Hotwire Hotel: Hotel ID -- Help needed

[EarlThePearl]

Hi there,

any clue what that could turn out:

2,5 Stars

ESB-Area

Amenities Include: Free Breakfast, Free Internet, Business Center, Restaurants, Smokefree Rooms, Tennis Nearby

TA-Rating: 4 out of 5

90% recommended

$72 for my dates (February 3 - February 8)

Would love to score one of those Hampton Inns (either 35th Street/ESB or MSG), however I'm "afraid" that chances are more substantial to catch either Stanford or Grand Union Hotel.

Anyone's got some words of wisdom in that matter? I'd really appreciate!

Regards

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

In addition to the FREE INTERNET amenity are you also seeing an INTERNET ACCESS amenity listed?

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

[EarlThePearl]

Thanks a lot!

Nope, no additional amenities listed. Stated all of'em.

Rate has leapfrogged up to $79 right now. Opaque-Roulette in full effect, obviously.

Regards!

[thereuare]

Nope, no additional amenities listed. Stated all of'em.

To view the FULL SET of amenities you need to:

1) search HOTWIRE and select the offer from the search results page

2) click the BOOK NOW button

3) in the TRIP SUMMARY BOX click the 'See more' link at the end of the amenities

... or the easy option is to use our BiddingHelper.com.com TOOL, view the HOTWIRE EASY VIEW tab and then click the GREEN BUTTON to view the complete list of amenities for each offer.

With the above noted, I don't have any insight into this property, and with only 19 reviews from HOTWIRE i suspect it is a fairly new property in their system.

We usually advise user to stick with the higher rated hotels in NYC, as while you can get a diamond in the rough that ultimately works out great for your plans, you could also end up being disappointed and it could sour a trip. Is this the only zone you're willing to accept? What is your maximum budget per nite for this stay?

Since this an extended stay you could see if this same property is offered for the first (or last) nite of your stay and then again for the balance. If so, you could purchase the solo nite in order to 'look behind the curtain'. If you're happy with the results purchase the remaining nites, if not, make alternate plans for the balance of your stay.

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

Let us know whatever you decide to do for this stay or if we can be of further help.

[EarlThePearl]

D'oh!. My bad. Of course the amenity in question was hidden. Think we're on the same page objectwise, though no reliable educated ID guess can be made. Thanks for your expertise, nonetheless.

Here's the status: We already got two cancelable rooms in petto. Both nothing fancy, but rock solid and good bang for the buck. Now we are testing the waters whether something enticing can be found via HW/PL. Since our stay is bulls-eye offseason (one night after superbowl) maybe some options could unfold.

In terms of area we are completely open minded. One of our backups is in UWS, so slightly off target would be no obstacle. Our budget oscillates around $80, with the option to ramp up for something breathtaking.

To split the stay is a nice idea. Maybe last nite would be worth trying, so we still could make use of our backup if the result of bidding is rather sobering.

Thanks for your insight view. Enjoy the day!

[thereuare]

Here's the status: We already got two cancelable rooms in petto.

???

Both nothing fancy, but rock solid and good bang for the buck. Now we are testing the waters whether something enticing can be found via HW/PL.

Where and how much are your back-up reservations?

Since our stay is bulls-eye offseason (one night after superbowl) maybe some options could unfold.

Keep in mind not everyone will leave the day before the SuperBowl... some will extend their trip and not leave immediately after the game.

Our budget oscillates around $80, with the option to ramp up for something breathtaking.

$80 in NYC for something 'nice' in NYC can be challenging, even at the slowest of times... if you stretch your budget to around the $100 i think your options become much more appealing.

To split the stay is a nice idea. Maybe last nite would be worth trying, so we still could make use of our backup if the result of bidding is rather sobering.

Given demand (and hotel rates) will likely decrease as your stay progresses, without having checked rates for your specific dates, logic would suggest that you would want to use your back-up earlier in the stay and then PRICELINE / HOTWIRE for the latter dates.

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

[EarlThePearl]

This is our approach: We try to keep it safe, simple and basic in terms of accommodation. The bucks we keep in pocket could be spread for leisure and dining.

We got the Hotel Newton in UWS for kinda mesmerizig $57 (incl. tax&fees) and the (Ex-Sheraton) Manhattan@TSQ for really reasonable $82 (incl. tax&fees). The pros of the Newton are a nice neighborhood (couse we have a knack for UWS) and the deadcheap rate. Cons are a really no-thrill hotel and some torment of commuting, which can be challenging in winter. Big time pro of the ex-Sheraton would be location of course and quite a spacious room. Cons are a really mediocre TA-rating and some issues to find suitable breakfast options. Any thoughts towards this?

What would likely be available in the realm of that magical $100 threshold? Maybe we'll give it a try.

[thereuare]

Cons are... some issues to find suitable breakfast options. Any thoughts towards this?

As long as you don't need anything 'substantial' i can't imagine breakfast options being difficult... easiest would be a bagel/donut and coffee from a cart for ~$1.50-$2.00... or as you likely won't be spending the day near the hotel, get breakfast closer to your first location for the day. I wouldn't not choose this hotel based upon breakfast options as i don't think that is a legitimate hurdle.

If you bid on PRICELINE for the MTE, MTW, TS, and MSG zones i think you have a decent chance at a 4* around the $100 bid mark, if not, likely a 3.5* hotel can be had.

