Hotwire Hotel: 4* Newark (Jersey City) Hyatt Regency on the Hudson

[peridot]

Hello!

I would like some bidding advice for a 2 night stay - Saturday August 19 and Sunday August 20 in Jersey City...preferably the Hyatt.

I haven't bid for JC in quite some time so any advice would be much appreciated. I've noticed that the Hyatt has recently been won in the $65-75 range - this is the range I am hoping for. I'd be willing to go up to the $90 range. I realize my dates are only one week away but I am hoping to still be able to score a deal. I would rather not split my bid. Also, any advice on parking would be appreciated.....would we encounter problems parking on the street overnight on the Sunday?

Other than JC, I would consider NYC ($100 max - 4* or 3*...I know, I am dreaming)...but I would be worried about parking in NYC. Also would consider Stamford or Greenwich CT as a last resort.

Hope to hear from you soon...Thanks much!! :)

[blindman]

Rates are high at the Hyatt web-site for Sunday night

Saturday Sunday

199.00 319.00

Hotwire has

$187 173

So a PL win looks unlikely.

Have you thought about Secaucus as an option?

Free parking and close toNYC

[peridot]

Thanks blindman. I never considered Secaucus but will research the area to see if that could be a 2nd option - free parking would be great. I'm hooked on the Jersey City Hyatt but I see that the current going rates for my dates are way too high. The Doubletree or Candlewood may be a possibility.

Basically we plan to spend most of our time in NYC so a hotel that is close to the train and as short of a distance to the city as possible is very important. And of course, parking is a huge issue.

[peridot]

Ok, so using both this forum and priceline.com via the SAVINGSBARN.COM link, I've researched prices as well as areas and would like a bidding strategy based on the following..hoping to get some advice from thereuare :) :

I would like to exhaust all possibilities for Jersey City before I move on to any other area. The Doubletree, Courtyard and even Candlewood would suit us fine. I know that the Candlewood has free parking and the other hotels may offer parking for a small fee - $10 a day is not a big deal. And there's always the possibility to find parking on the street.

Again, proximity to PATH train and shortest travelling time to NYC is a priority.

Price Range: Hoping for $65-$75 range, but willing to bid a max of $90 range

I would prefer to keep the Secaucus option as a backup for now as I am not completely comfortable with the fact that it is not on the PATH line. Buses take longer and are not as reliable and we will most likely stay in NYC late both nights so the bus would be a huge inconvenience as we will also want to return to the hotel before dinner to drop off shopping bags. I've taken the PATH train several times before and although the wait time is longer after midnight, it is still a great mode of transportation.

Also, I was wondering what anyone has to say about the possibility of the Hyatt prices dropping in the next few days ??? Wishful thinking...?? I just find the price completely outrageous for that weekend, considering it's not a holiday.

Much thanks!!

[thereuare]

Am i correct that you haven't tried bidding this stay yet at all?

If not, i'd bid:

Select 3* Jersey City...

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

Bid $80.

If you have already bid this let us know the amount and we'll advise from there.

[peridot]

Thanks thereuare.

No, I have not bid on this stay yet...I've just been researching area and prices. I will follow your advice and let you know the outcome.

[peridot]

No Luck :)

Via the SAVINGSBARN.COM link:

8/19/06 - 8/21/06

2 Nights

Selected Jersey City

3*

$75.00 Bid Rejected

Added Re-bid zone Elizabeth

$80.00 Bid Rejected

What do you suggest I do? :)

[blindman]

I'm not the expert :) but if you want to bid to your maximum today

bid a max of $90 range

Then start a new bid selecting 2.5* in Jersey City at $85.

There are no free rebids at this level. :)

This may be the minimum for the Doubletree which is of course a 3*, but you probably will not get the 2.5* but will be 'upgraded'

Good luck

[thereuare]

Next i would try:

Select 3* Jersey City...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90.

If that is rejected start a completely new bid by accessing priceline however you did previously:

Select 2.5* Jersey City....

Bid $65.

Since your stay is only a couple of days away you want to be bidding as soon as possible after your 24 hour lock-out expires in order to maximize the number of bidding opportunities you have.

[peridot]

Thanks. That strategy makes sense to me...I will wait to see what thereuare thinks I should do.

The only thing that worries me is that, in the past, priceline would prompt me right away to up my bid by lets say $10.00. If I was only $5.00 off from the Doubletree, wouldn't they just give me the option to rebid right away - or does that depend on available inventory?

If I rebid at $85.00 and get rejected I will have to wait out the 24 hours - correct? It's strange that the lower rated hotels are more expensive....I'm still not understanding why the prices are so out of whack for my dates...I suppose bidding last minute around this time of year is not a good idea!!

Any suggestions theruare?

[peridot]

theruare:

I just bid this morning - do I have to wait 24 hours to bid again??

[blindman]

Next i would try:

Select 3* Jersey City...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90.

If that is rejected start a completely new bid by accessing priceline however you did previously:

Select 2.5* Jersey City....

Bid $65.

You will have to wait 24hrs for thereuare's first strategy as you have already bid this.

The second one you can bid now, which I suggest you do a.s.ap.

I don't agree with the bid of $65,(I'm no expert :) )but I can see why he's suggesting this as the property has been won at this price, but rarely comes up.

As you are getting late in the day for bidding I suggested $85 hoping for the (usual) upgrade.

If you do win the 2.5 you may have overbid by $20 per night- your choice.

