Hotwire Hotel: 2.5* NYC (Times Square-Theater District) Milford Plaza

[clarke]

Hi, this is my first post & first time on priceline.

My girlfriend and I are looking to stay in NYC for 7 nights, Sept 2nd -> Sept 9th.

I've been looking at private rooms in hostels hitting the $175+ mark and though I might as well start checking priceline.

We would probably want to be fairly 'central' - I'm guessing MTE, MTW, TS, MSG and CPS would be the relevant zones? I also understand that transport is good, so location does not have to be a huge issue.

I'd like to know:

A) Do I have any chance at my sort of budget?

B.) What should my strategy be, given we only really need somewhere for sleep and storage?

Would really appreciate any help.

Thanks :)

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

I think you have a chance at a 3* hotel within your budget... odds would go up if you could stretch to $200/nite (but still not guaranteed)

Do you want to try for a 3* first up to $175? If so, is the ESB zone also acceptable?

Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option? (if so will you change hotels twice or just once?) Would a private room with a shared bath be acceptable?

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

[clarke]

Thanks for the reply thereuare.

We've got no problem with the ESB zone, I don't see anything wrong with Chelsea and possibly even the upper west side if we need to.

I've been playing on priceline today, but all the permutations have made my head swim.

SPLITTING my bid is definitely an option, preferable in fact.

What would you say are the best split points? I imagine the peak of rates is over the weekend. We'd rather split once than twice, if possible.

When my 24hrs have elapsed I intend to try again. I'd like to take a more systematic approach tomorrow, having noticed some wins on the calender for the NY Wellington at very low prices. This makes me think that I might have a hope in the <180$ range, if I play my cards right. Ultimately we could go to $200+, but I'm trying to prioritize my funds towards experiences and shopping as much as possible!

Thanks again, and i'll keep you updated with my further PRICELINE attempts tomorrow.

[AaronJB]

While not a centrally located hotel, the very nice boutique hotel Gild Hall is $192 on Quikbook.com for 9/2-5 on sale. You could potentially stay downtown for the first 3 and then midtown for the last 4. Just tossing out an idea - while Gild Hall isn't the most convienient, as hotels go for these dates I thought it offered a good amount of hotel for the money.

Beekman Tower in MT East is $218 for 9/5-9. That would get you a studio suite w/kitchen. (also on Quikbook.com)

If these deals are of interest, please use the site's Quikbook.com link (click the Quikbook.com)

[AaronJB]

The above plan would average out to $206 and change, but the nice thing is that it would also be cancelable (although MAKE SURE TO CHECK CANCEL POLICY!!!!) so that you could be set with something, but also be able to cancel if something better did happen to come along. If not, you'd be set with at least something and both hotels, while not close to one another, are at least good options as hotels go.

[thereuare]

I had actually seen both of the above hotels and thought they offered good value for the money given your dates.

However, i asked about 3 splits simply because the last nite at the Beekman is more expensive than the previous three nites and if willing to split a 3rd time may be able to find something acceptable for less for that nite. Are you flying out of the city for your departure... which airport and at what time?

What are you own thoughts of the above proprties? You could use these as a back-up and know your "price to beat". While the average cost would be about $25 more than the private rooms at the hostels, you'd certainly be getting much more hotel for your money.

If you want to move forward tomorrow with PRICELINE, are you looking to bid the entire stay at first and then consider splitting and what is the maximum bid you'd like to currently use?

Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[clarke]

@AaronJB:

Thanks for doing the hard work there! That's a good set of back-up options. I'm definitely going to try to get something on reserve so I can carry on my bargain hunting more objectively.

However, i asked about 3 splits simply because the last nite at the Beekman is more expensive than the previous three nites and if willing to split a 3rd time may be able to find something acceptable for less for that nite. Are you flying out of the city for your departure... which airport and at what time?

What are you own thoughts of the above proprties? You could use these as a back-up and know your "price to beat". While the average cost would be about $25 more than the private rooms at the hostels, you'd certainly be getting much more hotel for your money.

Hi thereuare,

We're flying out of JFK, at around 10.30PM on the Tuesday (9th).

Now, we wouldn't be averse to a 3-way split. So what we have reached is this:

9/2 - 9/5 Gild Hall @ $192 via Quickbook.com

9/5 - 9/8 Beekman Tower @ $200 via Quickbook.com

9/8 Somewhere else

That is certainly a good deal and would tick all my boxes. If I understand Quickbook's "Buy Now Pay Later" correctly then this would be a perfect back-up with no strings attached?

Of course I'd still be interested on beating that deal with PRICELINE!

Essentially with the hostels we could get a private room, shared bath for $1225 or a private room, en-suite for circa. $1500 (Full 7 days)

My better half will not take the shared bath option and I can understand that. However, I reach some sort of mental barrier at $1500 and if I am spending that figure then I wanted to improve on a hostel!

