Priceline Hotel: 4* NYC (MTW) Hilton Times Square

[GAME]

I am having no luck booking hotel on

25th Nov 06 - 1st December for 6 nights

4 star i am looking at in MTW area ideally

but will consider a 3 star

any hep would be appreciated

$140 has been rejected.

thanks

[thereuare]

Your current bids up to $140 for these dates will not be enough as it is the beginning of one of the busiest times in NYC.

Do you have a back-up reservation anyplace? If so, where and how much?

What is your maximum bid?

I think you should seriously consider other midtown zones as well as a more realistic maximum bid. If you're not successful with the opaque suppliers, where will you stay and how much will it cost?

[GAME]

i have not got a backup yet

but i am beginning to look

i have bidded up to $210 still no joy

can you help me with a strategy

thanks

[thereuare]

What is your maximum bid?

Are you willing to bid other zones besides MTW? (have you included other zones in your $210 bid above?)

[GAME]

i have including MTS as well and bidded on 4 and 3 star

other areas i am not that sure of

thanks

[thereuare]

What is your maximum bid?

(3rd time)

For the typical tourist MTE, MTW, and UM/CPS should all be fine at the 4* level. At the 3* level the previously reported Millenium UN in the MTE zone is a bit east, but still not too far of a walk to mass transit (can even take a public bus to the subway). When bidding gets difficult due to high demand, like for these dates, adding the MTS zone is also recommended. Have you seen/read the Priceline NYC Zone Descriptions thread?

[GAME]

my maximum bid has been $230 max for a 4star with MTW and UMT that is all i have tried

what strategy would you recommend ?

I want a hotel quite close to attractions - its my first time in new york

I appreciate your help, i will look at the link

thanks

[thereuare]

To suggest a strategy we'll first need to know if you're willing to add other zones... otherwise you may end up paying more than you need to.

As i have often said elsewhere on the board, just about any midtown location is 'good' for the typical tourist as NYC mass transportation is readily available and fairly inexpensive.

[GAME]

Desperation needs lead to deperate measures

fire away with your strategy any Midtown location with pricing that you recommend

thanks

:)

[thereuare]

To clarify what you have already tried... you have not bid for 3* hotels yet?

Did you first want to go up to your maximum bid ($230) for a 4* hotel, and then if not accepted, try for a 3*... or did you want the least expensive "3* or better" you can get?

Let us know and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

[GAME]

a couple of days ago i bid on 3* and 4* both in MTW and UMT

maxing at the $210 not 230 dollars sorry mistake

I do prefer a 4* but if i go for a 3* plus would i get the hotels that have real small room thats the only thing. but as i am desperate for a good quality hotel for 6 nights any recommendations would be good

By the way anyone else struggling goto travelzoo.com and click on new york the shoreham have a special price on selected dates $199 a night check the link out

http://hotels.travelzoo.com/new-york-hotels/255690

admin please remove if i am not allowed to post the link above

i have booked 3 nights so far at the SHOREHAM as thats all i can have so i want to get 6nights in one place through priceline

hopefully otherwise i will book another as a backup in next couple of days then keep hoping for priceline

at least i have a backup

I am interested in all Midtown areas now i can go for bidding upto $210 4*, if i can base the strategy on this

if you think i might be better off including 3* then i will go with that.

cheers

cheers

[thereuare]

You can try as follows:

At the 4* level you have two 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 4* MTE...

Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTW...

Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* UM/CPS...

Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTS...

Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTE and MTW...

Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $175, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* UM/CPS and MTS...

Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $175, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTE and UM/CPS...

Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $190, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTW and MTS...

Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $190, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTE and MTS...

Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $205, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTW and UM/CPS...

Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $205, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select MTW and UM/CPS and MTE and MTS...

Bid $210.

If the above fails, you may want to loop thru it all again for just the three nites you can't get at the Shoreham.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

[GAME]

I Have read the link what would be my rebid zones say to the example above

i dont understand if you can point it out this would be appreciated

[thereuare]

You need to know how to check your re-bid zones yourself as they should be checked before every bidding cycle.

If you need help with the concept, list each zone within NYC and the highest star level available in each zone, using this technique from Priceline Re-Bidding Explained:

The way to check what star levels are available in each zone is to open a Priceline page, check ONLY the zone you are inquiring about, and then proceed to the next page (as if you were going to select a zone)... this will give you the available star ratings in that area. You can then hit BACK on your browser, uncheck the current box, check the next box, and repeat the process. It is important to do this before EACH attempt at adding a zone that you really don't want, as new hotels can be added and the star ratings can change at any time.

[GAME]

as to priceline order

the below all have 4 star zones apart from uws this is classed as a rebid zone is that right

DT-soho

MTE

MTS

MTW

UES

UMT-CPS

UWS

MTW UM/CPS MTE MTS i am interested in but if i use DT as a free rebid i might end uo with a 4star in that area

thats what i dont understand is that a freebid zone

[thereuare]

Next to each zone list the highest star rating hotel in that zone (using the technique above).

We've done this hundreds times, so you will understand it when by the time we are thru, but please take the steps outlined above, even if they seem trivial (and because you have a mistake in one of your zones above) :)

[GAME]

higheststar

DT-soho 4

MTE 4 x

MTS 4 x

MTW 4 x

UES 3

UMT-CPS 4 x

UWS 3

x marks the areas i am interested in

does this mean my rebid zone say is UWS as its a 3 star and UES

Select 4* MTW...

Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...(uws) is that right

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...(UES) is that right

Bid $160, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

and you use these on each rebid

[thereuare]

Yes, you have your re-bid zones correct... but also note that the highest star rating in UWS is only 2.5*. So it is indeed one of your re-bid zones, but make sure you see this zone as having a high of only 2.5* just to confirm you understand how to check :)

Now onto the bidding....

GOOD LUCK!

[GAME]

thanks for all your help now i understand it

i will let you kneo how i get on

[GAME]

I tried upto even $230 onmy last one with 2 rebids

no joy

dam oh well any other suggestions please

[thereuare]

Did you try bidding for the last 3 nite of your stay too or only the complete 6 nite stay?

Next option boils down to:

1) wait it out

2) lower star rating

3) add Downtown at the 4* level

4) SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID

[GAME]

just the 6 night as that is what i want ideally

i just booked shoreham as it was a good - once i find something decent i will cancel

how long should I wait

if i add downtown then i might end up in downtown plus it will be far from attractions

[thereuare]

Yes, Downtown is not a re-bid zone... if you include it you could end up there.

You can bid again every 24 hours, unless you change your dates at which point you can bid again immediately.

It's "far" from midtown in the sense that you wouldn't want to walk it (4 or 5 miles)... but mass transit in NYC is very good, and you can be in midtown in 15-20 minutes via subway; but you do lose that "NYC feel" as it gets quiet at nite. Depends really what "attractions" you want to see and do.

Your rate at the Shorehams is a good one... i would be included to SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID and try for another hotel for the balance of your stay; but it's not my trip so you'll have to decide of that's something you're willing to do (at present it sounds as if you'd rather not). While some view moving hotels mid-trip a 'hassle', it also provides the benefit of seeing/staying in a different part of the city.

Just my .02.

[GAME]

regards to splitting the stay

is there any particular hotel you recommend thats not too pricey as a backup then if i am successful i will just cancel

looking 3 nights remainder 28nov-1dec

i am getting hotelfobia LOL

[thereuare]

Thur Quikbook you can book the Envoy Club for $229/nite or the Paramount for $280/nite... both offer "Book Now Pay Later" rates so they're cancellable without penalty. The Holiday Inn Midtown is also available for $260/nite.