Priceline Hotel: Bidding Help 9/14/09 - 9/18/ New York

[girl jack]

Hi Guys, Looking for a bit of advice and help with a bidding strategy. At the moment we have a two bedroom suite reserved at The Hotel Metro at a cost of $2062.75. So my challenge is to save as much money as possible, ideally max $100 -150 per room per night including taxes, 4 star but not sure if that is do able. We want to stay somewhere central and had been looking at Midtown East and West, Empire State area and Theatre District.

Any help is really appreciated.

Gail

[AaronJB]

Good afternoon and welcome to the site.

How many people in your party (adults/children?) and how many rooms do you need?

[girl jack]

I knew there would be something I would forget !!! 3 adults, my husband and myself and my sister in law, so we need to go for two rooms or a two room suite so we have a bit of privacy.

[AaronJB]

I'd rather suggest two rooms, as at least that way you'll have two bathrooms. I'm not sure about the room at the Metro, but in my experience, many "two bedroom suites" have one bathroom.

HOTWIRE has a 3.5* in Midtown East with the amenities: fitness, business, internet and restaurant for $159. I'm guessing this is the Tudor, which is showing as a 3.5* in the vacation package side of HOTWIRE. Currently this is the least expensive Manhattan option on HOTWIRE. If this is the Tudor, the retail price currently showing for these dates on Orbitz.com is $335.

If this idea is of interest, please use the site's HOTWIRE link.

We could also suggest a strategy for PRICELINE, as well, if you are interested in bidding for a hotel.

[girl jack]

Hadn't really thought of HOTWIRE to be honest was thinking more of PRICELINE, however thanks for the suggestion on Hotwire and will have a look at the Tudor on tripadvisor etc.

I have been thinking more about going for 2 rooms because we will already have been away for 14 nights so will probably appreciate a bit of space and having the extra bath would be a major plus and I think we would also be able to save a good bit as well.

[AaronJB]

Are you looking to try for a 4* towards the max of your budget, or would you prefer trying to seek a cheaper 3*/3.5* on PRICELINE?

Please use the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchase when you do decide to book.

[girl jack]

Looking at the list of hotels would be more than happy with a 3.5* the way I look at it the cheaper the better - more money to spend when we are away!

[thereuare]

Keep in mind that if you lower your star rating to 3.5* for the MTE zone the Millenium UN comes into play as a possibility, and while this hotels gets pretty good reviews, it is a llitte bit more 'out of the way' than other midtown hotels. It's about a 10-15 minute walk to the subway, certainly do-able, especially in mid-September, but may be a little further out than you anticipate... would this be an acceptable outcome? (whereas with HOTWIRE you can take a guess as to the property beforehand, believed to be the Tudor Hotel, based upon the star rating and amenities... with PRICELINE you need to be willing to accept any hotel in the zone you're bidding at the minimum star level you select (or higher)

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[girl jack]

Thanks again for your advice, we have had a look at the hotels likely to be won. We would obviously still be interested in 4* in the following areas: Midtown East, Midtown West, Empire State Building, Time Square, Central Park South. 3.5* we had thought Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Time Square and Central Park South. We are not sure about Midtown East and West, if the likely winning hotels would be a bit too much out of the way so are really open to some advice. We have no issues with a bit of walking.

[thereuare]

Above you indicated you're prefer a less expensive 3.5* vs. a more expensive 4*, is that correct?

So to begin, you want to try for a 3.5* in the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Time Square and Central Park South zones?

MTW is very central, but at the 3.5* level does include the Sheraton Manhattan which gets mixed reviews.

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[girl jack]

Sorry for the delay in coming back to you. I was away for the week with no internet access very annoying. Yes the general thinking is to spend as little as possible. We would add in MTW and MTE if we weren't successful in the other zones but I would take your advice if we would be better to go with MTW before Time Square as while we do like to be central we have been having some second thoughts due to how busy and crowded it can be in the Time Square area.

Any advice on a bidding strategy would be gratefully accepted and I will of course use your links to PRICELINE.

[thereuare]

I do think you have a good chance at doing better than your back-up rate (getting 2 rooms for less than the cost of your suite)... but your $150 maximum bid may be a little aggressive.

A $150 'all-in' would only be ~$125/nite, so i'm going to suggest a strategy which goes all the way to $150, but you can stop at lesser amounts if you choose.

At the 3.5* level you have THREE 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.

Select 3.5* MSG and TS...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* CPS and ESB...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MSG and CPS...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* TS and ESB...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MSG, CPS, and TS, and ESB...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $150

Any 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.

[girl jack]

Thanks for your help. Just to let you know I have tried the suggested strategy and unfortunately have been unable to secure a booking. I was going to continue to try the suggested strategy every couple of days. If you have any other suggestions let me know.

[thereuare]

You can (and should) continue to try, but as noted above i felt your $150 maximum bid was probably a little aggressive at this tme based upon the rates i'm currently seeing for your dates.

Keep us updated and please use the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding (and not the links in any emails sends you letting you know that you're eligible to bid again)

Keep us updated.