SDA Posted March 1, 2006 Report Posted March 1, 2006 Hi there,Wife and I are looking for a nice hotel in the Village area (I guess it would be midtown south). I'm not sure how much to bid or how many stars to bid for. We are not looking for swanky, just a good place to spend the weekend (April 6-9). I've looked on-line and it seems like the cheapest places are $150. The Union Square Inn is that price as is the Grand Union. We'd like to spend a bit less than that. Our ceiling is $120 per night average. I realize that Thursday night will be cheaper than Friday and Saturday. We're not willing to break up our stay in various hotels. I'd appreciate any help you can offer. I don't have much experience with hotels in NYC and we strongly prefer to stay in that area as I have work to do at NYU. Thanks!D.
thereuare Posted March 1, 2006 Report Posted March 1, 2006 First please follow-up your Priceline Las Vegas thread with whatever you ultimately did for that stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
SDA Posted March 1, 2006 Author Report Posted March 1, 2006 I see. Follow has been posted. It reads: Never went to LV. Thanks for your help.I'm new to the boards and I guess I don't quite understand the etiquette. I apologize for not informing the group of my non-travel. I didn't think anyone would benefit from this information. Since people only seem to share information that is of use to folks, it didn't even occur to me to post a follow up.If you are not inclined to help me now for my mistake then, I completely understand. If that is the case please just let me know and I'll search elsewhere for info.SDA
thereuare Posted March 1, 2006 Report Posted March 1, 2006 Without a follow-up a user is left wondering whether you ultimately were successful or if you had to book thru another means (or cancelled the trip entirely)... so at least now a future user knows that the trip was cancelled and that perhaps priceline/hotiwire will work for their own Las Vegas stay... so your follow-up is helpful.Are your plans above now firm and you're ready to make a purchase or are they tentative like your previous Vegas plans? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
SDA Posted March 1, 2006 Author Report Posted March 1, 2006 I see. We have airline tickets. Again, please let me know if you're willing to help.
thereuare Posted March 1, 2006 Report Posted March 1, 2006 The 'problem' is that Priceline's zones do not cover the NYU area... the MTS zone is the closest, but imo that should not be the deciding factor for your stay. As long as you intend to use the subway MTE, MTW, and MTS should all work well as each will likley have you down to NYC in about 10 minutes or less... add the UM/CPS zone and you can make it 15 minutes or less (probably closer to 10).As there are more hotels in the MTE and MTW zones, there is also more competition, which often makes these areas the best value in NYC.You'll have to decide what star rating you're interested in, as well as if MTS is the only zone you'll accept, for us to be able to help further. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
SDA Posted March 1, 2006 Author Report Posted March 1, 2006 Thank you for the reply and information. I'd like to think about searching in other zones. What you say makes sense about competiton and subways. One quick follow-up question in the meantime. How many stars do you think $120 (max bid) will get? I plan on taking care of this by tomorrow. Once I decide on the zone issue I might have another question or two. I hope that's ok. I'll let the boards know how this comes out once I make my bid. Thanks,SDA
thereuare Posted March 1, 2006 Report Posted March 1, 2006 Can't answer the above as it's all zone specific... in some areas $125 may get you a 4* hotel, in others it may only be good for a 3* property, and in others you may not even have a fighting chance for a 3* or 4*.I'd also recommend that once you do decide which zones that you ask for a bidding strategy before just moving forward and bidding $120 unsystematically. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
SDA Posted March 2, 2006 Author Report Posted March 2, 2006 Sounds good. We're willing to put bids in for MTS, MTE, MTW. Our maximun bid is $120. We'd like the highest star rating possible (while also being realistic).So, with that in mind, what do you think would be our best bidding strategy?Thanks,SDA
thereuare Posted March 2, 2006 Report Posted March 2, 2006 At the 4* level you have two re-bid zones available; one re-bid zone at the 3* level. 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 4* MTW...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTS...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and MTE...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and MTS...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $118, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.===============================================================Select 3* MTS...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTW...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTE...Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTS and MTW...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTS and MTE...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected close browser adn re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTS and MTW and MTE...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120.Any questions feel free to ask.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
SDA Posted March 2, 2006 Author Report Posted March 2, 2006 Just one quick question. I think I understand the re-bidding process. I read the Priceline rebidding explained link but my understanding is that the idea is to add a part of town that does not have the highly rated hotels. In my case however, if my initial bid is rejected what zone should I put in that doesn't have a 4* hotel. Or, should I simply do this:Select 4* MTW...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone MTEor should I add a rebid zone without a 4* (and is there such a zone in NYC. I hope that question makes sense. Thanks,SDA
thereuare Posted March 2, 2006 Report Posted March 2, 2006 You need to add a zone that does not have 4* (or higher) rated hotels.If you're unsure i suggest you confirm your re-bid zones with the board. You want to use the following technique to learn what star ratings are available in each zone, from Priceline Re-Bidding Explained:The way to check what star levels are available in each zone is to open a Priceline page, check ONLY the zone you are inquiring about, and then proceed to the next page (as if you were going to select a zone)... this will give you the available star ratings in that area. You can then hit BACK on your browser, uncheck the current box, check the next box, and repeat the process. It is important to do this before EACH attempt at adding a zone that you really don't want, as new hotels can be added and the star ratings can change at any time. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
SDA Posted March 2, 2006 Author Report Posted March 2, 2006 Ok, so it seems like the upper west side and the upper east side don't have 4* hotels available. So, if my 4* bid is rejected I can rebid by adding upper west or upper east without fear of getting a hotel there?
