Priceline Hotel: CPS or Midtown West 2/6/14-2/10/14

[cwod]

Meeting family who are staying at the Sheraton on 7th and W 53rd. From Priceline it looks like that is the edge of Midtown West. Will be attending a concert at Carnegie Hall which looks to be in Central Park South.

Would like to stay in either Midtown West or Central Park South. Would like 4 star or better. Express Deals for Priceline show a 4 star in CPS for $112 and a 4 star in Midtown West for $155. I am looking for suggestions as to what to start the bidding at? Looked at the forums and didn't find any winning bids on my dates of travel. Would like to stay around $100-125/night. Is that realistic?

I did think about bidding using a 4.5 Star rating, which gives me many more areas to rebid from. Would it be smarter to bid 4.5 stars rather than 4 star, considering my budget?

Anything else I haven't thought of?

Thanks in advance-I did click through your PRICELINE links to do my research. Appreciate your help!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Would like to stay in either Midtown West or Central Park South.

What about the Times Square zone as well?

Also, note that at the 4* level in the CPS zone is the Hudson hotel, which while well located, has notoriously small rooms... make sure this is acceptable to you before bidding 4* in this zone.

Express Deals for Priceline show a 4 star in CPS for $112 and a 4 star in Midtown West for $155... Would like to stay around $100-125/night. Is that realistic?

If PRICELINE EXPRESS has a 4* hotel in the CPS zone, which is one that you're considering bidding, why even bid more than $112/nite since you could easily land the same 4* hotel that is offered on PRICELINE EXPRESS at that price?

I did think about bidding using a 4.5 Star rating, which gives me many more areas to rebid from. Would it be smarter to bid 4.5 stars rather than 4 star, considering my budget?

You can try if you'd like as it doesn't cost anything to bid (assuming your bid is not accepted) but i doubt you could be successful anywhere in the $100-$125 rate... i'd guess a 4.5* hotel would cost you closer to $160-$180 in one of these two zones.

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

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

[cwod]

What about the Times Square zone as well?

I thought Times Square would be too far from where family is staying at the Sheraton-but if not, then I guess I can include it.

Also, note that at the 4* level in the CPS zone is the Hudson hotel, which while well located, has notoriously small rooms... make sure this is acceptable to you before bidding 4* in this zone.

I would like to avoid this hotel, maybe don't bid in CPS zone?

If PRICELINE EXPRESS has a 4* hotel in the CPS zone, which is one that you're considering bidding, why even bid more than $112/nite since you could easily land the same 4* hotel that is offered on PRICELINE EXPRESS at that price?

Good point, I want to save as much as I can, so if I use the $112 as a guide, perhaps I should give myself a budget of under $112?

You can try if you'd like as it doesn't cost anything to bid (assuming your bid is not accepted) but i doubt you could be successful anywhere in the $100-$125 rate... i'd guess a 4.5* hotel would cost you closer to $160-$180 in one of these two zones.

So, I guess I need to stick with the 4* options. Should I include Times Square?

[AaronJB]

This is traditionally one of the slowest seasons of the year, but there will probably be some traffic during this period due to Fashion Week. Still, even with that prices appear reasonable at this point. $85 would be reasonable for a 4* starting point, then working higher by $5's. I think a 4* is likely attainable at or slightly under $100.

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

[thereuare]

Few more points of clarification before we are able to suggest a bidding strategy...

If you look at the PRICELINE map of zones in this region, Times Square actual sits inside of the upside down 'U' that makes up the MTW zone, so if all of MTW is acceptable, then i would think that Times Square would be acceptable as well, but you should look at the map and confirm that this indeed holds true for your needs this trip.

If you're not willing to bid CPS, then you can't use the $112/nite 4 star PRICELINE EXPRESS in this zone to cap/lower your maximum bid, since any hotels in this zone are now 'off the table' in terms of what you're willing to accept.

Please confirm the zones you're willing to accept, and your maximum bid, and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[cwod]

Ok, thanks for all of the info. The Times Square and Midtown West zones were a little confusing.

I'd like to bid a 4* in either Times Square or Midtown West. Express Deals in those zones-lowest is $155. Is setting a budget of $100 too low?

Thanks in advance for all of the info-so helpful!

[thereuare]

Is setting a budget of $100 too low?

You can set whatever limit you'd like, but i'd be very surprised if you were accepted that low... you could get something this inexpensive in other nearby zones, but not likely these two.

If you want to give it a try you can bid as follows:

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...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $93, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 4* TS...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $93, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 4* MTW and TS...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $98, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100

Any questions feel free to ask (especially confirming your re-bid zones if you're unsure)

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[brodie1983]

High School Honors Performance, right? Yeah, my daughter too. I don't know if it's your first time in NYC or not but, as a former New Yorker (UES born and raised), I'm pretty well limiting my search to CPS. I suspect you're planning some theater, shopping, and the usual stuff, and that corridor from CPS (59th St.) to 54th Street (the host Sheraton) is really the "sweet" spot with Carnegie Hall literally right in its center. Additionally, you have to figure that the weather in NYC in early February can be very hit or miss (major snow storm been predicted in The Farmer's Almanac for a year on Super Bowl Sunday) and you might find yourself VERY glad that you planned ahead and are only a couple of blocks away. There's tons of restaurants in the area - everything from the Carnegie Deli to fine dining. The Times Square area (MTW) is noisy and overrun - OK to visit but do you really want that on your doorstep? - as is Midtown East (where you're likely to wind up closer to Lexington than to Carnegie Hall.)

If I can make one other suggestion - If going to NYC is the exception for you rather than the rule - you can't beat the view from CPS looking North with all of Central Park spread out in front of you. There are 4*'s that will get that for you (Le Parker Meridien is one) but it's risky on PL because, as another poster noted, you might catch the Thompson instead. 5* is safe - you're going to get the Plaza and, although it's stupid expensive ($393 on PRICELINE EXPRESS Deals) well, it's the Plaza. Ditto 4 1/2 * - you're going to get the Essex House. Both are NYC institutions. 4* - by my count there are 5 properties, only two of which I'd be happy with from the stand point of room size, location, and ambiance. On the other hand, if your search is price-driven....

At present, I'm personally confining it to 4 1/2 and 5* in CPS - both are decent hotels and are safe. As of today, I've bid up to $227 and been rejected repeatedly. On the other hand, there are reports on the "other" bidding site of people getting the Essex House for $225 so I'm pretty well in a holding pattern. I may go $3 higher but not much more than that. As for the earlier poster who predicted that demand is light and you ought to get it for $160-$180...not likely to happen. The Super Bowl is 2/2 and both Fashion Week and the Westminster Dog Show are the following week. If I were you, I'd make a cancellable safety reservation someplace and continue to play the game. The Warwick is well located and not horribly expensive but you might get air shaft. I'm taking it your kid DOES NOT want you staying at The Sheraton either? It's sub $200. Of course, if a snow storm hits 2/2 and you go that deep into the bidding process, you could wind up with your pick of CPS. Good Luck!

[AaronJB]

Brodie -

Welcome to Betterbidding! :)

Thank you for sharing your notes on your current bidding and thoughts on NYC, they are appreciated.

If you need help with your stay, please post a separate thread (so that your win can appear when searched for on the board and under the site's Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins.)

Thanks again and good luck bidding.

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