ollietu1 Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Hi...what a great site....so helpful for travellers from the other side of the world (Australia).We're coming to New York on October 1 for 3 days and I'd like some advice on when is the best time to start bidding for a 3 or 4 star hotel.Is October busy?How much should I expect to bid in the Central Park South or Midtown East or West sectors?I really appreciate any advice.Many thanks,Ollietu1. Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Welcome to BetterBidding!Here is a thread which answers your question: SHOULD I BID EARLY or LATE TO ARRIVAL.For a stay commencing in 3 weeks i would definately start bidding now. Just clarify if your stay is from 10/1-10/3 or 10/1-10/4 and we'll suggest a strategy to follow.You'll also need to understand PRICELINE RE-BIDDING so please read that link and feel free to ask any questions you may have. You have two re-bid zones available when bidding 4* in this zone and one re-bid zone available when bidding 3*... see if you can figure them out and/or confirm the zones with the board if you're unsure.Do you have a maximum bid in mind? Do you have a back-up hotel reserved at all? (if so, where and how much) Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ollietu1 Posted September 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 Thanks for the pointers...have studied them and will attempt my first bid tomorrow when my brain is functioning a little clearer (it's nearly midnight here)We arrive Oct1 and leave Oct 4 so it's 3 nights. Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 If you let us know our maximum bid we'll suggest a bidding 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
ollietu1 Posted September 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2004 I was thinking around $180....taxes are added on top of that aren't they?Also we need two rooms as there are two couples.I've been checking prices on the net for a couple of months now and October seems to be comparatively expensive, is that always the case.Thanks so much for your help. Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 14, 2004 Report Share Posted September 14, 2004 Yes, October begins a busy season for NYC and it lasts until Christmas (lots of out of towners coming to shop).You have two re-bids available at the 4* level and only one at the 3* level. If you're not sure of your re-bid zones feel free to confirm them with the board OR if you you don't understand re-bidding please ask questions.This is how i would proceed:Select 4* MTE ...Bid $140, if rejected add MTW and...Bid $150, if rejected add UM/CPS and...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone and...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone and...Bid $180.If the above is rejected you can wait and try for a 4* again in 3 days, but in your first post you mentioned that you were looking for a 3* or 4*, so if you want to try for a 3* close that browser adn re-acces Priceline however you did previously and bid as follows:Select 3* MTW....Bid $135, if rejected add MTE and...Bid $140, if rejected add UM/CPS and...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone and...Bid $160.Since you need 2 rooms don't forget to select 2 from the drop down menu.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
ollietu1 Posted September 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 HELP.....I'm having trouble getting my application through to Priceline...is it only available to US residents ? I'm in Australia.There's no scope to recognise a state other than those in the US and it keeps querying my phone numbers.Can I get in contact with them....their help page doesn't list an email contact. Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 Try ths info: BIDDING TIPS FOR CANADIANS Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ollietu1 Posted September 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 There's a 3.5* listed for the upper east side with restaurants, fitness, business and spa...is this the Melrose? Link to comment
ollietu1 Posted September 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Had no luck bidding up to $200 for 3 and 4 star hotels ....do Hotwire prices get any cheaper about ten days from the date of arrival? Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 There's no definitive methodology for prices rising/falling a certain time before check-in... it's all based upon actual supply and demand for your specfic dates.I don't know the id of the 3.5* you are seeing on Hotwire, but i also don't see any connection to the Melrose... is there a specific reason you connect the one shown to the Melrose? What is the price you're seeing for this 3.5*? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ollietu1 Posted September 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 I thought it might be the Melrose because of the star rating and the spa, not many upper east side hotels have a spa.I used this site...http://www.express-res.com/newyork/hotel_list.phpto search, it has great hotels identification and location. Link to comment
ollietu1 Posted September 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Add on....I'm confused, this morning the 3.5 star on upper East side was $215, now it's $268.....I give up !!!I put in an order for the $197 3 star Midtown Central and at the end of the transaction it said the itinerary was no longer available.At this rate we'll be sleeping in the park. Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Here you go:QUICKBOOK has the UN Millenium Hotel for $199/nite for your dates.It is a bit east but it is a 4* hotel (according to Priceline) and gets GOOD REVIEWS (and our own user REVIEWS).Quickbook also has the Millenium Broadway for $239, but at that price you probably start to see some other Priceline/Hotwire options come into favor. You can double check (i've already closed the quickbook browser) but i believe it's a 'pay when you stay' rate which i think only has a $10 cancellation penalty... alhtough i'm not sure how far in advance you need to cancel (i'm sure it will be spelled out on their confirmation screen). This will still give you a few more days to try Priceline and Hotwire. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
ollietu1 Posted September 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Thanks for the advice....i have already been into Quikbook and have booked the Jolly Hotel Madison Towers, so we're guaranteed a roof to sleep under.I notice the $197 midtown central was still advertised on Hotwire a long time after they tuned me down....is this normal? Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Hard to say because it is very rare that users get the message you received.It could be that your computer/isp is showing you a cached version of the page, your sale not going thru this morning could have been a glitch in the system, the hotel could have released additional inventory, etc, etc.Lots of possibilities, but the only way to know for certain would be if you tried to purchase it again. However, i just did a search for your date(s) and i'm not getting any 3* offering in the UES zone... so it may have to do with your computer/isp cache. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
dahammer Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 Hotwire has a 3* in Midtown South, amenities include a Kitchenette at the rate of $183 plus tax. From the Hotwire hotel list, this looks like the Murray Hill Suites. Your rate for 3 nights is $641 with taxes. Don't forget to pack a few cans of Vegamite!!! :) Link to comment
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