Hotwire Hotel: Please help identify 4* Times Sq/Theatre 08/07/08-08/09/08 (2nights) &

[mattlacroix1983]

Hi there

It comes up at $213, but using the list provided it could be 2 hotels

Mela (restaurant deleted) and VP not showing laundry now - what is VP by the way???

or

Muse

Many thanks in advance! :)

[mattlacroix1983]

... and I will be using the links provided to support the board. I have been reading the board for some months now and am proud to post for the first time today.

Many thanks in advance

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

What are the actual amenities that HOTWIRE associates with the hotel you're being offered?

[mattlacroix1983]

AH I forgot IM sorry....

And It's not there anymore, one day later!!!

Is this normal?

Next best I can find its same dates

Midtown South

4*

$242

Boutique

Business Centre

Smoke Free

Fitness Centre

[mattlacroix1983]

WOW it keeps changing!

Please can you identify the one above

But now, 4* TS/Theatre is back as an option, but this time it states

Boutique

HS INternet

Fitness

At $213 for 7 and 8 August 2008

Im guessing that this is Mela but please confirm.

Many thanks

[thereuare]

A suggestion...

It is waaaay too early to be booking a non-refundable hotel at $200+ for the summer months, which is typically low season in NYC. (there may be something in particular driving up rates for this particular stay, but nothing that i'm aware of at the moment). As well, the above rates dont' represent a significant discount to (what i believe to be) good alternatives for these dates, which you could (and should) book as cancellable reservations:

All thru Quickbook (please use this link):

Gild Hall $209/nite - hotel is located downtown and is going thru a 'soft opening' so some amenities/services are not available (no restaurant, room service, lobby is temporary, etc) but some of these may be available by the time of your stay. Even with the soft opening it's been getting some great reviews.

Time Hotel $225/nite (Queen bed, stay away from the $216 Full bed unless you're travling solo) - gets some mixed reviews but is generally 4* rated and could serve your needs if you need a midtown location and inline wiht the prices above

Fitzpatrick Grand Central $245/nite - inline with a previous requests above and gives you location and excellent reviews. Alternately their sister property, Fitzpatrick Manhattan is available fro $249/nite and equally gets positive reviews. If you need a midtown location either would be a good choice as a back-up.

All of the above are "Book Now Pay Later" rates and are cancellable up until a few days before your stay (always doublecheck cancellation policy on your own, which at Quickbook is viewable by clicking the Hotel Name in the search offerings and you can then see a link to the cancellation terms... usually no penalty on 'book now pay later' rates if cancelled w/n 2-4 days of arrival)

Pending anything BIG happening in Manhattan during your dates i suspect you'll likely be able to get a 4* hotel for under $200/nite thru PRICELINE or HOTWIRE, but you should book a cancellable back-up now to protect yourself in case there is something happening which causes rates to go higher from here.

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

Do any of the above work for your needs and are you able to hold-off booking your 'final' hotel?

[mattlacroix1983]

Brilliant suggestions thanks.

Booking a backup is a great Idea.

I am tossing up between Time hotel for its great midtown location.

And Gild Hall Hotel for its coolness factor!

I will hold off a few months before trying hotwire again. I got a great deal for Washington DC using priceline(same week). Tried the same in NY and wasn't so successful but if it's not high season then I will wait - plus, as you say having a backup is a great plan.

Im also quite impressed that they are the same rates as the Paramount and Milford plaza hotels which I have stayed in before which seem far inferior to them!

Ill keep you posted.

[thereuare]

I got a great deal for Washington DC using priceline(same week)

We'd welcome you sharing your winning bid with the board as a NEW TOPIC in the Priceline Washington DC forum. Not only will it benefit other users... but it may bring you good karma as well :)

[mattlacroix1983]

done :)

im all about kharma!

[mattlacroix1983]

When it tells you that you're getting e.g. 22% off the price published - where does it get these from? It's not from the hotel websites as I have been checking some winning bids against this... it's close but not.

Any ideas Thereuare?

Also, do you know in the list of hotels hotwire uses on this site it says sometimes

e.g. 'VP not showing laundry now' - what is VP by the way???

THanks

[thereuare]

I've seen the prices come from different sources, but a warning that this shouldn't be used to identify properties since the retail rate is NOT for that particular hotel, but rather a hotel of that quality in the area... so the rate can be correct, but often is not.

VP = vacation package

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

[mattlacroix1983]

Hey,

wondering what sort of rate range is usal for NYC 4* in MTW / TS areas.....

You said its wayyyyy too early and prices are higher than I should be paying...

Many thanks

[thereuare]

Special events can cause high demand and therefore higher hotel prices, but generally speaking, summer months in NYC can usually be had for $125-$175/nite... but as noted, there are certainly exceptions to this range.

[mattlacroix1983]

Special events can cause high demand and therefore higher hotel prices, but generally speaking, summer months in NYC can usually be had for $125-$175/nite... but as noted, there are certainly exceptions to this range.

Ok ... I guess its not a special event since the 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after are all around this price! So I will wait and then use the links provided and post my bids! :) thanks again

[thereuare]

Just make sure you DO book a refundable back-up (Quickbook is usually great for this purpose) if you haven't already.

Too often users fail to do so and while they're waiting for prices to drop they search one day and all of a sudden everything is more expensive than it was just a few days before... a refundable back-up protects you from this happening and gives you a concrete number of what it is you're trying to beat.

[hfx]

Hi, I'm looking at exact same situation 4* Times Sq/Theatre 07/09/08-07/14/08 (5nights)

Getting a price of $203

Amenities:

Boutique, Fitness Center, High-Speed Internet Access

Tripadvisor 160+ as of March 2008

Seems to match the Hotel Mela

only thing is the price says its 33% savings with a Retail of $302.40 = $99.40 savings.

If u check Expedia.com it shows the Millenium Broadway with an exact price of $302.40, and the mela has a price of $305.

so that is the only thing throwing me off as I know Expedia owns Hotwire.

[thereuare]

hfx,

Please start a NEW TOPIC for your own stay and we will reply to you in the new thread.

Thanks.