Priceline Hotel: NYC 4star priceline tips March 11-16th

[shandy]

Hi! I am looking for a hotel for my husband and I to stay in for our 10th anniversary. We have been to NYC a few times and I am happy Midtown east or west or Central Park either side. I was going to book The Surrey for $250/night, but it sold out so now I am starting from scratch! My husband wants me to bid on priceline with a strategy that could win a NICE 4 star. Is this an option? Do any of the high-end hotels use priceline? We normally wouldn't care, but since it is a special trip I want to be a little more careful! Advice? Tips? I have been reading the boards and I promise to use the PRICELINE link for my bidding!!! Thank you for all you do to help others!

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

A couple of questions:

1. Is your budget $250 a night "all-in" (w/tax?)

2. Which areas are you looking to stay in?

3. Are you looking for a deal on a 4* and are flexible on what you might get, or would you be willing to pay more for a particular/nicer/better/more well-reviewed property?

4. Would you be looking for a smaller, more intimate property for the occasion, or would you mind a larger/convention/business-oriented property?

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[AaronJB]

Additionally, there's a lot of nice properties that are well within your price range for these dates, so in terms of getting a "known" is definitely an option. The Ink48, a new 4* boutique property under the Kimpton brand (free wine social hour at night) is $173 and change on Orbitz.com, and coupon code WELCOME10 takes 10% off that price. That hotel has not yet been reported on PRICELINE or HOTWIRE. The Morgans Hotel, which offers breakfast and gets excellent reviews, is $201 on Orbitz (and the coupon code takes 10% off.) The Lowes Regency is $239 (and 10% off using coupon) and the Essex House is $248 (10% off using the coupon.) There are others, as well, although these seemed like possibly better choices for the occasion.

Please use the site's Orbitz.com link if any of these deals are of interest.

[shandy]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

A couple of questions:

1. Is your budget $250 a night "all-in" (w/tax?)

2. Which areas are you looking to stay in?

3. Are you looking for a deal on a 4* and are flexible on what you might get, or would you be willing to pay more for a particular/nicer/better/more well-reviewed property?

4. Would you be looking for a smaller, more intimate property for the occasion, or would you mind a larger/convention/business-oriented property?

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

HI!!! Wow, you work fast! This place is great

1. yes...$250 all in if I can't do better

2. MTE MTW theatre CP soho

3 I would pay a little more for well-reviewed

4. I am kinda wanting to avoid the "convention" feel.

I am worried about overpaying if the top hotel is worth $150 and I offer more???

Thanks so much!!!

[AaronJB]

HOTWIRE also has a lot of deals for 4*'s around the $150-170 range, although the new 4* Ink48 (wine hour, newer property from the popular Kimpton chain) or the Morgans (well-reviewed and breakfast) seem like more compelling options for about the same price (and again, given the occasion, something "known" may be good), in my opinion. The Essex House may be a fine option on the higher end. The Library Hotel is another option on Orbitz for about $250, although the 10% off coupon cannot be used.

[shandy]

OK, I am going to take a look.

Also, if I went with PRICELINE and hot the Hyatt or Le Meriden (noticed those were 5 star winners lately) would that be a good deal at 130? Worth the savings?

[AaronJB]

Overall, I think the issue with PRICELINE is that, you may be able to get a 4* for $110-120 (or possibly as much as $140ish for Times Square - how much a likely bid would be would depend on the area) but, for example, would you rather pay less for the "unknown" of PRICELINE or would you rather pay a bit more (although still keep well under $250) for the known?

This is the list of hotels in NYC that have been reported to the board: Priceline Hotel List for New York.

For example, if you were to bid for a 4* in the Midtown West zone on PRICELINE, you could possibly get any of the 4*'s in that zone. There's no way to know.

In terms of HOTWIRE, there are some 4* options in Midtown for around $150-170, but the regular rate deals for the Morgans or Ink48 would seem like more fitting possibilities for about the same price. For example, HOTWIRE has what appears to be the Intercontinental Barclay or Grand Hyatt for $170 for these dates. The Morgans, which is a 4* just a bit South of there and a well-reviewed boutique hotel that offers breakfast, is $180 on Orbitz after the WELCOME10 coupon code. With breakfast being a nice added value and the hotel getting excellent reviews, the Morgans would seem like a better fit for about the same price than the large Intercontinental or especially the Grand Hyatt.

The Affinia Dumont, which is also not far from there, is $204 on Orbitz (and the 10% off coupon works, too.) That's also a very well-reviewed boutique, although it does not offer breakfast, as the Morgans does.

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

[AaronJB]

In terms of PRICELINE, I would start lower (and it would depend on which area you were interested in bidding for), but again, it's really a matter of not being able to know what you might get. You may get the Sheraton New York and Towers, for example, which...would really not be what you are looking for. There's no way to know with PRICELINE - the deals are great, but it's a roll of the dice as to which hotel you may get.

[thereuare]

You can do better than the prices above for the 'known' hotels, but can't ensure that by getting a better price you won't receive a convention/business type hotel. So if you could save $50/nite but end up at a business hotel, would the savings be worth it... or would you have preferred to pay more for a more intimate/boutique style property?

If price is important than i'd give PRICELINE / HOTWIRE a try in hopes of landing the best price, but if style of hotel is most important, then i would consider some of the properties that AaronJB has posted above, all of which appear to be within your budget.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (or our Orbitz link if you go that route)

Let us know what you decide and/or how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

[shandy]

I would rather spend the extra $50 I think. I can't figure out how to put the date in the HOTWIRE link on you site. Blonde moment I guess???

[thereuare]

If you'd prefer to pay the extra money to get the type of hotel you want then i would look further at the Orbitz properties mentioned above (you can just use our Orbitz link, no place to enter dates on this site)

Not sure of the date issue you're having with HOTWIRE, but you can enter the dates in the search box above on the top left of this page (date format is numerical and doesn't include the year)... if you have a problem either click this HOTWIRE link or the hotwire logo in the search box above.

Let us know what you decide and how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[shandy]

Thanks! I was trying to put in the year! I see what you mean about the Orbitz deals being so close to HOTWIRE with the benefit of being certain!

So.....on HOTWIRE / PRICELINE how do you know what you bed size/room is? No way I guess...There is a 4.5 star MTE for 239...

[thereuare]

With PRICELINE all that is guaranteed is a room that will accomodate double occupancy. With HOTWIRE, they ensure sleeping accomodations for everyone you include in your search (you can search for up to quad occupancy), unless the "Bed Choice" option is offered in which case for a little extra money you can guarantee the room type.

If you'd like help with the 4.5* MTE HOTWIRE property please list the amenities associated with it... although note that this will be above your $250 all-in rate once you include fees and taxes (and there are other options which look quite nice that are substantically cheaper)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (or Orbitz)

[shandy]

Thanks so much for all your help! I took your advice and booked what I hope is a "nicer hotel" considering the ocassion. I booked The Surrey on their website for $309 a night and it is 350 sq feet at least. I was unable to book it through your links, but will let you know how it is! I will come here from now on!!!!

[AaronJB]

Thank you for closing the thread. Enjoy your stay, and please let us know if you need help with future trips.