Priceline Hotel: 3* Newark (Jersey City) Hyatt Regency on the Hudson

[gembeth]

This is a fantastic site!!! I have been reading the posts for a couple of weeks now and think I have a pretty good idea of how PL works but would really appreciate your opinions. My daughter and I are planning a trip together since she just graduated from High school. There are four citys we want to stay at on our trip. We plan on leaving Indy 6/28 and staying in Sommerset, PA that evening, Jersey City 06/29 - 06/02, Philadelphia 06/02 and DC 06/03 - 06/05. The following are questions I have before I start bidding.

1. Can you have multiple location bids at one time on PL or HW

2. We would like to get the Candlewood Suites in Jersey City, what would be our best stratgy? Should I start at $37 for a 3* go up to $50 at 5$ increments then to a 2 1/2* at $55? I have looked at other city areas and that would be fine should I use these areas first then go to JC if rejected?

3. We are on a really tight budget and would like to not pay more than $100 per night. On this sight I have seen people get some awsome deals and would like to do the same. All suggestions are welcomed at this point.

I want to thank all of you in advance. There is really a great group of people here.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

You have to bid each city separately since each hotel would have a different 'accepting price'... even if you could bid them together you would want to bid them separately to get a better deal (why pay $50 for each hotel if you could get one of them for $40?)

Please clarify your dates as your topic title suggests 3 nites in Jersey City but your dates in the post don't reflect that... i'm assuming you mean 6/29-7/2 then then you're off to DC for dates in July as well?

Under $50 in the JC area may be tough (at least in an area that you would want to stay at), but clarify your dates and we'll look at your dates and take it from there. You later mention a maximum of $100/nite, so i assume that is your true maximum bid but would prefer less?

I assume the reason for Jersey City is for an easy commute into Manhattan?

We'll start with this NJ stay, but once won please start separate posts for your Sommerset and DC portions of your stay (assuming you're bidding on those as well)

[gembeth]

I apologize for not being clear. I have never taken a vacation only travel for my job 50% of the year. I am really a newbee!!! I will be placing seperate bids for each location but can I place these seperate bids on the same day or do I have to wait until I have won a bid before I can move on to placing a bid for the next location? The following are my dates:

Sommerset, PA

Arrive: 06/28

Depart: 06/29

Jersey City, NJ

Arrive: 06/29

Depart: 07/02

Philadelphia, PA

Arrive: 07/02

Depart: 07/03

Washington, DC

Arrive: 07/03

Depart: 07/05

You are correct, my maximum I would like to pay for JC is $100 but I would love to get it cheaper. Jersey City seems like a great location with an easy commute. I really would like Candlewood suites for the kitchenett unit in the room.

Thank you for you help, I really want to make this a special 1st time vacation for my daughter before she is off to college and her own life.

[thereuare]

Jersey City, NJ

Arrive: 06/29

Depart: 07/02

Yes, you can make all the bids on the same day.

There is some good news and some bad news...

I'm doubtful the Candlewood Suites is going to be avialable for these dates. You can try, and we will suggest an approach to do so, but one warning of bidding 2* in this zone... there are some new hotels that have recently been built in the Tonnelle Avenue area, not yet reported via Priceline, but a possibility nonetheless.

The good news is that i do think a 3* is available for your dates and for under $100... no kitchnette and parking will either be on-the-street or paid (although you can find free on-street parking nearby for the weekend, not so sure about the Thursday).

Let us know your thoughts and how you want to play it and we'll advise a strategy accordingly.

[gembeth]

That is all fine with me. I would have liked the kitchenett but the price is my #1 goal. I don't mind if I get the 3* or even a newer 2* in that area. My main goal is to get the least expensive in this area close to the metro system. We don't plan on driving anywhere until we leave so taking the subway will be our mode of transportation.

Since I have never been to NY I don't really have an idea of the best place to homebase from. Our goals are to take the ferry to staten Island so we can see the Statue of Liberty, go to the World Trade Center, and to Ellis Island. My daughter is a history major/sociology minor who wants to engulf herself in our nations history as well as pay respects to the people who perished on 9/11. We realize NY is too big to do much in 3 days so we are going to concentrate on a few important places. We don't mind longer subway rides as it will give us a chance to see more of NY.

Thank you for your help. I really appreciate the assistance from someone who knows the ropes.

[thereuare]

I don't mind if I get the 3* or even a newer 2* in that area. My main goal is to get the least expensive in this area close to the metro system

This is the problem... the new hotels on Tonnelle Ave are not not close to the 'metro'.

I would begin as follows:

You have one re-bid zone available when bidding 3* in Jersey City. 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* Jersey City...

Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $70.

Any questions feel free to ask.

If the above is rejected, don't get discouraged... just post back and we'll revise for your next round fo bidding.

[gembeth]

I went through SavingsBarn.com and bid $65 for 3* in JC and was rejected, I then added Elizabeth for same price and start level and rejected, I then added Secaucus for same amount and star level but was rejected. I am now on my 24 hour waiting period then I will bid $70 for the 3* in JC. Is this correct? Tomorrow night I will try the $70 if this is the stratagy you think is best.

[dahammer]

you might want to read the following thread: Priceline rebidding explained

You wasted a bid by adding a rebid zone (in this case Elizabeth) and not increasing your bid as suggested above by thereuare. Also, Secaucus is not a rebid zone as there are several 3* properties. While Secaucus is only 4-5 miles from Manhattan, it is not convenient to the PATH train (or "metro"), however there is bus service available into NYC close to many of the Secaucus hotels.

[thereuare]

Did you want to stay in the Secaucus area? If you do we would have included it in the original strategy as there are better ways to bid it than you had.

As dahammer points out, this zone can be convenient to get to NYC via bus... but it's not near the PATH train at all.

Let us know and we'll advise how to best proceed.

[gembeth]

Thank you for the advice...I misunderstood the re-bidding instructions.

[gembeth]

I misunderstood the instructions. I would rather stay in Jersey City. Please let me know what I need to do next. I have re-read the section on re-bidding and think I have a much better understanding of the process. THank you for your help.

[thereuare]

Select 3* Jersey City...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80.

If you want to confirm your re-bid zone feel free to do so. :)

[gembeth]

I am so excited and I have you and dahammer to thank. I hadn't bid my $70 on Jersey City yet so I started there. I placed the bid and it was accepted for the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City. Thank you so much so much help. Now it is time to do the same in Philly and DC. I also want to you to know that I went to SavingsBarn.com to go onto Priceline. Again, thank you so much!!! :)

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

This is a great hotel and i think you'll be quite happy there.

Thank you for using the links at SavingsBarn.com links to begin your bidding.

Enjoy your stay.... now for the next nites :)