Priceline Hotel: New York City-Outrageous prices

[IBDP]

I spent a good part of an afternoon trying to get a hotel in NYC; first, I was particular about area; then not so particular; then not so particular about price or area. Looking for 4/22-4/24/04..every bid rejected. I discovered, however, that one could start over a new bid by bidding first in a zone you hadn't bid the previous bid session. The way this helps is that you could bid quite low for that zone, hopefully not getting the bid, then add area and amounts that you had previously bid. A word of caution... this was an experiment. Do not know if it works every time (in the field, so to speak). After resorting to Expedia and Travelocity...outrageous prices, I wondered....does Priceline buy a block of room at a hotel, so that even if The other sites do not have availability, priceline may, due to a certain # of rooms purchased by priceline? Appreciate any and all comments, please.

Regards,

Donna

[thereuare]

No, Priceline does not own or maintain inventory.

Both nites are expensive, but the nite of the 23rd has an 'outlier' for $199 and it seems to match the 'W' Hotel. Based upon other rates that seems to be a good price for this (one) date.