storm Posted October 29, 2008 Report Posted October 29, 2008 Hello,I just started bidding a couple days ago for hotels in NYC for a 4 night stay 12/2-12/6. We are looking to stay in TS, MTE or MTW (I'd be fine with some other zones, but the wife is only comfortable in those 3). There are lots of 3.5* hotels that are very good, but there are one or two that we want to avoid, so I haven't been able to bid on 3.5* hotels. I've been starting at $200 going up to $300 adding in free re-bid zones and whatnot. No luck so far. I'd like to stay under $250 a night, but I'm not sure if that's going to be possible.We do not have any backups as of yet, but I see on HOTWIRE there was listed a 4* hotel in TS at $329/night.Not sure if my starting price is too low or if I should just stick it out and keep trying. I will use the PRICELINE link to go through on my next bid. Any help in bidding strategy would be greatly appreciated!Thanks!
thereuare Posted October 30, 2008 Report Posted October 30, 2008 Welcome to BetterBidding!This is a very expensive time in NYC. I would find a suitable back-up hotel (try Quickbook, GTA Hotels, and our BetterChecker to assist in hotel-direct rates) so that you'll have a basis for what constitutes a good deal for these dates and be able to adjust your maximum bid accordingly. Depending upon the rate you find for your back-up, we'll then be in a better position to advise regarding how to proceed.Also, which are the 3.5* hotels you're trying to avoid?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
storm Posted October 31, 2008 Author Report Posted October 31, 2008 I tried going to the sites you suggested, but the rates are quite high. Generally speaking around $450-$420/night for the hotel type, and I don't want to book a hotel for that much, when I could book something through hotwire for much cheaper. Not sure if that is a requirement of this site, but I'm just not comfortable booking one hotel while trying for another.I'm looking to stay away from the Sheraton Manhattan & the Millenium, I also would not want the Algonquin unless I got a really good rate. There are some really nice hotels at 3.5*, but those I listed are all rated 3.5* yet are much closer to 3/2.5 if you ask me.I did go through the link on my last request, true to my word, but was declined up tp $320 even. I'm going to wait it out and try again tomorrow. Well, let me know if you can help me at all. I appreciate any help. Thanks!
thereuare Posted October 31, 2008 Report Posted October 31, 2008 I don't want to book a hotel for that much, when I could book something through hotwire for much cheaper.The point is that the hotel you book 'for that much' is fully cancellable, so you protect yourself from rates rising even further while you continue to monitor HOTWIRE and hopes of rates coming down. Right now you have nothing, and there is nothing on HOTWIRE for under $250/nite (your desired budget) and you've even been rejected on PRICELINE up to $320. While you continue to try within these limits, what if rates go even higher? Yes, HOTWIRE is currently a bit cheaper than a cancellable room rate, but it locks you into a non-refundable reservation, so if rates do drop (as you're hoping) you wouldn't be able to take advantage of it. The idea is to leave yourself in a position where you're able to take advantage of a price drop (if/when it does come) but also protect yourself from rates going up further. With a cancellable reservation you can lock in your 'price to beat' and continue to use PRICELINE and HOTWIRE in order to better thte deal. As you get closer to your check-in date, if rates haven't dropped and HOTWIRE is still at about the same price (or a little lower), then you can purchase the non-refundable hotel via HOTWIRE (and cancel your existing reservation)I'm just not comfortable booking one hotel while trying for another.Hotels offer refundable rates for potential guests who need to book a room but whose plans may not yet be firm... rooms are reserved/cancelled everyday. What aspect of a refundable reservation are you not comfortable with?If you don't want to book a refundable reservation that's your perogative and we can still help, but i don't think it's prudent not to... having a back-up booking can't hurt, and it could help.As you've already bid over your desired $250/nite, what is your current maximum bid?Thanks for using our PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
storm Posted October 31, 2008 Author Report Posted October 31, 2008 There are just a couple hotels that I'm looking at for back-ups and they have non-refundable deposits, which is why I haven't booked, the rate I'm looking at is about $380/night. I could book any number of other hotels that do have cancellable rooms, but I'd just rather not have to do that, if rates go up then I'll have to deal with it. I did go above my max quite a bit, it was late and I was getting a little tired of rebidding. I'd like to stay near $250, but I don't know if that's possible for a 4*, which is why I was looking for help in the first place. I will not bid more than $320 at this point, so that would be the absolute max.If you can help out, that's great, if not that's cool too. I appreciate your taking time to help me out this much.
