bndlz Posted September 9, 2006 Report Posted September 9, 2006 Another newbie here! Needing some help. Have never used Pricline before. Interested in 4* Midtown West, then Midtown East if nothing accepted. Dates 9/20-9/23. What should my bidding strategy be? Willing to go to $250. (Is that reasonable???)Also, should I be worried about the fees that Pricline tacks on to the cost? I had read on another site that you may have a low bid accepted, but then you get a raw deal with their fees, leading to not so great savings. Thanks for any help offered!!
thereuare Posted September 10, 2006 Report Posted September 10, 2006 Welcome to BetterBidding!To confirm, you want to bid MTW up to your limit and then try MTE? (rather than try for the lowest price available in either the MTW or MTE zones?) I suggest the latter method, unless you have some reason to need to be in the MTW zone.Also, is there a reason you're avoiding the UM/CPS zone? All known 4* hotels in these three zones (MTW, MTE, and UM/CPS) are extremely convenient to mass transit and provide ample ways to get around the city. The more zones you include the more bidding opportunties you have and increase your chances of having success (and at a great deal).Lastly, since your stay is only a week away, do you have a back-up reservation? If so, where and how much? Up until when can it be cancelled without penalty?Let us know the answers to the above and we will be in a position to best advise.PS- regarding the fees, whoever wrote that is probably talking about Resort fees, which i've never heard of being applicable in NYC (ie- no hotels i know in NYC charge resort fees). In areas that do charge resort fees, the deals are still generally fantastic and less than you can book that hotel anywhere else, but the resort fee may be an unexpected expense. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
bndlz Posted September 10, 2006 Author Report Posted September 10, 2006 I am trying for the lowest price available in either MTW or MTE. Have never been to NYC before so that is why I was thinking MTW and MTE, but if UM/CPS is a good area to stay then I would include that in bidding also. Just want a clean decent room in a safe area!I do have a back up reservation at the 414 Inn on west 46th for $200/night. It can be cancelled up to 72 hours in advance. I just don't know know much about it. Would feel more at ease with a larger name hotel with a known quality.
thereuare Posted September 10, 2006 Report Posted September 10, 2006 What is the minimum star rating you're willing to accept?A "clean and safe" hotel means different things to different people. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
bndlz Posted September 11, 2006 Author Report Posted September 11, 2006 I'd be willing to go to 3* but no lower.
thereuare Posted September 11, 2006 Report Posted September 11, 2006 Rates are high for these dates, so much so that i would also consider adding the MTS zone since it gives you more bidding opportunities as well as gives a few more properties the opportunity to accept your bid. This zone goes a bit south of midtown, but sill offers easy access to subways and other mass transit. If this zone is not acceptable don't bid as below and post back, but if it is acceptable i'd bid as follows:At the 3* level you have one re-bid zone. 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* MTE...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTW...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* UM/CPS...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTS...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTE and MTW...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* UM/CPS and MTS...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTE and UM/CPS...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTW and MTS...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTE and MTS...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTW and UM/CPS...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTE and MTS and MTW...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTE and MTS and UM/CPS...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTW and UM/CPS and MTE...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTW and UM/CPS and MTS...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 3* MTW adn UM/CPS and MTS and MTEBid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200.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
bndlz Posted September 11, 2006 Author Report Posted September 11, 2006 First, thanks so much for the help. Very much appreciated!Second, should I not bother with the 4* hotels? Am I not likely to get one in my price range?
thereuare Posted September 11, 2006 Report Posted September 11, 2006 You can try for a 4* first if you'd like, although i'm doubtful you'll have any luck with a $200 limit.Since the range of your bidding isn't too wide, you can substitute 4* for 3* above and loop thru the strategy... if it fails you can then start over from the beginning, trying for a 3*.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
bndlz Posted September 12, 2006 Author Report Posted September 12, 2006 Did not include MTS in bidding. Went up to $190 on 3* in MTW,MTE,UM/CPS with no acceptance.
thereuare Posted September 12, 2006 Report Posted September 12, 2006 Do you have a gameplan from here? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
bndlz Posted September 12, 2006 Author Report Posted September 12, 2006 Not really. Maybe wait a day or two then try again???
thereuare Posted September 13, 2006 Report Posted September 13, 2006 With less than 10 days to go do you have a back-up reservation? If so, where and how much? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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