Priceline Hotel: How long before trip is ideal to bid?

[caleblyn]

A simple question...

I appreciate this board and what it offers. Thanks in advance for your help.

I plan to stay in NY May 24 through May 30. Is there a window of time that is ideal for bidding. I might be way too far out to start thinking about bidding. If I were a hotel, why would I accept low bids when there is still 8 months to go to get standard rates? Well, accept for dummies that bid too high!

Anyhow, do you recommendation on timing? Am I little early?

Thanks!

[caleblyn]

I found this, so never mind unless you have additional pointers.

My link

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

At this point in time, I'd do some initial research and you could consider some low-end bids, with a ceiling at a certain price point depending on budget and availability. If your bids up to the ceiling point continue to be denied, you can consider raising the ceiling over time as you get closer to your stay.

There is no "standard" ideal time for bidding. This is a fairly busy period in NYC, at least traditionally, with nicer weather and possibly some college graduations.

What would be your desired budget per night/star rating? Which zone/s would be acceptable?

Thank you for sharing your win and please use the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.

Enjoy your stay.

[thereuare]

I'll add that at any point in time hotels 'know' what their target occupancy should be... so if 8 months out a hotel has a target of 20% occupancy, and they currently are only at 10%, they may offer some rooms to the opaque providers at a discount in order to bring their occupancy up to their target goal (especially given PRICELINE / HOTWIRE is non-refundable... so it's more valuable to them than a more expensive reservation that can be canceled)

Also, note that this is high season for NYC.

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

[caleblyn]

It's a high season for the same reason that we are going during that week. School has just let out for my little ones, AND it is Memorial Day week.

Budget is less than $300/nt ($258 w/o taxes)

I deal with spreadsheets for a living and I presently have a very in depth spreadsheet with about 20 hotels listed. I have used user ratings from various sites and rates from various sites to come up with a "best bang for your buck" sheet.

I am presently leaning towards The Gild Hall. It is located in Financial District. I have never been to NYC but from the research and feedback I have received, it seems like you have to ride the Subway wherever you go no matter where you stay. I would probably prefer to stay in TS but for the money I could stay outside and still get a very high rated hotel.

The Gild Hall is a 4* per PL. Priceline's direct rate is the cheapest, however, I can get the same rate direct w/ the hotel and it is refundable. That rate is about $227/nt and is BY FAR the cheapest. In fact, I could get a King Suite (600sf) for right at $300/nt. I know you might not be familiar with the hotel but it's ratings are good. Not great but good. TA gives it a ranking of 100 out of 435.

Another hotel is The Distrikt Hotel. It is located near TS. TA has it at #6 and I could get a King with a view for $308.

I think I am leaning towards booking the Gild and playing the bidding game to see if I could hit a 4.5* in TS, MSG, or Mid East for <300.

Thanks.

[AaronJB]

There is no way to get (or increase the odds of) a particular hotel via bidding on PRICELINE - one has to be willing to accept any of the hotels in a chosen zone at the chosen star rating. With HOTWIRE, one can make an educated guess as to which hotels are showing, but only one hotel shows at each star rating in each zone and it may not be the one you are looking for.

It depends on your plans, but in terms of a general tourist perspective, most activity is around Midtown. Staying downtown is cheaper, but requires more of a trek to get around the city versus staying in a more central location.

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

[thereuare]

It appears that you will be more than double occupancy, is this the case? If so, make sure that the rooms you're intending on booking are designed for quad occupancy (if that is indeed how many you will be)... for instance, unless the King room you reference has a pullout sofabed, it is probably not set-up for quad occupancy.

As there are options within your budget, i would not recommend PRICELINE for quad occupancy in NYC as too many hotels have such a low percentage of rooms with two beds and often consider these rooms an upgrade.

Also, searching HOTWIRE for 2adults/2children (which ensures accommodations for your entire family) what appears to be the following is available:

4* Roosevelt for $215/nite - not my favorite hotel in the city, but well located and a decent value for the price

4* Kitano for $274/nite

4* Times Square hotel for $288/nite (i have a few guesses but unable to narrow it down too much)

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

Keep us updated on your thoughts and how we can be of further help.

PS- please read your messages. Thanks.

[caleblyn]

thereuare...

Sorry to mislead you! My kids are definitely NOT going with us. This is our 15th anniversary trip...THEY ARE NOT COMING! My point about them being out of school meant that we can leave them with family and not have to worry about school.

