Priceline Hotel: 4* NYC (MTW) Sheraton New York and Towers

[Digame]

Hi. I am new and I am from Spain.

I travel to NYC the 4-march and I need hotel :)

We are 2 travelers, the first time we travel to New York

You recommend Priceline to book 11 nights or

I try with fewer days in different areas? Example (4 to 9, 9 to 15) ?

I am interested in the Midtown West, Convention, Times Square, Theather zones

What is the recommended price to bid for 4 and 3,5 stars?

Thank you very much.

[Digame]

4-star hotel in Empire State Building Area 152$

Amenities: Boutique Hotel, Complimentary Breakfast, Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access

4-star hotel in Times Square - Theatre District 153$

Amenities: Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access

4-star hotel in Midtown Central 149$

Amenities: Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access

Thank you very much

[valencia]

I think you are confusing Hotwire, ( hotel site with fixed price ( NO BIDDING) but they show you the amenities, star level and area) with Priceline, (where YOU decide the price ( BID) and choose a star level and area, but you see no amenities).

When you know your top price and have read all the FAQs for first time users, you will understand the suggestions the moderators will give you.

It is important to understand the bidding so you do not overbid and so you get a hotel ONLY in an area and at a star level you want.

What a nice amount of time to be able to spend in New York City! Iberia surely had some amazing prices recently!

If you do a quick search above for New York, all the posts for Hotwire wins and Priceline bids will show up. There are some bidding strategies already posted, too, to give you an idea.

[Digame]

Sorry Valencia, I think I put the posts correctly but the Moderator joined the posts here, by a good reason.

I already understood how works this systems, but I do not know what is the correct amount. On the other hand I do not know if is risked bid for 11 days in one hotel or is better bid for 5 days + 6 days in two hotels or zones.

Yo soy de Valencia;) and I travel to New York for 256 euros, from Valencia.

thanks Iberia.

Thank you.

[valencia]

Until a moderator can assist you, I would look at the previous wins here and the bidding strategies already posted. How much you should bid maximum depends on YOU, but the guidelines will be posted to you.

If YOUR maximum that you WANT to bid is not high enough for a 4*, let's say, then the moderators will suggest a 3.5* bid.

You can go to the Calendar of Wins and SEE in a 2 week period what bids have been won. Try that and search other bids to get a good idea of the lowest bids that were accepted so far for certain areas. There are so many strategies posted for the exact same idea, but different dates and different lengths. You should not SPLIT your bid yet, I don't think, because you MAY be lucky! I assume they will tell you to do that later after you fail at a strategy.

You have to wait 24 hrs between bids unless you change/add something each time, ( the price can stay the same or even LOWER) so in order to get the MOST out of each bidding session, you should read "free bid zones" and understand that when bidding.

And importantly, start your bidding or any other purchases through PRICELINE, HOTWIRE, and the support page links here .. not directly through the other sites.

I am also here in Valencia and got the Iberia fare to Boston and NYC for May! Good luck.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Based upon the HOTWIRE prices you've posted above rates don't look too high for these dates.

If you let us know which zone(s) you're willing to accept we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow. If you're not familiar with the PRICELINE NYC zones, most midtown zones work fine for the typical visitor (MTE, MTW, CPS, TS, ESB, Chesea, MSG)

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

Let us know the info above and/or feel free to ask any questions and we'll advise accordingly.

[Digame]

Thanks Valencia & thereuare, your answers will help me a lot :)

I finally understood all, included the free zones to rebid.

But I have more doubts:

Priceline is safe? If I buy nights in a hotel by an extremely good price

I can hope that the hotel will be honest ?

There is some risk that the hotel deny me a room or they have not scored my reservation?

Your experiences are always positive with Priceline and his represented hotels?

and finally

We are two travelers, it would be possible to request two beds?

thereuare, my prefered zones are:

TSquare / Square Garden / Midtown West / Chelsea

and Empire State zone (but this zone has the risk to buy a coast hotel at East, and I dont want this possibility)

My hope: 100-110$ max by night

4 stars or 3,5 stars, Affinia 50, Hilton, Vincci or similar :) :o :)

I will use a debit card Visa in Priceline and I will use your PRICELINE link.

Thank you very much.

[Digame]

AH!!

Arrival: 4 March, 8:00 PM to JFK, probably 10:00 PM to Hotel (this can be a problem for me????)

Leaves: 15 March, 10:00 PM

Thanks.

[valencia]

The bed number is NOT guaranteed. You can later send the hotel a request and ask them to keep it in mind. Sometimes such a late arrival is not conducive to that, but if they DO have two beds, they will give them to you. I like to call or write the hotels if I have a special request and to re-confirm all is in the system.

I have never had a problem. This is a perfectly safe system.

You also must take your computer confirmation from Priceline.

Remember you are not bidding for a specific hotel but a star level and zone with specific dates, of course perhaps hoping to get a certain hotelyou have seen on the wins posted.

Be sure to check every time before pressing "buy my hotel now" that your dates and zones and price are exactly correct as you cannot change or cancel any of the Priceline or Hotwire reservations.

Is there any reason you do not want MTE at 4* level? Many very nice hotels have been won there. Pay attention to the bidding amounts, especially if you decide to ADD a LOWER star level. The moderators will suggest a price drop, I am sure, so that you do not OVERBID.

