Hotwire Hotel: 2.5* Newark (Secaucus-Meadowlands) La Quinta Inn and Suites Clifton

[Sva777]

Hello. Very nice site for someone new to HOTWIRE and PRICELINE bidding.

Any advice wrt two rooms near the Meadowlands exposition center from 11-16 March? I have already researched hotel websites and called reservation desks for area hotels, but would like to try these consolidator sites to improve upon quoted prices.

I'm also puzzled as to how to enter requests for two rooms, when one room is double occupancy and one is single occupancy.

Finally, I do not understand why hotels restrict individuals under 21 years of age from making (and perhaps occupying) rooms, if over 18. After all, that is legal age for exercise of our most fundamental responsibilities: voting, protecting our country, etc. My husband and I want to book a separate room for our 20-year-old niece to attend an event with us. One hotel told us she would have to be "supervised."

Thank you for your time and excellent site. Donna

[dahammer]

welcome!

What are the best prices that you are trying to better? Can you please advise your maximum budget per night per room? We wouldn't want to suggest a strategy that was higher than your maximum bid. Also, will you have a car? The Exposition Center is located in the Mill Creek/Harmon Meadows complex, would you be willing to accept the Sheraton Meadowlands which is a few miles west? (you would really need a car if staying here)

Both PRICELINE and HOTWIRE are "opaque" travel sites and you must commit to the purchase before seeing the name of the hotel, these are not consolidators. Since you would want both rooms to be at the same hotel, its best to default the search for the same occupancy per room and buy (through HOTWIRE) or bid (through PRICELINE). If you put both rooms in your name, you won't have a problem. I believe the 21 year old minimum age requirement is in case a hotel has a minibar in the room.

[thereuare]

Any advice wrt two rooms near the Meadowlands exposition center from 11-16 March? I have already researched hotel websites and called reservation desks for area hotels, but would like to try these consolidator sites to improve upon quoted prices.

As per above, what price(s) are you trying to beat and what is the minimum star rating you're seeking?

I'm also puzzled as to how to enter requests for two rooms, when one room is double occupancy and one is single occupancy.

All rooms thru PRICELINE are booked for double occupancy... bedding preferences can be requested directly with the hotel, but no assurance that the hotel will be able, or willing, to accomodate your request.

Finally, I do not understand why hotels restrict individuals under 21 years of age from making (and perhaps occupying) rooms, if over 18. After all, that is legal age for exercise of our most fundamental responsibilities: voting, protecting our country, etc. My husband and I want to book a separate room for our 20-year-old niece to attend an event with us. One hotel told us she would have to be "supervised."

You mention all things that you do indeed earn a right to do once you turn 18 years old, but you still dont' have the right to consume alcohol, and with many minibars stocked with liquor by default, it becomes a liability issue. As well, many turn 18 years old when still in high school, and if the hotel allows 18 year olds to rent a room on their own, they may become the source for Friday and Saturday nite parties... which can often be disruptive to other guests as well as little/no money to pursue for any damage to the room during such a party. I think the hotel that was saying your 20 year old needed to be supervised was basically saying "take responsibility for her, and if she knows how to behave, there won't be any problems"... simply put one room in your name and one room in your husbands name... then just swap keys with your niece :) (again, this is assuming she's responsible/trustworthy, as the room will be in your (or your husband's) name, so ultimately all the responsibility is with you)

Let us know regarding your budget and star rating and we'll advise accordingly. (also are you interested in the (Meadowlands - Rutherford) zone, the (Secaucus - North Bergen) or both?

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

[Sva777]

Thanks for your response, 'dahammer,' and for your explanations about the sites and the age issue. I'll put my name on both of the rooms, as suggested.

The best price I found at the dozen hotels I checked with yesterday was thru the Red Roof Inn-Secaucus Meadowlands. Rooms with AAA discount were $82.99, except for Friday, at $95.49. Red Roof is undergoing a renovation. The rooms at Extended Stay America and Homestead Suites were nearly comparable in price (we like the Extended Stay rooms). Then, The Crown Plaza Meadowlands, at $105, with $123 on Friday. Those prices were with AAA discounts or if booked thru Expedia.

We will have a car. It seems like most of the lower-priced hotels don't charge for parking. Because we are attending an event at the Meadowlands Exposition Center with extremely long days, we'd prefer to be close but can certainly drive a short way. It looks as if there are a lot of hotels around there. I don't know roads or traffic, much less how one accesses the exposition center.

It may be that the prices at Red Roof are the best we can get. If so, that's what we'll have to do. We were just hoping to find a better deal, since we have to get two rooms. Our non-refundable event will trump budget this time. :)

Appreciate any advice about whether bidding could produce a better price -- or we should just take what we found and press on. The only value-added amenity, since we have no time for restaurants in the morning, would be a complimentary breakfast bar. But a low hotel price is most important. We can bring breakfast bars with us. Donna

[Sva777]

Thanks, 'Thereuare'. It took me hours to get my response to dahammer out since my computer locked up for hours. I didn't see your e-mail until that one just cleared.

