Priceline Hotel: Query re additional guest in room

[Bernard]

Not sure if this is the right forum but here goes.

I'm going to bid room a room for a week in NYC shortly, looking at 3* through 4* properties. I'm travelling solo but a Texan friend said he'd come up and join me for a weekend, i.e., 2 of the 7 days I'll be there. I guess the room will have twin queens.

Should I just 'sneak' him in or advise the desk? I would think room service would notice if the extra bed was used but would they care? I think I read here a while back that hotels charge a premium for an extra guest.

I guess much depends on the individual hotel and its vigilance and policies but general guidance would be appreciated. I could bid solo for 5 days then again double for 2 days but that would almost certainly give a different hotel - and valuable holiday time wasted changing.

Bernard

Melbourne, Aus.

[yellowdog]

I guess the room will have twin queens.

PRICELINE only guarantee a room for 2 adults. That could mean a room with only a king or queen bed. NYC is famous for small rooms. And a city the board never recomends to rely on two beds.

Should I just 'sneak' him in or advise the desk? I would think room service would notice if the extra bed was used but would they care? I think I read here a while back that hotels charge a premium for an extra guest.

If you get a room with two beds is this no problem. Just tell the clerk that your friend will arrive later so you need two keys.

Let us know if you need any help with your upcoming stay.

Yellowdog.

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

[AaronJB]

If it's just the two of you, then it won't be an issue (if it was three more people joining you, it may be more of an issue) and, as noted above, you can just ask for two keys. Hotels do charge more for an extra guest, but this is generally when you have more than 2 people in the room. Rarely is it when you have more than 1 in the room.

However, two beds becomes more difficult, as many rooms in NYC are quite small, even at higher-end properties. Some smaller boutiques and other properties don't list two beds as an option, and - in terms of the hotels that do offer two beds - they may say no (I've read a few stories the Grand Hyatt has said no regarding two beds, for example.) HOTWIRE may be a better option for this stay, but it would depend on dates/availability.

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

[Bernard]

Thanks for the advice folks - helpful.

What is the likely difference, if any, between the tariff for one and two in a room? If there was nothing in it I could just book for two at the outset.

I can always ask for twin beds when checking in I suppose.

Which raises another question which I think has been canvassed here before: How likely am I to succeed in a bid for a 7 day stay? I got the impression shorter stays are better in Priceline as they are preferred by hotels. I haven't many bid notices for NY for week-long stays.

[yellowdog]

Bernard

What is the likely difference, if any, between the tariff for one and two in a room? If there was nothing in it I could just book for two at the outset.

On PRICELINE is there no diffrence. You have to search on HOTWIRE and see if the price change. I have never done a search for 1 guest so i don't know.

Which raises another question which I think has been canvassed here before: How likely am I to succeed in a bid for a 7 day stay?

Everything depends on when you're going. Please post your dates for this stay. And the zone(s) you're willing to stay in and we'll have a look at this.

Yellowdog.

[AaronJB]

Occasionally I've seen differences (in prices and selection) on HOTWIRE in NYC when searching for 1 vs. 2, but 1 vs 2 is different only rarely.

[Bernard]

Bernard

On PRICELINE is there no diffrence. You have to search on HOTWIRE and see if the price change. I have never done a search for 1 guest so i don't know.

Everything depends on when you're going. Please post your dates for this stay. And the zone(s) you're willing to stay in and we'll have a look at this.

Yellowdog.

It will be 7th - 13th June. I know this is a long time off but I see successful bids have been posted for The Roosevelt for the 1st week of June at acceptable prices. .I'll be shooting for MTE or points south. Not much interested in Times Square area.

[thereuare]

Since this is NYC the question is really one of whether one bed would be acceptable or not... as space is at a premium in NYC rooms are smaller than elsehwere in the country, and there is a high percentage of rooms with only one bed in them, with little/no space for a rollaway. So it comes down to whether you'd be fine with the possibiilty of sharing a bed for the two days your friend is there (in which case PRICELINE is a viable option) OR if you want to ensure separate sleeping accomodations (at which point you would likely be better served using HOTWIRE for triple occupancy... although this will likely cost you more than using PRICELINE)

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

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

[AaronJB]

I'm not seeing a whole lot in terms of Midtown options when searching on HOTWIRE for 2 adults/1 child (searching for double occupancy in the room) for 6/7-13; I see a 3.5* in MTE for $189 w/fitness, restaurant, business, internet for $189 (possibly the Tudor, Roosevelt or Doubletree Met.)

I'm seeing the Millennium UN for $211.16 on Orbitz for a room w/2 beds. Coupon code FABSAVE10 takes 10% off that price = $190 and change. This would also appear to be a refundable (although double check the fine print!) reservation. While the Millennium UN isn't quite as conveniently located in MTE as the Roosevelt, it does get good reviews and some rooms appear to have views of the surrounding area. While a view wouldn't be guaranteed, maybe since you are booking full price, you may have some leverage to request that. So, with this MTE situation, you could either try the 3.5* MTE in HOTWIRE, or take the known (and apparently refundable, although again double check) 2 bed Millennium UN option for about a buck more.

There's a 3* in MTC w/fitness, pool, restaurant, internet for $176, which I would guess is the Holiday Inn Midtown Central. Orbitz has it for $196 non-refundable, plus coupon code FABSAVE10 takes 10% off = $176.58, but this way you could select 2 beds.

Please use the site's Orbitz.com, HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links.