Priceline Hotel: 4* NYC (MTE) Omni Berkshire

[momoffive]

Hi! I'm taking my 9-yr-old daughter on a fun mom/daughter trip to see all the Disney Broadway shows. All the theaters are between 42nd and 47th, between 7th and 8th Ave. We're going Thurs 7/23 thru Sun 7/26. I want to be able to walk safely back to a nice Marriott Marquis-quality hotel after each show. I would be willing to pay around $160-$170/nite if that's what it takes. I've been watching the bidding calendar though, and it looks like everyone ends up in the Sheraton for around $96. which would be great, but it looks like I'm dealing with bed bugs and scummy showers if we do? Anyway, I've already studied this site until my eyes are bleary and still am not sure the best way to place a bid to best meet these requirements (safe walking distance from those specific theaters and a Marriott Marquis-quality hotel.) Can someone coach me on how exactly to place this bid?

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Searching HOTWIRE for 1adults/1child what looks like the Westin Times Square is available for $174/nite (your price may differ by a few dollars) which is a nice hotel with a great location for your needs:

Restaurant, Fitness, Internet, Business, Spa with a 4.0/5.0 Tripadvisor rating and 1040+ reviews.

Would this work for your needs?

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

PS- in the Theatre District you can eat pre-theater one nite at the kid friendly John's Pizza on 44th St b/w 7th Ave and 8th Ave. Good pizza restaurant in a nice atmosphere (it's a converted church) and open kitchen pizza stations in the back room where you can watch them make pizza while you wait for your own.

[momoffive]

Thank you for taking the time to reply! First, not familiar with HOTWIRE, but when I compare it to PRICELINE on the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins for Theater district hotels, people seem to have paid significantly more for the same hotels ($150 for Intercontinental Barclay on HOTWIRE/ $110 on PRICELINE; $120 Sheraton on HOTWIRE vs. $96 on PRICELINE. Why is that? Also, is the Sheraton so bad? It's situated right where I want to be, isnt' it? I'm not seeing Westin Times Square as one of the possibilities on hotwire under Times Square. Sorry, I'm a novice.

[thereuare]

You can't necessarily compare the price of a HOTWIRE hotel on one nite to the price of the same hotel thru PRICELINE on another nite... just like booking direct, you can see different prices for different dates.

The reason i was looking at HOTWIRE is because you had mentioned "Marriott Marquis like quality" and were looking to avoid the Sheraton. While HOTWIRE does cost a little more than PRICELINE, it also gives you the abiliyt to take an educated guess as to the hotel you may likely receive... thus giving you the abilty to try to target a hotel at the qualit you'd be happy with, while avoiding a hotel that you may be disappointed in. (vs. using PRICELINE where you're subject to any hotel in the zone at the minimum star rating you select)

So it which service to use comes down to what is more important... the lowest possible price OR having a guess as to what you may get beforehand (and therefore also know the location and the 'true quality' of the hotel)

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

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

[AaronJB]

The Sheraton gets very mixed reviews, although a few members on this board have recently commented that they had a satisfactory experience. I think it's an issue - like with many hotels in many cities - where reviews are negative because for $250 a night, expectations aren't met. However, at half that - or sometimes even less - people are generally pleased who are just looking for a place to sleep in a nice location.

If you are looking for a more upscale experience, however, I'd try using HOTWIRE to find something else.

[momoffive]

Very helpful! Thank you.

[momoffive]

Question: On the bidding Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins, I just noticed the Westin Times Square sell on PRICELINE in August '09 on a Friday night for $120. I tried for July with no luck. Should I keep trying each night, increasing bid by what increments? I understand the strategy for selecting other areas in which you know there are no 4 star hotels, so you can bid again the same day, but how do I know what NYC areas have no four-star hotels? Is it risky, i.e. you thought there were no 4 stars in Queens, but you're wrong and now you're staying in Queens? Sorry if stupid questions.

[AaronJB]

PRICELINE rates are date-specific and vary due to hotel traffic/supply & demand; a rate that another user was able to get for August does not apply for your dates.

If you search for 1 adult and 1 child for 7/23-26, there is a 3.5* in Midtown Central with the amenities: boutique, smoke-free fitness, restaurant, internet and spa for $129 (the price you see may vary slightly.) While this listing has not yet been ID'd, it has been *speculated* that this may be the Dream Hotel. It could possibly be something else, but that seems like a very likely prospect.

This thread provides more details on the re-bidding process. Please ask if you have further questions and we would be happy to help.

[momoffive]

So, I ended up staying at the Omni Berkshire for $152/night in MTE. LOVED this hotel. Smaller (a boutique?), and super about service. We were two moms, each traveling with a 9-yr-old daughter. The staff was friendly to the girls and welcomed them with a kid "backpack" containing activities. Also, our flight was delayed, and we didn't arrive at the Omni until 7:40 p.m on a Thursday night. We wanted to make it to Little Mermaid at 8 p.m. I called the bellman from the taxi and warned him we would be literally running in the door, dropping our bags and running back out. They were so friendly and fast, and even sent us with a hotel umbrella. The taxi driver waited for us on the curb and took us to the theater. We were in our seats at curtain call. Adrenalin rush! Who said New Yorkers aren't friendly?

Anyway, loved the Omni. I called them tonight to see what the rate would be for my husband and I next week and they quoted high $400s.

[thereuare]

Glad you were happy with the results and the hotel worked well for your plans.

It would be appreciated if you shared your results with the board as you receive them so that the information can help others.

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