grandma Posted June 13, 2008 Report Posted June 13, 2008 Hello, I've been a big fan of Trip Advisor for a year now and have read so much on their NYC forum about PRICELINE. I think I'm ready to try it for my visit July 18-20. I'm willing to stay in Midtown E or W, Times Square or Upper East Side. Would like a 4* and need to know what a reasonable bid might be.I have a res at the Pod Hotel, have stayed there a few times and like it but would like a little more room to spread out this trip as I'll be with my mother. Everyone on this site seems so helpful so I figure I'd give it a shot. Thanks.
grandma Posted June 13, 2008 Author Report Posted June 13, 2008 I should also note that I'm paying, with tax, approx $180/night at the Pod and don't want to pay more than that. Will this be possible? Thanks.
thereuare Posted June 13, 2008 Report Posted June 13, 2008 Welcome to BetterBidding!What is your maximum bid before fees and taxes? (i'm guessing about $150??)Is your room at The Pod for a shared bath? If so, would going from a room with a shared bath to a 4* hotel not be worth paying a little bit more for? (ie- price vs. value) We'll suggest a strategy for whatever you'd like to set as your maximum, but i would think that going from a shared bath to a 4* hotel would be worth something. I only ask as i'm seeing non-opaque options that are great starting at $199-$209/nite (6 Columbus Circle thru Quickbook), which would seem like a BIG improvement over a shared bath at the Pod... so wouldnt' want you to 'miss' a big jump in quality by just $10-$20.Let us know your thoughts and we'll advise accordingly. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
grandma Posted June 13, 2008 Author Report Posted June 13, 2008 Thanks for the quick response.I suppose my max bid before tax would be $150 but then again you make a great point about the Pod vs 4*. I am indeed in a room with a shared bath, no big deal, but if I can get a nice place like 6 Columbus Circle for that price I'm willing to go for it. I'm going to check Quickbook, I'm familiar with the site, just hadn't thought to check for this trip. What do you think is a reasonable bid before tax? I'm all ears. Thanks again.
thereuare Posted June 13, 2008 Report Posted June 13, 2008 I'd guess you're currently looking at about $160-$200 to be successful for a 4* property... but your maximum bid, and a bidding strategy, should all be based upon your next best deal. Depending upon whether you think a shared bath at the Pod or a room at 6 Columbus Circle (and which room... the $199 or $209) is a better deal would determine how to proceed from here.Let us know which you prefer (and if 6 Columbus i would reserve it since it's cancellable up until a few days before your arrival) adn you then know exactly what it is you're trying to beat, and we can suggest a strategy to follow.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases (or Quickbook) if you go that route. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
grandma Posted June 13, 2008 Author Report Posted June 13, 2008 I booked the queen room for $209 at 6 Columbus Circle thru QuickbookSo you think I could go as low as $160 for a bid on a 4*? I'm prepared to bid $180 if need be for Midtown E, W, Times Square or UES or UWS. Thanks for your help.
thereuare Posted June 13, 2008 Report Posted June 13, 2008 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 4* MTE and MTW and Times Square...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone5...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.Select 4* MTE and MTW and Times Square and re-bid zone6...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone5...Bid $180.This will take you up to your stated bidding limit. Any questions feel to ask (especially regarding confirming your re-bid zones)Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
grandma Posted June 13, 2008 Author Report Posted June 13, 2008 How do I know which zones are which, or do I need to know? Thanks again.
thereuare Posted June 13, 2008 Report Posted June 13, 2008 Did you read thru this thread: Priceline Re-Bidding ExplainedStart there and ask any questions you have... if you're confused just post and we'll break it down further, step by step, for you. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
grandma Posted June 13, 2008 Author Report Posted June 13, 2008 I did read it and I'm still confused about the zones.Did you read thru this thread: Priceline Re-Bidding ExplainedStart there and ask any questions you have... if you're confused just post and we'll break it down further, step by step, for you.
grandma Posted June 13, 2008 Author Report Posted June 13, 2008 What I should have asked was: for example, is zone 1 TS, zone 2 UES, etc?
thereuare Posted June 13, 2008 Report Posted June 13, 2008 So try this:List each PRICELINE zone available in NYC and the highest star rating available in each, using this technique 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)If you don't follow the above:1) don't get frustrated2) post back and we'll break it down further :)Let us know if you're able to determine star ratings available in each zone or not and we'll take it from there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
grandma Posted June 13, 2008 Author Report Posted June 13, 2008 You have the patience of Job! Thanks once again and I'll let you know how it goes..............I'm sure I'm not done asking questions. :)Now I see that UES and UWS have no 4 star. I'm not interested in staying outside of Manhattan. Where do I go from here?Does this mean I can choose any zone, so long as I don't include UES/UWS for a 4*?
