Priceline Hotel: Brooklyn 3 Star Questions

[wagmore]

Hello. This forum has been very helpful, I'm down to the more detailed questions. When I use the regular (not name your price) area for Priceline it offers 3 area options for Brooklyn. When I go to name your own price it offers more. I want to use the free bid capability by adding select areas, but don't want to mess up and get a hotel in the wrong area. Any suggestions to best control this? Currently Marriott Brooklyn is only 3 star for Brooklyn and Bayside, but I'm not sure of Long Island City and Elmhurst since I can't look them up under those names. My goal is to bid up over time on Marriott until I either get it, or it is too expensive for my tastes.

Thanks so much, this FORUM has been VERY VERY helpful.

[wagmore]

I posted this in New York area, but think it may also be relevant as a general issue, and can be answered as such here if anybody knows the best techniques. I'm a new member today but have been studying the site for a couple of days. You folks are amazing, can't wait to save!

When I use the regular (not name your price) area for Priceline it offers 3 area options for Brooklyn. When I go to name your own price it offers more. I want to use the free bid capability by adding select areas, but don't want to mess up and get a hotel in the wrong area. Any suggestions to best control this? Currently Marriott Brooklyn is only 3 star for Brooklyn and Bayside, but I'm not sure of Long Island City and Elmhurst since I can't look them up under those names. My goal is to bid up over time on Marriott until I either get it, or it is too expensive for my tastes.

Thanks so much, this FORUM has been VERY VERY helpful.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Currently Marriott Brooklyn is only 3 star for Brooklyn and Bayside, but I'm not sure of Long Island City and Elmhurst since I can't look them up under those names

DON'T use the 'retail' (ie- non-opaque) version of priceline to determine what you will get thru the 'name your own price' version. For more info see the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

I want to use the free bid capability by adding select areas, but don't want to mess up and get a hotel in the wrong area.

The correct way to determine your re-bid zones is expalined here: Priceline Re-Bidding Explained.

Please read the link above and ask any questions that you have. When bidding 3* in Brooklyn you have three re-bid zones available. Try to figure them out thru the above link, or ask questions if you're confused, and we will either break the process down further or confirm which three you think are your re-bid zones.

[wagmore]

I think I

[thereuare]

All of your re-bid zones above are currently correct.

Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option for this stay?

Also, is staing directly in Manhattan only worth $10 more to you than staying in Brooklyn and $20 more than staying in Jersey City? While Jersey City is a great alternative to Manhattan, i think the savings would need to be more than $10-$20 to make staying outside of the city worthwhile.

Also, are you eligible for AAA discounts, government rates, or senior citizen discounts?

[wagmore]

Thanks for rebid confirmation.

Split stay is possible but we have children (2 parents, 2 young teens, thus 2 rooms) so not preferred unless cost savings warrant. If you feel we could benefit from either a split, or taking a day or two off the front/rear and booking with hotel some other way, it would still lower total costs.

The $150 price is all we can pay and still afford 2 rooms, that's the primary driver. No other discounts such as AAA.

Thanks, you really work hard for your posters!

[thereuare]

Thanks for acknowledging the effort that is put forth on the board.... your comments are appreciated.

Here's where i'm at with this stay:

There is a great deal available (at what i believe is the Westin Times Square) but it is only available for the middle three nites of your stay :) Looking to piggy-back the first or last nite with a direct purchase showns the hotel sold-out for one of your nites and at $400+ for the other nite... making this deal not feasible unless you're willing to change hotels after the first nite and again for the last nite. Not sure if it is worth it to you for an opportunity to stay directly in the city.

Something else i thought of, and not sure if it's an option or not, but would you be willing to all stay in the same room? If so, you could book the Hyatt in Jersey City, 2adults/2children, for $199/nite... saving nearly $100 per nite vs. the cost of getting two rooms. (at the very least this would be my cancellable back-up at this point... book the 'prevailing rate' (which is cancellable rather than the 'Hyatt.com' rate which is NOT cancelllable... both show for $199 but the first category listed is the .com/non-refundable rate)

Just to add more ways to 'make this work'... you could stay the first and last nite in one room in Jersey City and then get 2 rooms in the middle of your stay (i could see this working well if you're flying into/out of EWR, or driving from the North or South, but we can give additional details if this is an option.

Lastly, you could book this and then try to get whatever rooms you can at the Hyatt thru the opaque suppliers... having one room for your entire stay but an additional room for some of the other nites (hopefully all of them) if you're able to find success at this property thru the opaque channels (although one risk here is that you bid for the extra room(s) and end up at the Doubletree.

If the one room scenario is an option and you're fine with it and wouldn't need to pursue other options, you could also book it thru HOTWIRE and save a few more dollars which we can detail for you if interested.

Rates at the Hyatt are not that high, so there's a chance rates can come down as you get closer to your stay, but currently i don't think you'll be successful at $130 or less... although if one room is not an option we'll give it a try nonetheless. (i'm hesitant to bid Brooklyn in the hope that Jersey City will come thru as you get closer to your stay... my zone preference order would be: NYC, Jersey City, Brooklyn)

So let us know your thoughts on the above and we'll take it from there.