If you want to start bidding today without waiting for more answers I would copy someone else's bid exactly prudently and see what happens, starting low, but staying at 4* until it is absolutely necessary to reduce the bids.

One piece of advice.

You need to write your bids on a piece of paper, and also CHECK the free re-bid zones ( if you need to use them)everytime you are going to use them as they COULD change from one time to another if Priceline adds a hotel to a zone that YOU think there IS no star level.

I hope this helps, digame. I thought I would mention these things as the moderators are asleep at this time of day I assume and I was attracted to this post becasue you, too , are here in Valencia! I don't give advice on the bidding process.. I just use Priceline for as many trips as I can when I don't find good rates for the hotels.

Also,when you get email answers from Priceline do not be tempted to re-initiate your bid through that email. Come back here and do it from here again.

[WillTravel]

Digame, you asked about getting two beds. I think if you read the history on this board, that it's not guaranteed in NYC, but maybe someone else can guess what your odds are.

[Digame]

Wonderful advices, sirs

Ok I wait the plans recommended by the moderators.

MANY THANKS!

[Digame]

I have seen the Hilton Millenium WTC and looks nice for me :)

Perhaps this option is very good if my first selections fail.

[valencia]

I have seen the Hilton Millenium WTC and looks nice for me :)

Perhaps this option is very good if my first selections fail.

When you look at the calendar of wins or do a search above in the box for "New York" all the posts will come up and you can easily see hotels that most likely will come up with your bid during the time frame you are staying.

Good luck.

[Digame]

Nice feature the calendar, thanks!

[Digame]

Hi, I have try and finally

SHERATON TOWERS = 115$

[valencia]

So, if you have won a bid, then congratulations! You can see reviews of your hotel at Tripadvisor.com or a hotel review here under the hotel list. You can also go to the hotel's website to see more pictures and see what a room would have cost without Priceline for your dates.

There are always some complaints about some hotels but when you consider the price you are paying, your level of complaint perhaps is not as sensitive as someone who paid the normal $250+ price!

Now, to help others, please post exactly how you bid, what order ( if you remember) that you added which zones and what price and when it was accepted.

Also state if you used the PRICELINE link here.

You always need to post the dates and star level of your hotel and winning bid price so the moderators can adjust the title.

Have a great trip!

[Digame]

Thanks Valencia, I am happy because before knowning priceline and this forum I was going to book the standard room of hotel Milford for

a little more money: 1250 euros, I think I win with the change.

This is the complete list of bids. I think I have serveral mistakes, but...

Always 4 stars bids:

90

Midtown West

94

Midtown West - Chelsea

98

Midtown West - Madison Square Garden

102

Midtwon West - Times square

104

Midtwon West - Times square - Chelsea (request 22 more)

105

Midtwon West - Times square - Madison Square Garden

105

Midtown West - Upper East Side

106

Midtown West - Upper East Side - Times Square (request 22 more)

107

Midtown West - Upper East Side - Chelsea

108

Midtown West - Upper East Side - Madison Square Garden

(pide 22 m

[Digame]

Sorry Valencia

Printing the email with subject: priceline.com Hotel Confirmation... etc. etc

is sufficient to probe my reserve in hotel?

Thank you very much.

[valencia]

I always just print that out. Yes. And I do like to contact the hotel by email later or phone. It is probably not necessary, but since you prefer two beds it is not a bad idea to make the request.

You did MUCH better than the Milford Plaza! That's for sure! I am glad your efforts were rewarded!

I hope the moderators come on here soon. I feel like I told you to post too many things! Sorry! What zone was your hotel in? Maybe edit the information and put the zone and hotel name near the final list price.

You can also abbreviate the zones by letters next time (MTW;MTE; MSG; etc.)

Anyway, nice meeting you on here. Have a great stay.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

As mentioned above, a MUCH better option than the Milford Plaza... nicely done!

If you don't want to make an overseas call to the hotel with your preference you can always email them too.

Some suggestions near this hotel:

Arriba Arriba (762 9th Ave... Ninth Ave at 51st St): decent, and affordable, mexican... service can be hit or miss, it's very tight quarters (make sure you don't accidently dip your chip into the neighboring table's salsa... that's how close it can be at times), but ultimatley the reason to come here is for the frozen margaritas which are very good (and don't order the small, it's the size of a sewing thimble)

See this video of the

food cart (Sixth Ave at 53rd St)... a local NYer 'thing' and they have quite a following... the most filling and $6 meal you'll get in NYC. Only serve from 7:30pm-4:00am (even better after a few of the aforementioned margaritas :) )

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

Enjoy your stay.

[Digame]

Thank you thereuare for your good suggestions and videos, I like it

:)

And thanks for the forum, I will use this forum for future reservations :)

[toothmom]

Hope you don't mind my asking, but what is meant by the "repeat 22 times"? Also, did you have to close out your browser and then retry some of thesebids? If so, at what point in your bidding above did you have to close the browser (or did you have to return another day)?

[valencia]

Hope you don't mind my asking, but what is meant by the "repeat 22 times"? Also, did you have to close out your browser and then retry some of thesebids? If so, at what point in your bidding above did you have to close the browser (or did you have to return another day)?

I think it was "request" $22 more as counteroffer.