Seems like you are suggesting that centrally located is important and downtown might not be the best idea.

[thereuare]

Seems like you are suggesting that centrally located is important and downtown might not be the best idea.

Just about any zone in NYC is do-able, but some are better/more convenient than others, and 'Downtown' is acceptable when it offers an appropriate discount vs. staying directly in midtown.

Thanks for clarifying the occupancy issue, as with double occupancy your options open up a bit more... what is your target budget (per nite before taxes/fees) for this trip? Also, how would you rank the following criteria in terms of importance: star rating, user reviews, cost?

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

[caleblyn]

Budget is around $257/nt (no taxes). This will equate to around $300/nt with taxes.

I am willing to go up a little for something nicer. However, no more than $270/nt (no taxes).

Cost > User > Stars

So, like I said, I have never been to NYC so your input about location is definitely helpful. We will be there for 6 full days. We plan to divide our time per area visiting POI's in that area each day. We plan to eat at nice places every night and see two shows. The reason I say this is that we will get up and go do the site seeing which will require a subway ride to and back to the hotel. We will then get ready and go back out to eat and maybe a show or stroll at night. Anyhow, the time it takes to get from an area, like CP, back to the hotel and back out to eat is something that I have no knowledge of. What should be anticipated to get from CP to the hotel (Downtown or Midtown)? This might help me pick a location. If we are only talking about 5 minutes difference, then staying DT does not bother me for I will see the TS area when we go eat and do shows.

I guess the real question is how much time does it add to your day in traveling (walking and/or subway) between DT and MT?

tia

[thereuare]

If the difference in time was only 5 minutes then we wouldn't seek out a savings to stay in Downtown vs. Midtown ;) From Central Park to Midtown via subway may only be 5-10 minutes... to Downtown could be 20-30 minutes.

The issue with the trains downtown is:

1) many stations only have one train line, so waits can be longer vs. midtown where you may have 3-4 train lines running thru the same platform, and while traveling within midtown you can take any of them, so the wait between trains is less

2) Downtown you may only have one/two train stations very near your hotel, and depending upon your destination may require a transfer, which then requires an additional wait for another train... vs. staying in midtown where you may have 3-5 stations within walking distance and can take the train line that offers you direct service (without a transfer).

3) should you travel home late at nite and don't want to take the subway, a taxi Downtown may cost ~$25 vs. staying in midtown only ~$10

What appears to be the Crowne Plaza Times Square (Times Square zone) is available for your dates for $233/nite as well as the St Giles The Court (ESB zone) for $226/nite.

The 3.5* Yotel Times Square (MSG zone) also seems to be offered at $219... while lower rated this hotel does get very good reviews, but the style may or may not be your tastes.

Any thoughts/interest for these?

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

[caleblyn]

Crowne Plaza is one of my hotels but that 233 rate is nowhere near what I have researched. Where did you find it and what are the accommodations?

[caleblyn]

My spreadsheet rates Crowne at 19 out of 20 but that is due to the cost that I have presently at $385/nt (w/ taxes). If I change that to $258 (with taxes) it moves to #2. That is a big deal and I might even lean towards the CP deal.

If it ends up being a Non-King or smoking room it could be a deal-breaker!

[AaronJB]

If it ends up being a Non-King or smoking room it could be a deal-breaker!

There is no way to guarantee bed type via HOTWIRE or PRICELINE bidding. Given the small size (and very small size in some cases - a 3.5 or 4* offering rooms as small as under 200 sq ft is not unusual) of rooms in NYC, rooms w/King beds or 2 beds are often a paid upgrade. Smoking/non-smoking is not guaranteed unless noted as such (such as HOTWIRE listings w/smoke free as an amenity), but can be requested after booking. Successfully requesting non-smoking is more likely/less of a risk than two beds, but again, is not guaranteed.

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

[thereuare]

Based upon the above do you want to continue to purchase PRICELINE and/or HOTWIRE or book direct at full price?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (or the links in our Support Page if you decide to book direct)

[caleblyn]

Not quite decided just yet but I am definitely leaning towards buying direct refundable and monitoring prices closer to my trip time.

I will purchase something in the next week and will update this post with my decision and final booking cost that I make.

[AaronJB]

Thank you for keeping us updated and please use the site's Support Page to start your regular rate purchases and searches.

Please let us know if you have additional questions. I'd continue to take a look at rates at times between now and your stay as this is traditionally a busier period.

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