Our requirements boil down to: private bath, cleanliness, reasonable distance to tourist venues via subway/bus/foot.

Any of the hotels should offer this, so going down to a 2.5* hotel should suffice?

That's about the measure of my thoughts at this time; a low budget and our main requirement is comfort.

I'd like to attack priceline again and I'll gratefully accept any strategy advice! I can try for the whole period at first, but we are very open to a 3/4day or 2/5 day split as required.

Taking account of taxes, $180 per night would be a reasonable limit for me (unfortunately :) ). Leaning closer to the $150 mark would make me ecstatic

Thank You both for taking the time.

[clarke]

OK. Excuse the 2nd post, but the previous one looks long enough! :)

I think a bidding strategy would go something like >this< which thereuare kindly provided for someone else. Could I get a 2nd opinion on my rebid zones?

Zones 1-3 for the 3* level: (Long Island, Upper East, Upper West)

and for 4*: (Brooklyn, Chelsea, MSG) + those above

[AaronJB]

Well, how about this:

9/2-6, there is a 2.5* in the Times Square area on Hotwire with fitness, restaurant, business, internet for $139. This would be a possible match for the Paramount (although very well could be a different property.)

You could then do the Club Quarters Rockefeller Center for $259.25 via Orbitz.com for 9/6-9 Use coupon code 7DAYSALE2 for 20% off = $207.40.

The 4 hotwire days and 3 CQ days should total $1178.20 if my calculations are correct. Divided by 7 = $168.31 average per night

Please use the site's links to Orbitz.com and HOTWIRE links to start your purchases if these ideas are of interest.

[AaronJB]

While not quite $150, $168 average is under your max, plus the total (again, if my math is correct) would be under what you would be paying for a hostel.

Edited to add: yep, the $1178.20 total is correct. Not sure what the 2.5* hotel is, but it would be a possible match for the Paramount.

Plus, at least in this case, the 2.5* Times Square hotwire hotel would at least be close to the CQ Rockefeller.

[clarke]

While not quite what you wanted, $168 average is under your max, plus the total (again, if my math is correct) would be under what you would be paying for a hostel.

You may possibly be.... a saint. :)

Thanks, this is far more like what I was looking for. I'm just checking the various sites out as we speak (type).

EDIT1: I've just booked the 2.5* via Hotwire. It turned out to be the Milford Plaza. I'll create a seperate thread when I've booked this trip fully!

[AaronJB]

Happy to help! :)

Not sure what the 2.5* is, but $139 is a great rate for a Times Square hotel and, at least if it doesn't turn out to be the "best" hotel, at least your last three days will be at a different property.

And, at least you'll know the 2.5* Times Square isn't a shared bath. Definitely let us know what it turns out to be if you do take the 2.5* TS on Hotwire.

[AaronJB]

Milford is $244 for these dates, so definitely not a bad deal at all - a little over $100 bucks off. Gets mixed reviews, but excellent location.

[clarke]

OK, I've now booked the CQ Rockefeller. Tax inclusive all 7 days came out at $1410.33, that around $200per night and I'm very happy.

Better than a hostel for sure!

Now all I need to do is cancel my Quikbook backups. And maybe do some overtime since my bank account haemorrhaged over $2000 today!

Thank you again to AaronJB and thereuare for all your help. I could have wasted days scratching my head over this.

I used the HOTWIRE and Orbitz.com links, as should readers of this thread :)

[clarke]

Booked this deal using HOTWIRE today.

Very reasonable pricepoint, fine location and mixed reviews on TripAdvisor however it's just the ticket for a price concious young couple - like us!

Check in: Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 3.00PM

Check out: Sat, Sep 6, 2008 at 12.00PM

Room Type: Single - double bed

Hotwire rate: $139

Rack rate: $244

Grand Total: $647.76 - 4 nights inc. Taxes & fees.

Facilities listed as: fitness, restaurant, business, internet

[not a great clue, admittedly]

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to hear this all came together for you and you did MUCH better than staying in a hostel... i'm sure the upgraded accomodations will make your NYC trip just a little bit more special.

Thank you for sharing your results with the board (a new hotel for the Hotwire Hotel List) and for using our HOTWIRE nad <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=GFBeectgAps&offerid=59109.10000039&type=3&subid=0" target="_blank">Orbitz</a> links to begin yoru purchases.

AaronJB... another well researched plan!!

Enjoy your stay.

PS- note the reservation above mentions single/double bed... be sure they dont' try to give you a single and remind them that your HOTWIRE reservation is for double ocupancy. If you have any problem (which i doubt you will) call HOTWIRE and have them sort it out with the hotel.