kwoodell Posted October 6, 2008 Report Posted October 6, 2008 We are new to PRICELINE but would like to try it to get a 4 star hotel in the Times Square/Theatre District on Oct. 24-26. What should our starting bid be? We would also be okay with MTW, but would prefer Times Square. Thanks!
thereuare Posted October 7, 2008 Report Posted October 7, 2008 Welcome to BetterBidding!To begin, if you haen't seen it yet, i'd recommend reading our Hotels Near Times Square thread. In my opinion, you really don't need to be in Times Square 'to be in the middle of it all' as at the 4* level most midtown hotels work out well for the typical visitor and if you're looking for the best deal possible i would include the other midtown zones, but it's your stay and you know your needs better than we do (also, if there is a hotel you're trying to avoid then that would be another reason to exclude a given zone)Let us know how you'd like to proceed and also your maximum bid. If you want to stick with your original zone choices, it sounds as if you'd like to bid up to your maximum for the Times Square zone first before trying for the MTW 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
kwoodell Posted October 8, 2008 Author Report Posted October 8, 2008 Yes, we would prefer Times Square because our daughter is going to Teen Vogue Fashion University classes at Conde Nast and the Hudson Theater. We would like to get something around $200 but are willing to go up to $250 if necessary. We've previously stayed at the Marriott Marquis and Doubletree, so we are familiar with the area. Should we start off bidding $175 or so? We'd like to bid up to our maximum before trying MTW (our second choice).Thanks so much for your help and recommendations!
thereuare Posted October 8, 2008 Report Posted October 8, 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* Times Square...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 add re-bid zone4...Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Times Square 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 PRICELINESelect 4* Times Square 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 PRICELINESelect 4* Times Square 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
kwoodell Posted October 9, 2008 Author Report Posted October 9, 2008 I read the re-bidding post you referred to, but I'm not sure what re-bid zone1, 2, etc. is... Can you please explain? Thanks for your help and patience!
thereuare Posted October 9, 2008 Report Posted October 9, 2008 List each zone in NYC and the highest star rating available in each, using this technique from Priceline Re-Bidding Explained:The way to check what star levels are available in each zone is to open a Priceline page, check ONLY the zone you are inquiring about, and then proceed to the next page (as if you were going to select a zone)... this will give you the available star ratings in that area. You can then hit BACK on your browser, uncheck the current box, check the next box, and repeat the process. It is important to do this before EACH attempt at adding a zone that you really don't want, as new hotels can be added and the star ratings can change at any time. (NOTE: for most users Priceline has updated their interface making the above process easier... simply check a zone and note the highest star rating available within each zone, UNcheck that zone and checkmark the next zone, repeating the process)We'll take it from there... but if you're confused or can't follow the above just post back and we'll break it down further.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
kwoodell Posted October 9, 2008 Author Report Posted October 9, 2008 We finally did figure this out :) and followed your instructions. We bid up to $295 for a 4* TS and then tried 3 1/2* up to $270, but were unsuccessful. One time we did get the "try again $25 higher message", but didn't do it; we're wishing now that we had!In looking at the calendar of wins, I'm wondering if we have a better chance once we're closer to our travel dates of Oct. 24-26? Seems like people were able to get something about a week out. (We do have a room booked at the Marriott Marquis as a backup, but it is a ridiculously-high $479/night!) Do you think we should continue bidding a little higher for TS, or add in MTW or MTE? Or should we just wait a few days and try again?
thereuare Posted October 9, 2008 Report Posted October 9, 2008 Do you recall at what bid amount you received the "try again $25 higher message" message?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
kwoodell Posted October 10, 2008 Author Report Posted October 10, 2008 We got the "try again $25 higher" message at $240 for 3 1/2*. That's why we were surprised when we kept bidding up to $270 and never got a room.Do you think we should continue bidding a little higher for TS, or add in MTW or MTE? Or should we just wait a few days and try again?
thereuare Posted October 10, 2008 Report Posted October 10, 2008 There have a been a few instances lately of users turing down a counter-offer and then subsequently bidding that high and still being rejected.If you only want the Times Square zone than i would try again in 24 hours as follows:Select 4* Times Square...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $190, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Times Square and re-bid zone5...Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $205, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $215, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $220, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Times Square 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 add re-bid zone4...Bid $245, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Times Square and re-bid zone5 and re-bid zone6...Bid $250, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $255, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $260, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $265, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $270If you'd rather include other zones (such as MTE and/or MTW... and possibly CPS and/or ESB) in hopes of a lower price then DON"T bid th above and post back with which zones you're willing to include in your bidding.Any 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
kwoodell Posted October 10, 2008 Author Report Posted October 10, 2008 We would probably be fine with MTW too. Do you think we could get a 4* room cheaper by including MTW? We'll be celebrating our daughter's 19th birthday in NYC so we'd like a really nice room.Thanks again for your patience and advice!
thereuare Posted October 10, 2008 Report Posted October 10, 2008 If you want to include MTW you can try the first strategy again but use MTW instead of Times Square. (go up to whatever bid amount you'd like)If that is rejected, you can then try the 2nd strategy posted, but select both Times Square and MTW instead of just Times Square. If you chose to try MTW and then, if rejected, try both zones, there would be no need to wait 24 hours before bidding the second strategy as if done as posted it won't trigger the duplicage bid message.The more zones you add the better your chances of getting an accepted bid because the 'pool' of hotels able to accept your bid goes up... and as noted numerous times on the board (and eluded to in my first reply above) most midotwn locations at the 4* level work out fine for the typical visitor.I'll also add that it sounds like you're seeking more than double occupancy (or are you bidding for more than one room?). NOTE that PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy and after that it's at the discretion of the hotel... and in NYC there are many rooms with only one bed and little (or no) room for a rollaway bed, so it's considered somewhat risky to bid on PRICELINE for only one room for more than double occupancy. Some choose to take the risk and it works out fine, sometimes not so good.If looking for more than double occupancy HOTWIRE is an option as they allow you to search for up to quad occupancy and guarantee sleeping accomodations for everyone included in your search (which most of the time means two beds, alhtough the 'second' bed could be a pullout couch or rollaway)Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Any questions regarding the above feel free to ask. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
kwoodell Posted October 11, 2008 Author Report Posted October 11, 2008 Success! We got 4* Millennium Broadway in Times Square for $280/night! :)
thereuare Posted October 11, 2008 Report Posted October 11, 2008 Congratulations on your success!Can you confirm, as per your PRICELINE winning bid page, that this hotel is currently rated 4 stars by priceline (as i thought it may have been downgraded to a 3.5*). Did you keep your bidding star level at 4 stars the entire time?Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
kwoodell Posted October 12, 2008 Author Report Posted October 12, 2008 You are correct; it is 3 1/2*, not 4 on Priceline. (Trip Advisor has it rated as 4*.) We bid at 3 1/2* the second time (after no success at the 4* level) for both TS and MTW, so we were pleasantly surprised to get a TS location.
thereuare Posted October 12, 2008 Report Posted October 12, 2008 Thanks for the follow-up. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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