Priceline Hotel: 3.5* NYC (Times Square-Theatre District) Crowne Plaza

[jbenmore]

hello, just discovered this hotwire thing and Im trying to find hotels in new york for the above dates. Budget is $150 per night incl taxes. Have found some hotels offered that I cannot work out! Its offering 3* brooklyn ( breakfast, High speed) which i think is comfort inn ($116)brooklyn. But there is a 2* brooklyn which i cannot identify. ($132)( breakfast).

There is Long Island city 2 1/2* (elmhurst ($129) 5 amenities) which i dont know also. The rest are unforunatley very expensive ( on manhattan). If i leave it longer to book do these prices come down as the date approaches? Also would consider Jersey city if a good price offered for a nice hotel. Any advice much appreciated

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

The 3* is a match for the Comfort Inn so that would be our best guess. The 2* has not yet been identified, it could be the Quality Inn or the Howard Johnson, but that would just be a guess based upon the very little info provided.

Do you really want to stay in Long Island City? :) If so, what are the amenities that HOTWIRE associates with the property you're being offered?

Please use this HOTWIRE link to begin any purchases you make.

Let us know what you decide and how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[jbenmore]

the long island city is shuttle, restaurant, high speed internet, fitness and laundry!

If LOC is not that far away I dont mind as we are limited on price. I would ultimately prefer Manhattan, but budget will not allow. What do you think I should do?

[thereuare]

The LIC hotel is a match for the Pan American Hotel so that would be our best guess.

Where are you arriving from? Do you intend any late nites in the city? (after midnite/1am)

[jbenmore]

Thank you for you help!

My wife is pregnant so we wont be having any late nites! we are arriving from London into JFK. IS the pan american far away then? what do you suggest, your assistance is very much appreciated and I will definitely book through thelinks and leave details of wins .

thank you

[AaronJB]

I'm seeing a few possibilities around Newark airport. (a 3.5* in the Newark Airport zone for $99 on Hotwire that appears to be the Doubletree Newark Airport.)

Thereuare knows the area better than I do, so he would be best to comment on the pros and cons of staying by Newark, but it is a cheaper option and I do believe there are trains from Newark that head into the city - see here http://www.njtransit.com/

[thereuare]

Generally speaking i'm not a fan of this zone from either priceline or HOTWIRE... the area just doesn't feel 'clean' to me (maybe i'm just biased as i'm a NJ boy at heart). The area around the Pan American is not one which i would feel comfortable walking at nite (i would probably do it, but wouldn't feel comfortable doing so) and from what i have read, the Comfort Inn is near an industrial area.

The best area outside of NYC to stay is in Jersey City, but that appears out of your budget as well.

This leaves the choices above or the Secaucus (NJ) area as your alternatives (this area on HOTWIRE does offer hotels within your budget.

I'll try to summarize the pros/cons of each (from my perspective):

Brooklyn/Long Island City:

pro: easy to get to/from JFK

pro: uses subway to get to Manhattan so same fare basis (and saves a few dollars if using an unlimited Metrocard)

con: areas surrounding the hotels not desirable

Secaucus:

pro: better quality of hotels than above

pro: 20-25 minute commute to Manhattan

con: commute to Manhattan is via bus

con: additional cost of bus fare

con: to/from JFK could be a bit of a hassle

Obviously you're compromising a bit by not staying in NYC, the question is what info above is most/least important to you.

[jbenmore]

thanks! you guys are so helpful. I really appreciate it. I'll let you know how I get on.

james

[jbenmore]

Ive been toying with the idea of Jersey city as an alternative to Brooklyn ( which I have reserved)( i have a thread under NY). Hotwire offers me 2 in Hoboken a 2 1/2 star with restaurant/ laundry and internet and a 1 star with no amenities. Which hotels are these and looking at Tripadvisor , the Holland Motor lodge always gets good reviews is this ever on Hotwire and is it really that good? Really think NJ is the best option!!

Thanks

james

[thereuare]

Please keep all posts for this stay in the same thread. If you ultimately purchase a hotel in NJ we'll hten move the entire thread to the NJ section of the board.

The 2.5* property has not yet been identified, a 1* with no amenities has previously been reported as the Super 8 so that would be our best guess for that one (although can't say with a high degree of certainly given no amenities shown). However, these hotels are not in the part of Jersey City you want to stay. When we recommend Jersey City to stay as a NYC substitute, it's the Waterfront area of Jersey City, and there are only 4 hotels in that immediate area (Hyatt, Doubletree, Courtyard, and Candlewood Suites)... i don't believe the above are any of these. :)

[jbenmore]

ok, so Im not going to get Jersey city. looks like secaucus then!!

Am i correct in thinking that 3 star customer favourite is the crowne plaza, the 2 1/2 star with breakfast, gym, pool and internet is the la quinta inn and suites and the 2 star with laundry is the howard johnson at clifton? If so which is nearer to NYC and which is in the better area or nearer to mass transit? Your help has been terrific!

thanks

james

[thereuare]

Am i correct in thinking that 3 star customer favourite is the crowne plaza, the 2 1/2 star with breakfast, gym, pool and internet is the la quinta inn and suites and the 2 star with laundry is the howard johnson at clifton?

What are the amenities HOTWIRE associates with the 3* hotel?

[jbenmore]

gym, pool ,restaurant, business center, laundry and internet. These are for the 3 * customer favorite. can you match it? and the other two I mentioned earlier in Secaucus, am i correct, do you think?

thanks

james

[thereuare]

Best guesses for each:

3* Crowne Plaza

2.5* La Quinta

2* HoJo (chance could also be an Extended StayAmerica)

Of the three the Crowne Plaza would be the best choice.

Please remember to use this HOTWIRE link to begin any purchases you make.

Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[jbenmore]

I want to bid on priceline but it says I have to have a valid zip or postal code for a US or canadian address. I live in the UK, does this mean I cannot use priceline?

thank you!

[thereuare]

See this thread: Priceline Tips for Canadians which also applies to non-North America areas.

[jbenmore]

Ive found a 2 1/2 star central park for the first two days of my stay on hotwire at $199( 24th and 25th october). It has 3 amenities ( breakfast, business centre and fitness centre) any ideas which hotel it might be? thanks guys.

[thereuare]

The above is a match for the Comfort Inn Central Park West so that would be our best guess.

Please use this HOTWIRE link to begin any purchases you make.

Le tus know how it goes.

[jbenmore]

We went for 3* Crowne Plaza in the end and got it for $199 which was a great price for this time of year. Hotel is beautiful and right on Times Sq. We were on our honeymoon and they even gave us a free upgrade to a nicer room with free breakfast and evening snacks on the top floor!!

[thereuare]

Did you book this with PRICELINE, HOTWIRE, or directly with the hotel?

If HOTWIRE, please incldue the amenities shown before your purchase which you can still view by going to HOTWIRE and clicking the MY ACCOUNT link near the top right of their home page.

Glad you enjoyed your stay.

[jbenmore]

The hotel was won on PRICELINE on the day of stay, for two great nights stay, we then negotiated with the hotel for a 2 day extension. Thanks for all your help with that. Its worth noting that in NY at that time of year (OCT) hotels are very expensive and it is very difficult to get low bids accepted, it helps if you bid on day of stay. thanks

[thereuare]

... it helps if you bid on day of stay.

Not always... i can give many examples where a hotel was won for a great price months before arrival, and hotels were later sold-out or prohibitively expensive close to arrival.

In fact, there are a LOT of reasons not to bid on the day of your arrival.

For our own thoughts on 'when to bid' see the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.