klmr1 Posted December 31, 2006 Report Posted December 31, 2006 I'm going to try to bid on priceline for a hotel in NYC for April 27 and 28, 2007. But, I've read that I need to make a confirmed reservation just in case. Can anyone recommend a hotel in either MTE or MTW? I was hoping to get a 4* in these areas for around $150 on priceline. Any suggestions on a hotel that might be 3* or 4* that wouldn't be too much more? Thanks!
klmr1 Posted December 31, 2006 Author Report Posted December 31, 2006 Hi! I saw a reply to a question that is similar to my question. I was wondering if you could clarify something for me. I'm going to try to get a 4* in NYC (MTE or MTW) for April 27th and 28th. I would like to make my max bid for $150-$160. I was going to try your recommendation below. See questions in red. Thanks!When bidding 4* in NYC you have two re-bid zones available. 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 $110, if rejected add re-bid zone... (What do I add to my re-bid? Do I change the zone to a zone that does not have a 4* hotel or do I try MTW?) Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously. (Will I have to wait 72hrs now that I've been rejected?)Select 4* MTW...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTW...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150.Basically, I'm confused...how do I bid all of these times without having to wait the 72 hours...or has priceline changed their policy. Also, how do I change my re-bid zone that many times?
thereuare Posted December 31, 2006 Report Posted December 31, 2006 Let's take it one step at a time:First you need to understand re-bidding, which is explained here: Priceline Re-Bidding ExplainedRead thru that thread and let us know if you can figure out your re-bid zones... if not, let us know at what point you are getting hung up (even if at the very beginning :) ) and we'll break it down for you.Is there a reason your avoiding the UM/CPS zone?Additionally...Bidding strategy are date specific, so it's not necessarily a good idea to follow a strategy that is provided for somebody else which are for different dates than your own (ie- for your dates i doubt we'd recommend jumping $20 after the first failed bid) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
klmr1 Posted January 1, 2007 Author Report Posted January 1, 2007 I read the information and will try it out tomorrow. I already tried it once (before you replied), but I don't think I did it right. I'll wait the 24 hours and try again. I've only stayed in NYC once and at that time, I stayed in the MTE zone. I really liked it, but I don't really know a lot about the UM/CPS. Is that a good area as well? I just want to be fairly close to "everything". :)Thanks for your help.
thereuare Posted January 1, 2007 Report Posted January 1, 2007 I don't think I did it right. I'll wait the 24 hours and try again.Thenk you should ask question(s) and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before bidding again.I think the UM/CPS area is just as convenient as the MTE and MTW areas, of course, dependend upon exactly what you want to go, see, and do. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
klmr1 Posted January 2, 2007 Author Report Posted January 2, 2007 The reason I don't think I did it right is that I added MTW as my first rebid zone. After reading your reply, I realized that I should have used zones w/o a 4* hotel since that is what I was going for. I tried again today and did the process right but was still turned down for up to $135. I'm sure I could have bid higher, but I think it might still be early since I'm not going until late April. I started w/$110, then $120, then $135. As for the UM/CPS zone...the only thing that is a high priority is head to the American Girl store. My children are going with us, so this trip is geared toward them. If it is centrally located, I'll definitely add that to my bid zones. Thanks again for all of your help!
thereuare Posted January 2, 2007 Report Posted January 2, 2007 You can easily and inexpensively get to the American Girl store from just about any midtown location.Do you know which zone(s) are your re-bid zones? What is your maximum bid that you are currently willing to bid.We'll then suggest a strategy for you to follow. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
klmr1 Posted January 2, 2007 Author Report Posted January 2, 2007 If I've figured it out correctly, my rebid zones are the Upper East and Upper West. Those are the only two zones that don't have a 4* or higher. So, if I'm bidding on MTE, MTW, or UM/CPS, my maximum bid right now is $140. I don't mind going up later, but since it is so early, I think I'd like to stay around that number. What do you think? Is that unrealistic?Thanks again!
thereuare Posted January 3, 2007 Report Posted January 3, 2007 Based upon current rates i'm doubtful you'll be successful.What is the best deal you can find thru conventional methods? (use our BetterChecker to assist in your rate search). Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
klmr1 Posted January 3, 2007 Author Report Posted January 3, 2007 On the BetterChecker, the cheapest rate is in Midtown East at $249. Midtown Central is $289. Times Square is $394.Based on your experience, is it better to wait another few weeks or will prices go down between now and then? I'm wondering if I should go ahead and bite the bullet and increase my max bid or be patient....which isn't my virtue! :) Thanks.
