Priceline Hotel: 4* NYC (MTE) InterContinental The Barclay

[Colfax]

Can anyone ID this 3* hotel in the Chelsea-Madison Square Garden zone?

2 adults

1 nite, 12/20/08

$143

icons: Boutique, Breakfast, Business Ctr, Highspeed, Golf, Tennis

The icons don't match either of the reported 3* hotels in the Hotwire Hotel List--the Chelsea Four Points or Holiday Inn Express MSG. Hotwire doesn't offer any TripAdvisor stats with this listing.

Thanks for your help.

[thereuare]

I tried looking for this hotel last nite for this Hotwire New York thread and couldn't figure it out.

I thought the Desmond Tutu might be a possibility, but i consider that property to be more historic/majestic than 'boutique', but really not too certain or confident in that guess.

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

What are the needs and budget for this stay?

[Colfax]

The room will be for relatives, a couple in their 80's. They're flying into NYC late on 12/20 and catching a train out of Penn Station early the next morning. They won't be arriving at the hotel until after midnight, so really they're just looking for a pitstop where they can sleep and shower before their morning train.

I was hoping for the 3* Holiday Inn Express-MSG as it's very near Penn Station, has free breakfast, and good reviews. HIE doesn't seem to be the 3* Hotwire is offering on 12/20 though.

Rather than pay $143 for a mystery 3* (and dealing with my relative's inevitable doubts over a hotel called "Desmond Tutu"), I think I'll bid for a 4* on Priceline in all the Midtown zones. The Sheraton in MTW and Grand Hyatt in MTE have already been reported won on 12/20, for $140 and $160 respectively. Being near Penn Station would be nice but it's not essential as they'll be taking cabs. A 3.5* would probably work too, but I don't think the Hudson would suit them.

So I'm looking for a 3.5* for less than $140, with the Sheraton in MTW at $140 as a fallback. The Sheraton reviews aren't very enthusiastic but for this short stay I think it should be adequate, if that's the hotel that comes up.

[thereuare]

If i may ask...

Which airport are they flying in to? How early does their train leave the following day? Where are they heading? (ie- if flying into EWR and taking Amtrak, may be able to avoid the city entirely and board the train at Newark Penn Station)

[Colfax]

They're flying into LGA and taking a train from Penn Station the next morning "after breakfast". Nonrefundable plane tickets already purchased. They're meeting other people at Penn Station and travelling together. So the itinerary is set other than the Saturday night hotel.

It appears I can get a 4* on Priceline for $140-160 so I'm only looking at Hotwire options under $160. Besides the unidentified 3* in Chelsea-Madison Square Garden the other possibility I see is a 3.5* in Empire State Building zone for $149. I don't find this hotel in the Hotel List either. Any ideas?

3.5* Empire State Building zone $149

1 night, 12/20/08, 2 adults

icons: Boutique, Fitness, Business Center, Highspeed

TripAdvisor stats: 4.0/5.0 with 240+ reviews

[thereuare]

The ESB property hasn't been identified, but if i were to take a shot, i'd include the Hotel Chandler among the likely candidates... Boutique hotel, no restaurant onsite (they do have a bar), Fitness Center onsite, and the TA info fits.

Not 100% confident, but if you go for this one, i'd be buying the 4.0/5.0 Tripadvisor rating and not this particular property.

[Colfax]

Hotel Chandler reviews are good but with the hotel's ID indefinite I decided to try for a 4* on Priceline first. I won the Barclay for $140, which I think will work out well.

Intercontinental the Barclay

111 East 48th Street

NY, NY 10017

I started bidding at $90 for a 4* in five zones: MTW, MTE, CPS, TS-TD, and ESB. I went up in $10 increments and at $130 I got a $22 counteroffer. $135 was rejected, $140 accepted.

From the Priceline Calendar of Wins I see two other BB'ers won the Sheraton New York Hotel for $140 on the same night. The Sheraton shows sold out on 12/20 now, so I didn't expect the Sheraton would come up.

The Barclay's regular rate is $319 cancellable, or $258 prepaid. HOTWIRE had a 4* in MTE for $199.

Bids were placed through BetterBidding's PRICELINE link. Thanks for your help.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your (their) win!

This hotel should be fine for their needs, about a $10 cab ride to Penn Station. More importantly, just a few blocks from Ess-A-Bagel for breakfast :) (on Third Ave at 51st St)

Thanks for sharing your win with the board and using our PRICELINE link for the bidding.

Hope they enjoy their stay.

[Colfax]

I'll pass on your Ess-A-Bagel suggestion, thereuare. It turns out they're not leaving Penn Station until noon, so there will be lots of time for bagels in the morning.

p.s. This thread is still in the Hotwire section. Ultimate purchase was made on Priceline. Please move the thread if appropriate.