lauraloop Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 Hi allI was looking for some assistance in helping to identify a hotel on Hotwire. I've checked all of the usual routes, but can't find anything listed which matches the description.The hotel is $159 / night for a four-night stay 15-19 December 2009 and it's described as:4-star hotel in Midtown East withFitness Centre, Restaurant, Business Centre, Internet and SpaI've looked on the list of likely hotels and the one which looked most likely was the W New York but this now has a score through 'spa' so I wasn't sure what this meant.Any ideas / help much appreciated.ThanksLaura Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Welcome to BetterBidding!This is most likely the W New York... it used to appear all the time with these amenities but then the Spa icon had been removed, and i'm guessing it is not appear/not appearing based upon some criteria of the search. The Tripadvisor info supplied by HOTWIRE is consistent with it being this property as well so that would be my best guess.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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
lauraloop Posted March 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Many thanks for your help on this - won't be booking for another week or so (need to get flights confirmed first!) but will certainly report back.Thanks!Laura Link to comment
lauraloop Posted April 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Hi everyoneWhile I've used hotwire before, I'm a newbie to Priceline, although I can't wait to get started.In the next couple of days (after doing a bit more research!) I want to start bidding to win a 4* hotel in either MTE or MTW. I know it's against all the rules and stuff, but I have my eye on the Sofitel, Benjamin or Waldorf Astoria in particular. Yes, I know the Waldorf doesn't get great reviews but I like the old-fashioned splendour of it and if I get it for cheap enough on Priceline I'll be happy.Anyway, I was wondering whether you have any particular strategies / tips to maximise my chances of winning these particular hotels, since I haven't seen a lot of other wins on these properties?Of course before I start bidding I'll do lots more research to make sure I'd be happy with any of the results, but any assistance would be greatly appreciated.Many thanksLauraPS my dates are 15-19 December Link to comment
thereuare Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 Welcome to BetterBidding!There is no way to target, or avoid, a particular property with PRICELINE... you need to be willing to accept any hotel in the zone at the minimum star level (or higher) that you select. If you're trying to target a specific property, HOTWIRE is often a better option, although it usually costs a little more than PRICELINE.I'll also add that i would 'amost' forget about the Waldorf as it hasn't been seen thru PRICELINE in years.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Once you're ready to begin bidding, comfirm the zones you're willing to accept and let us know your maximum bid, we'll then suggest a strategy for you to follow. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
lauraloop Posted April 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 Thanks for your reply - that's pretty much as I thought! I would be happy with any of the hotels in MTE but need to double-check MTW. Will check back in shortly when I'm ready to bid and hopefully you can help me out with a strategy!Many thanks!Laura Link to comment
lauraloop Posted April 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 Oops - sorry - one more question... are the minimum bids likely to be higher than average for my stay, given that it's for NYC is a popular place for shopping trips right before Christmas?ThanksLaura Link to comment
AaronJB Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 You are bidding for a set of dates that are pretty far out in advance, and it's difficult to know what things will be like next Christmas. However, pre-Christmas is generally pretty busy with people shopping. There is currently a 4* in MTE for $169 on HOTWIRE. Link to comment
thereuare Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 I would expect rates higher than we're currently (Spring/Summer) seeing for NYC but not as high as needed in previous years (when NYC can easily fetch $200+/nite around Christmas time... although rates do tend to soften a little in the days just prior to Christmas)Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
lauraloop Posted April 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 Thanks guys - that's as I expected. I've seen the rate in HOTWIRE so I will probably bid just about up to this point in PRICELINE and see how I get on.I'm planning to start bidding tonight, so I'm now ready for help with the bidding strategy if you're able to assist.Many thanksLaura Link to comment
thereuare Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 Which zone(s) and current maximum bid did you decide upon... we'll then be able to suggest a strategy for you to follow.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
lauraloop Posted April 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 Hi thereMy preference is MTE 4*, as I'm happier overall with the selection of hotels there (and I've stayed in this area before), however we just want to be within walking distance of most of the main sights in Manhattan, so would consider CPS / MTW if you recommend it.ThanksLaura Link to comment
lauraloop Posted April 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 oops sorry - forgot to give you the budget.I'd say we'd bit up to around $160/night as there is currently a 4* MTE hotel on hotwire for around this price.Thanks again!Laura Link to comment
