theskypatrol Posted July 6, 2007 Report Posted July 6, 2007 I was thinking of using Priceline to find a nice hotel (at least 3*, but 4* preferred) for my fiance and I in New York City from September 16-19, 2007. What kind of prices do you think I could expect? Any advice on how I should bid for a nice 4* hotel? I've never used Priceline and could use any advice I could get.
thereuare Posted July 6, 2007 Report Posted July 6, 2007 Welcome to BetterBidding!What area(s) would you consider staying in? What type of rates are you seeing thru conventional booking channels? What would be your maximum budget (per nite before fees and taxes) for a 'opaque' purchase? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
theskypatrol Posted July 6, 2007 Author Report Posted July 6, 2007 Well, I don't know New York at all... we will be in flying into NYC, so will be using subway for all transportation. We are in town for a concert in Central Park, so anywhere convenient to that area.From the research I've done, the lowest I've seen for hotels that I'd like to stay is the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers at $251 a night. As far as budget... we're hoping to get the price per night under $200. Is this hope unreasonable? From what I understand about Priceline, we would bid for a 4* hotel in a certain area, but the specific hotel is undetermined until you accept the offer.
thereuare Posted July 6, 2007 Report Posted July 6, 2007 From the research I've done, the lowest I've seen for hotels that I'd like to stay is the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers at $251 a night. Where did you find that rate? Best rate on the Sheraton Website for your dates is $425/nite!we would bid for a 4* hotel in a certain area, but the specific hotel is undetermined until you accept the offer.Almost right... you bid for a certain area and select the price, but then the ball is in Priceline's court... if a hotel accepts your offer you then own the hotel room (you don't find out the hotel and then decide of you want to accept it or not). If you haven't see it yet, start here: I've Never Used Priceline or HotwireRead the above thread and then let us know regarding the pricing you mentioned... we'll then take it from there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
theskypatrol Posted July 7, 2007 Author Report Posted July 7, 2007 I got the price from Orbitz.The thread for new Priceline users is very informative, thanks... that's a very good starting point for me.The Sheraton website you gave above is also showing $251. I wonder how we are getting different prices.
thereuare Posted July 8, 2007 Report Posted July 8, 2007 OK, let's back up... are you searching 9/16-9/19 (aka- September 16-September 19)On a side note, due to copyright you can't post screen captures on the board. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
theskypatrol Posted July 8, 2007 Author Report Posted July 8, 2007 Sorry about the screen caps... Ummm, yes... searching for 9/16-9/19.
thereuare Posted July 10, 2007 Report Posted July 10, 2007 theskypatrol,The prices you're quoting above are for 9/13-9/16 but you posted that your dates are 9/16-9/19... which are the correct dates of your stay? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
theskypatrol Posted July 10, 2007 Author Report Posted July 10, 2007 theskypatrol,The prices you're quoting above are for 9/13-9/16 but you posted that your dates are 9/16-9/19... which are the correct dates of your stay?I'm sorry... the dates we will be in NYC are 9/13-9/16... sorry for the error. That probably confused a lot of things... we were going to go on those dates, but we will now be going from 9/13-9/16.
thereuare Posted July 10, 2007 Report Posted July 10, 2007 Now that we have the pricing and dates straightened out your $200 budget is more realistic than for the other dates i thought you were looking at.Which zone(s) are you willing to accept? Most visitors to the city consider MTE, MTW and UM/CPS to all be centrally located, and these are the zones most of our users bid. I don't think you'll need your hotel to be too close to Central Park and there is plenty of transportation to that area, but you'll need to look at the priceline zones to determine which one(s) you're comfortable staying in.Let us know the zones you're willing to accept and we'll suggest a startegy for you to follow. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
theskypatrol Posted July 10, 2007 Author Report Posted July 10, 2007 It doesn't matter where we stay as long as it's pretty convenient to different places to see, so it looks like MTE, MTW, MTS and UM/CPS are the best bets. A couple of questions... 1) is it more or less expensive to stay during the week as opposed to the weekend? And... 2) how much of a difference is there between a 3* and 4* hotel in NYC?
