Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* NYC (Times Square-Theater District) Room-Mate Grace

[NeilH]

Hello,

I'm new to Priceline and I'm still trying to figure it all out and would appreciate some help to get through my first booking.

Here's what I'm looking for:

3.5* - 4*

NYC (Times Square-Theatre District)

06/10/09 - 06/11/09

I don't really have a hard budget, but obviously I'm looking get a good deal;)

I have tried a few bids (always using the PRICELINE link from this site). Basically I've gone from $90 to $115 in $5 increments, all rejected. I have seen winning bids for 3.5* for $95 & $99 close to the same dates so that's confusing. Also, I have read some posts about people getting counter offers?

Anyway, having no luck and only being rejected over and over, I though I would post to see if I could get some help to win.

Thanks in Advance...

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Rates are date specific and can change from very low to very high from one day to the next, so you can't expect a winning bid for your dates to necessarily be the same as somebody elses winning bid for dates which are different than your own (at least not without doing a bit more research first)

As well, and perhaps more importantly, you're only bidding one zone, which limits the number of hotels which are able to accept your winning bid. Have you been to NYC before? Is there a reason you're only bidding the Times Square zone? Most midtown zones work fine for the average visitor (especially at the 4* level... at the 3.5* level there are a few caveats to be aware of). Also, see our own thoughts regarding Hotels Near Times Square.

Let us know your thoughts regarding our comments above and we'll take it from there.

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

[NeilH]

Hi and thanks for the reply.

My wife and I have never been to NY. We are going through on a 1 day planned layover and thought it would be best to be right in the thick of things, clearly we're not alone;) I'm not apposed to Midtown West or East, especially after reading your link. We just want a fairly central place with access to transit to get around and see some sites and it sounds like any of those 3 meet that criteria.

Can you suggest a good strategy and starting bid for 4*'s in these areas?

Thanks again!

[NeilH]

Oh, and we are getting in quite early, i.e. 7am.

I would like to hear if anyone has had any experiences with a scenario like this.

What's the earliest check-in time one can arrange?

Will the hotels let you store you luggage somewhere until their check-in time?

If none of those are going to happen, does anyone have any other suggestions of what to do with luggage while we site see?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Official check-in time usualy isn't until 2pm-4pm depending upon the hotel, but most will let you check-in much ealier if available, but it mostly depends upon occupancy levels the nite before. 7am may be pushing it a bit, but by 10:30-11:00am doesn't seem unreasonable to try to check-in. If a room is not ready when you arrive, hotels will store your luggage, although i did recently see one 4* hotel begin to charge per bag for strorage :) , but most will simply do so for a tip to the bellman.

If you don't have a budget in mind, then you haven't done any research yet :) Your maximum bid should be based upon a discount vs. the best rate you're able to find thru conventional booking channels. Early inidcations (thru a very quick look) are that 4* hotels for this nite are somewhat much more expensive than 3.5* properties... so not sure how high you're willing to go for a 4* hotel before lowering your star rating and trying for a 3.5* (since you mentioned both star ratings in your original post, but only 4* immediately above)

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

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

[NeilH]

Ok this is getting a bit frustrating.

I looked through the other travel sites (HOTWIRE, Expedia, Orbitz, etc) and I can get a 3* in Times Square for $144.

I'm now up to $120 with priceline and still getting a flat out rejection. Even at $120 it is only a 16% discount and that was still rejected. I also got up to $110 in Midtown West with no success either.

The Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins show 2 wins on my dates both 3.5*'s, one for $120 and one for $97.

I could really use some help here, because I clearly am not doing something right. Does the fact I only want a single night have a big influence on price?

It really seems like I'm not going to get a deal here and I might as well just go and book it elsewhere. Not really what I was expecting...

[thereuare]

What star rating and zones have you currently bid up to $120? Which hotel is it that you're currently able to book directly for $144?

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

[NeilH]

I have been bidding 3* up to $120 which was recently rejected.

I have been bidding on New York City (Times Square - Theater District) but rebidding with New York City (Midtown West) most of the time.

Hotwire has a deal on at 3.5* for $132 that I have identified as this through your site:

3.5* Room-Mate Grace (previously 3*)

Amenities: Boutique, Complimentary Breakfast, Pool, Business, Spa

The cheapest on the other sites seem to be pretty consistently the Wellington Hotel for the cheapest 3*.

I cannot find the exact one for $144 anymore.

[thereuare]

Since your 3* bids have been rejected, and your first choice was to stay in Times Square, why not go with the HOTWIRE offer of what is believe to be the Room-Mate Grace?

It gets good reviews, it's right by Times Square, and it includes breakfast (which can account for the $6/pp difference in price from your $120/bid). The rooms are small (smaller than NYC small), but for one nite i assume you'll likely just be sleeping there and not spending too much time in the room, so it should suit your needs.

Or you can choose to wait it out and see if anything else is offered as you get closer to your stay.

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

Let us know your thougths and/or what you decide or if we can be of further help.

[NeilH]

I just booked this for June 10, 2009 for $129:

3.5* Room-Mate Grace - Amenities: Boutique, Complimentary Breakfast, Pool, Business, Spa

I had previously identified it through your site before in this Priceline Hotel thread as I was trying to do the same thing through Priceline when this deal appeared on Hotwire. However, Priceline wasn't accepting any bids lower than this so we just book it.

Thanks for everyone's help.

PS - I used the link to HOTWIRE at the top.

[NeilH]

Ok, so after some more attempts at bidding and continual rejections (trying to be cheap I guess), I ended up just booking through Hotwire.

I got the 3.5* Room-Mate Grace (Amenities: Boutique, Complimentary Breakfast, Pool, Business, Spa) as identified through this site for the dates above for $129.

Thanks for everyone's help.

PS - I used the link to HOTWIRE at the top.

[thereuare]

Congratualtions on your success!

Glad to see you received the hotel you were hoping for and that this should work well for your plans... as noted above rooms are small, but get very good reviews, and the location is what you wanted.

Thank you for sharing your results with the board and using our HOTWIRE link to begin your purchase.

Enjoy your stay.