Priceline Hotel: 3* NYC (MTS) Shelburne Murray Hill

[happy78]

I will be staying in New York 5/24/08-6/1/08, so a total of 8 nights. I need something in the Midtown South area. I don't see a lot of wins in this area so I'm not sure what to bid. I don't really have a preferance on star level. 2* would be fine but 4* wuold be terrific. I would like to keep it under $200/night. Is that possible?

[thereuare]

Do you really want a 2* hotel in NYC.... some of the lower rated hotels may be fine, but there also some which are probably not fine.

Also, can you expand your boundaries beyond MTS? Most of midtown is easily accessible via mass transit, subway, and/or taxi that location within midtown isn't really that important... this is a very expensive time of year and i think it would benefit you if you could bid other zones in addition to the MTS area. Not only does this increase the number of hotels which could possibly accept your bid, but also gives you many more bidding opportunities.

Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?

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

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

[happy78]

At this point I would like to bid for the entire stay without splitting the bid. I may be willing to go with splitting later if I don't have any success or if the savings look very significant. I do think your advice to take a 3* or higher would be best. So at this time, lets try bidding for the entire stay at the 3 and 4 star levels.

On your other question, we are going to visit a family member who lives in Chelsea so we would like to stick with the MTS area. Again, this might change if I don't have any success, but I feel like I have enough time to risk it for now. I am going to set up a cancelable reservation just in case.

[thereuare]

Where is your cancellable back-up? (and how much)

[happy78]

I just booked at the Murray Hill East suites for $342/night with taxes. :)

I'm really struggling with this. I can't believe how expensive it all is. I would gladly take any other suggestions on where to stay for less. We really don't need much, just clean with a private bathroom.

[thereuare]

I see quite a few options better than your current back-up (imo):

The Pod for $206/nite - basic but clean

Eastgate Tower for $266/nite undergoing some renovations but LOTS of space and good value for the money

Ooops, just re-read you need the MTS area... where exactly in MTS do you need to ideally be?

PS- Eastgate Tower would fall into PRICELINE's MTS zone, but if you let us know where in MTS you need to be i may have some other options

[happy78]

Thank you so much! We need to be in or near the Chelsea area. We have family that lives at 26th and 6th.

[thereuare]

I would take another look at The Pod...

It's very close to the E and V lines... the E taking you to 8th Ave and 14th or 23rd Street... a somewhat short walk to Chelsea Pier. Alternatively, you can take the 6 train to 23rd or 14th St and then take the crosstown bus which will leave you off at the door of Chelsea Piers. As well, the V will take you to 23rd and Sixth which will take you close to your family.

[happy78]

All right, I checked out the Pods and I don't think it will work for us. We have a 1 year old that will need to sleep in a pack and play and it doesn't look like there is enough room.

I went ahead and gave some bidding a try. Using the free rebids I was given a counter offer of $181 for a 2.5 star and $242 for a three star, both of which are better than what I have booked. I guess, what I am trying to determine now is if I should bid now or wait and see if I can get a better deal. Since this is over a holiday weekend, and rates already seem high I feel like bidding now might be the best idea because the rooms could be sold out if I wait longer.

[thereuare]

If you're happy with the above rates and not willing to split your stay, then i would continue to bid higher in hopes of getting the 2.5* or 3* for amounts higher than you've already bid but lower than the counter-offer.

However, keep in mind that many NYC hotel rooms are small could be even smaller with a pack n play (and a few that i don't think would hold a pack n play :))

Keep us updated or how we can help further.

[happy78]

I won the 3* Shelburne Murray Hill (MTS)

Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $180.00

Subtotal: $1,440.00

Taxes & Service Fees: $253.51

Total Charges*: $1,693.51

Reviews look great! I had been bidding for the last several days and getting a counter offer at $191. Tonight I bid $140, 160, 170 and won at $180. My backup was the Best Western for $259 so this definitely sounds like an upgrade.

Used the PRICELINE link.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your win!

Glad to see your success. Not only is this an upgrade (in star quality) from your back-up reservation, but also a significant discount in the rate as well... a DOUBLE bonus!

I think this hotel's restaurant is RARE which many people love their burgers, i found them to be 'ok', and would sooner walk down the block to 35th St and Third Ave to the Jackson Hole Wymoming for one of the best burgers in the city (and cheaper than RARE too :) ). Not the most comfortlable place (bad chairs), but casual and kid friendly.

Thanks for sharing your win and for using our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding.

Enjoy your stay.

[happy78]

I realize this is an old post, but wanted to add an update on the hotel. They put us in the typical "Priceline Room". We had to treck quite a way from the elevator to get to the room and our view was less than spectacular looking out over the air conditioner. The hallway had panels missing on the walls that cleaning carts were put in front of to hide. I didn't get a chance to see what other rooms looked like but ours was big enough and it was nice to have the kitchenette with a small child. It was clean and comfortable. The hotel has a great rooftop bar that we visited one night. Great drinks and a pretty active social scene. The noise didn't reach our room. All in all, I was very pleased.