roboron Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 I'm trying to get a handle on what my options are for bidding for a 4 star hotel in NYC for 2 nights from 8/7/07 to 8/9/07. I've looked through BetterChecker and HOTWIRE and rates all seem to be around $300-$350. First of all, are there any considerations to bidding for a room that will accommodate 4 (2 adults and 2 children) in NYC? I know that rooms tend to be on the smaller side and that there are many more choices if there were only 2 of us. Most of the bidding strategies i'm seeing on the forum seem to top out at $150, but is that reasonable for what we are looking for? I suppose we could go for 2 rooms if there were more options and the price were around $125. Our only area criteria is that I'd rather not be on the Upper East or West Side because we won't be that long in the City and would rather have the flexibility see more in less time.Thanks for any suggestions.
AaronJB Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 It is generally not recommended to bid for 1 room for 4 people in major cities because you very well may end up with 1 bed in a small room, no matter what you bid on. You *can* bid on Priceline in this situation, but just know that you may end up with 1 bed in a small room. Additionally, what other people have been bidding has no effect on your bid, as different dates are a totally different situation from one another, with different traffic and different prices. If these are really busy dates, you are going to likely have to bid/pay more for a room. $150 may not be enough; board moderator thereuare can help with a bidding strategy. Have you tried bidding yet at all?HOTWIRE (a service similar to Priceline) allows one to search for 4 people in the room, but it doesn't have much to offer these dates, aside from a 3* in MTS for $184.
roboron Posted July 9, 2007 Author Report Posted July 9, 2007 Yes, I was afraid of that. Not sure why these dates seem so busy, but I may have to try to get 2 rooms until I reach the same price I would pay for a guaranteed room that would accommodate 4 persons.Thanks.
thereuare Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 What is the best rate you're able to find for a room with quad occupancy? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
roboron Posted July 9, 2007 Author Report Posted July 9, 2007 What is the best rate you're able to find for a room with quad occupancy?Wow, 4 people is harder than I thought! Went to Quickbook and got a lot of 2 double beds (which is too small for us). Then went to Orbitz and found Murray Hill East $329 and Sheraton Manhattan at Times Square $362. Although I'm not crazy about Sheratons in general. For that much money I think we can get a nicer place if we get two rooms via Priceline - although I could be mistaken.Thanks.
thereuare Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 Now you see why we often warn about booking one room for double occupancy when in fact there will be more.How high would you be willing to go (per room per nite) on priceline if you went for 2 rooms? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
roboron Posted July 9, 2007 Author Report Posted July 9, 2007 Would $150 per/room per/night be realistic? We can do $175 if we really had to.
thereuare Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 We can try... let us know which zone(s) you're willing to bid and we'll 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
roboron Posted July 9, 2007 Author Report Posted July 9, 2007 We can try... let us know which zone(s) you're willing to bid and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.Thanks! I'd like to stay in the following - start with 4 star and go down to 3 star if that would keep me below $150:Midtown SouthUpper Midtown - Central Park SouthMidtown EastMidtown WestDowntown - SoHo - Financial District
thereuare Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 As the Financial District is 'removed' from the rest of the midtown zones you're considering, is this a prefered area or a 'last resort'? I'm assuming you want to try the midtown zones for a 4* up to your maximum bid of $150, and if that is rejected, then lower your star level to a 3 star (if this is not correct please let us know). The question is if you would sooner prefer a 4* hotel in the Downtown area vs. a 3* hotel is Midtown?Let us know and we'll advise accordingly. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
roboron Posted July 9, 2007 Author Report Posted July 9, 2007 I don't mind at all staying Downtown and would rather be in a 4* downtown than a 3* Midtown. From everything I've been researching - a 3* in NYC can be a lot iffier than a 4*. But, I know I can't be too choosy.Thanks!
thereuare Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 At the 4* level 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 and MTW...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTS and UM/CPS...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 Downtown...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 UM/CPS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTS and MTW...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and Downtown...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTW and UM/CPS...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 MTS and Downtown...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 and UM/CPS and MTS...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTW and UM/CPS and Downtown...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTW and UM/CPS and MTS and Downtown...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155 (if you'd like to try the extra $5/nite before lowering to 3 stars).I'd give the above a shot and then if rejected you can repeat substituting 3* above (you only have one re-bid zone at the 3* level... but since your budget is currently likley low for these dates we only used one re-bid zone at the 4* level so that you can simply repeat)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
roboron Posted July 9, 2007 Author Report Posted July 9, 2007 Good Luck and let us know how it goes.Thanks so much - I'll let you know how it goes!
roboron Posted July 9, 2007 Author Report Posted July 9, 2007 2 rooms 2 nights at 3* Roosevelt Hotel New York for $130 for 8/7/07 - 8/9/07Whew!Went through the whole strategy at 4* up to $155 (using Upper East Side as my re-bid zone) with no takers. As you suggested started from the beginning again with 3* (again using Upper East Side as the re-bid since there was only one 3* property in that area) and got up to $130 before it was accepted. I'm pretty happy with this and really appreciate the help. Went through SavingsBarn.com every time.Thanks!!!!
AaronJB Posted July 9, 2007 Report Posted July 9, 2007 Awesome win! Lowest regular rate is $270, so you saved a little over half off! :) Plus, great location!
thereuare Posted July 10, 2007 Report Posted July 10, 2007 Congratulations on your win!A very good rate for this property relative to other current rates available at this time.Thank you for sharing your results with the board and for using the SavingsBarn.com PRICELINE links to begin your bidding.Enjoy your stay in NYC!PS- you're also not far from my usual breakfast reco: try Ess-A-Bagel on Third Ave at 51st St, one of the best bagels in the city and makes for a great, inexpensive, breakfast Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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