Priceline Hotel: 2* 3* NYC Need advice

[robinsonfamily33]

My husband and I will be in NY for one night July 24. We are budget conscious and want something as inexpensive as possible, 2* or 3*. We are willing to stay anywhere in the main part of Manhattan that tourists usually stay, walking distance to the subway. We arrive by bus into Penn Station so ideally somewhere close to there would be nice but budget is most important. Do you think we could find something $140 or less?

We have bid on priceline before using the tips from this website so I'm familiar with how to use your bidding strategies. Thank you!

[AaronJB]

This is a particularly busy date, it seems, and 4* seems unlikely for $140. However, I would try 3* for $140 first. If that doesn't work, I'd try 2.5* for $120.

[thereuare]

Your topic title suggests a maximum bid of $150 but your message mentions $140... which is your maximum bid?

While most users choose the midtown zones (MTE, MTW, TS, ESB, MSG, and Chelsea) but when budget is a concern Downtown is often used as well. Downtown is a little less convenient if you intend to mostly do things in midtown as it's a 20 minute subway ride, but certainly do-able if budget is your primary objectice.

Also, some of the midtown zones above are about a 10-15 minute walk to the subway, is that an accepable distance?

Let us know which zones you're willing to accept and we'll suggest a strategy to follow.

I also don't recommend the 2.5* level in Manhattan... while some hotels at this star rating may be acceptable, there may very well be some that are not, and you can't choose which type you will get.

Also, if your budget is flexible at all, you may want to consider the Desmond Tutu Center which is available thru Quickbook for $188/nite. This hotel is a 10-15 minute walk to the subway, but includes breakfast and gets great reviews. This is fully cancellable (2 days before your arrival if you cancel thru Quickbook... one day before your arrival you'll need to call the hotel to cancel even though booked thru Quickbook) so you may want to use this as a back-up while you try PRICELINE and HOTWIRE over the next few days to try to better the deal.

Let us know your thoughts regarding the above and which zones you're willing to accept (and which figure to use for your maximum bid) and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[robinsonfamily33]

Sorry for that, I'd prefer 140. If I lose out on 140 then I might rebid the next day up to 150, although I'm not sure on this because I have a backup reserved for 130 so I'll have to look at what hotels might win to see if it would be worth the extra $.

10-15 minutes walk to subway is acceptable. I'm willing to consider Downtown but would prefer to try all others first, and maybe save Downtown for a rebid after the next day too.

I already have a backup hotel reserved (the Chelsea Lodge) which got good reviews on TripAdvisor.

Thanks for your help.

[AaronJB]

What appears to be the Millennium UN (3.5* Midtown East, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Tennis) is $186 on HOTWIRE for these dates.

If it's $186 on Hotwire, I would think that $140 or so would be a reasonable bid for Midtown East in an attempt to get under Hotwire's price for that hotel (or get another 3* in that area.)

[thereuare]

I already have a backup hotel reserved (the Chelsea Lodge) which got good reviews on TripAdvisor.

This property, i believe, has a shared bathoom for everyone on the hall... is this acceptable for this stay?

[robinsonfamily33]

The room has a private shower, but shared toilets down the hall. This isn't ideal but we're open to it, because when I was searching for hotels on regular travel sites like Orbitz it seemed that all the 3* hotels were $180-200 which is more than I care to pay.

[AaronJB]

There are 2*'s in Midtown South and Downtown on HOTWIRE that both offer free breakfast for $179.

I'd be really surprised if 3*'s weren't accepting at around $140.

[robinsonfamily33]

Thanks, I'll try and see what happens.

[thereuare]

Do you need a suggested bidding strategy for this stay?

If so, let us know which zone(s) you're willing to accept and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[robinsonfamily33]

I searched around and found some other bidding strategies on older posts yesterday and tried bidding, but with no success. I'll just use the reservation I have already because I would have to give 72 hours cancellation and don't have time now to bid anymore. thank you.