Priceline Hotel: Help Please - NYC 6/21-6/24

[SEDirector]

I am trying to book a hotel somewhere near Times Square for my anniversary. I have tried numerous times to get a 4* in Times Square, Midtown West, and UM/CP zones. I have bid up to $205 dollars for this and have not had success.

Am I bidding too low, too early, or both?

I don't want to go much higher than that, but would like to have a 4* and not have to stay too far away from Times Square.

Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Your stay is on the cusp of Spring (High season) and Summer (Low Season) so prices dropping (or moving even higher) will be very dependent upon how long the season lasts.

However, before moving further, i'd encourage you to read our thoughts on Hotels Near Times Square as we hear that a LOT. Not sure how familiar with NYC you are, but i'd encourage you to include other midtown zones in your bidding... but it's your stay (and anniversary :)) so only you can determine if you really need to be in Times Square or not.

Let us know your thoughts after reading the link above and we'll take it from there.

[AaronJB]

I agree with Thereuare. If you need to be in Times Square for a specific reason, then that's great, but otherwise there's a lot of other wonderful areas to stay in NYC that would allow you to have more opportunities to get a hotel for a lower rate. I also - and maybe this is just me - think Midtown East is a little more romantic, as it's at least somewhat (moreso in some parts) less hectic than the Times Square area.

I'm currently seeing a 4* in Midtown East on HOTWIRE with the amenities: Restaurant, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Tennis for $233 (the price you see may vary). That would likely be either the Grand Hyatt or Intercontinental Barclay.

You could bid lower for a 4* in Midtown East on Priceline in an attempt to get one of these two properties, but you could wind up with another hotel in the MTE area.

Please click the HOTWIRE link to start your purchase if you are interested in this HOTWIRE listing, which helps support the site.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post.

[SEDirector]

I have stayed in MTE before at the Grand Hyatt. It is a very nice hotel, and to be honest, I just kinda want something different (which is why I was shying away from that zone).

I did see the $233 a night in MTE on Hotwire while searching last night. Do you think that rate will go away or rise in the near future? I obviously have some time to wait before I HAVE to book, but I also would like to have it out of the way.

How high do you think I would have to go to get in one of the other zones? I know that other locations really don't make THAT much difference, but I would like the convenience of being nearer to the center of Midtown, and not end up at the Grand Hyatt again (maybe I am just being stubborn!). I have never stayed in Times Square itself, so after reading your link, I might not actually want to stay there.

Here's one more question for you....If you wanted a nice, Romantic stay in NYC but for not more than $225 a night...which zones would you include?

Thanks for any more advice you can give here.

[AaronJB]

MTE is what I'd recommend, or Upper Midtown/Central Park South would be nice. Midtown West/Times Square are fine areas, but I just think - and this is just my humble opinion - it may be a little nicer for a romantic weekend to have an area that's not quite as crowded so you can focus on each other a little more easily and not have to navigate through quite as many people. Times Square is fine to visit, but I don't know, I guess I just found New York City's more neighborhood-y areas more pleasant and more interesting. Thereuare is definitely more familiar with NYC than I am, and he can make some suggestions, as well.

As for Upper Midtown/CPS, I do see the Le Parker Meridien for $266 non-refundable (this is not through Hotwire, but a deal through the hotel's website), but that's understandably a little more than you wanted, plus reviews are a little mixed.

It's probably also because I'm from Chicago; while Chicago doesn't have as much scope and spectacle as NYC by any means, I felt as If I'd seen a Virgin Megastore and much of the kind of thing Times Square had to offer. However, Chicago's downtown doesn't really have anything but chain stores, so I found the little, "Only in NYC"-type stores and restaurants scattered through other areas of Manhattan the most enjoyable thing to see. My favorite moment in Times Square was actually at the crack of dawn on a holiday morning, as the lights of the area were quite beautiful in the early morning light and there were few other people around.

[SEDirector]

I have a friend we usually stay with and he was in med school at NYU (free is always nice). We stayed once at the Hyatt. I don't mind staying there again, just wanted to try something different. Didn't think about the crowded/crazyness issues.

Thanks for your reply AaronJB. Have you ever stayed on the Upper East/Westside? How are those in terms of 4* hotels? Thanks for any and all replies!

[thereuare]

Do you think that rate will go away or rise in the near future?

See the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

Have you ever stayed on the Upper East/Westside? How are those in terms of 4* hotels?

PRICELINE does not currently offer 4* hotels in these zones. However, these zones are more residential than midtown, and if you were originally looking at Times Square, this is the opposite.

If you wanted a nice, Romantic stay in NYC but for not more than $225 a night...which zones would you include?

I don't think you can really answer this since there are business hotels and romantic hotels at each star level in each zone. The UM/CPS is probably one of the most 'upscale' zone, but that isn't too say that you would necessarily receive a romantic hotel. I'd be adding all PRICELINE midtown zones and looking for the best deal for a 4* hotel.