Priceline Hotel: 3.5* NYC (MTE) Marriott Eastside

[Smiley]

I'll be in New York Sept 30th-Oct4th and would like to stay in the Greenwich Village area. The main issue I'm finding is that it falls between LM and Chelsea Area. I would like to be as close to the village as possible but fear LM as I may get stuck by Battery Park. Greenwich is desirable because I have a friend that lives there and I'd like to spend time in an interesting neighborhood. Although for the right price other areas of town would be acceptable as I will be doing some sight seeing. My max budget is $150 per night.

My main question is which zone to ultimately target and what strategy should be employed?

Any bidding strategy or insight into this situation is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

I'm also using PRICELINE links from this site.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

There are very few hotels in Greenwhich Village, your best best would be to find something that offers convenient mass transit to where in the Village your friend lives. Do you know if it's the East or West Village (and nearby cross streets would even bettter to know as i can then think about the nearest subway stop)

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

[Smiley]

He lives around Bleecker st and 6th ave. I'll be with my girlfriend who wants a safe neighborhood where there's some unique places to shop and eat. I'm starting to lean toward Chelsea or LM because of proximity.

Thanks for your assitance.

[thereuare]

I would actually look towards the West Side (Chelsea, MTC) as almost anywhere in the zone will put you within an avenue or so of the Blue subway line (A,C,E) or the Orange Line (B,D,F,V) which will easy take you to the W4th St subway stop which is about a block from Bleeker and Sixth Ave... however, at the moment, i think you're budget is going to be a little tough in any zone.

HOTWIRE does have what i believe to be the Holiday Inn 57th St for $185/nite which is well north of the village, but easy access to the A and C line which will have you to the village in 10 minutes. There is also the Inter-Continental Barclay for a bit more $197/nite (but a 4* vs. the Holiday Inn 3*) which again, is not exactly in your prefered area, but an easy walk to the E or V line which will take you to Bleeker and Sixth in ~10 minutes.

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

Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

[Smiley]

I could probably do $190 or so at the very top end if a 4* is an option. Obviously I would prefer $150 but that doesn't seem like an option in New York for those dates. Should I attempt to bid via Priceline or go with Hotwire?

Thanks for all the advice. I'm using links provided in the site every time I access Priceline.

[thereuare]

Given that nothing on HOTWIRE is currently within your budget you'll need to look towards PRICELINE.

Did you have any thoughts regarding the zone(s) you're willing to accept?

Thanks for uisng our PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links :)

[Smiley]

Given your previous advice I'm leaning toward Chelsea, MTW, CPS, TS and lastly UWS. Mainly because of subway access on the West side. The Intercontinental would also be a good option based on your cost estimation above. With all the helpful info you've given I'm excited to start using a bidding strategy on Priceline.

[thereuare]

Given your previous advice I'm leaning toward Chelsea, MTW, CPS, TS and lastly UWS.... The Intercontinental would also be a good option based on your cost estimation above.

The InterContinental is in the MTE zone, not included in the bidding zones you've included above, so not certain if you want to include this zone or not. (as well, this property was believed to be avaialble thru HOTWIRE, with PRICELINE there is no way to target or take an educated guess as to which hotel in the zone you will receive, so you could receive a different hotel in this zone if you choose to bid MTE)

Also, since you gave 'prefered zone order' is location more imporant than price and you wanted to bid up to your limit for your first choice in zone before starting over and adding another zone OR are you looking for the least expensive hotel in any of the acceptable zones at the star rating you choose 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.

[Smiley]

Since Chelsea only has 3*'s I would like to concentrate on all the zones, excluding UES, based on price. Starting at 4* going to down to 3* looking for the best price.

[thereuare]

Sorry, i'm not following...

Do you want to bid for a 4* in MTW, CPS, TS and UWS up to your limit before trying for a lower rated star level? What about MTE... did you want to include that in your bidding? What about ESB?

... or if the above not how you wnat ot begin?

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

[Smiley]

I'd like to start with MTW, CPS, TS, UWS, ESB and MTE at a 4*. If we have to move down to a 3* then start in Chelsea and work out. Sorry if I'm not being clear.

[thereuare]

Let's try your 4* bidding first and if that is rejected we'll then move on to your other options.

At the 4* level you have FIVE 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.

(NOTE: 're-bid zone1' is not the same as priceline's Zone1, 're-bid zone2' is not the same as priceline's Zone2, etc, etc)

Select 4* MTW, CPS, TS, UWS, ESB and MTE...

Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone3...

Bid $135, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* MTW, CPS, TS, UWS, ESB and MTE and re-bid zone4...

Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone3...

Bid $155, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* MTW, CPS, TS, UWS, ESB and MTE and re-bid zone5...

Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone3...

Bid $175, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* MTW, CPS, TS, UWS, ESB and MTE and re-bid zone4 and re-bid zone5...

Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $185, if rejected add re-bid zone2...

Bid $190

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.

[Smiley]

Followed the bids to a T but didn't have success. I have to say I wasn't really that surprised but it was a good trial run using the bid system. Should I drop to 3.5 or straight to 3? I see 3.5 would limit me to only 3 rebid zones. I'm guessing at 3 you have to be very careful of choosing your rebid zones.

[thereuare]

Should I drop to 3.5 or straight to 3?

It's up to you based upon your budget and what you're looking for from this stay. If your first chose was for a 4* hotel i would think that you'd want to next try for a 3.5*, but not sure if your thoughts have changed since this thread started.

Regardless if you decide your next step is to bid for a 3.5* or a 3*, which zones are acceptable to you at that level?

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

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

[Smiley]

For 3.5*s I'd be okay with MTW, CPS, TS, UWS, ESB, MTE and MSG. For 3.0 the same would apply with the addition of Chelsea. For 3.0 should I use a base of zones and add as I go up based desirability?

Thanks for all your suggestions.

[thereuare]

Let us know if you want to try for a 3.5* or a 3* and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[Smiley]

I'm interseted in starting with 3.5*.

[thereuare]

Before bidding for a 3.5* HOTWIRE currently has what i believe to be the Inter-Continental Barclay for $189/nite for your dates (less than you've bid above): MTE with Restaurant, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Tennis and a TA rating fo 3.5/5.0 with 660+ reivews.

Do you want to buy this HOTWIRE offering, bid again on PRICELINE at the 4* level up to $190, or try for a 3.5*?

Let us know your thougths and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[Smiley]

Before I had seen your reply I started bidding for a 3.5*. I used MTW, CPS, TS, UWS, ESB, MTE, and MSG along with the rebid zones of Chelsea, Long Island City and UES. My very last bid at $190 landed the New York Marriot Eastside. Based on location and reviews I'm extremely happy. Thanks for all your help I'll definitely be back for future trips.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you're happy with the results and the deal you received.

If you didn't, please remember to use the requested PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Enjoy your stay.