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

[EarlThePearl]

Thanks for your help and your inside view. Will keep on tracking any development for my specific dates on both sites (HW/PL).

Of course, nutrition is no nub of matter for our decision. Just wanted to learn your personal estimation and assessment of our choice of backups and how you would fare with it. Really think that weather will be deciding where we'll end up. Facing an arctic expedition in early February will certainly favour having short distances and a shelter in midtown to defrost our frames. Elsewise we are prepared and adventurous enough to do some chugging from pillar to post.

Keep up the great work!

[AaronJB]

My thought on New York City is that it's an amazing city to just wander around in - I can walk 15 miles in NYC in a day, just going through neighborhoods. I once did a wonderful walk from around Times Square to Washington Square Park to Battery Park and around up the other side through Chinatown, by Empire State and up to Central Park and back.

However, I know what Chicago is like in Feb and if NYC has a period of harsh Winter weather, I really would not want to be up by Central Park - especially as far up as the Newton is. That's really quite far up.

In terms of TA rating, you are going to find more mixed reviews in NYC, but it becomes a matter of price/value. A hotel may not live up to expectations at $200, 300+, but under $100, it may be a good value/place to sleep. I've stayed at a number of properties that I thought were terrific for under $100, but I wouldn't have felt the same for $200 and I really wouldn't have felt the same for $250-300+.

Please keep us updated on what you decide and if you have additional questions.

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

[EarlThePearl]

Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts. I'm always eager to learn other people's opinion and mix and stir it well with my point of view. Most cases something smart grows out of that.

Our mindset right now is to kinda play the waiting game until a few days before departure. Then we'll going to see what good ol' Petrus has in his bag for us weatherwise. Should there (still) be what looks like the perfect setting for an Amundson-Scott-Shackleton Arctic Race threesome rematch then we'll going to pull the SAFETY FIRST card and lay our heads on TSQ. If there's the slightest smell of spring in town and the first crocussssses are showin' up then we will quite likely make use of that mind-boggling rate for the Newton. I mean, we hardly can let that bargain slip through our hands even if location is just so-so. Doesn't make a too severe of a difference for us to jump out of subway two or three stops later. And the biggest thing of all: With that rate in mind stakes is high that I will turn on my utmost charm and simultanously bang some 20 bucks on the counter and ask for the President's Suite with full pampering service, harrharr. We'll see...

Got that feeling that HW/PL really has nothing for us in portfolio. What a lame industry...

[AaronJB]

Thank you for keeping us updated - this is the slowest season so I would continue to keep an eye on PRICELINE/HOTWIRE.

Let us know if you have additional questions, as well.

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

[EarlThePearl]

Just to reanimate this thread. Still casually watching the market. Since weather seems to be an issue the days ahead location will be crucial. Thus the UWS backup falls outta consideration. That leaves us with the Manhattan@TSQ or the notoriously cheap and sortof cheesy St. James@45th (WiFi incl & great diner next door). The Manhattan still got the edge by virtue of star rating and at least a glimpse of comfort.

However, there is a hotel available via Hotwire Easy View.

hot Rate

3 stars

$ 86

ESB area

Amenities: Free Internet, Self service laundry, Internet access

Any clue what this could reveal? Maybe even something mouthwatering...???

Thanks in advance and shoutouts over the big pond!

[thereuare]

Please wait until you're sure of the weather and your plans and travel plans are firm. as any hotels currently offered may not be the ones that are offered once you're ready to move forward and commit to a purchase.

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

Thanks.

[EarlThePearl]

G'day again!

Time is ticking a bit and so we're ready to clinch things up. Driven by dark forces (and weather forecast) our budget upped itself piecemeal so that the range of propable shelters is both more diverse and enjoyable (in a perfect world).

Our most recent and top priority backup right now is the Distrikt Hotel on 40th street, between Hells Kitchen and Midtown West. Found a nice flexible rate of roughly $110+taxnfees for standard queen and got a free upgrade to deluxe king. Nice property, free WiFi, good location and smashing reviews throughout the net are definitely a plus. No real low points to be seen.

Snuck a peek at HOTWIRE just to test the waters and pin down this rate. Found the following:

3,5 stars

MSG-Hells Kitchen

90% recommendation

$100

Free Internet

Boutique Hotel

Smoke Free Rooms

Fitness Center

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

Internet access

Accessible for the blind

Accessible path of travel

In-room accessibility

Wheelchair accessible

Accessible bathroom

Handicapped parking

Roll-in shower

Any predicts from the crystal ball available? Straight from the gut I'd say it's the YOTEL, of which I don't know if it's worth to pull the trigger. Would be a meek saving of roughly $50 for our stay and probably not worth to shake things up again.

Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks a lot for your great work!

[thereuare]

I would agree as to your guess of the Yotel Times Square.

Both hotels get generally get great reviews, but the location of the Distrikt is slightly better, imo.

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

Keep us updated on your progress and what you ultimately decide.

[EarlThePearl]

Hey guys,

Just to let you know: Looks as you can consider this case closed. I'll stick with my recent and conventional choice of hotel. Think that's going to work out fine for my wife and myself. We really look forward to having a glimpse of those big city lights in just a few hours.

Thank you so much for your help, effort and patience. Quite possibly our next trip is just round the corner and we will be delighted to trustfully address to you again.

Best of regards

CCC

[AaronJB]

Thank you for closing the thread.

Enjoy your stay.