tinkermel Posted September 24, 2008 Report Posted September 24, 2008 I am taking my daughter to NYC over Columbus Day weekend for her 16th birthday. We will arrive on Saturday, October 11th and depart Monday, October 13th. I used the strategy used by the previous 2 posters to this thread but was not successful. I did it at about 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Why do you think I was not able to snag a room at or about the same price as the previous 2 posters? Is it because I am checking in on a Saturday? Any suggestions for bidding after my 24 hours expire? We would like to be near Times Square, mid town, shopping, etc. Would I get a better rate perhaps if I bid for just 1 night and then after I won at a certain bid for that night, rebid for the next night and hope I get the same hotel. I really don't want to risk getting a different hotel each night and having to move. Any strategies/suggestions are appreciated!
tinkermel Posted September 25, 2008 Author Report Posted September 25, 2008 I waited 24 hours from yesterday's bid and this time linked to priceline.com through this website (sorry for not doing that the first time--I'm a newbie). This time I started at $150 for a 4* in the same areas as the first poster + I added Brooklyn and LIC for a maximum bid of $180. No luck. My dates are 10/11 to 10/13 which is a Saturday check in. Any suggestions for strategies when I bid again tomorrow?
thereuare Posted September 25, 2008 Report Posted September 25, 2008 Welcome to BetterBidding!I helped a friend bid for these dates a week or so ago and the Saturday nite is much more expensive than the Sunday nite... i know this is only a 2 nite stay, but is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?What is your maximum bid for this stay? (per nite before taxes and fees)Thanks for using our PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your bidding/purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
tinkermel Posted September 26, 2008 Author Report Posted September 26, 2008 If I split my bid, what is the likelihood that I will get the same hotel both nights? Before I learned about your website and how to use priceline, I was looking at paying $350 to $375 a night for a 3*, so if I could get a 4* for $250 a night, I would be happy. And I would be thrilled if I could get a 4* for lower. I would rather pay a little more per night to stay in the same hotel both nights than to get cheaper rates but have to change hotels. I am eligible to rebid in a few hours so if you have any tips or suggestions, let me know. Thank you so much for your help and for this wonderful website!
thereuare Posted September 26, 2008 Report Posted September 26, 2008 I did find 6 Columbus Circle available for your dates for $235/nite thru Quickbook (please use this ling if you book) which gets very good reviews (but note the rooms are small... $235 is for a full sized bed... Queen sized bed available for $255/nite) This is cancellable up until 2 business days before your arrival (always doublecheck the policy yourself at time of booking).Do you want to book this as a back-up and then try bidding in order to try to 'better' the deal? If so, let us know which room size/rate you book for if you go with the smaller bed we can lower your maximum bid to $235.Let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. (or our Quickbook link above) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
tinkermel Posted September 26, 2008 Author Report Posted September 26, 2008 Thanks for the information. I think I better book a cancellable back-up and then try to beat it, as you suggest. I checked out the 6 Columbus Circle Hotel reviews and it looks like an attractive alternative, if I can't get a lower price. I will opt for the queen size bed, however, at $255 so please give me bidding strategies based on that top figure. Many thanks.
tinkermel Posted September 26, 2008 Author Report Posted September 26, 2008 I just booked the 6 Columbia Circle Hotel queen bed room at $255 per night as my back up. I then bid via PRICELINE on 4* room in any Manhattan area with a 4* at $5 over the bid that was rejected yesterday. Kept adding areas with no 4* and increasing my bid each time by $5.00. Exhausted all of my options at $220 bid that was rejected. Comments?
thereuare Posted September 26, 2008 Report Posted September 26, 2008 Did you want to include Downtown in your bidding? (it's "do-able" but a bit less convenient than the midtown area(s) if you intend to spend most of your time in Midtown)... if it were me i'd try to beat your existing rate first, then if rejected consider Downtown at a lower maximum bid to compensate for the less convenient location (in other words, i wouldn't stay here for $245 given your better location back-up at $255... i'd only stay in this zone if i could save $50 a nite or so... of course if you intend on being in the Downtown area then it's a moot point and the location would be good)Let us know if we should include the Downtown zone or not and we'll suggest a strategy for you 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
tinkermel Posted September 27, 2008 Author Report Posted September 27, 2008 Thank you so much for all of your great advice. I would really rather not stay downtown. We play to go to theatre, Central Park, shopping, etc. and I would rather be closer to those places even if it means paying more. I can rebid in a few hours, so let me know if you have any strategies for rebidding.
thereuare Posted September 27, 2008 Report Posted September 27, 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, and CPS...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.Select 4* TS and ESB...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $150, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.Select 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, TS and ESB...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.Select 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, TS and ESB and re-bid zone5...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $200, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.Select 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, TS and ESB and re-bid zone6...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 add re-bid zone4...Bid $225, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE.Select 4* MTE, MTW, CPS, TS and ESB and re-bid zone5 and re-bid zone6...Bid $230, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $235, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $240, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $245, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $250Any 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
tinkermel Posted September 30, 2008 Author Report Posted September 30, 2008 Good evening. I tried your suggested bidding strategies for 2 consecutive days, but only bid up to $225 each time. Thought I would try that for several days before I go higher since I have 6 Columbia Circle as a back up. Anything else I should know or consider? What is difference b/w 3.5* and 4* and can I get a much better deal bumping down a half a star?
thereuare Posted September 30, 2008 Report Posted September 30, 2008 Star ratings are subjective, and there are probably some 3.5* properties which some users feel should be rated 4* (or 3*) and some 4* properties which users feel should be 3.5* rated. If you go to PRICELINE and enter the city and dates, on the next page click the 3.5* icon and the 4* icon to see a description of each and the amenities that each is guaranteed to have. Amenity-wise the 4* properties have the same amenities as the 3.5* properties, but will also have (current at time of posting): Bellman Concierge Fitness Center Access (NOTE: many 3.5* properties will have these too, but they're only guaranteed at the 4* level)Both will have:Remote Control TV with Premium ChannelsTelephone with VoicemailRadio Alarm ClockIron and Ironing BoardHairdryerBusiness Services24 Hour Front DeskFull Service RestaurantRoom ServicePlease 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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