Priceline Hotel: NYC Area 5/3-5/5

[td1]

Hey looking for some advice. I will be heading to the NYC area on 5/3-5/5. I would love to find something around $100 / night. I realize unless I want to head to the Bronx I am probably dreaming. So I figure I might be better off out by the airports or somewhere in Jersey. I am not opposed to that. I would have a better shot at some cheaper or maybe free? parking at one of those hotels. I would like to just park the car and then take the subway anyway. I don't want to worry about parking all over the city. Any idea what the best option might be for me. I realize that I am a month out, am I better off waiting until it is closer, or use the extra time to keep making bids?

Thanks

Todd

[thereuare]

For NYC, and even Jersey City, you're probably not in the ballpark.

Closest area to the city (on the NJ side) would be the Secaucus zone, where access to Manhattan is by bus (~20-25 minutes) and the hotels generally have pretty good access to NYC... but the busses often stop running after midnite or 2am and therefore, so not a great option if you intend to stay out very late in the city. On the positive side, parking is usually free in this area. If you have a car you could also drive to the Park N Ride and take the bus from there, making the trip a little shorter.

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

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

[td1]

NJ does not bother me I would rather save some money as long as there is decent access to the city. Really once I am in the city I don't have a problem getting around. Would you recommend Secaucus over the airport areas. I did stay in the Ft Lee area once but I was driving that time so I don't know how convenient it would be to get to train or bus. The midnight thing would be fine. I am going to a Yankee game and then a show in the theater district so I should be heading back by 10pm or so.

Thanks for the help!

[thereuare]

Yes, I would recommend the Secaucus area over the airport area.

It appears you will have a car this time as too, correct? If necessary, would you be willing to drive to a Park N Ride and take the bus from there or do you need to have public transportation walkable from the hotel? If you are willing to drive, but prefer access from the hotel area, are you willing to pay a little more for this ($10-$20, but still within your $100 budget) or is lowest price the ultimate goal?

[td1]

Yes I will have a car there. I just do not want to drive around the city and worry about parking different places. I could drive to a Park n Ride. So either way is good for me.

Thanks again.

Todd

[thereuare]

If you are willing to drive, but prefer access from the hotel area, are you willing to pay a little more for this ($10-$20, but still within your $100 budget) or is lowest price the ultimate goal?

Let us know the above and we'll advise accordingly.

Also, what is the minimum star rating you're looking for?

[td1]

I like the lowest price. I would rather spend more money in the city then a bed. That said I want something clean so I dunno should I be looking at a 3*

[thereuare]

I think that both the Meadowlands and Secaucus zones should be fine for your needs, but doublecheck the boundaries of each to make sure you're comfortable with a hotel anywhere within the shaded region(s). If so...

When bidding 3* in the Newark area you have one re-bid zone. 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* Secaucus...

Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $65, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 3* Meadowlands...

Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $65, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 3* Secaucus and Meadowlands...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $75.

I would start with the above. If rejected post back and we'll revise to try again in 24 hours.

Any questions feel free to ask.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[td1]

I thought I understood the rebidding. When I looked it appeared that West Orange would be my re bid zone. It was greyed out on my bids though. So not sure what is up there. So I used Jersey City as a re bid zone knowing that they would never give me a 3* at this price there and if they did all the better.

Ok so this is my first stab:

Sea - $60

Sea + JC- $65

Mdw - $60

Mdw + JC - $65

Sea + Mdw - $70

Sea + Mdw + JC - $75

No luck yet. They told me I was crazy at the 60 + 65 bids. Then at 70 + 75 they did not give me the nag screen saying to increase my bid.

Should I just wait 24 hours and try again or do you have another strategy.

Just curious is the Newark airport zone a decent alternative? Is it too far or just not decent hotels there?

Thanks again!

Todd

[thereuare]

The two zones above, in my opinion, are far superior for commuting into Manhattan... the odds favor you won't have to take your car at all as you'll have mass transit near the the hotel and the commute is shorter as well.

Let's review re-bidding first...

From Priceline Re-Bidding Explained:

The way to check what star levels are available in each zone is to open a Priceline page, check ONLY the zone you are inquiring about, and then proceed to the next page (as if you were going to select a zone)... this will give you the available star ratings in that area. You can then hit BACK on your browser, uncheck the current box, check the next box, and repeat the process. It is important to do this before EACH attempt at adding a zone that you really don't want, as new hotels can be added and the star ratings can change at any time. (NOTE: for most users Priceline has updated their interface making the above process easier... simply check a zone and note the highest star rating available within each zone, UNcheck that zone and checkmark the next zone, repeating the process)

List each zone in this area and use the highest star rating available in each zone using the technique above.

Once we have re-bidding confirmed are you also willing to include the Jersey City area? I didn't above because the parking charge (as high as ~$35 at one of the hotels in the zone) may impact your budget.

[td1]

Ok so when I do that I come up with Elizabeth city as the rebid. Now that I see that I will use it.

I guess I would not want a JC hotel with a $35 parking charge. I just figured there was no way they would accept these bids for Jersey City so it was like a free bid sorry I guess I misunderstood the re-bidding when I first looked at it. It makes sense now though.

Thanks

[thereuare]

You have your re-bid zone correct, but always doublecheck before starting your bidding cycle to make sure no hotels have been added to that zone since you last checked.

24 hours after your last rejected bid i would try again as follows:

Select 3* Secaucus...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $85, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 3* Meadowlands...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $85, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE...

Select 3* Secaucus and Meadowlands...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95.

I'll add that there is a 3* hotel in HOTWIRE (not yet identified, so dont' know if it would be a 3* on PRICELINE or a little less rated) for $86/nite, so if buying this property 'blind' appeals to you, you could stop at $85/nite above and then take the HOTWIRE offer.

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

Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.