Mr_Conlin Posted July 16, 2007 Report Posted July 16, 2007 We are continuing our attempt to Priceline a room in Manhattan for August 1st through 4th, 2007We have a backup reservation at the Blakely Hotel (7th and 55th UM/CPS), booked directly, and cancellation is possible up to July 30th. Our room rate is $330.00 a night for a one bedroom suite.We have made numerous attempts to book over the last week; the latest today. Our attempts last week started at $140 a night, and closed at $175 a night, with no luck.Clicked into Priceline Name your Own Price through SavingsBarn.com. This was our strategy this morning:Select 4* MTE and MTW...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected close browser and relogSelect 4* UM/CPS and MTS...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected close browser and relogSelect 4* MTE and Downtown...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected close browser and relogSelect 4* MTE and MTS...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected close browser and relogSelect 4* MTW and UM/CPS...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected close browser and relogSelect 4* MTW and Downtown...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected close browser and relogSelect 4* MTE and UM/CPS...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200, if rejected close browser and relogSelect 4* MTW and M/TS...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200, if rejected close browser and relogSelect 4* UM/CPS and Downtown...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200, Rejected--We're sorry, but we can't accept your offer of $200 for a hotel room in the New York City area. Your credit card has not been charged...--I did notice on the Barclay - Intercontinental web site, when comparison shopping, that from the original pricing request to booking a room, the rate dropped $20.00. I am hoping that the hotels will not see the occupancy rate as high as they expect that week. Only time will tell.I will keep posting my activity. Next attempt is at noon PST Tuesday.I hope this helps others.
thereuare Posted July 16, 2007 Report Posted July 16, 2007 Thank you for using the SavingsBarn.com links to begin your bidding.For your back-up reservation, do you need a 1BR suite? I see some other possible viable options that are significantly less, such as the Affinia Manhattan thru GTA Hotels for $244/nite and the reviews are very good (if you book this make sure it's cancellable, which will be shown in the check-out process... they state that "the vast majority of their hotels are cancellable, but the terms will be shown in the check-out process) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Mr_Conlin Posted July 16, 2007 Author Report Posted July 16, 2007 My pleasure using the SavingsBarn Link.I used a number of the support links:EasyClickTravel GTA HotelsHotels.comQuickbookbut did not find any, including the example you have shown above, that was significantly cheaper and have at least 2 beds. This is my standard operating procedure:Since I am traveling with my bride and my 17 year old daughter, the need for at least 2 doubles is critical. The next ideal sleeping arrangement is 2 queens, then 2 kings, then a 1 bedroom with a sofa / sofa bed. We then find the lowest rate for the ideal, which I did with the Blakely. I then figure out how many dollars would be worth our privacy, and in the case of this trip, being a romantic NYC trip, I figured $300.00 to $500.00 for the trip. If I can get a hotel through priceline for around $200.00, I can try my luck charming the front desk staff, with my smile and a $20.00 or a $50.00 to get closer to the ideal. Anything less than $300 is not worth the lack of privacy. That value assigned to privacy is purely subjective, and depends on a number of factors. If my wife is in a great mood :) , the value of $ to privacy increases, if she is just in a good mood :) , the value of $ to privacy decreases.So, since I have a reservation for $330.00 for the ideal, anything between $220 and $330 is not worth the gamble, in my opinion.Mr C
thereuare Posted July 16, 2007 Report Posted July 16, 2007 For your back-up reservation, do you need a 1BR suite? I see some other possible viable options that are significantly less, such as the Affinia Manhattan thru GTA Hotels for $244/nite and the reviews are very good (if you book this make sure it's cancellable, which will be shown in the check-out process... they state that "the vast majority of their hotels are cancellable, but the terms will be shown in the check-out process)I used a number of the support links... but did not find any, including the example you have shown above, that was significantly cheaper and have at least 2 beds.I was only searching for double occupancy... wasn't aware of the need for 2 beds. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Mr_Conlin Posted July 17, 2007 Author Report Posted July 17, 2007 Follow up to my post.I made another attempt this afternoon, clicking through SavingsBarn.com, with no success.I was buoyed by the successes posted describing the 4* Barclay-Intercontinental wins at $130 and $142. This time I started at $130, and made my way up to $180.00. Declined all the way.My questions to you all are:Since the Barclay-Intercontinenttal wins were for this upcoming week (both bid and stay are within a week), is this normal for NYC hotels to give up rooms so close to the stay?Is my 2 weekdays (Wednesday, Thursday) and 1 weekend (Friday) hurting my chances?I can't justify splitting on such a short notice.ThanksL
thereuare Posted July 18, 2007 Report Posted July 18, 2007 This hotel in particular has been releasing inventory clsoe to check-in dates. However, rates for your dates ($400+) are higher than when we typically see this hotel won (either close or in advance of check-in) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Mr_Conlin Posted July 20, 2007 Author Report Posted July 20, 2007 Another Follow up to my post.We tried another attempt this afternoon, clicking through SavingsBarn.com.No Success. We are limiting our Top Bid to $200.00. No one is biting. Don't they know we will drink in their bar and order room service? They'll make money off of me!We will keep trying. Next week will bring us closer to the end date. We'll see what happens.ThanksL
Mr_Conlin Posted July 20, 2007 Author Report Posted July 20, 2007 Ye another follow up to my post.We tried another attempt this afternoon, clicking through SavingsBarn.com.No Success. We see so many wins for $130 to $150, so we limited our Top Bid to $160.00. No one is biting 12 days out. I'll keep trying and posting. Maybe we'll be able to see a trend.L
Mr_Conlin Posted July 27, 2007 Author Report Posted July 27, 2007 And another follow up to our post.We have tried just about every day for a 4* up to $200 a night.We have had no luck.We are going to try 2 more times; Saturday and Monday. I think we are getting turned down because of the 2 Biz days, 1 Weekend day.I have noticed that this search on Expedia is showing more availability than I saw last week. We check against a few sites to see what the inventory is like. The hotel we have for backup, the Blakely New York, seems to be quite reasonable compared to rack and discount rates for comparable hotels. The Blakely is now #11 of 330 hotels in NYC on TripAdvisor. It might be nice. Still trying Priceline, though.L
Mr_Conlin Posted July 28, 2007 Author Report Posted July 28, 2007 I give up. We have diligently tried to bid for our rooms and the latest was this Saturday Morning. We tried up to $220 a night, and each time the response is the 'Thank You for Naming Your Own Price
dahammer Posted July 29, 2007 Report Posted July 29, 2007 check the cancellation policy of your conventional reservation, you can still continue to bid every 24 hours
Mr_Conlin Posted July 29, 2007 Author Report Posted July 29, 2007 Yes, we can cancel up to noon on tuesday, the day prior to check in. That won't be a problem, but I think my wife and daughter have warmed to the separate bedroom and living room. They don't want to gamble that away. A week ago was far enough away to be emotionally detached.We already have Pricelined rooms in Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego for this trip. We've saved quite a bit already, and our airfare are all miles, so splurging on the extra room is worth it. It'll make them smile, and life runs easier with smiling women.L
dahammer Posted July 30, 2007 Report Posted July 30, 2007 and life runs easier with smiling women.Gadzooks! You broke the code :)
Mr_Conlin Posted July 30, 2007 Author Report Posted July 30, 2007 Gadzooks! You broke the code :)Yes I think I did! It is as simple as that.Thanks for all the help, everyone.L
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