Priceline Hotel: Need suggestions on starting price please

[yazmin182]

Hello,

I want to stay in Manhattan from Feb.9-11 next month. I would prefer a 4 star hotel and I would prefer to stay in the SOHO area. However, I notice that most ppl are getting the best deals in MTE. Do you think I have a chance to stay in SOHO for 3.5/4* for around 100 dollars?

If not, do you think if I go for the "best deal" (MTE-4*) it will be cheaper than $100? When I compared most people's winning bids, they were around 105 dollars for MTE-4* but they were for the weekend. Since I am going from Mon-Wed, I am hoping it would be cheaper. Does anyone have any suggestions on what bid I should start with in this category?

Thank you

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site. I think the issue isn't necessarily that people are getting the *best* deals in MTE; they are just getting the majority of the deals there. The PRICELINE area for Soho also includes the downtown/financial district area, and the most common hotel in that zone is the Millennium Hilton, which for most people is a little too far South. The other 4*'s in that zone are seen much less often than the MH. That's why you do not see much in the way of wins for the Soho area.

Given that you have a bit of time, you could start with $90 for a 4* in MTE; it's a little on the unlikely side, but I've been surprised by PRICELINE in the past. If that isn't accepted, try $95 24 hours later and $100 24 hours after that.

I don't think you're going to get any cheaper than $90, as the 4*'s in Midtown seem to have a floor in the "general neighborhood" of $100 or so.

If you are just looking for a place to sleep, there's a 3* in the Empire State Building area for $76 on on HOTWIRE.com with the amenities: breakfast, fitness, business, internet. That would appear to match what many have recently reported for the Hampton Inn 35th.

Please use the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchase.

[yazmin182]

Hello, well I was just saying best because priceline says they have the best deal for 4 stars in that area.

In either case, the SOHO information is really helpful.

Thanks for the advice, I will start at $90 for MTE area and I won't forget to use the PRICELINE link!

Thanks

[thereuare]

If you're looking for the "Best Deal" why not include all the zones that are acceptable.. then as you gradually increase your bids using re-bid zones (see Priceline Re-Bidding Explained) you'll get accepted in the zone with the lowest available price?

If you're willing to accept a zone other than MTE let us know, as well as your maximum bid, and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[yazmin182]

I didn't end up getting a hotel thru priceline because my bids were rejected and I didn't want to go over my budget

[thereuare]

So what did you ened up doing for this stay... did you found a hotel equivalent to the star rating you were bidding thru conventional means OR did you cancel the trip?

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