thereuare Posted July 11, 2007 Report Posted July 11, 2007 1) is it more or less expensive to stay during the week as opposed to the weekend?In very general terms weekends are usually a little less expensive than midweek, but in NYC there almost always 'something' happening (conferences, events, conventions, etc, etc) which can easily make the previous statement appear to not be the case. So it's very date specific, although one rule that does seem to hold true is seasonality pricing in NYC... spring and fall see a sharp increase in rates.2) how much of a difference is there between a 3* and 4* hotel in NYC?Typically not much of a difference at all... but once again, this is not a 'hard and fast' rule, as there are frequent exceptions.Are your plans and dates firm that you're ready to begin bidding now? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
theskypatrol Posted July 11, 2007 Author Report Posted July 11, 2007 Are your plans and dates firm that you're ready to begin bidding now?We'll probably be ready to begin bidding in a couple of days, after work schedules etc. are finalized. I'll let you know in this thread. Thanks man, you've already been a great help.
theskypatrol Posted July 13, 2007 Author Report Posted July 13, 2007 We'll probably be ready to begin bidding in a couple of days, after work schedules etc. are finalized. I'll let you know in this thread. Thanks man, you've already been a great help.Ok, time to begin bidding, but with a FINAL change of plans... We will be in NYC from Tuesday, September 11 until Friday, September 15, checking out Saturday morning. (I know I've changed the dates a lot, but it was hard to figure out when me and my fiance could both get away from work). Anyway, do you think these new dates will change our bidding strategies... and, if so, in what way?
thereuare Posted July 13, 2007 Report Posted July 13, 2007 Rates are higher for this new set of dates and i think your chances of success decrease somewhat than for the other set of dates.These dates are set now and you're ready to begin bidding? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
theskypatrol Posted July 13, 2007 Author Report Posted July 13, 2007 Well, a 3* would be acceptable if we are unable to land a 4* for a decent price.
thereuare Posted July 13, 2007 Report Posted July 13, 2007 So to make sure we have it right...Zones: MTE, MTW, UM/CPS, or MTSStars: first try for a 4*, if rejected try for a 3*Max Bid: $200Timeframe: you're ready to bid nowIs all the above correct? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
theskypatrol Posted July 14, 2007 Author Report Posted July 14, 2007 Well, I'm not sure I'd want to go to $200 for a 3*, but if it really came down to that, we don't really have a choice. So... the above is correct, we are ready to begin bidding.
thereuare Posted July 14, 2007 Report Posted July 14, 2007 So we'll start with a 4* strategy and then if that fails we'll cross the 3* question(s) when we get there.You have two re-bid zones available when bidding 4* in NYC. 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 $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* UM/UPS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTW...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* UM/CPS and MTS...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and UM/CPS...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and MTS...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTS...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and UM/CPS...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTW and MTS and UM/CPS...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200.Any questions feel free to ask.Good Luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
theskypatrol Posted July 15, 2007 Author Report Posted July 15, 2007 Ok, sorry for what may be an ignorant question, but, I'm a little confused about how to figure out which of the zones are re-bid zones. If you could shed a little light on the subject, that would be great.
theskypatrol Posted July 15, 2007 Author Report Posted July 15, 2007 To clarify, I read the Priceline Re-Bidding Explained thread and it says to select the zone that you are inquiring about and then go to the next page. I'm trying to do that with no luck. Am I supposed to select the zone AND select a quality and price, and then go to the next page?
thereuare Posted July 16, 2007 Report Posted July 16, 2007 From Priceline Re-Bidding Explained:(NOTE: for most users Priceline has updated their interface making the above process easier... simply check a zone and note the highest star rating available within each zone, UNcheck that zone and checkmark the next zone, repeating the process)So you just click a zone and then look below to see the highest star rating that is avaialble to be selected (ie- not greyed out).... then UNcheck the zone you selected, check the next zone, and repeat the process.Does this make it clearer? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
theskypatrol Posted July 16, 2007 Author Report Posted July 16, 2007 OK, I figured out what was going on. In 'Safari' (Macintosh Default Browser), it wasn't greyed out. So I used 'Firefox' and it worked fine. I'll let you know how it goes.
theskypatrol Posted July 17, 2007 Author Report Posted July 17, 2007 Well, I went through the whole process that you layed out for me... (went through savingsbarn.com for each round)No luck... So, I guess we could settle for 3*, though I don't know if I would want to go all the way to $200. What do you think of our options at this point?
thereuare Posted July 17, 2007 Report Posted July 17, 2007 What would your maximum bid be for a 3* hotel?I don't know if i'd go as high as $200 for a 3 star at this point in time, but i also don't think $200 is a "sure thing" by any means either and it may even take more than that for a 3* at this point in time.Do you have a back-up reservation anywhere? (if so, where and how much?) What is the best rate you can find thru traditional booking methods? (use our BetterChecker to assist in your search) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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