niftytastic Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Hey guys, My friend and I are going to NYC Sept 20-23 and hoping to get a 3.5 hotel for under $200/night - preferably around the $150 range. I looked at the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins and see SOMEONE around the same timeframe as me got a great priceline deal <- I'd love to replicate that bid at that hotel I'd like to aim for that and as a PRICELINE bidding newbie I'm curious if you veterans to Priceline can shed additional insight or strategy. Am I being too optimistic? Too unlikely to get anything around $150ish/night? Should I wait closer to my departure as I read on here that better deals are to be had closer to the date but that also worries me. I'm coming from Newark Airport so my preference is midtown, but also cool with Chelsea, Madison Square Gardens, Soho, Union Square/East Village, Hell's Kitchen, even Financial District if there's a deal to be had. Link to comment
thereuare Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Welcome to BetterBidding! Rates are date specific, and in NYC, Sunday nites are usually the least expensive nite of the week (tourists have already headed home and business travelers have not yet arrived). The deal you reference above is for a solo Sunday nite and the chances of you replicating that for the entire length of your stay i think are somewhat low. To get started please clarify how you'd like to proceed, as you mention you would like a minimum 3.5* rated property, but the purchase in the referenced thread is for a 3 star property (so if you set your minimum star rating at 3.5* you could never win the property in the other user's win since that hotel falls below the 3.5* level you're bidding). Also, keep in mind that there is no way to target (or avoid) a specific hotel in the zone, when you bid on PRICELINE you need to be willing to accept any hotel in the zone at the star rating (or higher) that you bid. To give you a ballpark idea of prices, if you're willing to accept Downtown i think a 4* hotel will likely run you in the $200 area... a 3.5* or higher in the midtown area closer to the $225-$250 range. (we can of course start/try lower, but i think these figures are close to where you'll actually need to be based upon current rates) Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
niftytastic Posted August 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Thanks thereuare for the response! Oh right, I got my Courtyard by Marriott confused (midtown east vs New York Manhattan/Central Park) with one being a 3.5* and one being just a 3*. The 3* Marriott I like, and the other two 3* options in Midtown West, I don't mind. Washington Jefferson Hotel is one I'd least want though. I've tried the following (these are are in CAD, I realize I should bump it up to USD equivalent) $195- Union Square- East Village $182- Chelsea- MSG- MTE/MTW- Soho- Times Square- Union Square- UWS Some lower bids, some including downtown. I'd prefer not being in downtown but I suppose if there's a good enough of a deal, it could be incentive. I'd be fine with $225~ish. If I am aiming for midtown at $225, should I more be aiming for 3.5 or 3 stars? And I read that waiting until last minute gets you better rates. Is this a good strategy or too much of a risk? thanks! Link to comment
thereuare Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Nobody can say if rates will come down, or move even higher, between now and your trip... it all comes down to supply/demand (how actual new reservation (and cancellations) come in relative to expected new reservations (and cancellations). If hotels get more reservations than expected (or fewer cancellations) the you could see rates rise, and vice-versa. Was your bidding above at the 3.5* or at the 4* level? At current rates a 4* hotel in the Downtown zone would likely run about $190-$210/nite... a midtown hotel at the 3.5* level in the $225-$250 area. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we will take it from there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
niftytastic Posted August 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 That's true. And my bidding was at 3.5+ I'll try some more with midtown at $225! Link to comment
thereuare Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Are all of these zones acceptable at the 3.5* level: Union Square-East Village Chelsea MSG MTE MTW Soho Times Square Union Square UWS Any others? Any of these not? If you confirm the zones you're willing to accept we will suggest a bidding strategy for you to follow. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
niftytastic Posted August 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Sure those works for us. Thank you! Also: Hell's Kitchen Link to comment
thereuare Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 When bidding 3.5* in NYC you have ONE re-bid zone. 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 3.5* Chelsea, MSG, MTE, MTW, Soho... Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* TS, Union Square, UWS, HK... Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* TS, MSG, MTE, MTW, Soho... Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $160, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Chelsea, Union Square, UWS, HK... Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $160, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Chelsea, Union Square, MTE, MTW, MTW... Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $170, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* TS, MSG, UWS, HK... Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $170, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Chelsea, MSG, UWS, MTW, Soho... Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $180, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* TS, Union Square, MTE, HK... Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $180, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Chelsea, MSG, MTE, HK, Soho... Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $190, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* TS, Union Square, UWS, MTW... Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $190, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* TS, Union Square, MTE, MTW, Soho... Bid $193, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $195, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Chelsea, MSG, UWS, HK... Bid $193, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $195, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Chelsea, Union Square, UWS, MTW, Soho... Bid $198, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $200, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* TS, MSG, MTE, HK... Bid $198, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $200, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Chelsea, MSG, MTE, MTW, Soho, TS, Union Square... Bid $203, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $205, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Chelsea, MSG, MTE, MTW, Soho, TS, UWS... Bid $203, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $205, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Chelsea, MSG, MTE, MTW, Soho, TS, HK... Bid $203, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $205, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Union Square, UWS, Chelsea, MSG, MTE, MTW, Soho... Bid $208, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $210, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Union Square, UWS, Chelsea, MSG, MTE, MTW, TS... Bid $208, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $210, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Union Square, UWS, Chelsea, MSG, MTE, MTW, HK... Bid $208, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $210, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Chelsea, MSG, MTE, MTW, Soho, TS, Union Square, UWS... Bid $213, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $215, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Chelsea, MSG, MTE, MTW, Soho, TS, Union Square, HK... Bid $213, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $215, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* UWS, HK, Chelsea, MSG, MTE, MTW, Soho, TS... Bid $218, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $220, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* UWS, HK, Chelsea, MSG, MTE, MTW, Soho, Union Square... Bid $218, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $220, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE... Select 3.5* Chelsea, MSG, MTE, MTW, Soho, TS, Union Square, UWS, HK... Bid $223, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $225 Any questions feel free to ask. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. 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 Link to comment
niftytastic Posted August 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 thank you! Will try it later today! Link to comment
thereuare Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Let us know how you make out or how we can be of further help. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Good luck! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
niftytastic Posted August 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 And to confirm (I read the thread), my rebid zone is Queensborough Bridge – because its highest star rating is 3, not 3.5. Link to comment
thereuare Posted August 26, 2014 Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Yes, that is correct... but always check just before bidding to make sure that nothing has changed since you last checked. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Good luck! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
niftytastic Posted August 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 Thanks for your help! My friend and I used the bidding strategy for a week straight and got nowhere. So we were about to give up and just get the 3* Priceline Express deal for Soho that was likely to be Holiday Inn Soho at $253 (CAD) but then I saw a Midtown West 3* for $265 (CAD) at 40% off (vs Holiday Inn Soho at 20% or 15% off) and signs indicated that it was Courtyard by Marriott New York Manhattan/Central Park. My friend couldn't see the same deal when she logged in to Priceline Express, probably because I was on the check out screen so we just said screw it and got the Priceline Express deal because at least we knew it was a good deal (in comparison) and we knew what we were getting. Plus the reviews are a lot better for Courtyard than Holiday in Soho. So voila. It might not have been the most amazing deal compared to what I saw here but decent, no? compared to standard rates? Link to comment
AaronJB Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 Congrats on your success. :) Very good deal for what is traditionally a busy period. Can you confirm the amenities that were showing with this listing before purchase? Thank you. Thank you for sharing your win and please use the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches. Enjoy your stay. Link to comment
niftytastic Posted August 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 All the amenities icons were the same as per the Priceline hotels ID thread! (which is what sealed the deal because we could easily identify what this Midtown west hotel was) Link to comment
AaronJB Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 So that they can be listed in this thread as future reference for the amenities at this point in time: pets, fitness, restaurant, free internet in room. In the future please include the amenities in your post, even if the hotel has already been reported to the board. Thank you for the follow-up. Glad you are pleased with the result and are looking forward to your stay. Link to comment
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