Priceline Hotel: Bidding Help NYC 10/27-10/30

[rdarke]

I am trying to book a hotel in NYC from 10/26-10/30 and I dont really want to spend over $ 100 per night before taxes. I tried bidding for 4* and going up to $120 and that didn't work. I would like to stay in MTW, MTE, MTS, or UM/CPS.

I have read the information on your website and it is very useful. I checked websites and can't seem to find anything under $300 a night. My backup plan is to stay with a friend in upper Harlem, but I much rather stay in Manhattan. I have a couple of days left and thought I would keep trying.

Now that I am lowering my expectations I will have less rebid opportunites, which makes things difficult. I also don't know where I have the best chances of finding a hotel. It seems like MTW is fairly expensive. Do you have any strategies or suggestions that will increase my chances of getting a good deal.

Thanks.

[thereuare]

Based upon current rates your budget is not enough for a hotel in Manhattan for these dates.

[rdarke]

I am trying to get a room in MTW/MTS/MTE/UCP and have no preference to any of those locations. I have tried bidding and went up to $160 and use the rebid strategy described on the website. I have been trying for a 3* place but am willing to go down to a 2.5*. Do I have a chance at getting a winning bid? I was also thinking to split my bid and booking Sunday night by itself.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

[thereuare]

Is your stay commencing on 10/26 or 10/27?

[rdarke]

I will be in NYC on 10/26 but I am going to stay with a friend the first night because I will be getting in rather late. The rest of the days I would like to stay in a hotel in Midtown.

[thereuare]

You should be able to get something within (or very close to) your budget for Sunday nite alone, but i still think you'll have trouble with the other two nites of your stay. If you search HOTWIRE for just those two nites, the least expensive hotel (at 2.5* or higher) is still at least $100 more than your $160 maximum bid.

Would you consider staying in Jersey City for the first two nites. You can catch the PATH train into the city (8 minute trainride downtown... 15 minutes to midtown) or do you have the ability to raise your maximum bid or some other back-up plan?

[rdarke]

At the moment, the backup plan is stay with a friend that lives in Brooklyn. I'd like to stay downtown otherwise I would just stay in Brooklyn.

I looked rates on Hotwire for the first two nights and the cheapest rate was $247 per night for a 3.5* in Midtown East. The cheapest hotwire rate for Sunday night was $134 for a 3.5* in Midtown South.

I can split my bid an maybe raise my bid by to maybe $170.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[GlennTheBaker]

I've got THIS booked at $175 for those exact same dates if that is any use to you. The reservation is fully cancellable so a useful backup.

[rdarke]

That sounds great. Is it worth it to pursue Priceline further or take the deal?

[thereuare]

I'd take the above for the first two nites... but then consider changing properties for the Sunday nite as you can problably do better for that last nite of your stay (assuming you don't mind changing hotels during your stay)

Do keep mind however that the Marriott above is Downtown, and it can be a little "out of the way" to midtown, especially on the weekends... but for this price it may be worth it. Also note that the link does state it needs to be booked by Sept. 1... although it does appear that this won't stop your reservation from going thru :).