Hotwire Hotel: 4.5* New York City (Times Square - Theater District) Michelangelo Hotel

[Jottle]

I've been watching prices for the last few weeks on HW and PRICELINE EXPRESS for 4.5* properties in these areas for the dates listed (7/13-7/18), and I'm sad to see that all hotline/priceline rates went up about $30 a night for 4.5* properties just last week and have stayed that way throughout the week. Just a week ago Hotwire/Priceline express was showing $190 a night for what I'm pretty sure is the Grand Hyatt in Times Square. Now it's going for around $230, and other 4.5* HW and PRICELINE EXPRESS hotels have also raised their rates specifically in the Times Square area.

 

My question is that I understand that prices go up and down all the time, and that there's no guarantee that the prices for that (or any) property will go down again before my trip in July. However, I've noticed a lot of people here on this forum and in the hotwire forum often historically book 4* and 4.5* hotels just weeks out at very good rates. I just want a 4.5 in Times Square or Midtown West/East. I don't care which property, as the star rating will guarantee a pretty good one in that area based on the BB hotel list. So I'm trying to decide if I should just keep watching hotwire to see if the rates will drop as my date approaches, or if I should just try the PL bidding game to get a 4.5* at the rate I want. I'd like to pay no more than $190 a night for a 4.5* in Midtown or Times Square.

 

Any advice based on the fact that this isn't the most popular time to travel to NY? I just didn't expect the hotel rates to all go up just like airline tickets when the date I wanted was within ~2 months. I'm thinking about waiting, but am worried I'll be priced out of the sub-$200 a room range as July approaches.

[thereuare]

Please follow-up your previous threads with whatever you did decide to do for each stay (not just what you didn't do)... then reply here and we will comment more specifically as to your trip above.

Also, our free RateDrop service will help you monitor rates for your specific travel dates and alert you each time the rate drops in price. ;)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

[Jottle]

Sorry about that. All my threads are now updated. I am using Rate.Drop. It's a great new site that you've provided. Let me know what you recommend for my OP question. Thanks!

[thereuare]

There is usually a very significant price bump between 4* and 4.5* hotels in NYC... do you have to have a 4.5* property for this stay?

For example, HOTWIRE has what appears to be the St. Giles - The Tuscany for $188/nite. While HOTWIRE rates this property 4.5*, PRICELINE currently rates it 4*, but regardless of the half a star difference, the hotel gets very good reviews and is well located.

Not as 'luxurious' (but cheaper) what looks like the Yotel Times Square is available for $156/nite, and this too, gets very good reviews.

Any interest in these, or some other 4* hotel with good reviews, that might meet your needs and be more palatable to you budget?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

[Jottle]

I figured that $190 a night might be really stretching it. Honestly, I like the 4.5 properties in those areas, hence the property level preference. Also, I'm actually trying to avoid some of the "box" concept hoetels like the YOTEL/TRYP, in those areas, which is why I've also been avoiding the 4*'s on HOTWIRE. Some people are getting "The Out" for that $156/night rate as well, which isn't someplace I'd prefer to spend my anniversary with my wife. So the luck of the draw at that rate has me gunshy.  

 

I guess the better question would be, what $ or % off hotwire's listings for a given property might a priceline hotel accept as a bid? So for example, if a property is listed on HOTWIRE (opaque) as say $230 a night, would them accepting a $199 PL bid be unheard of?  Also, do you recommend just waiting and watching prices given my trip timeline? I thought this wasn't a popular time to go to NYC, which is why I was surprised at the price jump last week.

[thereuare]

You can't necessarily equate the HOTWIRE rate to what you should bid on PRICELINE, since (as per one of the hotel examples above) HOTWIRE may rate a hotel 4.5* while PRICELINE rates the same hotel 4*... so it's not necessarily an apples-to-apples comparison.

While this is a slower time of year in NYC, there just aren't that many hotels at the 4.5* level (so there are fewer hotels that are available to accept your bid price) and when they are available at lower prices, it tends to be more for weekend nites (Friday-Monday) which are slower nites of the week in NYC than the midweek Mon-Sat dates you need for this trip. (see our Priceline Maps... filter for 4.5* hotels and click 'VIEW' next to each... you will see that most stays are for weekend nites, especially the lower prices wins)

As far as rates coming down there is no way to know, as you have already experiences they can just as easily move higher while you're waiting (ie- hoping) that they drop in price.

However, i'm not sure what you mean by the 'box' type hotels... as i don't really consider the Tryp/Yotel to be 'box' type of hotels, they are actually quite a bit more unique/eclectic than most, and the Grand Hyatt you referenced, while very nice, is an excellent example of a business hotel (more cookie-cutter). I would personally prefer the former for an anniversary trip than the latter, but that is why i had suggested some 4* hotels thru PRICELINE EXPRESS / HOTWIRE that you may be able to take an educated guess which might satisfy your needs for this trip while also avoiding the hotels you're hoping to avoid.

If $190 is pushing your budget for this trip, how much is it that you are looking to pay (per nite before taxes/fees)?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

[Jottle]

I recognize that all rooms are going to be smaller in NYC, but I'm interested in a more upscale property than tryp/yotel. Looking at the pictures, it just seems as though the rooms aren't that comfortable. And I'd like to relax after going out for the day in a space that doesn't require me to move things around to get more floor space. My max budget is $200 a night, so that really puts me in the 4* category without bidding on Price.Line.

[Jottle]

so this is really strange. It looks like the Hyatt Times Square is now back on hotwire at $190 a night, but at the checkout page under room type is says "free cancellation." And it says that I can cancel any time. However, on that same checkout page, HOTWIRE explicitly states that there are no cancelations or refunds. How is this possible? Can anyone clarify?

[Jottle]

well I went ahead and booked this through hotwire and it ended up being the Michelangelo instead of the Hyatt. Free cancellation policy still shows on the HOTWIRE confirmation screen. Still have no idea what that means. I will create a separate thread in the hotwire forum to share the win with ammenity details. I'm still happy with the property as it's actually a bit nicer than the Hyatt and has stellar reviews. We're going for our anniversary, so this boutique European-feel hotel with excellent hospitality should fit the bill nicely.

Was hoping for the Hyatt TS, but am happy to see this is the final choice. Did not see this property listed on BB's hotwire hotel lists. The rate is no longer on the site, but the amenities I have listed in my confirmation and from the actual reservation screen are as follows:

Fitness center, Restaurant(s), Internet access

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Although not the hotel you were expecting, glad to see it worked even better than you thought and that you're pleased with the outcome.

One other user has reported seeing this 'FREE CANCELLATION' option but at this point i'm not sure if this is a mistake or something new they are trying out.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

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

Enjoy your stay.