Priceline Hotel: 4* NYC (MTW) City Club Hotel

[bbhaley]

Hi!

I was wondering if I can get some help bidding in the Times Square/Midtown Central/Madison Square Gardens areas (preference in that order) from Sep 4 to 7 (3 nights). What are some "reasonable" starting bids for 3.5 or 4 star hotels?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site.

What would be your budget per night?

Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchase.

[bbhaley]

Thanks for the quick reply!

We have done 2 days of bidding with no luck. So far, we bid up to $130 for four star hotels in the above-mentioned regions (based on some of the winning bids we saw through the forum, although we did notice that these were successful bids from a few months ago). We are also considering 3.5 star hotels now due to our unsuccessful bidding

We don't really have a set budget but are hoping not to spend more than $150 per night. We just don't want to spend more than we have to!

[AaronJB]

Unfortunately, I think you're probably going to have to go closer to your max ($140-150) for a 4* in the TS or MTC areas. I'd try $135 next, then $140, $145, $150, but I'd stop at $150 if you have to go that high and are still not having the bid accepted.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchase.

[thereuare]

Is there a reason you're avoding the MTE or CPS zones... at the 4* level these usually work just as well for the average visitor as the other midtown zones you've bid. (at the 3.5* level there a few hotels which are a bit less convenient than others), but i'd have no problem with the location of the 4* hotels in these other areas unless there are hotel(s) in these zones you're trying to avoid.

Also, did you want to bid up to your limit for a 4* before lowering to a 3.5* OR is your goal the least expensive 3.5* or better for this stay?

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

[bbhaley]

Thanks for another reply!

I guess we are thinking of the original listed areas for convenience (i.e., closer to the things we want to do). Do you think the price difference would be worth expanding our intended zone?

We are considering 3.5 star now to see if we can save $30-$40 a night. Are the 4 star hotels considerably better in NYC?

P.S. We have been using the suggested links!

[thereuare]

I guess we are thinking of the original listed areas for convenience (i.e., closer to the things we want to do). Do you think the price difference would be worth expanding our intended zone?

At this point in time I think you'll have to go higher than you already have, but adding the additional zones would at least increase your chances since it gives more hotels the ability to accept your bid price.

To clarify, you said you had bid the MTC zone, but there is no MTC zone with PRICELINE, was it MTW that you had bid?

We are considering 3.5 star now to see if we can save $30-$40 a night.

There are exceptions to every rule, but generally speaking there is not that much of a difference in price between 4* and 3.5* hotels in NYC. Given the $135/nite you have already bid, if you think you're going to be successful at $95-$100/nite for a 3.5*, i'm doubtful that will be enough.

Are the 4 star hotels considerably better in NYC?

You should review the Priceline Hotel List and see/compare the hotels already reported to the board at each star level in the zones you're considering. Star ratings are subjective and there are some 3.5* properties that i would prefer over some 4* properties, but in NYC there are some 3.5* properties that begin to get a little too far from central for my taste (ie- the Millenium UN, which is otherwise a very good 3.5* rated hotel, is a bit far east in the zone which makes it less convenient than some of the other options, so i would avoid bidding 3.5* in the MTE zone, but have no problem doing so at the 4* level)

[bbhaley]

Hi!

I'm not sure if I should be posting my successful bid with my original request for assistance or if I should start a new topic as I can't change the header in my original post - maybe the administrator can do this for me (please!)?

Here are the details:

4* NYC (MTW) City Club Hotel

$155 ... 9/4/09-9/7/09

Bid over 5 days

1st day: Bid up to $120 in TS/MTW with free re-bids

2nd day: Bid up to $130 in TS/MTW with free re-bids

3rd day: Bid up to $140 in TS/MTW with free re-bids

4th day: Bid up to $151 in TS/MTW with free re-bids

5th day: Bid $150 in TS/MTW, rejected, rebid $155 and accepted at City Club Hotel

Taxes & Service Fees: $95.76

I had never heard of this hotel before so I looked up reviews and am now very nervous. Although there are some good reviews, it seems that those booking through hotwire/priceline are often put in the petite rooms. If that happens, I think we are going to have to get a second room because there will be 2 well-built tennis players staying in this room. Can a petite room with just one full bed really sleep 2 (it does say that it's based on double occupancy)? I did read that some lucky folks got upgraded so I hope when I call tomorrow that we will be one of them.

Any thoughts?

[yellowdog]

Thank you for sharing your win with the board :)

Good to see that everything worked out well for you.

We just had an OP that got this hotel. He got an upgrade at check-in. But this realy up to the hotel and the revenue situation for your stay. But call them and ask.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links to start future purchases.

Yellowdog.