Jonathan Posted October 20, 2005 Report Posted October 20, 2005 Hi there,It looks like you are a big help to a lot of people and hopefully you can assist me as well.I'm looking for a hotel for New York City, Nov. 11 through 14.Areas of choice are:Upper East SideUpper Midtown - Central Park SouthMidtown EastMidtown WestWould love a 4* but willing to drop to 3. Possibly even 2.5 (last resort) if using areas that priceline only has decent 2.5 hotels in.Budget under $150/night but possibly willing to go a little bit more if it will make a big difference in likelyhood of winning bid.Would prefer not to split, but will again consider it if it will make a big difference.I appreciate any and all help you can provide.
thereuare Posted October 20, 2005 Report Posted October 20, 2005 Welcome to BetterBidding!What is your "a bit more" amount... as $150 is likely going to be too low for this complete set of dates.If unsuccessful with priceline what will you? Is this is a discretionary trip that would be cancelled or will you be coming regarldless and will have to work soemthing out? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Jonathan Posted October 21, 2005 Author Report Posted October 21, 2005 Hi Thereuare,Thanks for the fast reply! Some answers:- By a bit more I mean $10 to $20 /night more if it will mean getting a 4*.- Regarding success, I have no choice. :> The airline tickets for my parents have already been bought. We just didn't realize that Nov. was an expensive time in New York! Total surprise!! Last year around the same time, I got them into the Hilton Time Square using Priceline for around $140/night. I don't have a backup plan in place yet but trying to figure one out. Main thing is to keep them in those areas at a place that is safe and clean and nice... getting a 4* would just be a bonus.Let me know if you need any other info.Cheers!Jonathan
thereuare Posted October 21, 2005 Report Posted October 21, 2005 At the 4* level you have two re-bid zones, at the 3* level you have one... 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.I've upped your maximum bid the extra $20 because even then i'm doubtful of success.Select 4* MTW...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* UM/CPS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and MTE...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and UM/CPS...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and MTE and UM/CPS...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.======================================================Select 3* MTE...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* UM/CPS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTW...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* UES...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select MTE and UM/CPS...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select MTW and UES...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select MTE and MTW...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select UM/CPS and UES...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select MTE and MTW and UES...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select UM/CPS and UES and MTW...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Selelct MTE and MTW and UES and UM/CPS...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170.If the above is rejected, is SPLITTING YOUR BID an option?Any questions feel free to ask. 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
Jonathan Posted October 23, 2005 Author Report Posted October 23, 2005 Ouch... New York at November is definitely a nightmare... I went through the bidding (adding quite a lot to what I originally planned on bidding) and no success... :< At this point I'm willing to:- Add Downtown and Midtown South into the mix (if these are safe areas)- Split the bid but into 2 parts at most- drop to 2.5 star moderate plus if you think these will be "decent" hotels... aka clean and safe.- anything else you suggest.Here's a full listing of the bidding I did (your suggestions with modified pricing on left). All rejected.The two zones I used for rebids were:UES only for 4 starsUWS for 4 and 3 star rebids.Select 4* MTW... Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE... Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.(started here adding more onto everything... see numbers on left)Select 4* UM/CPS... $130 Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone... $140 Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone... $150 Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and MTE... $155 Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone... $165 Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone... $170 Bid $155, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and UM/CPS... $165 Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone... $175 Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone... $185 Bid $155, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and MTE and UM/CPS... $190 Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone... $200 Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone... $210 Bid $170, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.======================================================Select 3* MTE... $140 Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone... $150 Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* UM/CPS... $140 Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone... $150 Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTW... $140 Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone... $150 Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* UES... $140 Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone... $150 Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select MTE and UM/CPS... $160 Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone... $170 Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select MTW and UES... $165 Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone... $175 Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select MTE and MTW... $175 Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone... $185 Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select UM/CPS and UES... $175 Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone... $185 Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select MTE and MTW and UES... $190 Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone... $195 Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select UM/CPS and UES and MTW... $200 Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone... $205 Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Selelct MTE and MTW and UES and UM/CPS... $210 Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone... $230 Bid $170.
thereuare Posted October 23, 2005 Report Posted October 23, 2005 So what is your gameplan/thoughts from here?-wait-lower your star rating-raise your maximum bid amount-SPLIT YOUR BID Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Jonathan Posted October 23, 2005 Author Report Posted October 23, 2005 what do you suggest?I'm hesitant to wait as the airline tickets have already been booked and if it is that busy there, they might fill up by the time they'd ever post on priceline...I don't mind lowering star rating to 2.5 as those hotels seem to be decent in New York... your thoughts on that? If you think they are safe and clean please give me a suggested bidding plan for that.At $220/night I'm already way past any maximum I had originally planned on.I don't mind adding Downtown and Midtown South into the mix (if you think these are safe areas).If none of the above works, I'd split the bid but into 2 parts at most.I'm definitely open to any/all feeback/thoughts.Thanks!Jonathan
thereuare Posted October 23, 2005 Report Posted October 23, 2005 Personally i would probaby split the bid, as for a 3 day trip i usually live out of a suitcase anyway, i prefer to get value for my money (a nicer hotel for a partial stay vs. a lower star rated hotel for a full stay), and i don't mind changing hotels mid-stay.Given that your parents are making this trip they may have different thoughts... i dont' know if they can get around easily or having trouble carrying bags to another property. It comes down to personal preference... some would change properties to save $10... others wouldn't change properties even for $100. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Jonathan Posted October 23, 2005 Author Report Posted October 23, 2005 Splitting the bid into two parts is ok. If it meant them getting to spend the second part of the trip in a 4* for instance and only the first part in a 2.5* it would definitely be a bonus. I'd rather not have them go from a 4* down to a 2.5* though as it would make the 2.5* seem worse! :> :>How would you suggest I split it up and please create for me another great bidding strategy like you did last time. :> I have another priceline account that is past the 72 hours and ready to go again. :>I really hope me using that link to do the bidding gets you some funds out of this in the end for all your great help! :>Cheers!Jonathan
thereuare Posted October 23, 2005 Report Posted October 23, 2005 Try the 4* strategy below (just slightly modified from the above) for the sole nite of 11/13... if successful we'll then work on the other two nites (which as you can see will be more difficult):Select 4* MTW...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* UM/CPS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and MTE...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and UM/CPS...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and MTE and UM/CPS...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175.Let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Jonathan Posted October 24, 2005 Author Report Posted October 24, 2005 First signs of success!!! :> :> :>Ok! We got the Westin New York Times Square (4*) at $160!Was succcessful when I reached:Select 4* MTW and MTE... Bid $160.So now we just need to figure a plan for Nov. 11 and 12th nights. :> :>Where next, captain? :> :>Thanks again for all the help with this.Jonathan
thereuare Posted October 24, 2005 Report Posted October 24, 2005 Glad you got 1 of 3 settled.... and at a great hotel to finish their trip.Please start a NEW TOPIC for the remaining two nites (so that we can put the ultimate results in the topic title... it keeps the board easier to manage)Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Jonathan Posted October 24, 2005 Author Report Posted October 24, 2005 You got it! :>Thanks again!Jonathan
Recommended Posts
Register now, we have a huge community of travel enthusiasts to answer any questions you might have.
Sign In Now