BaseballNut Posted January 17, 2010 Report Posted January 17, 2010 Hi! I travel often, but have never used PL to bid, so I would appreciate any help you could give me to plan my bid!2 adults, MTE, Jan. 22-24, 3* to 4* for as cheap as possible. Ideally, I'd like a 4* for $100-$120 (plus taxes), but if that's not possible a 3-3.5* for $80-$100 (plus taxes). Am I crazy?! If I am, what do you think is a reasonable bid for each?The PL listed rates for 4* MTE range from $179-$219, the listed rates for a 3.5* range from $143-$159, and the listed rates for a 3* range from $128-$148.I would much prefer MTE, but I guess could do MTW if I had to. I have stayed in both areas and much prefer MTE, so that's my first priority. I don't need specific amenities.Thanks so much!
AaronJB Posted January 17, 2010 Report Posted January 17, 2010 Welcome to Betterbidding! :)4* MTE for $100 is unlikely, but MTE is generally one of the more reasonable (if not the most reasonable) areas of Midtown. $110-120 for a 4* in MTE is quite likely for these dates, however, and I would be surprised a 4* MTE bid would require more than $120 for these dates, as they - which is not uncommon for January - look fairly quiet as rates go. Additionally, another bidder a little over a month ago in this thread was able to get the rather remarkable rate of $93 for the Morgans Hotel (a 4* in the Empire State Building zone) for these dates. While replicating that bid may not be possible (you could quite possibly get a different 4* in that zone, or the bid may not be accepted at that rate any longer at this point), but just thought I'd throw it out as a possible suggestion.Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchase.
BaseballNut Posted January 17, 2010 Author Report Posted January 17, 2010 Welcome to Betterbidding! :)4* MTE for $100 is unlikely, but MTE is generally one of the more reasonable (if not the most reasonable) areas of Midtown. $110-120 for a 4* in MTE is quite likely for these dates, however, and I would be surprised a 4* MTE bid would require more than $120 for these dates, as they - which is not uncommon for January - look fairly quiet as rates go. Additionally, another bidder a little over a month ago in this thread was able to get the rather remarkable rate of $93 for the Morgans Hotel (a 4* in the Empire State Building zone) for these dates. While replicating that bid may not be possible (you could quite possibly get a different 4* in that zone, or the bid may not be accepted at that rate any longer at this point), but just thought I'd throw it out as a possible suggestion.Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchase.Thank you! I was going to book a Holiday Inn Express on 5th Ave. for $120 (I love their breakfast thing!), but a 4* for that price would be nicer.I worry about the whole re-bidding thing as I'm going this weekend so I'd like to book ASAP. Therefore, what do you recommend I start my bid with? Should I try the $100 or just go right to $110? Then what would be my next step to re-bid? Do I have to change it to a 3.5*? (I read the links posted in other threads about re-bidding, but it confuses me since I prefer to only be in MTE). I'm torn because while I do what the cheapest rate possible, I also want the best deal and bang for my buck if I can get a 4* at a great price.Thank you so very much for your help and advice! And I will use the links to purchase.
AaronJB Posted January 17, 2010 Report Posted January 17, 2010 Please be very careful when using re-bidding; in terms of re-bidding, you add zones that do not have the star rating. If you were to bid 4* MTE and were not accepted, you would add another zone that does not have 4* (such as Chelsea) and bid (ONLY for 4* again.)As discussed in this thread regarding re-bidding:"If your bid is rejected, you can often add a zone that does NOT offer that star level or higher (ie- add a zone that ONLY offers lower star ratings) and bid once again, raising your bid by a slight amount. An example follows:Assume city XYZ has an uptown and downtown zone. You bid 4* uptown at $50 and are turned down, and are told you can bid again if you change something. IF downtown ONLY offers 3* Hotels and BELOW, you can add the downtown zone (so you are now bidding on downtown AND uptown) and once again bid for 4*. This will allow you to raise your bid and try again, essentially only bidding uptown, since downtown doesn't have any hotels that fit your star level criteria."I'd start w/$110 for a 4* MTE, and that has a chance of being accepted right off the bat.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchase.
BaseballNut Posted January 17, 2010 Author Report Posted January 17, 2010 Please be very careful when using re-bidding; in terms of re-bidding, you add zones that do not have the star rating. If you were to bid 4* MTE and were not accepted, you would add another zone that does not have 4* (such as Chelsea) and bid (ONLY for 4* again.)I'd start w/$110 for a 4* MTE, and that has a chance of being accepted right off the bat.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchase.Thank you, again. That explained it very well for me. I will update when I purchase, after my friend and I decide to go with the cheaper 3* or the 4*.
AaronJB Posted January 17, 2010 Report Posted January 17, 2010 Happy to help! :)Additionally, you may also want to check if the HI in question is showing up on Orbitz.com and if either the WELCOME10 or FABSAVE10 coupon codes work (10% off) or Orbitzdeal5 (a 5% off code) work.Thank you for using the site's Orbitz, PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links, and for keeping us updated.
BaseballNut Posted January 17, 2010 Author Report Posted January 17, 2010 Thanks!4* MTE, bid was $110 and accepted. Hotel is the Grand Hyatt.Any words of wisdom about that hotel? It is right next to Grand Central, but I can't remember what the area was like.
AaronJB Posted January 17, 2010 Report Posted January 17, 2010 Congratulations on your success! :)Very, very nice deal for this property - just about half off ($219 reg. rate; HOTWIRE appears to have it for $159) I haven't stayed at this property, but family members who have said it was a very nice property. It is quite large, rather busy and convention-oriented. It's been a few years since I've been to NYC, but this is certainly a terrific, business-heavy area of MTE, with Grand Central right there, as well as Park Ave.Thank you for sharing your win with the board and using the site's PRICELINE link.Enjoy your stay.
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