Priceline Hotel: 9/30 - 10/4 NYC or Jersey City?

[bagsready]

I want to find accommodations for a vacation visit to NYC - wish to be convenient to Broadway, the Met Opera, and the Met Museum. We've stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City before which was fine, but I see the rates there are high (>$300). If we can get a room at that Hyatt or another hotel in Jersey City for a significant savings, I'd prefer it. Otherwise, I'd bid in Manhattan. Is it likely that we could get a decent room in Jersey City for <$150, or in Manhattan for <$200 for those dates? If I start bidding now, what kind of strategy could I use to bid both areas sequentially? Thanks.

[thereuare]

What is the minimum star rating you're willing to accept in each city? If you're looking at a 4* i think you're budget will likely come up a little short, bu twe can certainly give it a try.

Which area would you like to try first... NYC or Jersey City?

Are you ready to bid now?

[bagsready]

Yes, I'm ready to bid. I'd like to conservatively bid NYC first - UM/CPS, MTW, MTE, MTS, 4* or 3*. In Jersey City, 2 1/2 * would be okay if it's the Courtyard (I don't think I see other 2 1/2*s in JC).

[thereuare]

I'd like to conservatively bid NYC first - UM/CPS, MTW, MTE, MTS, 4* or 3*

Did you want to bid up to your maximum for a 4* and then try for a 3*... or are you looking for the least expensive 3* or better property in the zones above?

Is you current maximum $200?

[bagsready]

I bid up to $190 for a NYC 4* (via savingsbarn) without success. What would you suggest for bidding for the least expensive 3*? How would a 3* in the UES be if I want to go to the Met Museum a fair amount as well as see a show or two?

Current max is $200, but I'm willing to extend that some if that's what it takes as it get closer to the dates.

[thereuare]

Having success in the UES zone would be extremely surprising... we haven't see a 3* win there yet. Chances are that there is only one hotel there participating and it may not load rates very often, and when they do, it is probably not discounted much at all (given that users often bid multiple zones, they always win in nearby zones rather than the UES zone).

The UES zone would be convenient to get to the Met, but not so convenient to the Theater District (well, in NYC nothing is that inconvenient, but in relative terms).

Let us know if you'd like to include the UES zone or not and we will/won't include it in a strategy.

[bagsready]

I can skip the UES. Is the UWS inconvenient to the Met Museum? If not, are there wins in that zone?

[bagsready]

I've bid (via savingsbarn) up to $130 for 2 1/2* or 3* in JC, and up to $230 for a 4* in UM/CPS, MTE, MTW, MTS without success. This is really tedious and time consuming. What do you think is a realistic $ figure for JC, and for a 3* in Manhattan or a 4* in Manhattan.

[thereuare]

What do you think is a realistic $ figure for JC, and for a 3* in Manhattan or a 4* in Manhattan.

What is the best deal you're able to find (thru conventional methods) at each star level? You can use our BetterChecker to help research the rates.

[bagsready]

~230 for a 3*, and ~300 for a 4*.

Some of the UWS hotels seem to have lower rates. Is it difficult to get from the UWS to the Met Museum?

[thereuare]

Some of the UWS hotels seem to have lower rates.

There are no 3* or 4* hotels in the UWS zone... so what hotels are you considering that have lower rates?

Is it difficult to get from the UWS to the Met Museum?

Again, difficult is relative in NYC as anything is just a cab ride away... but the issue is that you have to get to the other side of the park (Central Park) and there is no subway service that goes crosstown (East/West) above 60th Street, so you either need to take a taxi or bus thru the park (there are a couple of roads that give east/west access thru the park) or travel south (below 60th St), then crosstown (to the east side), then north back up towards the Met.

[bagsready]

Hmm, the UWS hotel I was considering for a backup had a low rate only for a room with a shared bath. Anyway. I think the UWS wouldn't be convenient enough since there isn't a crosstown subway. I have a cancellable backup for the Travel Inn for $227 (before taxes, etc). What do you think are realistic $$ figures for JC 2 1/2 - 3, or UM/CBS, MTW, MTE, MTS 3* or 4*? I'd prefer to try for the least expensive 3* in NYC while I continue to try in JC.

[thereuare]

I wouldn't bid these figures outright as we always recommend following a bidding strategy with strategic increases, but i'm guessing you're probably in the $225 area for a 3* and the $275 area for a 4*. Jersey City isn't going to offer any bargains either as the 3* hotels there are at $300+ thru conventional means.