Priceline Hotel: Advice on whether to keep waiting or not

[lunajumper]

I completely missed the fact that my trip to NYC is timed to coincide with the Pope's visit next week (I am arriving on Thursday, as is he, though I'm departing Sunday while he will be leaving Saturday). After seeing the Express Deals steadily go up as the date approached, I finally figured out why yesterday. Between yesterday and today, the best Express Deals pricing I can get (buying one night at a time for three nights) has gone up by $23. I tried some bids, and no luck. I DO have a backup hotel booked in Secaucus but really wanted to stay in Manhattan, but not for $300+ per night (and I'm not willing to go lower than 3.5*). 

 

My question is...do you think that the prices will fall by early next week, or do you really think that all the hotels in Manhattan are seriously nearly full and my best deal is going to be had today? I'm stressed out enough at the thought of the crowds we will be facing, I really want to stop stressing about the hotel, but if the thought is that prices WILL drop early next week, I will hold out a little longer.

 

Thanks for any advice!

 

Heather

[AaronJB]

There's no way to know for sure, but this is traditionally not a slow period to begin with and then combined with the Pope visit, I'd be a bit more worried about more upside to prices than more downside.

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

 

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.

[thereuare]

I tried some bids, and no luck... but really wanted to stay in Manhattan, but not for $300+ per night (and I'm not willing to go lower than 3.5*).

How high have you have bid and how much are you willing to pay to stay in Manhattan?

 

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.

[lunajumper]

I've bid up to $260, and because of taxes and fees, that is probably about as high as I want to go, but I would actually take a 3*. I don't know that it will help. Right now nothing is available at that price, but I'm wondering if by Monday they will be more anxious to offload empty rooms, or if they will all be full by Monday.

[thereuare]

Where and how much is your back-up Secaucus property?

[lunajumper]

Where and how much is your back-up Secaucus property?

 

It's in the Meadowlands - I have stayed in that area a lot and the bus into Port Authority is only 15 minutes and cheap, but my cousin has narcolepsy and really would benefit with a nap during the day, so I'd rather get into Manhattan. The property I've reserved in Secaucus is $188/night including taxes and fees. Obviously it will also be a hassle to get out there with our luggage, but I've done that as well, which is why I booked it as our backup. I'm comfortable with the area and familiar with it, and the price was pretty good.

[thereuare]

I'm familiar with the hotel and the area.

The closest you can get to your previous $260 bid right now is this 2* Lower East Side hotel (confirm your dates on the landing page) on PRICELINE EXPRESS for $279/nite with:

Pets Allowed

Free Internet

Free Breakfast

... best guess here would be the Comfort Inn Manhattan Bridge, which gets good reviews (8+ from previous Price.line guests) and includes breakfast, if that helps justify the extra $20/nite more then you have already bid.

If/once you decide to stick with the La Quinta i would also check PRICELINE EXPRESS and HOTWIRE for other NJ options which may be cheaper then your current back-up.

In the future please use our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases (or the links in our Support Page where we have links to most of the major hotel chains and online booking agencies, including the La Quinta)

Also, you can also find other suitable places for your back-up using our other site, RefundableRates.com

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

Let us know whatever you ultimately decide for this trip or if we can be of further help.