Priceline Hotel: 3.5* NYC (MTC) Hudson Hotel

[scroogeduck]

Hi there,

I'm new to this forum. I'll be visiting NYC from Amsterdam from 06/01-06/08 and have been trying to get a hotel via your PRICELINE link. I can use some help with the bidding, cause I've been trying with no luck.

Our (company of two) budget is max $150 (excluding tax). No problem to split the accomodation into two stays if this increases the change to win a bid. We're trying for a 4* and are willing to go till 3*. We're willing to stay in all zones except Brooklyn and Long Island City.

I hope this is enough info to get some help with tactics.

Greetz

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

How high have you bid already? (only at the 4* level, correct, you haven't tried the 3 star level yet?)

To avoid confusion, please let us know the zones you are willing to accept rather than the one's that you're not willing to accept.

Thanks for using our PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links.

[scroogeduck]

Hello there, thnx for the quick reply. I tried almost all levels, but hadn't had the rebidding stuff under control. Now I have, but recently only tried 4*.

The zones we're willing to stay in are:

CPS

Chelsea

SoHo

ESB

MSG

MTE

MTW

TS

UES

UWS

Ofcourse, we'd like to go for the best deal and try to find accomodation at 4* or 3* level first.

Greetz

[thereuare]

I think your $150 budget is going to be tough for the majority of these nites, but you can begin to try as follows:

At the 4* level you have six re-bid zones. 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 MTE and MTW and CPS and TS and ESB and Downtown...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $150.

I would try the secquence above for the following date combinations:

6/1-6/8

6/2-6/8

6/1-6/7

6/3-6/8

6/1-6/6

6/4-6/8

6/1-6/5

6/5-6/8

6/1-6/4

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.

EDIT to ADD: note that above you listed "Soho" as an acceptable area, just to clarify this zone also incldued the Downtown/Financial area, which is where you're more likely to end up, so if this is a problem then i would not include the Downtown zone (but if you'r fine with this area, and given your budget i think it will increase your chances of landing a hotel in Manhattan itself, i would still include it)

[scroogeduck]

Hey hello,

attempted all of the above for 4* level to no avail. Aprrox. 56 tries with no succes, so perhaps same strategy for 3* level for a max of $150 (tax/fees not included)?

Greetz

[thereuare]

At the 3* level yo have three re-bid zones avaialble. 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* CPS and Chelsea and Downtown and ESB and MSG and MTE and MTW and TS...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $120, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.

Select 3* CPS and Chelsea and Downtown and ESB and MSG and MTE and MTW and TS and re-bid zone2...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.

Select 3* CPS and Chelsea and Downtown and ESB and MSG and MTE and MTW and TS and re-bid zone3...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $140, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.

Select 3* CPS and Chelsea and Downtown and ESB and MSG and MTE and MTW and TS and re-bid zone2 and re-bid zone3...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $150.

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.

[scroogeduck]

No succes so far.

I might be doing something wrong or either my dates are not complient to the fare and star rating??!!!!

Firstly I press the PRICELINE link provided in each reply.

I fill in the details (destination and dates) on the right side panel, under name your own bid after which I press search.

I fill in the zones, star rating and the price. Fill in my name, press next and give my password in order to quickly get my card info and such.

After, I submit my request. If rejected I click the rebid zone while the first zones are still checked.

I don't change the star rating but do change the amount to bid. Then I submit the new bid.

Is this the correct way to work, cause I'm beginning to doubt myself being others winning bids and I'm failing to.

What is the best way to get a good hotel through PRICELINE? Going for a lower star rating or just up the amount I would like to bid? I prefer the first option.

Greetz

[thereuare]

Rates are date specific, and rates for your dates are very high, which is the likely reason for your rejections. I assume after each bid you receive a message "Sorry, we're unable to find a hotel to accept your bid... your credit card has not been charged..." (or something to that effect)

What is the best way to get a good hotel through PRICELINE? Going for a lower star rating or just up the amount I would like to bid? I prefer the first option.

It depends upon what you consider "good"... obviously as you lower your star rating you run the risk of getting a hotel that is not quite up to your standards/expectations.

Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?

What is the best deal you're able to find outside of the opaque providers (PRICELINE or HOTWIRE)?

[scroogeduck]

Hey there,

splitting the bid is most def an option as I pointed out in the beginning. I've also tried the different split up dates that were provided. No problem to switch hotels during the stay, as you can enjoy multiple neighbourhoods.

Through HOTWIRE I did buy the firts night from their deal section for ~$168 (including tax). This turned out to be the Hudson hotel (3.5* Midtown Central). So actually now we need a stay form June 2nd through June 8th. Other then Priceline or Hotwire, that not very suitable deals through conventional channels. Haven't really spent that much time looking either.

Greetz

PS that credit card thing about Priceline not charging is indeed correct. I guess I'm working the right way.

[thereuare]

Through HOTWIRE I did buy the firts night...

Was this thru their "opaque" listing? (where you didn't know the name of the hotel before your purchase). Please share the details of your win by providing the star rating, hotel received, price before taxes and fees, and amenities shown before your purchase to this thread... we'll then edit the topic title to reflect this purchase and then start a NEW TOPIC for the balance of your stay.

You can still view all the information requested above (ie- amenities) by going to HOTWIRE and clicking the MY ACCOUNT link near the top right of their home page.

Thanks.

[scroogeduck]

Yes, this was through the "opaque" listing.

3.5 * star rating, Midtown Central, Hudson hotel, 1 night (check in June 1st), $142 (without taxand fees), Tax & fees $26.80.

Amenities: Fitness Center, restaurant, business center, high speed internet acces.

Greetz

[thereuare]

Thanks for the info...

...start a NEW TOPIC for the balance of your stay.