Priceline Hotel: Bidding Strategy Help- 12/14

[Nash1856]

I'm looking to book a room for one night (12/14) in the the Midtown East district or the Time Square district (could be talked into the surrounding areas, but those are the only two I know). I'm looking for a 4+ star hotel in the $150-$300 range. Any suggestions? What hotels/prices should I expect? Thanks!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please click 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... and your searches too!

Thanks.

[Nash1856]

I've clicked both.

Also, if I were to book two rooms instead of one would I save money on a per room basis? I have a friend that is looking at booking a room as well.

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Booking two rooms instead of one is usually a non-event... you may save a few dollars in booking fees, but it could also negatively impact available inventory. I wouldn't let this be a factor in your decision whether to book one room or two, but if you want you and your friend to be at the same property, then i would book both rooms in one purchase as even if you both bid the same exact amount at the same exact time, you could receive different properties.

As you are probably aware this is an expensive time of year in NYC. A 4* hotel in either the MTE or the TS zones will likely take all, if not more, than your $300 budget, but i think you may have better success at the 4* level if you include the ESB and/or MSG zones as well.

Please confirm if you'd like to include all four zones, or just your original two, and we will suggest a strategy for you to follow. I will also add that while you may not find success in other zones, if MTW and/or CPS are also acceptable, you may want to include these as well as they will give you more bidding opportunities (but you should only include these if you are willing to accept a 4* hotel in one of these zones)

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

[Nash1856]

I honestly don't know the areas that well. I was just told that Midtown East is a good area to stay in for two people in their mid-twenties. I'd imagine the other areas are probably fine if you don't think that $300 will get me a room in MTE or Time Square...Your suggestion?

Also, I used your "Hotwire Easy View" search and found the following:

4* ESB - $253 - Free Internet, Restaurant, Pet Friendly, Business Center, Fitness Center, and Internet Access

4* MSG - $284 MSG - Free Internet, Business Center, Accessible for the deaf, Accessible bathroom, Fitness Center, Internet Access, Accessible path of travel, Roll-in shower, Restaurant, Accessible for the blind, In-room accessibility

4* MTE - $315 - Fitness Center, Internet access, Accessible path of travel, Roll in shower, Restaurants, Accessible for the blind, In-room accessibility, Business Center, Accessible for the deaf, Accessible bathroom

4* MTC - $353 - Free Internet, Business Center, Pet Friendly, Internet Access, Boutique Hotel

4.5* - $462 - Time Square-Theatre District - Fitness Center, Accessible for the deaf, Accessible bathroom, Restaurants, Accessible path of travel, Roll in shower, Internet access, and In-room accessibility

What hotels might these be? Are any of them good enough deals that I should just take it or should I still try Priceline?

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

Personally, I like Midtown East and the Empire State Building zones, although MTE is more convenient. Both areas have a nice variety of restaurants and aren't as crowded/hectic as Times Square. Personally, I think there's a lot to see across Manhattan - while TS is the most popular/well-known area, I've spent a lot more time in other areas.

4* ESB - likely St Giles the Court (formerly a W property.)

4* MTC - Likely Mansfield.

For the other three properties: I think there may be more amenities than you have posted above. If you search for your date/s via BiddingHelper.com and then click "Hotwire Easy View", do you see additional amenities beyond the amenities listed above? If so, please provide the full list and we would be happy to take a look and try to ID.

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

[Nash1856]

Aaron,

Thanks for the insight on the zones. I found those properties using the method you described and that is all of the information provided. I just ran it again and got the following (only the prices changed, they all went down around $7):

4* ESB - $244 - Free Internet, Restaurant, Pet Friendly, Business Center, Fitness Center, and Internet Access

4* MSG - $277 MSG - Free Internet, Business Center, Accessible for the deaf, Accessible bathroom, Fitness Center, Internet Access, Accessible path of travel, Roll-in shower, Restaurant, Accessible for the blind, In-room accessibility

4* MTE - $301 - Fitness Center, Internet access, Accessible path of travel, Roll in shower, Restaurants, Accessible for the blind, In-room accessibility, Business Center, Accessible for the deaf, Accessible bathroom

4* MTC - $340 - Free Internet, Business Center, Pet Friendly, Internet Access, Boutique Hotel

4.5* - $445 - Time Square-Theatre District - Fitness Center, Accessible for the deaf, Accessible bathroom, Restaurants, Accessible path of travel, Roll in shower, Internet access, and In-room accessibility

The St. Giles-The Court looks like a good property, especially at $244. If I would be fine with this property should I try to bid with $240 at my max bid in the MTE and ESB zones? If no bid wins, I can then just book it for $244?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Best guess for each is inline below:

4* ESB - $244 - Free Internet, Restaurant, Pet Friendly, Business Center, Fitness Center, and Internet Access

--> St. Giles the Court

4* MSG - $277 MSG - Free Internet, Business Center, Accessible for the deaf, Accessible bathroom, Fitness Center, Internet Access, Accessible path of travel, Roll-in shower, Restaurant, Accessible for the blind, In-room accessibility

--> The New Yorker Hotel Ramada Plaza

4* MTE - $301 - Fitness Center, Internet access, Accessible path of travel, Roll in shower, Restaurants, Accessible for the blind, In-room accessibility, Business Center, Accessible for the deaf, Accessible bathroom

--> Roosevelt

4* MTC - $340 - Free Internet, Business Center, Pet Friendly, Internet Access, Boutique Hotel

--> Mansfield Hotel

4.5* - $445 - Time Square-Theatre District - Fitness Center, Accessible for the deaf, Accessible bathroom, Restaurants, Accessible path of travel, Roll in shower, Internet access, and In-room accessibility

--> are you willing to pay $445/nite for a hotel room for this stay??

The St. Giles-The Court looks like a good property, especially at $244. If I would be fine with this property should I try to bid with $240 at my max bid in the MTE and ESB zones? If no bid wins, I can then just book it for $244?

You can try bidding on PRICELINE in an attempt to beat the HOTWIRE rate, but then you're subject to any hotel in the zone, and not be able to target the St. Giles the Court.... would any savings over the $240 HOTWIRE rate be worth the risk of receiving a different 4* hotel in the zone? (this is the question to determine if it is worthwhile to bid on PRICELINE or to take the HOTWIRE offer)

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

Let us know what you decide and how it goes or if we can be of further help.