Priceline Hotel: 4* Times Square (or close) Oct 25-28 2014

[lpparker]

Hello,

 

We're coming to the US from the UK in October for (hopefully) the holiday of a lifetime.

I'm booking for 3 couples and part is 3 nights in New York.

 

We'd like to be near Times square, Mid Town West or Madison square Garden.

We'll have spent 3 days on Amtrak just before so would like a little luxury and a bath (not just shower) so I thought 4* should do it.

I've booked Millennium Broadway Times Square as our fall back position for $295 including taxes.

 

Ideally I'd like to pay max $200 inc. tax but don't know how likely that is.

 

(We also need 5 nights in San Francisco but will post separately for that.)

 

I have used priceline before but only for Amsterdam as I go there quite often and know the city quite well.

 

Any help gratefully received!

 

Thanks

 

 

 

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

We'll have spent 3 days on Amtrak just before so would like a little luxury and a bath (not just shower) so I thought 4* should do it.

While most 4* hotels likely have a tub and not just a stand-up shower, this isn't something that you can guarantee with PRICELINE or HOTWIRE, you'll have to forgo this being a guaranteed aspect of the hotel you receive to move forward with the opaque providers.

Ideally I'd like to pay max $200 inc. tax but don't know how likely that is.

At current rates this is not very likely, imo. At the moment, in one of the zones above, you're more likely looking at ~$200-$225 bid amount (before taxes/fees)

I'll also add that what looks to be your best deal right now is a 4* hotel in the MTE zone for $185/nite which i'm guessing to be the Kimberly, which while slightly over your all-in budget and in the MTE zone which you didn't include above, this property is 4.5/5.0 by TA so it might be something to consider at this price.

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

Let us know your thoughts and what you'd like to try first and we'll take it from there.

[lpparker]

Thanks for the advice.

 

I'm willing to take the chance with the bath, but I can hope.

 

I realise the areas we're willing to accept are very limited but we stayed in MTE last time we were in New York and found it to be a little out of the way for us as we're only doing touristy things and shopping,

although I was tempted by the offer at the moment that seems to be the Kimberley, but decided I'd probably regret it later.

 

 As we have plenty of time I think I'm going to try cheeky low bids for a while (I don't know whether it'll work but it has worked in Amsterdam).

I really wanted to know if my price was nowhere near high enough and whether October is a busy month in New York.

 

I'll keep an eye on both Priceline, Hotwire and others to see if there are any good deals.

I have seen a few ok deals around and will look for more, e.g. Affinia are offering 3 for 2 non-refundable,

I was tempted as Affinia Manhattan is in the right area and we could all have a small suite which would be nice.

 

I guess all in all I want to have my cake and eat it but I can't.

 

 

[AaronJB]

At this point, it's probably fine to try some lower bids for a while to see if you luck out and get something with a hotel looking to fill rooms early. However, I will note that this is traditionally a bad time for hotels in NYC - the Fall is often busier/very expensive and I believe the Marathon usually happens a few days after this stay. Overall, do try some lower bids, but if past years are any indications, I would suggest trying to lock something in and considering a "good" deal if you see one on Hot.wire or Price.line express rather than trying to wait for a lower price that definitely may not come.

 

Please keep us updated and let us know if you have additional questions.

 

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

[lpparker]

Well, I tried Price.line a few times and didn't get anywhere, I was a little worried as I wanted this to be (hopefully) really nice for me and the rest of my group as we will have just spent 3 night on a train from San Francisco.

 

So, I have booked  the Affinia Manhattan as they are offering a 3 for 2 deal. I've booked 2 deluxe and 1 deluxe with terrace,

they are very large rooms with sofa's kitchenette's etc. and the terrace one is a bonus in case the weather is still nice in October and we can stand out there looking at the view with a glass of wine.

 

The 3 for 2 deal meant paying $820 inc. taxes for the deluxe and $866 inc. taxes for the deluxe with terrace, this is as good as anything I was seeing on Price.line or Hot.wire (for the area) and fingers crossed the rooms will be nearly as good as the pictures.

 

After New York we have a trip on the Queen Mary 2 back to the UK, so I thought we should try the luxury a bit early, it's hard but someone's got to do it.

 

Thanks for you help.

[thereuare]

Glad you found something that you're happy with and that works for your needs, but how high did you try bidding on PRICELINE and in which zones, as i do believe there were better deals offered on PRICELINE / HOTWIRE. I'm seeing 4* Times Square hotels for $800 all-in... and a 4* hotel in the MSG zone for $685/nite all-in.

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

Have a great trip and enjoy NYC.

[lpparker]

Yes, I think there may be lower prices but I like that we're going to get a large room with sofa area and kitchenette

and I couldn't guarantee what we would get bidding - so I took the safer option this time.

But I'll be back bidding on Priceline again no doubt.

 

I did book the San Francisco bit of our trip on Hotwire and was very pleased with that.

 

Thanks again for your assistance