Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* NYC (MTC) Hudson Hotel

[moff]

Hi,

I'm taking my gf to NYC for her 30th birthday in November (19 - 23rd). She's never been to America before, and is so excited. I've been to NYC once but several years ago, and can't remember what the areas are like.

I'm trying to find a really nice hotel because a rubbish one could spoil the holiday.

My budget is $1600 absolute max, and if I can do it cheaper I'd like to (credit crunch and all that).

So, looking for your help please -

1) What areas should I be looking at for a typically touristy few days of seeing manhattan sights and shopping? Been thinking Tribeca or MTE so far, but don't really know other than that. Don't want to be too far north, and obviously want to be somewhere central so we don't have a big journey to get places.

2) Is this an expensive time of year? Hotwire has a 4* places at well over $300 a night, whereas I've seen posts here reporting under $200

3) There's a Hotwire 4* for $342 in DOwntown Soho. Tripadvisor is 4.5 out of 5 Based on 40+ customer reviews (Last reviewed September 2008). Ameneties are the standard Fitness Center/Restaurant(s)/Business Center/High-speed Internet Access.

Using tripadvisor the only 4.5 rated 4* I found was the Mercer, but that's not on lists of Hotwire hotels I've found (I realise this doesn't rule it out though).

How much can I rely on the '40+' reviews? some of other hotels in this area have many hundreds of reviews (the mercer has 72).

Also the Last reviewed date, is that the last date that Hotwire reviewed the place in Tripadvisor, or the date of the last user review in Tripadvisor?

Many TIA! let me know if i can provide more info or have breached any protocol. if I come to book through HOTWIRE i will of course use the affiliate link here :)

moff.

(London, UK)

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

So, looking for your help please -

1) What areas should I be looking at for a typically touristy few days of seeing manhattan sights and shopping? Been thinking Tribeca or MTE so far, but don't really know other than that. Don't want to be too far north, and obviously want to be somewhere central so we don't have a big journey to get places.

Typically all the midtown zones work well for the typical visitor (MTE, MTW, TS, CPS, ESB) and the Downtown zones are 'do-able' but a little less prefered as they're somewhat out of the way to midtown and require a 20-25 minute subway ride to get to midtown (depending how far south you are... this time is from the World Trade Center area to Times Square). With this noted, if Downtown has a great deal which is substantially cheaper than midtown, it's not a bad trade-off (better price vs less convenient)

2) Is this an expensive time of year? Hotwire has a 4* places at well over $300 a night, whereas I've seen posts here reporting under $200

Yes, it is typically an expensive time of year.

3) There's a Hotwire 4* for $342 in DOwntown Soho. Tripadvisor is 4.5 out of 5 Based on 40+ customer reviews (Last reviewed September 2008). Ameneties are the standard Fitness Center/Restaurant(s)/Business Center/High-speed Internet Access.

Using tripadvisor the only 4.5 rated 4* I found was the Mercer, but that's not on lists of Hotwire hotels I've found (I realise this doesn't rule it out though).

How much can I rely on the '40+' reviews? some of other hotels in this area have many hundreds of reviews (the mercer has 72).

Also the Last reviewed date, is that the last date that Hotwire reviewed the place in Tripadvisor, or the date of the last user review in Tripadvisor?

The Gild Hall meets the above description and TA rating and i think that is likely the hotel you're seeing and would be a better guess than the Mercer.

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

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

[moff]

hey,

thanks for the welcome, and the information.

I looked up the Gild Hall and it does look very far south -- plus on Expedia the cost is about the same so no great saving!

Out of interest how did you find it on TA?

There's a 4* MTE on hotwire for $230, TA 4/5 stars 500+ reviews. Restaurant(s)/Business Center/High-speed Internet Access -- any suggestions which it might be? sounds like a good price. maybe the Helmsley?

what kind of figure should I be looking to pay for a 4* for these dates & locations? a "great deal" number and "pay more than this and you're being ripped off" number would be really helpful :)

oh and one more Q - i realise that hotwire or PL rooms are probably going to be the least good rooms a hotel has, but am I making a fair assumption in hoping that by going for 4* even their worst room will be decent enough?

cheers, moff.

[thereuare]

I just went right to the Gild Hall at TripAdvisor once you mentioned those amenities and TA rating since i recognized it as being a likely candidate.

The HOTWIRE MTE property is a match for the Helmsley New York so that would be our best guess.

what kind of figure should I be looking to pay for a 4* for these dates & locations? a "great deal" number and "pay more than this and you're being ripped off" number would be really helpful

What are the best rates you're able to find at various 4* hotels for these dates? (use our BetterChecker to assist in your search)

oh and one more Q - i realise that hotwire or PL rooms are probably going to be the least good rooms a hotel has, but am I making a fair assumption in hoping that by going for 4* even their worst room will be decent enough?

Can't say as everyone's experience is different... some users find fault with some of the best 4* and 5* hotels while others love their 2.5* properties. So it comes down to your personality and how discerning your tastes are. I will add that while a few hotels (fortunately it's a minority) do give opaque users the least favorable rooms, the savings involved are usually well worth it, and often a friendly, level-headed, calm, discussion with management can get a room change if it's within reason (ie- you don't want to be next to the ice machine or elevator is a reasonable request... you're not happy with the room because it doesn't have a view is not likely going to get you sympathy, imo)

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

[moff]

What are the best rates you're able to find at various 4* hotels for these dates? (use our BetterChecker to assist in your search)

Prices are between $300 and $400 per night for 3*/4* hotels (sites seem to star rate them differently)

I've found this on HOTWIRE for $195 p/n:

MTC

3.5*

Fitness Center/Restaurant(s)/Business Center/High-speed Internet Access

Trip Advisor 3/5, 1120+ reviews

Do you agree it sounds like the Hudson? Price on their site is $349+ per night, so sounds good value. Negative reviews on TA are more about room size than anything else. Sounds like a good location, and with $ vs

[thereuare]

Yes, the Hudson would be our best guess for the HOTWIRE property above. The rooms are notriously small but if that doesn't bother you then this does seem like a decent deal for this time of year based upon current rates.

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

Let us know what you decide and how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[moff]

Thanks - just booked it through your HOTWIRE link and it was the Hudson.

many thanks for your help.

moff.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you received the hotel you were hoping for and are happy with the results.

Thank you for sharing you win with the board and using our HOTWIRE link to begin your purchase.

Enjoy your stay.

[moff]

just wanted to check back in and say thanks :)

the hotel was great; location couldn't be beaten, staff friendly, library bar superb (try the Manhattan!), room comfortable.

the room was cosy, but not cramped. there were nice touches like ipod dock and free copy of Time Out.

cheers! moff.

[thereuare]

Glad you enjoyed your stay.