thereuare Posted October 31, 2008 Report Posted October 31, 2008 What hotels, and at what prices, are you considering as a back-up? (maybe we can help find something which is refundable for a similar price) Almost all hotels offer refundable rates... they may not be the lowest rate offered, but for now that should be fine. You can always cancel the refundable rate and re-book the non-refundable rate :)Not sure how much you travel or how often you book hotel stays, but rates are constantlychanging as they are a function of supply vs. demand. These dates are typically high demand, and therefore rates are high, but if reservations begin to come in softer than expected, or if the hotel(s) begin to get a large number of cancellations (entirely possible given the current state of the economy), then you may see rates drop as you get closer to your stay. Given that rates are currently much higher than you're ideally willing to spend, i would advise finding your current best deal which is refundable (it's not clear if you're best deal is currently paying a higher rate or lowering your star rating) and then hoping that rates drop in the next few weeks.If you want to disregard this advice, you have FIVE re-bid zones at the 4* level. 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)Start with our link to PRICELINESelect 4* TS...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid1...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid2...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid3...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid4...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid5...Bid $190, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTW...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid1...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid2...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid3...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid4...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid5...Bid $190, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid1...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid2...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid3...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid4...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid5...Bid $190, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and MTE...Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid1...Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid2...Bid $220, if rejected add re-bid3...Bid $230, if rejected add re-bid4...Bid $235, if rejected add re-bid5...Bid $240, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and MTW...Bid $200, if rejected add re-bid1...Bid $210, if rejected add re-bid2...Bid $220, if rejected add re-bid3...Bid $230, if rejected add re-bid4...Bid $235, if rejected add re-bid5...Bid $240, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and MTE and MTW...Bid $245, if rejected add re-bid1...Bid $250, if rejected add re-bid2...Bid $255, if rejected add re-bid3...Bid $260, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and MTE and MTW and re-bid zone4...Bid $265, if rejected add re-bid1...Bid $270, if rejected add re-bid2...Bid $275, if rejected add re-bid3...Bid $280, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and MTE and MTW and re-bid zone5...Bid $285, if rejected add re-bid1...Bid $290, if rejected add re-bid2...Bid $295, if rejected add re-bid3...Bid $300, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* TS and MTE and MTW and re-bid zone4 and re-bid zone5...Bid $305, if rejected add re-bid1...Bid $310, if rejected add re-bid2...Bid $315, if rejected add re-bid3...Bid $320Any 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
storm Posted November 3, 2008 Author Report Posted November 3, 2008 Well, I tried 3 times and did not get any luck, thanks for the strategy though, that was exactly what I was looking for. I'm not sure I'm going to get anything, but I will just keep trying. I might have to lower my * level and try for a 3.5* eventhough a couple of the choices are pretty dreary. I'll let you know if anything comes of my bididng. The hotels we were looking at were the Crowne Plaza, the Tudor and one other my wife liked. Those are not considered 4*, but are nice hotels for the price and location. It looks though that maybe only the Crowne Plaza has the non-refundable deposit, so we're going to try booking one of the others as a back-up, thanks for the adivce there!
thereuare Posted November 3, 2008 Report Posted November 3, 2008 If you book the Crowne Plaza as a back-up please use the link in our support page (or any of the other links there... we have links to almost all the major hotel chains and booking agencies)Quickbook is also a good source for refundable back-up reservations (any hotels there not cancellable are clearly marked as such)Keep us updated. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
storm Posted November 3, 2008 Author Report Posted November 3, 2008 Well, after some more searching and digging, the hotels we were looking at were the Crowne & Hilton Times Square, which had refundable rates, they were just at a higher rate. We contacted a couple friends in the hotel business and they stated that getting a hotel at that time and not booking the full weekend (we're leaving Saturday morning) would probably make it harder to book through priceline with a competitive rate. So, we decided to book the HOTWIRE hotel through the link, (The initial hotel of $329 I quoted was actually in MSG, not TS) and got a 4* for $372 in Times Square, we were happy to see it was the Millenium Broadway. It was a little more than we'd like to pay, but it was easier and cheaper than we initially thought.Thanks for all the help!!
thereuare Posted November 4, 2008 Report Posted November 4, 2008 Congratulations on your success!Glad to see you're pleased with the outcome and can now relex regarding having this stay settled.Can you please add to this thread the amenities shown before your purchase... you can still view these by going to HOTWIRE and clicking the MY ACCOUNT link near the top right of their home page.Thank you for sharing your results with the board and using our HOTWIRE link to begin your purhase.Have a great trip and fun in NYC! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
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