Priceline Hotel: 4* NYC (Times Square-Theatre District) Westin Times Square

[littlewilson]

Howdy. For the night of Saturday, November 22nd, I'm getting a HOTWIRE hit for a 4* in Soho for $176. The amenities (Fitness Center, Restaurant, Business Center, Internet) match the Soho Grand, but for this price....? Also, on the detail listing, Hotwire tells me that it's rated 4.5 out of 5 on tripadvisor with 40+ reviews (as of Sept 2008). Since the Soho Grand has some 360+ reviews on tripadvisor, is that sufficient evidence that this can not be that hotel? Any ideas on which it might be?

TIA!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Based upon the information above i think you can rule out the Soho Grand.

Although not yet reported to the board, best guess is that this would be the Gild Hall.

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

Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[littlewilson]

Franks very much. Suspected the same thing, actually. If I decide to bite the bullet on it, I'll post back (and use link, natch), but I think it's just a bit too far downtown for me. Great-looking/sounding place though, for the price.

[thereuare]

What is it that you are looking for?

If you let us know this, and your budget, we might be able to help you find something that fits well with your needs.

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

[littlewilson]

Looking for a 4* hotel in Midtown (prob. Midtown Central or Times Square) for Sat night (11/22/08). I may try PRICELINE, but want to see what you think I'm seeing on HOTWIRE. I'm not very certain of the hotels b/c I'm no longer seeing the TripAdvisor review #s. Are others having the same issue?

Right now, I see a 4* Midtown Central: Fitness, Restaurant, Internet for $159.

I also see a 4* Midtown East: Customer Favorite, Fitness, Restaurant, Business, Internet, Spa for $229.

[littlewilson]

So weird. I can now see the TripAdvisor # (900+ review) for the Midtown East 4* (which is $229, I made a mistake posting earlier). So that's the Westin, I guess, which is apparently now a Customer Fave.

The Midtown Central hotel is still showing me nothing re: TripAdvisor.

I'm thinking the Midtown Central may well be the Algonquin?

[thereuare]

The Westin is in the Midtown Central zone, so if you're seeing a hotel with the amenities above in the Midtown East zone, that wouldn't be the Westin.

However, the hotel i'm currently seeing in the MTE zone shows Restaurant, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Tennis... are you still see the hotel with a SPA icon in the MTE zone as you posted above? If so, are you searching for mroe than one room or for more than the default 2adults/0children?

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

[littlewilson]

OMG, no I'm just being crazy. THe hotel is actually in Times Square. No idea why I typed Midtown East. Sorry for my cornfusion.

[thereuare]

HOTWIRE will only show you one hotel at each star level in each zone, so since this property is in the MTC zone, what zone is the other property located in?

To avoid confusion, start a new HOTWIRE search and let us know the star rating, zone, price, and amenities associated with each property.

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

[littlewilson]

I'm not talking about two different Midtown Central hotels. The one that I think is the Westin is in the Times Square zone, not in Midtown East, as I originally mis-typed. My OP should have read:

4* Midtown Central: Fitness, Restaurant, Internet for $159.

4* Times Squaret: Customer Favorite, Fitness, Restaurant, Business, Internet, Spa for $229.

It looks like I'm unable to go back and edit it; apologies again.

[thereuare]

I agree, the Times Square property is a match for the Westin and that would be our best guess for that one.

The Algonquin is amatch for the MTC hotel, but i wouldn't call this one a "lay up" with complete certainty... most 4* hotels in the city have these three amenities so it could be a different property, but the Algonquin would certainly be our best guess given it has been reported to the board previously with these three, and only these three, amenities.

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.

[littlewilson]

After checking out HOTWIRE (showing what is presumably the Westin for $229 for this date) and seeing other recent winning bids at this same price for this hotel, decided to use PRICELINE.

My 1st choice was the Westin TS b/c I have friends in town staying at that hotel. 2nd choice was anywhere else in TS or MTW, just to be nearby.

Strategy was to go up to $180 in TS, and if no hits, restart with MTW and go to $160ish.

Bidding went as follows:

Selected 4* TS...

Bid $130 - rejected

Added re-bid zone 1, bid $140 - rejected

Added re-bid zone 2, bid $150 - rejected

Added re-bid zone 3, bid $160

Closed browser and used link to re-access PRICELINE

Selected 4*TS plus re-bid zone4...

Bid $165 - rejected. Got message indicating acceptance if I offered $25 more.

Added re-bid zone 1, bid $170 - accepted at the Westin. Yay!

Totally used the PRICELINE link.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your win!

This is a very nice hotel with an excellent location.

Glad to hear you received the hotel you wanted and that you're happy with the results.

Thank you for sharing your results with the board and using our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding.

Enjoy your stay.