doccrow Posted August 28, 2008 Report Posted August 28, 2008 I'm going to NYC 6 dec for 3 nights ( sat, sun, mon). Looking for a MTW/MTE type area 4**** hotel 1 room sleeps 2.If I wait a while will I get a better deal?Should I try now?Do hotels get nervous if not booked up? Will the hotels get booked up at that time of the year?Guess I am really looking for someone to tell me what to do!Please help a stingy Scotsman :)
thereuare Posted August 29, 2008 Report Posted August 29, 2008 Welcome to BetterBidding!As far as when to bid, see the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.Historically this is a busy, and thus expensive, time of year in NYC. What is your expected budget? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
doccrow Posted August 29, 2008 Author Report Posted August 29, 2008 I could manage full price but obviously would rather not.Also I guess I have time on my hands to submit repeated bids at around a good price.If I repeatedly bid at around 50% off ie $250/night would that make sense. Is it greedy to try for cheaper or just a waste of everyone's time?Had a look at last years prices- $170-$270 on priceline and $154-275 on Hotwire.With the credit crunch will things be cheaper this year?I'll remember to click through this site for linksDoccrow
thereuare Posted August 30, 2008 Report Posted August 30, 2008 If I repeatedly bid at around 50% off ie $250/night would that make sense.The concept is correct, but i would set your maximum bid a bit higher... the high rooms rates are indicative of high occupancy, and as rates rise, there are likely fewer rooms left to sell, and therefore the need to discount too deeply becomes less from the hotel's perspective. So while there is more margin avaialble in a $500 room than a $250 room, there also may be less of a need to discount the $500 room vs. the $250 room.With the credit crunch will things be cheaper this year?The economy has been softening all year, but along with the weak economy, the US dollar has been weak too, and that has brought in a LOT of foreign visitors taking advantage of their own strong currency. This summer, a traditionally slow period in NYC, rates help up surprising strong (imo)... mostly on account of these non-US visitors.As far as when to bid, see the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.If you let us know your maximum bid (would you want to increase to say $300 or keep it at $250) and the zones you're willing to accept we will suggest a strategy for your to follow.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
doccrow Posted August 30, 2008 Author Report Posted August 30, 2008 Thanks for the help.I guess $300/ night max would be a great saving on the published price. I'd be very happy with that!Doccrow
thereuare Posted August 30, 2008 Report Posted August 30, 2008 If you let us know which zones you're willing to accept we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.For the average visitor MTE, MTW, TS, CPS all work out fine... and on difficult dates (ie- expensive) many also include ESB to better their chances, although we don't see too many 4* wins in this zone.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
doccrow Posted August 30, 2008 Author Report Posted August 30, 2008 For the average visitor MTE, MTW, TS, CPS all work out fineMy wife and i are pretty average tourists, so those zones are fine.The 4/5* in MTE all seem nice hotels so I guess that might be first choice. Not fussy though.Doccrow
thereuare Posted August 31, 2008 Report Posted August 31, 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.(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* MTE, MTW, CPS, and TS...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $170, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, and TS and re-bid zone4...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $200, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, and TS and re-bid zone5...Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $215, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $220, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, and TS and re-bid zone6...Bid $225, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $230, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $235, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $240, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, and TS and re-bid zone4 and re-bid zone5...Bid $245, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $250, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $255, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $260, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, and TS and re-bid zone4 and re-bid zone6...Bid $265, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $270, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $275, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $280, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, and TS and re-bid zone5 and re-bid zone6...Bid $285, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $290, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $295, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $300Any questions freel 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
doccrow Posted August 31, 2008 Author Report Posted August 31, 2008 Bid up to $340 with no luck, Is it worth waiting a week or two then trying again?Doccrow
thereuare Posted September 2, 2008 Report Posted September 2, 2008 Yes, it's worthwhile... but do keep your wits about you and don't discouraged!!!At this point i think it's worthwhile to bid about once every 7-10 days (depending upon how much time you have and how much you enjoy/don't enjoy the bidding process)However, i would also find a cancellable back-up just to protect yourself from rates going even higher from here and it also takes a lot of the pressure (and discouragement) off of your bidding. Quickbook and hotel direct (use our BetterChecker to assist in your search) are good sources for fully refundable back-ups.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
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