brw Posted July 9, 2008 Report Posted July 9, 2008 Hello,I have never used priceline.com before and I could really use some help on how to place a great bid for a hotel room. We are two couples traveling together so we need two rooms. We would like to stay in a 4 star hotel in the Midtown West district (Great list of boutique hotels in this area, I know we don't get to pick the hotel but the chances of getting one seems to be higher in this area). We are hoping to keep the price under $200 per night. We are in NYC Aug.3/08 - Aug.8/08. Can anyone advise me on what will be the best strategy for us?Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
thereuare Posted July 9, 2008 Report Posted July 9, 2008 Welcome to BetterBidding!Based upon current rates i'm guessing that under $200/nite may be tough for these dates, and it will be even tougher b only bidding one zone. If this is the only zone you're willing to accept (which hotel(s) are you hoping for as we don't usually see the 'boutiquey' hotels come up in this zone) we can certainly suggest a strategy, but if price is a factor at all, including all acceptable zones increases the number of hotels able to accept your bid and increases the chances of success and a better deal.Let us know your thoughts regarding the above and we'll advise accordingly.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
brw Posted July 9, 2008 Author Report Posted July 9, 2008 We would really prefer to stay in the MTW or Time Square district. Some of the smaller hotels we liked in the MTW area are:Royalton HotelSofitelCity ClubLondon NYCShorehamHudsonSome of the other hotels listed in the MTW and TS area like the Hilton and Sheraton will work but they are you classic big city hotels. I found rates on Hilton NY website for $389/night for two doubles which is basically $200/couple if we shared a room. Thanks!
thereuare Posted July 9, 2008 Report Posted July 9, 2008 Royalton HotelSofitelCity Club (club quarters??... 3*)London NYC (never won on PRICELINE)Shoreham (3*)Hudson (3*)See my comments next to each of the hotels you've listed above... i think it's fine to only bid MTW if that's what you want to do, but i think the odds greatly favor you being disapointed if you're expecting the Royalton or Sofitel)... if you bid with a 4* minimum you dont' even have a chance at some of the 'prefered' hotels on your list.We'll suggest a strategy for however you'd like to proceed, but:-currently under $200 for a 4* may be tough, so i would consider as many zones as you're willing to accept-i think you should have realistic expectations, and odds favor you receiving one of the 'big city hotels', so be prepared for that-if you're avoiding the other zones because they dont' have as many boutique-y properties, keep in mind that your current back-up plan is sharing a room at a 'big city hotel'... so would 2 rooms at a big city hotel for about the same price, in a zone other than the MTW or Times Square zone be that bad, relative to your back-up?Ultimately it's your stay and we'll suggest a strategy for whatever you'd like, so let us know if you only want to include MTW, or bid both MTW and TS, and/or any other zones.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
brw Posted July 9, 2008 Author Report Posted July 9, 2008 What is a reasonable bid price for MTW or TS for a 4* hotel? I just read a review of someone who won a bid for the Hudson Hotel for $110/night. Thanks.
thereuare Posted July 10, 2008 Report Posted July 10, 2008 I just read a review of someone who won a bid for the Hudson Hotel for $110/night.1) The Hudson is not a 4* hotel2) Rates are date specific... i assume the $110 win was not for the same dates as your stay?HERE is a thread for dates almost identical to yours and the user has been unsuccessful bidding the Times Square zone up to $275. The dates are not identical, but it's very close and at least provides a little insight. Of course you'd be bidding the MTW zone as well and there could be something available there, but just off the cuff, i'd say you're probably in the $250+ range at least (although we'd obviously start lower)You can also see the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins and see that there are very few wins over these dates... if you include some dates before and after your stay you'll some wins for the Hudson at $180 (far cry from the $110 you reference above)Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
brw Posted July 10, 2008 Author Report Posted July 10, 2008 I am surprised that the Hudson is only a 3*, it looks like a very nice upscale hotel. Maybe it is because of the room sizes.I think I would like to try a bid for $200 in MTW and see if I get lucky. What do you think? Unfortunately we are not flexible on our dates.
thereuare Posted July 10, 2008 Report Posted July 10, 2008 At the 4* level you have SIX re-bid zones available. 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.(NOTE: 're-bid zone1' is not the same as priceline's Zone1, 're-bid zone2' is not the same as priceline's Zone2, etc, etc)Select 4* MTW...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 use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW and re-bid zone5...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $170, if rejected use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW and re-bid zone6...Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone5...Bid $200Any 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
brw Posted July 10, 2008 Author Report Posted July 10, 2008 Thanks thereuare! I will give it a shot! :)
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