thereuare Posted March 2, 2006 Report Posted March 2, 2006 You have your re-bid zones correct... but you need to check them before each round of bidding to make sure that no new hotels have been added or existing hotels upgraded, both of which could make the zone no longer a re-bid zone. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
SDA Posted March 2, 2006 Author Report Posted March 2, 2006 Well, I went to Savingbarn and ran through the strategy of bids but nothing was accepted. I don't suppose I have many more options except bid more money. Any suggestions?Thanks!
thereuare Posted March 2, 2006 Report Posted March 2, 2006 Based upon other bids around this same time frame i didn't think your $120 maximum would be enough.You basically have three options:1) Raise your bid2) Lower your star rating3) Wait it out Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
SDA Posted March 3, 2006 Author Report Posted March 3, 2006 Do you know what sorts of hotels priceline offers in NYC in the 2 star range? Raising the bid level is not an option for us -- we have too much travel coming up over the next few months to splurge on this. I'm a bit concerned about what I might be stuck with if I lower the star rating. At the lower end of hotel quality I think I might feel more comfortable picking myself.Thanks,SDA
thenewbie Posted March 3, 2006 Report Posted March 3, 2006 I'm just throwing this out there, but Hotwire has a 4* MTE (Restaurant, Fitness Center, Tennis, Business Ctr) for $130 for April 6-9, which looks like it may be the Inter-Continental The Barclay. If you try with different browsers (IE / Firefox) it may show you different rates - hopefully lower.
thereuare Posted March 3, 2006 Report Posted March 3, 2006 Hotwire has a 4* MTE (Restaurant, Fitness Center, Tennis, Business Ctr) for $130 This shows for $137 on my recent search, and if you can it to appear for $130 i would take it!I agree with you that at the lower star ratings in NYC you will likely be better picking yourself, but even a decent low star rated hotel in NYC will likely cost you $130+.PS- thenewbie, nice work! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
SDA Posted March 6, 2006 Author Report Posted March 6, 2006 Sorry for the delay in responding. I've never used hotwire but I will have a look and let you know how it goes.by the way, thanks for the tip on the Intercontinental!I must have waited too long. I'm getting $172 on a 4* in mte on hotwire for those dates.
thereuare Posted March 6, 2006 Report Posted March 6, 2006 Are you willing to SPLIT YOUR PRICELINE BID?The $131 rate is still available for 4/7-4/9. (or you could consider bidding this subset of dates on Priceline to try to beat it)You could then either wait and see if the InterContinental appears on Hotwire again for the sole date of 4/6 or make other plans for the first nite of your stay.... but at least you'd have 2 out of 3 nites taken care of at an excellent rate. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
SDA Posted March 6, 2006 Author Report Posted March 6, 2006 Well: as the wife says, "I'm not excited by the idea of moving hotels."I think what I'm going to do is check that rate on hotwire for another week or 10 days. If it doesn't come down then I'm just going to book a place near NYU. I see that Hotel 17 has rooms for $119. I will let you know what I find and what I do in the end. Thanks. SDA
dahammer Posted March 7, 2006 Report Posted March 7, 2006 a little late in the game for my two cents.....but, is Jersey City an option? Not sure if the 14th street PATH station is close enough to your NYU business.Either way, you should book a cancellable backup just in case the Hotwire and Priceline strategies don't pan out.
thereuare Posted March 7, 2006 Report Posted March 7, 2006 Well: as the wife says, "I'm not excited by the idea of moving hotels."You have to sell it :)Your looking at two entirely different class of hotels. Hotel 17 is a 1* or 2* rated hotel with a shared bath while the Inter-Continental is a true 4* NYC hotel.I'd make sure your wife is comfortable with the shared bath before booking it. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
SDA Posted March 7, 2006 Author Report Posted March 7, 2006 Well, seems moot now. Rechecking hotwire shows the 4* at something crazy -- like $240 or so.I've booked into Hotel 17 and am going to keep looking. Do you think priceline is worth another shot given my price restrictions?By the way, I know, the shared bathroom situation at Hotel 17 is not ideal to say the least.Thanks,SDA
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