thereuare Posted January 3, 2007 Report Posted January 3, 2007 On the BetterChecker, the cheapest rate is in Midtown East at $249. Midtown Central is $289. Times Square is $394.Huh? :) At what hotels are those rates from? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
klmr1 Posted January 3, 2007 Author Report Posted January 3, 2007 Ok, I know you must think I'm an idiot. Please bear with me! I messed up above, and on BetterChecker I hit return after entering my dates and it took me to Hotwire. So, that is what those prices are for. Now, after redoing it, Grand Hyatt: $259, Intercontinental Barclay $252, those are the cheapest 4* that I can find.
thereuare Posted January 3, 2007 Report Posted January 3, 2007 This is how i would bid...Select 4* MTE...Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW...Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* UM/CPS...Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTW...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and UM/CPS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTW and UM/CPS...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone... Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145 (if you want to bid this high at this point).Any questions feel free to ask.Good Luck and let us know how it goes.ttt Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
huskie26 Posted January 4, 2007 Report Posted January 4, 2007 Please let me know how this works out for these dates. I too am going to NYC over that weekend. I have been lurking on this board for a couple of days wondering some of the same questions you are asking.
klmr1 Posted January 5, 2007 Author Report Posted January 5, 2007 I will let you know if anything happens. I bid again today (by clicking the www.savingsbarn.com link :) ) No luck yet. But, it is early, so hopefully, I'll get something soon.
klmr1 Posted January 5, 2007 Author Report Posted January 5, 2007 I've never had this type of offer but have read about it within these posts. At what point does priceline make these type of offers? Is it when you are bidding closer to your exact dates or closer to the price they are willing to accept? Thanks!
thereuare Posted January 5, 2007 Report Posted January 5, 2007 It's price related, not time related... but is also somewhat random. You can be $1 away from acceptance and not receive any counter-offer, while somebody $20 away can receive a counter-offer. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
klmr1 Posted January 19, 2007 Author Report Posted January 19, 2007 I'm going to try to bid again today...so far have had no luck. I took a break for about a week to see if prices go down.I do have another question. I'm guessing that I include it within this thread. 1. I realize that Priceline does not guarantee two double beds. So, what are the normal results...one double bed or one king bed? 2. The last time I bid on Priceline (about 1 year ago...also for NY), I got a room at the Intercontinental and was able to request double beds. So, I'm also wondering how agreeable other 4* hotels are...what is the norm? Thanks!
thereuare Posted January 19, 2007 Report Posted January 19, 2007 I don't think most hotels, especially at the 4* level in NYC, would give you one double bed and consider that 'double occupancy' (you may get this at lower star rated hotels). Most NYC hotel rooms are fitted with 1 Queen, 1 King, or 2 Doubles. What you get is dependent upon a LOT of factors, including occupancy levels, mood of check-in clerk at time of check-in, your mood at check-in, percent of rooms at the property that have your desired preference, etc, etc. For further discussion on this topic see the related links (2 beds in a room, smoking/non-smoking) in our PRICELINE FAQ. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
klmr1 Posted February 19, 2007 Author Report Posted February 19, 2007 I have followed the above strategy through savings barn many times over the past month and a half with no luck. Today, I followed the same strategy with higher bids. I started at $150 and went to $215 with no luck. Should I keep trying this for awhile longer or should I go ahead and go higher than $215? I can't figure out if the hotel prices are going to go down or even higher. I am afraid to wait too much longer. I do NOT have a cancelable back up. Thanks!
thereuare Posted February 20, 2007 Report Posted February 20, 2007 Early in this thread we suggested that your previous bidding limit wouldn't be enough... you've since raised your maximum bid but didn't book a cancellable back-up.You really need to find a suitable back-up as that should help determine your maximum bid amount... you can choose an educated maximum bid without knowing what your next best alternative will cost. You can use our BetterChecker to help in your back-up hotel rate search. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
klmr1 Posted February 20, 2007 Author Report Posted February 20, 2007 You are right, you did suggest that my max might not be enough. I didn't mind bidding more, I just figured I would take it slow. I have booked a back-up at the San Carlos Hotel for $269/night. This is a deluxe double bed room. $269 is definitely more than I would like to pay, but I do like the hotel and think it might be a good location for us. I booked this through your Quickbook link.
thereuare Posted February 20, 2007 Report Posted February 20, 2007 So now, based upon your back-up reservation, how high are you willing to bid?Have you gone up to $215 only for 4* properties or have you also bid up to that amount for a 3* as well? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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