thereuare Posted June 13, 2008 Report Posted June 13, 2008 Let's back track (stick with us, as we've done this a few times before :) )...1) Don't bid yet (until you have your re-bid zones understood)2) Don't worry about where you want to stay for the moment (as you're not bidding yet)3) List each zone in NYC (including areas outside of the city) and the highest star rating available in each (as per the technique above) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
grandma Posted June 13, 2008 Author Report Posted June 13, 2008 [OK, I've done that...........included zones outside city, etc. Where do I go from here? :)
thereuare Posted June 14, 2008 Report Posted June 14, 2008 So which zone(s) only have star ratings lower than 4 stars? There should be 6 of them, if you don't have six zone which only have hotels rated less than 4 stars, then list each zone and the higher star rating available in each so that we can see what you have correct/incorrect. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
grandma Posted June 14, 2008 Author Report Posted June 14, 2008 I checked again. The 4* areas are Downtown/Soho, Empire State Bldg area, Midtown E, Midtown W, and Times Square.3* areas are Brooklyn, Chelsea and Madison Sq Garden area.2.5* areas are Long Island City, UES and UWS.I hope this makes sense and that I've answered your question. :)
thereuare Posted June 14, 2008 Report Posted June 14, 2008 Yes, you've got it all correct :)The zones which don't go as high as 4 stars can be used as "re-bid zones"... since there aren't any hotels in those areas which meet your minimum star rating requirement, you can't win a hotel there. So for example, let's say you bid for a 4* in the Times Square zone and are rejected, PRICELINE will only let you bid again immediately if you're willing to change your dates, lower your star rating, or add a zone. You therefore could bid again, adding UWS (which only contains hotels rated less than 4 stars) to your Times Square bid... essentially knowing that if you win you'll only receive a hotel in Times Square since there are no hotels in the UWS which meet the star quality you selected.Does this make sense and is it clearer now? If not, feel free to ask for clarification on anything. If it is, then you can try the strategy presented above, using your SIX re-bid zones (which you've identified above):Select 4* MTE and MTW and Times Square...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone5...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.Select 4* MTE and MTW and Times Square and re-bid zone6...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone5...Bid $180.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Any questions feel free to ask... good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
grandma Posted June 15, 2008 Author Report Posted June 15, 2008 It's crystal clear to me, thanks to you! I'll get started and let you know how it goes. Muchas gracias!
grandma Posted June 15, 2008 Author Report Posted June 15, 2008 No luck.I bid exactly the way you suggested, starting at 120 and going up to 185 with no luck. Any other suggestions? I really don't want to pay more than 200 before tax. Thanks so much.
thereuare Posted June 15, 2008 Report Posted June 15, 2008 Glad you got the re-bidding down pat... sorry to hear you didn't win on your first attempt.We stopped at $185 in the strategy above since that was the maximum price you had set...did you want to raise this to $200?With your back-up hotel (a good one, imo) thru Quickbook for $209 i would be more inclined to keep your maximum bid at $180 for the time being... let the deal come to you and don't chase it, as you still have more than a month to go before your arrival. Keep trying the strategy above every 3-4 days (asusming you have the time and are willing to continue to try... if not just let us know and we'll revise the above to go as high as a $200 bid)Thanks for using our PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links.Keep us updated as to your progress or any questions along the way. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
grandma Posted June 15, 2008 Author Report Posted June 15, 2008 I'm happy to keep trying and I'll keep the bid at $180, max. Thank you and I'll keep you updated.
AaronJB Posted June 15, 2008 Report Posted June 15, 2008 While it is a bit above the max, to throw out another idea, HOTWIRE does appear to have the Millennium UN for $199. (3.5* Midtown East Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Tennis) for these dates.
AaronJB Posted June 15, 2008 Report Posted June 15, 2008 Additionally, the Helmsley New York is $216.74 on Orbitz.com (15% off.) Use coupon code SUMMERFAM for another 10% off and the total is about $195 and change.Expedia.com also has the slick looking and pretty new 4* Gild Hall for $191.20, and using WB06 coupon code gets $10 off = $181.20 (plus you get a $25 gas card sent to you.) The only issue with Gild Hall is that it is in the financial district.
grandma Posted June 15, 2008 Author Report Posted June 15, 2008 [Thank you for going above and beyond.I have a res for Gild Hall in Sept already! I'm looking forward to it as it looks like a very nice place. I wasn't too crazy about it being downtown but we have never stayed out of Midtown so we want to see what that's like.As for this trip I'm going to stay in Midtown if I can help it b/c that's what my travel partner (mom) prefers. I will be back on the board soon, I'm sure. I appreciate your help!
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