Spa Yellow Posted November 10, 2007 Report Posted November 10, 2007 I would like help on a bidding strategy for a 4* hotel around Midtown (west or east is okay, maybe even south) for checking in on 11/30/2007, checking out on 12/04/2007. The dates are firm.It looks like I might have missed a couple of good deals. I've been checking hotwire regularly but just never see anything for less than $400+ yet. Should I be waiting closer to the date for a last minute deal? I tried bidding on Priceline a couple of weeks ago, up to like $350 with no results.I've already booked a cancelable room at The Pod Hotel for about $334/night before taxes, so I would like my max bid to be somewhere around $300.If I'm missing any important info, please let me know!
thereuare Posted November 11, 2007 Report Posted November 11, 2007 Welcome to BetterBidding!Do you want to include MTS in a bidding strategy? How about UM/CPS? (another frequently bid zone which is usually convenient for the average vistor)Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?Also, while the reviews of the Pod are very good, it's not near a 4* quality hotel. If you are interested in a back-up at a higher quality hotel for just a bit more, i'd suggest the Eastgate Tower which can be booked thru Quikbook for $356/nite and gets excellent reviews. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Spa Yellow Posted November 11, 2007 Author Report Posted November 11, 2007 Thanks for your reply.Midtown South and Upper Midtown/Central Park South would also be good. I'd prefer not to split the bid, as I wouldn't want to run into not being able to check into the potential second hotel early... plus the hassle of having to move around. :)As for the backup, I know it's a budget hotel but I like that it was remodeled somewhat recently. Thanks!
thereuare Posted November 12, 2007 Report Posted November 12, 2007 At the 4* level you have two re-bid zones available. 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.Select 4* MTW...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* UM/CPS...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTS...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTW...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $215, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* UM/CPS and MTS...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $215, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and UM/CPS...Bid $225, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $235, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $240, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and MTS...Bid $225, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $235, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $240, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTS...Bid $245, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $250, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $255, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTW and UM/CPS...Bid $245, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $250, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $255, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTW and UM/CPS...Bid $260, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $265, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $270, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTW and MTS...Bid $260, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $265, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $270, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTS and UM/CPS and MTE...Bid $275, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $280, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $285, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTS and UM/CPS and MTW...Bid $275, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $280, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $285, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.Select 4* MTE and MTW and UM/CPS and MTS...Bid $290, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $295, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $300.Any questions feel free to ask.I'm doubtful the above will be enough for these dates, but good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Spa Yellow Posted November 12, 2007 Author Report Posted November 12, 2007 Thanks for your help. None of the bids worked though. Do you think I should continue trying this week because you never know what would be available, or would my chances of getting a bid accepted increase closer to the week of stay?
AaronJB Posted November 12, 2007 Report Posted November 12, 2007 I'd strongly recommend to keep trying. Given how busy NYC is at this time of year, I wouldn't wait and hope that something better comes along closer to your dates, as it very well may not.
Spa Yellow Posted November 23, 2007 Author Report Posted November 23, 2007 Sooo... I'm still working on this. When I bid, though, it's taking me to Priceline's regular hotel search site with the table at the top with a set of prices for the different hotel levels and areas. Of course, when you click on any of the prices, it just about doubles in price!Does getting redirected to this area mean anything?Thank You for Naming Your Own Price
AaronJB Posted November 23, 2007 Report Posted November 23, 2007 It means that Priceline isn't accepting your offer, and is showing you what is available for full price. Do you have a back-up reservation?
AaronJB Posted November 23, 2007 Report Posted November 23, 2007 I can probably come up with a plan for these dates to string together some more reasonable prices, but it would require moving not once, but twice. :)On HOTWIRE:Search for 11/30-12/2.There is a 4* in the Midtown East area with the amenities: fitness, business, internet, pool, restaurant, tennis for $395. Likely the Millennium UN.Search for 12/2-3:There is a 4* in the Midtown East area with the amenities: fitness, business, internet, restaurant, tennis for $253. likely the Grand Hyatt or Intercontinental.12/3-4Hotel 373 via Orbitz for $418.Average per night: $365.Or:Search for 11/30-12/2.There is a 4* in the Midtown East area with the amenities: fitness, business, internet, pool, restaurant, tennis for $395. Likely the Millennium UN.Search for 12/2-3:There is a 3* Suite, Fitness, Restaurant, Internet, Kitchenette for $369, which I'd guess to be the Beekman Tower.Average: $382 per night.Or:Search for 11/30-12/2.There is a 4* in the Midtown East area with the amenities: fitness, business, internet, pool, restaurant, tennis for $395. Likely the Millennium UN.Search for 12/2-4There is a 4* in the Central Park area (boutique, fitness, restaurant, internet) that appears to be the recently renovated/updated Empire Hotel.Average per night: $391.
Spa Yellow Posted November 23, 2007 Author Report Posted November 23, 2007 Yeah, I'd prefer not to move...But what is the difference between getting the usual "try again" screen and getting to the regular search screen?I do have a backup that I can cancel 24 hours prior so I was hoping I could find something reasonable last minute.Also, as I might also consider a 3* as a last resort... but only after not being able to get a 4* for less than $330 or so.....
AaronJB Posted November 23, 2007 Report Posted November 23, 2007 I'm not sure if there is any significance between the two screens. It could mean Priceline simply doesn't have any inventory for that bid, but I don't think that's the case. Board moderator thereuare would be better able to comment on that.
thereuare Posted November 25, 2007 Report Posted November 25, 2007 I wouldn't read into the different rejection screens. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Spa Yellow Posted November 27, 2007 Author Report Posted November 27, 2007 Well... I wish I had read some of the more recent threads earlier (Chrissier's) but I got the Hudson Hotel (3*) for $255/night for my 4 nights. For some reason 12/3-12/4 is $$$ in most of the searching I've done recently.I should have done a better job of researching (and bidding, bleah!), as I knew this hotel didn't have the best of reviews. :) Although the reviews on this board seem rather positive... gives me hope. :oI suppose I should take comfort in the fact that I am not paying the exorbitant $509/night rate for this hotel... and it should be nicer than the Pod, right? :)
Spa Yellow Posted November 27, 2007 Author Report Posted November 27, 2007 Just wanted to add...A big thanks to thereuare for all your help! Aaron, you've been a great resource on the board as well. I used savingsbarn.com to start my bids. :)
thereuare Posted November 27, 2007 Report Posted November 27, 2007 The bottomline with this property is that it's not typically a good value as the rooms are notoriously small. So take somebody paying regular rates (for your dates $5xx) and put them in a room not much bigger than the size of a large closet and naturally many guests will be disappointed.The rate you're paying may even be too much to feel you received a good value on most dates, but given the timeframe, and not willing to split your bid, i think this is an 'ok' deal.Thanks for using the SavingsBarn.com PRICELINE links to begin your bidding.Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
Spa Yellow Posted November 28, 2007 Author Report Posted November 28, 2007 Heh, thanks for trying to make me feel better. :)
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