Priceline Hotel: Please Help: NYC May 22-28, 3* or 4* for Couple

[jayloc]

Greetings!

I'm new and in urgent need of this board's advice. This is our first time to NY (from Calif), May 22-28, and we still don

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Are you willing to spend up to $200 (before taxes and fees?) for a 4* before trying for a lower rated (and hopefully less expensive) hotel... or are you looking for the least expensive 3* or better hotel?

Let us know and we'll advise accordingly.

[jayloc]

We are looking for the least expensive 3* or better hotel.

[thereuare]

For your complete stay i think your budget is going to be tough... here's what i've go so far:

For 5/24-5/28 you can book the Fitpatrick Grand Central thru Quickbook for $194/nite. You may be able to do a little cheaper for a 3* hotel, but the reviews of this property are great and it's one of the higher rated hotels in NYC.

The problem comes into play for 5/22-5/24 as rates are very expensive for this part of your stay, and there is nothing 'reasonably' priced.

I would try to reserve the Fitzpatrick thru Quickbook since it's refundable, try to get something else to complete your stay for the first two nites, and then you can decide if you want to try to beat the $194 rate for the last four nites.

Are you flexible in your budget at all for the first two nites or could you go even lower in star quality? (knowing the last four nites would be much nicer?)

Your thoughts on the above?

[jayloc]

Thank you so much for your time & help Thereuare!

The Fitzpatrick is just too expensive for the 1st 2 nights & we don't want to move hotels mid-trip. However, I just booked The New Yorker Hotel for 6 nights with a $209 avg. nightly rate as my refundable back up. Whew!

So what strategy do you suggest for getting the best 2* or better room considering the following goals: (1) least cost before taxes/fees; (2) no-share bath; & (3) safe area?

With such high rates & UMT as my only re-bid zone, what base price should I start at for a 2.5*? Is a $140 starting bid, $150 re-bid for 2.5* too low?

[thereuare]

You're not going to be successful at your budget unless you SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID and i'd highly recommend you consider doing so as the New Yorker is prety much a dive with a poor reputation.