Priceline Hotel: 3.5* NYC (MSG-Convention) Affinia Manhattan

[bmg]

This is my first post. I will be going to New York on Oct 13-16, 2009 and would like to bid on a *4 hotel in Soho Downtown and I have $200 which is my first priority. I am thinking tha my chances are greater on Priceline. However, I can also stay in the Chelsea Area and Time Square. If I have to extend the area I can go to MTE or Grand Central Station. The maximum that I have is $225.00 but would not like to spend up to that amount. Because I will be on business I would like to have access to wireless internet and possibly a business center. However, this may be asking for too much. What advice and strategies can you provide as this is the first time that I have been strategic. I have looked at Hotwire and the prices have gone up and I don't know if I have any changes of being successful. Also, do you have any ideas the hotels that are showing on Hotwire. Any suggestions are appreciated. BMG

[bmg]

Hello

I am feeling a bit anxious over the bidding process. I have looked at several winning bids for level 4* and 3.5* and decided to start the process. I know that one can get too analytical. It seems that many 3.5 in the Soho area were won for $150.00 to $165.00. Also, I saw a few level 4* in the same area being won for $165.00 to $212. As a result, my first bid of $165.00 for Soho District was rejected. I then made another bid for Soho and added Time Square for $172.0 which was rejected. Now I need some advice. What would you suggest? Yes, I am willing but not quite ready to go to 3.5* level. My probelm is that I don't know NY an was wondering if you could tell me the distance between Soho, Empire State and Chelsea aea. Extending the area may be a solution to receiving the bid. Any suggestions.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Rates are fairly high for these dates... can you clarify if $200 is your maximum bid amount or your 'all-in' amount (including taxes and fees). If 'all-in' what is your maximum bid amount.

If you don't mind saying, exactly what are your plans and where do you need to be each day? Roughly speaking Downtown to Times Square is about 5 miles (taxi rate will vary depending upon time of day, traffic, etc) but a guestimate would be ~$15 (again, depending on exactly where within each zone you need to be) and there may be a subway line that gets you to/from both quicker and cheaper.

Let's start with the above and we'll take it from there.

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

[bmg]

Thereuare:

In response to your questions, I am coming on business in th Soho area with a day for seeing the city and I wanted to pay as less as possible because I am footing the bill for one day. My business is in the Soho area which is why I was looking in the area. I actually have $250.00 for accomondations while on business. Since my posts last night I have tried various bids to no avail. They are:

165.00 in Soho for a 4*

170.00 in Soho and Time Square for 4*

175.00 I added Chelsea for *4

I then dropped to 3.5* @180.00 and added Soho, Chelsea, MSG

I thought that if I was going to spend so much @189.00 I would add Time Square and go back to 4*

I realized that I wasn't getting any closer so I then bid 193.00 @ 3.5* for Soho, MSG, Time Square and Chelsea. This one is puzzling because it shows that it was a Boutique rating. I don't remember seeing this in my selection.

All of the above were rejected. The only area that I did not select was Empire State Area because I remember seeing some posting that said subway was 15 minute walk. What do you advise. I have tried various combination wihtout success. I am guessing that rates are higher. I know that it is so lose but I had to be sure before bidding on a PRICELINE and the trip did not occur. I have been looking at rates and it seems that now they are higher. I just confirmed the trip on friday.

What strategies can you give me as I have been all over the board with no success. Since I started bidding at 11:30 pm last night, when does my 24 hours period start. Any suggestions are appreciated. I hope I have answered your questions and you understand what I have done. Thanks. bmg

Rates are fairly high for these dates... can you clarify if $200 is your maximum bid amount or your 'all-in' amount (including taxes and fees). If 'all-in' what is your maximum bid amount.

If you don't mind saying, exactly what are your plans and where do you need to be each day? Roughly speaking Downtown to Times Square is about 5 miles (taxi rate will vary depending upon time of day, traffic, etc) but a guestimate would be ~$15 (again, depending on exactly where within each zone you need to be) and there may be a subway line that gets you to/from both quicker and cheaper.

Let's start with the above and we'll take it from there.

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

[thereuare]

You can bid 24 hours after your last rejected bid.

I don't think you read that the Empire State Building zone is the problem at the 3.5*... more likely it's the 3.5* Millenium UN in the Midtown East zone that is 15 minutes to the subway.

So at the 4* level exactly which zones (by PRICELINE name) are acceptable? Which zones are acceptable at the 3.5* level?

Let us know the above and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[bmg]

Thanks for clarifying about the Empire State Building. At the level 4 *, Downtown Soho, Chelsea, Grand Central Station, Time Square and now Empire State are acceptable.

These are acceptable for zone 3.5 as well. bmg

quote name='thereuare' date='Oct 11 2009, 07:45 PM' post='288162']

You can bid 24 hours after your last rejected bid.

I don't think you read that the Empire State Building zone is the problem at the 3.5*... more likely it's the 3.5* Millenium UN in the Midtown East zone that is 15 minutes to the subway.

So at the 4* level exactly which zones (by PRICELINE name) are acceptable? Which zones are acceptable at the 3.5* level?

Let us know the above and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[bmg]

Well, I finally won the bid for Priceline @ Affinia Manhattan for 225.00 Otober 13-16, 2009. It was extremely frustrating but overall worht it and the help that I got from reading the tips and strategies were extremely uselfu. I will say give yourself some time if you can so you will not be so frustrated. Thanks everyone. bmg

[thereuare]

Congratualtions on your success!

While it was a frustrating, but worthwhile, experience, glad to see you found something near your budget which will work well for your plans (near a lot of subway lines which will easily take you downtown)

Do note that this property often givens PRICELINE guests small rooms :) so if you're unhappy with the room offered i would politely try speaking with the front desk and/or manager to attempt an upgrade.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board and glad that the information here was helpful with your bidding.

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

Enjoy your stay.