thereuare Posted April 4, 2009 Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 If you're comfortable with the MTE properties then i would stick with that zone up to your budget, if unsuccessful, then consider other zones/options.At the 4* level you have FIVE re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.(NOTE: 're-bid zone1' is not the same as priceline's Zone1, 're-bid zone2' is not the same as priceline's Zone2, etc, etc)Select 4* MTE...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $115, if rejected close browser and user our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE and re-bid zone4...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $135, if rejected close browser and user our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* MTE and re-bid zone5...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone2...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone3...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone4...Bid $160Any questions feel free to ask.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
lauraloop Posted April 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Hi thereThanks for all your help on this - have bid up to $135 at the moment but am having no luck. However, I've also been taking it slowly as I've been really chicken about adding the rebid zones in case a 4* magically appears in Brooklyn etc!I have another question: I was primarily looking at MTE in the first instance but then quite fancied CPS too. The more I look at it, the more CPS seems like a no-brainer (if I can get it for the right price).The choice of 4* hotels in MTE is bigger, therefore more risk of ending up in one of the ones with mediocre reviews, whereas the two 4* hotels in CPS (Jumeirah and Le Parker Meridien) seem to have really good reviews. Am I getting confused or is it really as simple as that?ThanksLaura Link to comment
AaronJB Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Jumeirah is rarely seen as a win. The only MTE hotel I'd say gets really mediocre reviews would be the W, but that has just recently undergone (an apparently much-needed, if the reviews were an indicator) renovation.Additionally, if you continue to bid higher, keep in mind the 4* in MTE on HOTWIRE for $169. Link to comment
lauraloop Posted April 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Thanks Aaron - I'm bearing this in mind and that's why $160 or so is my cut off point.There are actually very 4* options coming up on hotwire - do you think it would pay to wait a bit longer if I'm not having much luck with priceline?I wouldn't normally book this early, but it's part of my honeymoon so just want to get it all in the bag as soon as possible really.Also, I know the hotwire hotel is most likely to be the W and am actually ok with this - when you read the reviews on TA, most of the complaints come from those who have paid high prices and have high expectations, or those complaining about the rooms being small.If I get it for $160-ish, I'm quite sure it will exceed my expectations and in any case, I'm from Europe and am used to small hotel rooms! That's the way I see it anyway.Shame about the Jumeirah - I quite fancied that...!Thanks for getting back to me so quickly anyway, will carry on and see how it goes.L Link to comment
AaronJB Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Let me look again and see what I can find for these dates. Link to comment
AaronJB Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 Happy honeymoon :)I'm not seeing a whole lot - Quikbook.com has the 3.5* Tudor on sale for $161 (although that would appear to be refundable - check the fine print) Other than that, there's really nothing much in the way of properties that you could book now and cancel later if something better came along. The Time Hotel is $193 on Expedia; that appears to be refundable (although with a $25 penalty)There will definitely be people coming to NYC for Christmas shopping; if it's less than usual, that's still probably enough for hotels to bump up their rates, if maybe not as much as previous years.However, if things DO turn around and traffic is higher than expected, prices will go higher than they are now.If the HOTWIRE listing in question is the W, the lowest rate on the website is $388. The lowest refundable rate on the website is $449. So the $169 price tag would certainly be a good deal. While this property has gotten mixed reviews, it was just recently renovated.So, you could take the HOTWIRE W Hotel now, or book a refundable (although again, check the fine print and there may be a cancelation fee like the $25 Expedia charge) purchase and "wait it out" to see if other deals come along. Link to comment
lauraloop Posted April 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 That's fab - thanks so much for looking into this! I've never heard of that other website Quikbook or whatever it is, so will definitely check it out as the Tudor is a good choice.I've been reading all about the current friends and family offer at Fairmont hotels and am gutted that you can only book 90 days in advance, otherwise I'd be blowing the budget and booking us into the Plaza for $220/night or whatever it's currently available for!Thanks againLaura Link to comment
lauraloop Posted April 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Thanks for all of your help on this. Just to update you, after a bit of a delay, I bid up to the HOTWIRE price level on PRICELINE for MTE and CPS and got nothing.Therefore, I quite happily walked off with the W New York from HOTWIRE for $159/night, which for that price, at that time of the year, is a great deal in my book.Thanks again!L Link to comment
thereuare Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Congratulations on your success and thank you for sharing your results with the board.Glad you're happy with the outcome and the board was helpful with your purchase.Please use the requested PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your future travel purchases.Enjoy you stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
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