Of course then there's the 2* bid for the previously reported Candlewood Suites.

The rate of recent wins is about $80 they have availability for your dates at $190

May be worth a bid at that level as again there are no rebids.

IMHO this late in the day it's too late to be bothered about possibly overbidding by say $20 per day in order to secure some cheap accomodation.

Good luck!

[peridot]

Once again, NO LUCK :)

Accessed Priceline.com via the SAVINGSBARN.COM website.

Jersey City

3*

Bid $85.00

Rejected

Added Re-bid zone Elizabeth

Bid $90.00

Rejected

Re-accessed Priceline.com via the SAVINGSBARN.COM website.

Jersey City

2.5*

Bid $85.00

Rejected

Added 2*

Bid $80.00

Rejected

I'm guessing that I'll only have a chance of getting any of these hotels if I bid in the $100 range. At this point, my max for that area is $100.00 - I noticed that a few of the hotels dropped a little in price but Hyatt hasn't budged.

I'm not ready to try for Secaucus yet....I'm exploring my other options and I think I will give Jersey City another try tomorrow morning - but raise my bids this time. Hoping for a miracle!!

Any suggestions?!

[blindman]

From your bid history you should be able to start another bid now with just 2* selected and bid $90 (depending on your desparation to get a room here)

At least the Candlewood has free parking.

Secaucus is looking cheaper if less convenient

Good luck

[peridot]

Ok, after much debate we've decided to put Jersey City on the back burner and try our luck for Manhattan. Jersey City prices seem way out of whack and we realized that area and convenience for shopping / restaurants in Manhattan is #1 priority. We've had luck in the past with parking in Manhattan on weekends and will also factor in the cost for parking lot fees if it comes to that. I have noticed on both priceline and hotwire that some 4* hotels have come down substantially in price for my dates ($200-$250) range. I'm hoping to get something in the $110 - $125 range 4*.

I will post a new topic under the New York forum- and please, any advice on bidding strategy would be much appreciated...! :)

[peridot]

Desperately need last minute bidding advice for NYC Saturday, August 19 - Monday, August 21, 2 nights. I've noticed that list prices on priceline and hotwire are quite reasonable for my dates ($200-250 range). Hoping to get a deal!!

I'd like a strategy based on the following:

Price Range: $110 - $125

Rating: 4*

Areas: 1-Upper East Side, 2-Upper West Side, 3-Midtown South, 4-Dowtown Soho

I've never bid for NYC before so any advice would be much appreciated.... :)

Curious to know what thereuare thinks?

Thanks.

[peridot]

I see the 4* Millenium - Lower Manhattan Church Street is listed at $199.00 on Priceline....but I don't understand the priceline maps - would that be downtown Soho district??? I would love to get that hotel...

Edit:

Considering that hotel is in the downtown soho financial district - I would change my preferences as follows:

1-Downtown Soho Financial District

2-Midtown South

3-Upper East Side

4-Upper West Side

[peridot]

As time is of the essence, I did some research and after looking into previous advice from this forum, areas, star ratings and re-bid zones I tried the following:

Accessed Priceline via the Savingsbarn.com site

Downtown Soho Financial District

4*

Bid $110

Rejected

Added re-bid zone

Bid $115

Rejected

Added re-bid zone

Bid $120

Rejected

Re-accessed Priceline

Selected Midtown South

4*

Bid $110 / $115 / $120 (with rebid zones)

Rejected

(I realized that UES and UWS do not offer 4*)

I see some pretty good deals on Hotwire - 3* Soho $134.....wondering about that one - does anyone have a clue? I know I may have a better chance in Midtown but I'd rather not stay in that area - too congested and we often get lucky with parking in downtown / financial district. I have a backup plan for now so I may only try again tomorrow --not willing to bid more than $130 or so. I would be open to trying for a 3*.....need a new strategy......any suggestions?

[thereuare]

What are the amenities associated with the 3* on HOTWIRE?

Where and how much is your back-up?

[peridot]

The Hotwire 3* is $130/night for my dates

Amenities: Fitness Center, Business Center, Restaurant, High Speed Internet

"This midscale establishment offers more than just the basics in style, comfort and customer service."

I'm just a little unsure about the quality of a 3* in Manhattan - if I look on priceline, some 3*'s look like 4* quality and others look more like a 2*. There's also a 4* on Hotwire for $135.00 but in Midtown East.

My backup is my friends couch in Queens....not ideal as their apartment is very small (and we are 2 people)and they have a baby. We would just prefer to fork over money for a hotel. Even though I am 3 days away from my stay I know I can find something....my max bid now would be $130.00. I'm going to continue scouting prices on priceline and hotwire but would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks.

[thereuare]

The 3 Downtown has not yet been identified, but i'd guess it is one of the Holiday Inn properties down there or the Club Quarters. I think you'd be much better off with the 4* hotel in the MTE zone for the same price, which is likely the Inter-Continental The Barclay.

[peridot]

I just lucked out in a huge way!!!

Decided to check Jersey City on Hotwire (via your HOTWIRE link) as Priceline's prices haven't budged. Saw a 4* with a pool and knew it had to be the Hyatt.

Reservation Details:

Hyatt Regency on the Hudson

Jersey City-Hoboken

2 Nights

$97.00

After struggling with bidding strategies for JC and NYC on Priceline - this is a real score!

:)

[thereuare]

Glad to see it finally come thru for you.

Enjoy your stay.