Priceline Hotel: 4* NYC 8/28 - 9/1

[Aznsky]

Hello everybody.

My gf and I plan on going 8/28 - 9/1. I'm a bit picky so looking for 4* hotels. I know it's still 2 months away but I'd rather book the hotel now so I can book plane tickets based on hotel availability.

This is my first time using priceline, but I think I have a good understanding of how to use it after reading tons and tons of faq's and old threads. I was wondering if I could get any feedback on my bidding strategy.

Basically I'm looking for 4* in the following zones: Mid-town East, Central Park South, Time Square, Mid-Town West

The plan (already failed yesterday, will try again tomorrow):

Bid #1

Zone: MTE

Bid: $180

FAIL

Bid #2

Zone: MTE / TS

Bid: $185

FAIL

Bid #3

Zone: MTE / TS / CPS

Bid: $190

FAIL

Bid #4

Zone: MTE / TS / CPS / MTW

Bid: $195

FAIL

My max right now I want to pay is $200 even though actual 4* hotel prices are like $300.

I understand the free re-bids by choosing a zone with only lower quality hotels (like max 3* for my example), but I'm a still scared that I'll end up getting stuck with some hotel in a random zone far away from TS area.

Sorry for the long post. any comments/recommendations? I plan on doing this every day for the next week or two. If I notice plane tickets or hotel prices start going up after july 4th, then I'll just book normally.

THANKS!

[zulasmi]

im not an expert used 2 day ago PRICELINE first time. i suggest u to add all the area u want ts mtw mte etc and then after first rejection add a zone whit non 4 star hotel .

U have 6 areas to add . Anyway read my post where the admin told me the strategy to use...

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Based upon your bidding above, you run a very realistic risk of overbidding for the MTW zone. Even if you aren't comfortable using re-bid zones (although i think you should be, but it's your stay and your money, so you have to be comfortable with any strategies you employ), you can bid better than you have.

Think about whether you want to ultimatley use re-bid zones or not (Priceline Re-Bidding Explained) and we'll take it from there. Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?

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

[Aznsky]

I just tried calling some of the hotels I was interested cuz I found some decent internet deals but both hotels were sold out for the weekend. This leads me to believe that since it's a holiday weekend, most hotels will be booked. So I'm wondering if I should just go to HOTWIRE for $236 since I'm willing to pay up to 200?

I'll try the re-bid zones. However I want to stay away from splitting bids cuz I don't really want to be changing hotels.

Thanks!

[thereuare]

So I'm wondering if I should just go to HOTWIRE for $236 since I'm willing to pay up to 200?

What are the amenities associated with the HOTWIRE hotel and which zone is it located in?

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

[Aznsky]

Botique Hotel, Internet, and fitness center in TS. Based on the hotel database it seems like this is hotel mela (which didn't' get a good review from another betterbidding member)

[thereuare]

The above is a match for the Hotel Mela so that would be our best guess.

So it comes down if you want to "pay up" for this property which has very good reviews or would rather take a chance with an 'unkown' with PRICELINE which would likely be a little cheaper.

Let us know your thougths and/or how it goes and if we can be of further help if you decide to try PRICELINE.

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

[Aznsky]

so I know this should probably be moved to the hotwire forums now.

Curious on which hotel this would be listed on hotwire right now:

- Smoke free room

- restaurant

- internet

- fitness

- business center

Based on this list it could be helmsley park / sofitel? I really hope it's sofitel!!

thanks!