Anything 2-star or above is fine. Don't think I even saw anything lower than that. We will be attending an event from 8 am to 11 pm, except for the first morning and last evening. So it's not like being on a vacation where we'd get to enjoy the hotel much.

Also, I forgot to advise 'dahammer' that I had called the Sheraton Meadowlands as one of my dozen. They were way high; even thru Expedia they were $127 a night.

I also forgot to mention that I did check HOTWIRE last night (thru your link), but didn't select anything. The two zones I used were (I think) the two you mentioned. The choices I was given were $94 for a 3 1/2 star (apparently no breakfast) or $106 for a 3-star (with breakfast). Then I backed out and requested advice before proceeding to PRICELINE.

Thanks for running such a great site and responding to everybody's posts. Donna

[thereuare]

Of the hotels you've researched what is your "Best Deal" at the moment? I think it's highly likely that you'll be able to do better than the rates above, but what is it that you're trying to beat... is it the $85/nite rate at the Red Roof Inn, the $100+ rate at one of the Extended Stay properties?

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

[Sva777]

Of the hotels you've researched what is your "Best Deal" at the moment? I think it's highly likely that you'll be able to do better than the rates above, but what is it that you're trying to beat... is it the $85/nite rate at the Red Roof Inn, the $100+ rate at one of the Extended Stay properties?

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

-----------------------

The Red Roof Inn is the best deal found thru conventional means. Price is my primary consideration.

Since it appears there's nothing to lose, I'll try Priceline first at a lower price. If no joy, I'll book the Red Roof. Thanks for the feedback. Donna

[dahammer]

HOTWIRE has a 3* for $102 with the following amenities: Smoke Free Rooms, Complimentary Breakfast, Fitness Center, Business Center, High-speed Internet Access. These amenities are a match for the Hyatt Place which is within walking distance of the Expo center. The Hyatt Place is one of my favorites as the rooms are mini suites and have just been renovated, it offers free breakfast, free parking and free wifi. It appears that the Sheraton is also available for $93, another favorite but its not as convenient, wifi is $10 per day and you'll pay for breakfast.

I'm not a fan of the Red Roof Inn, I stayed there years ago, I don't care for the location, its dark and at the end of the street, a little too creepy for me, all rooms have outdoor entrances, not the best set up for a female traveller. Besides, you will likely get better rated accomodations for 1/3 less if you proceed with a PRICELINE bid in the Secaucus/North Bergen zone.

good luck!

please use the HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links on this board to keep this a free and valuable resource for getting the most from your travel budget.

[Sva777]

Thanks, 'dahammer.' Agreed with you that the Red Roof didn't sound too great, especially while under reno.

Here's what happened. I tried Hotwire first, through the BetterBidding link, searching for a hotel in "Meadowlands, NJ." That returned many listings including a 2.5 star listed as "Secaucus-Meadowlands" area for only $64 per night. It had great amenities including breakfast. Rather than going on to Priceline, I decided to book it. Got part-way through the booking and lost the computer connection. Started over, again through the BetterBidding link, but now the same listing was only $63 per night. So I quickly booked it...or so I thought. After agreeing to their terms and pressing the execute command, my computer link with the site bit the dust. I wasn't sure if I had purchased it or not. So I called Hotwire to have them check against my credit card. Apparently my purchase didn't go through. At that point, I just let them book it over the phone. The $63 rate had changed back to $64 and I was worried that price would get away as well.

My only surprise? The hotel turned out to be the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Clifton. I had never heard of Clifton. When I told them that didn't appear to be within Secaucus or Meadowlands, they said it was "in the area." They told me that Hotwire defines "area" as anywhere NEAR the defined area. Otherwise, they said, people might figure out exactly what hotel was being offered. This is not a complaint. Just a lessons learned for me. I called the hotel and checked Mapquest. Turns out Clifton isn't too far. It's about 6 1/2 miles from the Meadowlands Exposition Center; 9 -15 minutes depending upon traffic. We'll have a vehicle so should be fine. While I might have done better on Priceline, am not sure we'd have done better overall. The price and quick/free breakfast probably offsets location for us on this visit.

Overall, the info and people on this site are extremely helpful. I expect to use it -- and its links for hotwire/priceline bookings -- in the future. Following is info to follow-up on my thread. (Am not sure how to adjust the e-mail header though).

2.5* Clifton (Secaucus-Meadowlands) La Quinta Inn & Suites Clifton $64 ($73.45 with taxes) 03/11/09 - 03/16/09

Listed amenities: complimentary breakfast; pool; dining; laundry; wireless access.

I confirmed these with the hotel; wireless access is free, the breakfast is continental (cereal, fruit, oatmeal, pastries, etc.), dining means a restaurant next door, and the pool is indoors.

I booked two rooms at the same rate. Need to enter total number of humans for Hotwire, regardless of rooms requested. Both rooms go under the booker's name.

The hotel is located at 265 Rt. 3 East; phone (973)778-6500