for this one.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... on the US site.Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Nick1986 Posted December 12, 2013 Author Report Posted December 12, 2013 Thank you for all your help.I booked it this morning and it was indeed the Paramount.I'm very pleased with it at first glance, has anybody had any experience of this hotel?
thereuare Posted December 12, 2013 Report Posted December 12, 2013 Congratulations on your success! Glad to see you received the hotel we had guessed and that you're pleased with the results.Thank you for sharing your win with the board. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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