Priceline Hotel: Is there even a chance?

[arroww]

Hello,

going to be in New York from 10/11/09 to 10/16/09. I'm looking for a 3,5* Hotel, preferring TSQ, MTW, MTE areas. I already bid up to $150 (wouldn't like to bid more than that). Is there even a chance to get a hotel at these dates matching my targets right now? Should I think about bidding for a 3* hotel?

Glad that I found this great site, off course I'll use your links from now on.

Thank you for your support.

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site.

Unfortunately, I don't think $150 is going to be realistic for a midtown 4* for these dates. Have you bid $150 for a 3.5* or for a 4*? Do you have any interest in other, nearby areas (Empire State, CPS, MSG-Convention)

I think if you were to bid for a 3* property, I would start back at the $120-125 range and work up from there.

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

[thereuare]

Just to give a point of reference, i think you may be lookinat a 4* about $180-$200 for these dates.

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.

[arroww]

Thank you for your responses. I bid $150 for a 3,5* star Hotel. I really would appreciate to find a hotel at TSQ, MTW, MTE areas, but CPS would also be alright I guess. I already booked a hostel so I'm not under deadline pressure, I have some time left to find a Hotel. May I have a chance to get a 3* Hotel in CPS (think the only 3* hotel in this area is the Park Central NY)?

Regards

[AaronJB]

You could certainly try, although keep in mind that when you bid 3* you could get upgraded to 3.5*.

Thank you for using the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links.

[thereuare]

I bid $150 for a 3,5* star Hotel.

Which zones did you include in your previously 3.5* bidding up to $150?

I really would appreciate to find a hotel at TSQ, MTW, MTE areas, but CPS would also be alright I guess.

Is there a reason you're also not considering the MSG or ESB zones?

(think the only 3* hotel in this area is the Park Central NY)?

See the comments at the top of the Priceline Hotel List.

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

[arroww]

For 3,5* I included MTW, MTE and TSQ, today also CPS, with no success. $155 was my highest bid. I tried 3* in the same areas bidding up to $145 - no success aswell :) :)

I found MSG and ESB a bit too far in the south, I like staying around midtown.

[arroww]

I forgot to mention that when I bid $155 for 3,5* CPS,MTW,MTE,TSQ I got a "counter offer", saying that when I'd bid $25 more a night I might get a room. $25 more was too much in my opinion so I didn't do it.

[thereuare]

Given your rejection up to $155 for a 3.5*, would you 'compromise' your location and be open to trying this other zones (MSG or ESB) for less?

What is your gameplan at this point:

-wait it out and try all the same bids again

-increase your budget

-add other zones than you've already bid

-lower your star rating (although i wouldn't advise less than a 3* in NYC unless you have a good guess as to the hotel you may likely receive)

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

[Pider]

I forgot to mention that when I bid $155 for 3,5* CPS,MTW,MTE,TSQ I got a "counter offer", saying that when I'd bid $25 more a night I might get a room. $25 more was too much in my opinion so I didn't do it.

I bid up to $180 for Dates 10/08/09 to 10/15/09 for 3.5* CPS, MTW, MTE, TSQ and Was rejected. No Counter offers.

[arroww]

@thereuare: Do you think MSG and ESB would increase my chances to get a 3,5* for ~$150? I looked up averages prices and they are not that different to my firstly selected areas.

@pider: I also bid for 3,5* only in MTE, using LIC as rebidding zone. There I also got the $25 offer (when bidding $155). So I think the hotel was in MTE, but that was yesterday.

[thereuare]

Pider,

Rates are date specific, so your rejections for 10/08/09 to 10/15/09 may be quite different than what's necessary for this stay of 10/11-10/16... if you'd like help with your own stay please start a NEW TOPIC.

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

arroww,

I'm not sure if it will necessarily help so much... but it certainly won't hurt since it gives more hotels the ability to accept your bid, and by definition that could only improve your chances.

I bid $155 for 3,5* CPS,MTW,MTE,TSQ I got a "counter offer", saying that when I'd bid $25 more a night I might get a room. $25 more was too much in my opinion so I didn't do it.

You can usually do better than PRICELINE's counter-offer, so the 'true' number is likely somewhere between $156 and $179. What is your maximum bid for this stay? What is the best rate you're able to find at an acceptable hotel for these dates thru conventional booking channels?

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

[arroww]

You can usually do better than PRICELINE's counter-offer, so the 'true' number is likely somewhere between $156 and $179.

Oh, alright, good to know that! :)

The best rates I found are about $295 without taxes on Orbitz. You can get Hotels like "The Time Hotel", or the "Le Parker Meredien". Actually my maximum bid is $150 a night (without taxes) for this stay, $155 was an exception because I thought this bid would let me get the room :) I'm going to keep my feet on the ground, I don't think I have good chances to get a 3,5* for my offer these days.

[thereuare]

Given the best alternative rate of nearly $300/nite, PRICELINE's counter-offer of $156-$179 really isn't such a bad deal. I'm not saying that you should jump on it, especially if over your budget and would take away from other aspects of your trip, but just trying to put things in perspective that rates are date specific and you can't alway duplicate a bid that was won on a different set of dates... relatively speaking, even $180 would still be a significant discount and a 'good' deal.

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

Keep us updated as to your progress and if we can be of further help along the way.