Priceline Hotel: Failed: NYC 4* 11/12-11/15 bid $325

[jsrieck]

I bid up to $285 for the dates indicated and did not get a bite.

[thereuare]

Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?

If not, at what point is it worth your while to consider a 3 star property?

For example, you could book a 1BR suite at the Beekman Tower for $257/nite for the last nites of your stay... then book a different hotel for your arrival date (and Sunday is usually the least expensive in Manhattan)

Let us know your thoughts on the above.

[darando]

I had to go to $322 - see below.

[thereuare]

Your dates are different than the above.

[darando]

I was just mentioing it as a guide to what I had to go to in November to get a 4*, understand its different dates but over a weekend also.

[jsrieck]

I am not opposed to splitting my bid - I need to spend 11/13-11/15 in the same place as I am in a conference during those days and I don't have time to fool with moving around. However, 11/12 can be anywhere, MTW, CPS, MTE... A 3* would be fine on the 11/13 to 11/15 days, but would like to get a 4* on the first night.

[jsrieck]

Tried again and bid up to $325 at a 4* in MTE - still no takers.

[thereuare]

Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread.

For 11/13-11/15 you can book a 1BR suite at the Beekman Tower for $257/nite. The Beekman generally gets great reviews, but if you price is more important, there are some 3* properties on HOTWIRE for $200-$225.

If that suits your needs you can then look towards the nite of 11/12... HOTWIRE has a 4* hotel in the Times Square area for ~$229/nite (believed to be the Westin) which you can take or try to beat it on Priceline.

If you book the above please use the links in this post and this HOTWIRE link to begin each purchases. (ie- if making two HOTWIRE purchases, please return here after your first purchase and click the link again to begin your second purchase)

Let us know your thoughts on the above, if you want to try priceline to see if you can better either of the above let us know and we'll advise accordingly.

[jsrieck]

I have been using the suggested links each time I have tried on Priceline, I really appreciate what y'all do here.

If I want to get a 3* in MTE on Priceline - how shall I bid?

JTSR

[thereuare]

Is MTE the only zone you're willing to accept a 3* hotel in?

Ideally the more zones you're willing to accept the smaller increments you can use for your bidding (as you only have one Priceline Re-Bidding Explained zone avaialble when bidding 3* in Manhattan)

As well, the 3* properties available on HOTWIRE aren't in the MTE zone... one is in the MTC zone and the other is in the Times Square zone.

[jsrieck]

Yes, MTE is really all I want - I need to go to the Omni Berkshire every morning and looking at the hotel distribution in MTW CPS I could be in for a long walk....

JTSR

[thereuare]

First, how does that Beekman Tower mentioned above work for your plans? If this is acceptable, and you book it as a back-up (so that they don't run out of inventory at this price), we can then use this as your maximum bid.

Is it worth paying more for a hotel in MTE vs. one of the less expensive HOTWIRE hotels mentioned above? Depending upon the location of your hotel, you'll likley only be an inexpensive cab ride away from the Omni, or a $2 subway ride away. Seems to me that the UM/CPS may actually be more convenient than MTE, and if you did bid the MTW zone, seems that you'd be close to the E train which stops at 53rd and Fifth, just a block or two from the Omni.

Just not sure how worthwhile it is for you to pay to be in the MTE zone... and giving you something to think about :)

[jsrieck]

excellent point re: location - I am not from NYC so your help certainly makes opening up the area much better. I have booked the Omni at the conference rate of $400 for a back-up, so what are my options if I look at other areas and want to stay under $400?

JTSR

[thereuare]

For 11/13-11/15 the 3* property for $205/nite (Boutique, Restaurant, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business) is a match for the Paramount Hotel which gets good reviews for location but poor reviews for the size of their rooms which are VERY SMALL. If you're traveling alone it may serve your needs (given the price), but for double occupancy the rooms can get tight. If the id is correct, this hotel would be a 10-15 minute walk (or 2 subway stops) to the Omni. Worse case scenario is a $6 cab ride... so certainly better paying $12 roundtrip then an extra $200/nite for a hotel room :)

Not sure of the other 3* in the Times Square zone as it could be just about anything with thos extremely common amenties.

You can take (either of the above) or also re-consider the Beekman Tower which would be closer to a 15-20 minute walk to the Omni.

You can take any of the above (please use this HOTWIRE link if you do so, or the Beekman link above), or if you're more flexible regarding the location of the hotel, try bidding the MTE, MTW and/or UM/CPS zones via Priceline (although this gives you a bit less control over the specfic property you receive as you can't target or take an educated guess as to the property beforehand). If you want to go that route let us know if MTE, MTW, and/or UM/CPS is acceptable and we'll suggest a strategy to follow.

Once the above is taken care of we'll deal with a 4* for the first nite of your stay as that should be a bit more straightforward.

[jsrieck]

I have decided I'd rather not split nights up, I just won't have time to move things around with the conference going on.

So - please suggest a bidding strategy for a 4* all three nights 11/12 - 11/15 in MTW, MTE, and CPS. No more than $350.

Also, any guesses on what is available in the 4* range for hotwire?

Lets see how the above goes and then I'll switch to 3*.

Thanks for all your help.

JTSR

[thereuare]

Before looking at a 4* (as you may want to lower your maximum bid once you determine if the following would work well for your plans)...

You can book the last two nites of your stay in a 1BR suite at the Beekman Tower for $257/nite... then book the first nite at the same property for $299 (for a Studio Suite... or $319 for a 1BR suite if you want to make sure they won't have you change rooms during your stay thru the affinia.com website). Choosing this option would be significantly lower (averaging $277/nite) than the maximum bid you're considering on Priceline and the reviews are generally quite favorable.

Let us know your thoughts on this option and if you still want to bid on priceline. If you do, are all three zone (MTE, MTW, UM/CPS acceptable) and adjust your maximum bid or keep it at $350?