Priceline Hotel: Bidding aid requested for New Jersey

[tidnab]

Hi all,

I am trying to get a hotel close to NYC in a safe area for 5/16/08 - 5/17/08. I have done some research and I trying to get a hotel in either the Jersey City area or Meadowlands - Secaucus area.

Jersey City only has 3 hotels (2 of which are 3* and one is 2,5*). I prefer the 2,5* (Courtyard), but it's ok if I get one of the others.

Meadowlands - Secaucus has more hotels, but i don't really want the La Quinta Inn, which is 2,5*, so I guess I only need to bid on 3* hotels in that area.

I was hoping to pay no more than $100 (ex. taxes), but I'm not sure if that's realistic.

I have already tried to bet on the Jersey City area only, with a maximum bid of $95, but that got rejected.

Could anyone advise me on a bidding strategy? Thanks in advance.

[thereuare]

The Courtyard in Jersey City is rarely won because they usually have higher rates than the Hyatt and Doubletree, so most bids in this area at the 2.5* level are upgraded before winning the Courtyard.

You should be able to win something in Secaucus for under $100, but do you prefer Jersey City and want to try $100 first before moving on to the other, likely less expenisve, zone.

Also, just a reminder that the hotel lists are not finite, there could always be other hotels not yet reported or newly added which are not reflected in the hotel list (see the comments at the top of each hotel list).

Let us know if you want to go up to your limit first in Jersey City or if you prefer the least expensive in either zone and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

[tidnab]

We prefer Jersey City above Secaucus because of its location and public transport into NYC, so we are ok with raising the limit for Jersey City. $100 would be no problem at all, a little over it is also fine, but the absolute maximum is $120. If that fails we want to add the Secaucus area, hopefully for a price under $100 for a 3* hotel.

[thereuare]

The $95 bid that you have already made in jersey city... was that only at the 3* level or did you also bid that at the 2.5* level?

[tidnab]

That bid was on the 3*, 2,5* and 2* levels.

[thereuare]

My thought is that this far ahead of your stay i wouldn't be bidding 2* nor would i probably bid the Secaucus area at this point... i'd just be sticking with 2.5* and 3* in Jersey City (although currenty this looks like it may be tough, still a lot of time for things to change between now and then)

At the 3* level you have one re-bid zone, none at the 2.5* level. 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 3* Jersey City...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 2.5* Jersey City (so that only Jersey City is selected)...

Bid $100.

I'd start with the above... keep us udpated and we'll continue to revise as we go along.

[tidnab]

I have made the following bids (used savingsbarn.com to access priceline):

- Bid $100 on 3* Jersey City: rejected

- Bid $105 on 3* Jersey City & Elizabeth (re-bid zone): rejected

- Bid $100 on 2.5* Jersey City: rejected

[thereuare]

24 Hours after your last rejected bid i would try:

Bid $110 on 3* Jersey City

Bid $115 on 3* Jersey City and re-bid zone

Bid $105 on 2.5* Jersey City

[tidnab]

Today I have made the following bids:

- $110 on 3* Jersey City.. rejected

- $115 on 3* Jersey City and re-bid zone.. rejected

- $105 on 2.5* Jersey City.. rejected

Since any of the Jersey City hotels are ok with me, I also tried the following extra bids:

- $115 on 2* Jersey City.. rejected

- $120 on 1* Jersey City.. rejected

I wondering if I should start adding another area to bid on, or maybe wait and see if they'll accept a bid under $120 later on?

[tidnab]

We have decided to raise our bidding limit to $140 and that we do not want to book through priceline in another area. My question is, is it better to keep trying until we reach $140, or leave it for now and try again next month or so?

[thereuare]

I would hold-off going that high at this point in time, however, i would book a cancellable back-up.

The Courtyard has a cancellable rate fo $179/nite, and while this is still above your new budget, it is so by only $30 after you include priceline's fee. I would book that 'just in case' something happens which unexpectedly drives up demand in the area. Please use our BetterChecker Courtyard button to make your reservation.