[wagmore]

Once again, WOW! for the help...are everybody's needs so complex?!?!?!

We will book the "prevailing rate" Hyatt JC room as a backup, I'm assuming this is done through the Hyatt website? We will also consider Hotwire, but not quite yet. How big is the Doubletree risk? Separating the clan would not work. Thank you for these great suggestions.

What is the great rate at Westin? Might be perfect IF we split off the sold out night AND accept a single night at the higher rate (in just 1 room). We would actually prefer the city for basic logistics, it was cost that concerned us.

Unfortunately we arrive and depart via JFK, don't think the bookend in JC would work.

You have much more experience than me, so I'm guessing you are right that sub $130 wouldn't work in JC. I did bid $110 and it failed. What about isolating their lower priced days, then booking the others?

You don't promote the Brooklyn idea - is it the hotel?

Thanks ever so much!

[thereuare]

Yes, the $199/nite 'prevailing rate' is direct thru the Hyatt website.

On priceline the 'risk' of the Doubletree is there, no way to target the Hyatt over the Doubletree. The Doubletree hasn't been reported on HOTWIRE (to date) so they may not participate there (and even if they did, would likely have different amenties than the Hyatt)

What i believe to be the Westin is available on HOTWIRE for $166/nite... but the last nite is $400+ thru the Westin website (and that was only for double occupancy... i would suspect that quad ocupancy may be more).

You're right that i don't advocate Brooklyn... the zone is very large, some areas of the zone aren't that convenient to get to Manhattan, i don't konw the area that well but there are some areas i wouldn't want to walk around at nite, and the area doesn't give me a 'good' feeling... but i'm a Jersey boy at heart so perhaps i'm just biased. :)

Rates at the Hyatt were consistent throughout the stay so i don't see any 'lower priced days' to split out. When was your last rejected bid for Jersey City (at $110) and was that only for the complete stay? (11/17-11/22)?

[wagmore]

Hello again! Busy with life, now back to booking NYC visit.

I booked my safety at Hyatt NJ (basically $199/night), chose prevailing rate as you suggested. Thanks! Now want to improve the situation, notes and acceptable options/conditions:

1) Coming from JFK, land 6pm Nov 17, depart late afternoon Nov 22

2) Max 1 move during stay, prefer none

3) Prefer 2 rooms to 1 but can only pay $150 "pre-tax" each and afford 2 rooms

4) If under $150, NYC 4 Star is preferred (any Manhattan acceptable, but prefer midtown), then NJ (Doubletree or Hyatt) or Brooklyn Marriott (other Brooklyn not appealing, we are in agreement)

5) If over $150 (this only 1 room) prefer largest room w/ quad occupancy, may have to stay w/ Hyatt or at least bid for better rate.

6) As with all things in life, if something emerges that isn't quite what I locked in on above and it is an extraordinary deal ($158/night for 5 star midtown for example), don't want to be too inflexible, except CANNOT move twice (wife put her foot down!).

Ready for a bidding strategy, want to be your current poster child for a successful BetterBidding outcome!

Thanks

[thereuare]

OK, i'm doubtful you'll be successful but let's start with the 4* in NYC 2 rooms sub-$150 each. The following assumes you're willing to pay more to be in midtown than Downtown (if this is not correct, do NOT bid as below, but post back and we'll adjust accordingly):

Select 4* MTE and MTW...

Bid $110, if rejected add UES...

Bid $115, if rejected add UWS...

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTS and UM/CPS...

Bid $110, if rejected add UES...

Bid $115, if rejected add UWS...

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTE and MTS...

Bid $125, if rejected add UES...

Bid $130, if rejected add UWS...

Bid $135, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTW and UM/CPS...

Bid $125, if rejected add UES...

Bid $130, if rejected add UWS...

Bid $135, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTE and UM/CPS...

Bid $140, if rejected add UES...

Bid $145, if rejected add UWS...

Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* MTW and MTS...

Bid $140, if rejected add UES...

Bid $145, if rejected add UWS...

Bid $150, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* Downtown...

Bid $110, if rejected add UES...

Bid $115, if rejected add UWS...

Bid $120, if rejected add MTW...

Bid $125, if rejected add MTE...

Bid $130, if rejected clsoe browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* Downtown and MTS...

Bid $135, if rejected add UM/CPS

Bid $140, if rejected add UES...

Bid $145, if rejected add UWS...

Bid $150

If rejected post back, and let us know if your next move is to split the bid for NYC or bid alternerate zones for the complete stay. Bidding on priceline for quad occupancy probably isn't such a good idea (imo) which leaves your only option in that regard HOTWIRE, but they're not currently showing anything in Manhatan for quad occupancy.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

[wagmore]

Great bidding strategy, but alas you were right, we did not get the rooms in NYC....

Our next choice would be a strategy for NJ 4 Star (Hyatt, Doubletree) or Brooklyn Marriott under $150, then possibly consider splitting off first or last day (last would be best, it's the night before T'Giving?).

Always appreciate the help!

Don

[thereuare]

At the 3* level in Jersey City you have one re-bid zone. 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.

Since there is only one re-bid zone this will take a few days to get thru, as we given the time before your stay we'll start low and try to gradually increase.

Select 3* Jersey City...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Good Luck.