Priceline Hotel: 3 rooms 3 nights in Manhattan starting 17th Dec 09

[nicola]

Would appreciate any guidance you can offer on bidding on Priceline for 3 rooms in Manhattan starting 17th December 09 for 3 nights. Would prefer to be in a 4 star hotel in one of 3 areas Central Park, Timesquare, or Midtown West. But could flex to Wall Street if possible. I'm looking for something around $130 per night per room or less if you think thats doable. This is my first time bidding and as I have limited time to confirm I would like some pointers on how to do the multiple bids in 24 hours that has been discussed on this site.

Many Thanks in advance

Nicola

[thereuare]

I'm doubtful that $130 will be enough for a 4* hotel in your desired zones, but we can suggest a strategy to follow to give it a try, and take it from there.

To begin, can you please clarify the zone(s) you're willing to accept:

one of 3 areas Central Park, Timesquare, or Midtown West.

Did you mean the Central Park South zone?

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Let us know and we'll advise accordingly.

[nicola]

Yes the central park south zone. And if 130 isn't enough then can you suggest a more suitable start point please?

[thereuare]

For a 4* hotel in the MTW, CPS, or TS zone you're probably looking at closer to $175-$200 (although we'd certainly start lower and work out way up). If you include Downtown you may be closer to ~$150 or so.

Is there a reason you're avoiding the MTE and/or ESB zone at the 4* level?

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.

[nicola]

Only that we wanted to be around central park and rockefeller centre. SO what do you think I should do?

[AaronJB]

If you stay in MTE, quite a few hotels in that zone (aside from a few exceptions, such as the 3.5* Millennium UN) are within a reasonable walk to Rockefeller and not too far from CP. ESB would be mildly-moderately further, but not all that bad, especially if the price is right versus staying in TS/MTW.

Thanks for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links.

[thereuare]

Given that you're previously stated maximum bid is likely going to be a bit of a stretch, i would include as many zones that are acceptable as possible. You could bid for CPS, TS, and MTW first up to your limit, then consider adding other zones and/or raising your maximum bid, but if it comes to that, MTE and ESB will get you closer to Rockefeller Center and Central Park than Downtown would.

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

[nicola]

So in theory I could amend the star rating from 4 star to 3.5 or 3 as well, and then I'll have more chance of getting a hotel in the areas CPS.TS or MTW. Can you suggest a strategy starting at 4 star at $130 in these areas, then if that fails go on to a 3.5 or 3, then last resort add in the other zones?

[thereuare]

We'll start with a 4* strategy and if/when that is rejected we'll revise for a 3.5* and take it from there.

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.

Select 4* MTW, TS, and CPS...

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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

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

Bid $130.

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.

[nicola]

Ok so I tried the above strategy I missed out 115 and have ended up using up all the rebid zones at 4 * and was rejected at 140. Now I'm stuck, I still want a 4 * hotel but now need to increase my bid but I can't see how to change the bid so that I can do that. It won't let me remove areas I've already added, so what can I do now? Help

[thereuare]

Unless you're willing to add one of the other nearby zones which has 4* hotels, you'll have to wait 24 hours from your last rejected bid to try again.

If you let us know your maximum bid we'll suggest a starategy to follow, as you have enough re-bid zones available to go just about as high as you'd like.

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