Priceline Hotel: NYC in early June

[k3vb0t]

My wife and I are planning our first trip to NYC June 6 - June 12.

We currently have "backup" reservations with a small (both in number of rooms and size of rooms), highly rated, private hotel near the Chelsea area. Our cost there is $150 including tax (I think it was $130 or so before that). If we cancel within 3 days of our reservation we get our deposit back.

I would like to use Priceline to upgrade our accommodations without increasing our cost significantly. In other words my target price is $130-140/night + tax.

In terms of star rating, we are comfortable with anything 3* and above -- assuming 3* means something like Courtyard, etc. That style of hotel. Obviously the higher the better so I want to start bidding 4* first then move down.

In terms of location as long as we are near public transportation (plan to get unlimited metrocards) I am comfortable, but since I know everyone will ask, I suppose we're targeting: MTE, ESB, MTW, CPS. I've read that Times Square is too noisy.

Is it too early to start bidding (e.g. am I wasting my time because no one will accept bids this early)?

Your advice on bidding strategy is greatly appreciated.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Given your budget, which is on the low end of the range for this time of year, i would begin bidding now.

I would also consider other zones and remove a zone, depending upon the star level... i would include MTE when bidding 4 stars, but at the 3.5* and below there are some hotels in this zone which are a bit further east than desirable (it's do-able, but not ideal, with about a 15 minute walk to the subway) As well, while we often hear users state they "want a hotel near Times Square" and we often advise them to consider other areas, it's not that i would advise against Times Square, but rather other zones should be included as well. In your instance, i would include Times Square along with your other zones, as well as include ESB, MSG and Chelsea, all of which typcically work fine for the average visitor, although you should look at the boundaries of these zones yourself to ensure they will work well for your needs.

Let us know regarding the zone(s) you're willing to include, or ask any questions regarding my comments above, and we'll take it from there.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[k3vb0t]

We're willing to include all of those zones.

Preference is the zones immediately around Times Square with hotels that are close to subways. (For example, we're good with Chelsea, but it is farther out from Times Square than MTW, so we would prefer MTW.)

Looking forward to what strategy. We want to start bidding now.

Thanks for the help!

[thereuare]

Although your budget is likely too low, we'll give the 4* hotels a shot first...

At the 4* level in NYC 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* MTE, MTW, CPS, TS, and ESB...

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, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $140

Any questions feel free to ask.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[k3vb0t]

Just for clarification... you're saying start with 1 zone, then add the other four one at a time?

So here's what I did, got a bit greedy:

For example: starting with MTE, $100

Add MTW, $105

Add ESB, $110

Add CPS, $115

Add TS, $125

Didn't work.

Would it be unwise to also try throwing in Chelsea, since there don't seem to be any 4*s in that zone? (Understanding the risk that they may add a 4* and the list here not be 100% up to date.)

Will try re-bidding in 24 hours... and yes, I forgot about this thread so just now getting to this.

[thereuare]

Just for clarification... you're saying start with 1 zone, then add the other four one at a time?

NO, we're talking about staring with all 5 zones and adding re-bid zones one at a time in order to bid again.

Would it be unwise to also try throwing in Chelsea, since there don't seem to be any 4*s in that zone? (Understanding the risk that they may add a 4* and the list here not be 100% up to date.)

This is what we mean by a re-bid zone... a zone which only contains star levels lower than the star rating you're bidding. HOWEVER, you should not use the hotel lists to determine your re-bid zones for, as you point out, that would be risky. Use the technique in the first post of this thread: Priceline Re-Bidding Explained for the correct way to determine your re-bid zones. You have SIX such re-bid zones available when bidding 4* in NYC, feel free (you're encouraged to do so) to confirm your re-bid zones with the board before bidding again (or ask questions of you read the re-bidding thread and are confused... we'll break it down further for you)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[k3vb0t]

NO, we're talking about staring with all 5 zones and adding re-bid zones one at a time in order to bid again.

This is what we mean by a re-bid zone... a zone which only contains star levels lower than the star rating you're bidding. HOWEVER, you should not use the hotel lists to determine your re-bid zones for, as you point out, that would be risky. Use the technique in the first post of this thread: Priceline Re-Bidding Explained for the correct way to determine your re-bid zones. You have SIX such re-bid zones available when bidding 4* in NYC, feel free (you're encouraged to do so) to confirm your re-bid zones with the board before bidding again (or ask questions of you read the re-bidding thread and are confused... we'll break it down further for you)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

I am seeing these are rebid zones:

Chelsea

Brooklyn

Coney Island

Long Island City

Madison Square Garden

Upper East Side

Just checking before I start bidding again. :)

[k3vb0t]

Okay, started my rebids and got up to $145... which was stretching our budget. Didn't go.

Is it time to step to 3.5*? If so, help would be appreciated!

I'm seeing these rebid zones...

Coney Island

LI City

Upper East Side

Chelsea

Tips on what areas to avoid (that I had selected earlier... MTE, MTW, TS, ESB, CPS) and where to start bidding would be greatly appreciated.

[thereuare]

Of the zones you previously bid, at the 3.5* level MTW, TS, and ESB are usually acceptable to most users.

The following may/may not want to be included:

MTE - a few hotels are a 10-15 minute walk to the subway... if this is too far, then you shouldn't bid this zone at the 3.5* level

CPS - at least one hotel has very small rooms, even bey NYC standards. Not a problem if just using the room to sleep at nite, but for others, it may be too small for comfort, especially for a longer term stay

Also, MSG was not bid previously (since it currently doesn't have any 4* hotels), but this zone also usually works well for the average visitor... do you want to include this zone in your bidding?

Please use let us know which zone(s) you're willing to accept at the 3.5* level and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[k3vb0t]

I'm up for anything near public transportation that is also relatively close to the center of town. So if MSG fits that, then I'm good with that. MTE would be out for that... for now.

Regarding the small rooms in CPS... it depends on how small and what the cost would be. Currently we have a room booked at the Chelsea Lodge which has double beds, a standing shower in the room, and shared bathrooms at the end of the hallway. (So yes, very small.) Our plan is to just sleep there, essentially, but that's why I'm bidding -- to see if I can upgrade our accommodations without busting our budget.

So I guess avoid those (CPS and MTE) for now and let's see if I can get a normal sized room that is close to public transportation. If that doesn't work we might consider risking it on one of the others.

Thanks for all the help.

[thereuare]

At the 3.5* level you have FOUR re-bid zones available. 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 3.5* MTW, TS and MSG...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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

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

Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* ESB...

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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

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

Bid $115, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* MTW, TS, MSG and ESB...

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

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

Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $140

Any questions feel free to ask.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.