Priceline Hotel: Looking for 3.5* hotel in TS 9/9-9/12

[mischi78]

Hi Everyone

I was after some bidding help. I have been trying to win a 3.5* hotel in TS, but have not had any luck so far. I have so bidded: $90, $95, $97 & $99 and all have been rejected. I have seen some 3.5* go for $99/$101 in TS. I was hoping to get it for under $105 + taxes if I can.

I know that you can do free re-bids, but I haven't tried that yet, as I am worried about ending up with a hotel in a location I don't want i.e. Chelsea.

So I was after some advice on bidding and the free re-bids.

Thanks.

Michelle

[AaronJB]

Rates in NYC in September are traditionally on the high side (and TS is traditionally the most expensive zone), due to a combination of nice weather and conventions, among other factors. Rates do vary by dates and seasons, and while $100 may be enough for a 3.5* during this time period, it unfortunately will not likely be enough for the Fall - HOTWIRE is showing prices over $200 almost across the board during these dates. I'm guessing a 3.5* in TS for these dates may require as much as $150 or possibly more for these dates.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[thereuare]

mischi78,

As per above, at the moment your expections of a 4* hotel in the TS zone for ~$100 is not realistic. Is the Times Square zone the only zone you're current bidding and/or willing to accept?

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

[mischi78]

Thanks, but I am looking for 3.5* not 4*, will go down to 3* if I need to. Currently TS is the only location that I am interested in

[thereuare]

I don't think your budget is enough for a 3.5* either... and probably not for a 3* too :)

We can suggest a strategy to try for each, but i would recommend that you first read a little on re-bidding and see if you feel comfortable using that technique as it will speed up your bidding, and when done properly, can actually help reduce the risk of an overbid.

Do you have a back-up plan should you continue to be rejected at the 3* or above level in the Times Square zone?

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

[mischi78]

I have been having a bit of a look at the locations for MSG since it is the next zone over from TS and the 2.5* Hotel 41 looks pretty good. Do you know if that one comes up as the 2.5* in MSG or is it the other 2.5* hotel that generally comes out most of the time?

I am not really sure if because it is about 6 months out if I should just keep bidding the way I am going or should be expanding my search area early on??

I have looked at the free re-bids but they do freak me out a bit because I don't want a hotel in area I don't want, if you know what I mean. I think it is mainly because you look at the priceline website and there are some places that don't have a star rating, so that is the bit that worries me. I do get how it works i.e. bonx has max of 2* so in that case you could do a free re-bid for the bonx for a 3 or 3.5* hotel, but it does have 1 unrated hotel.

[thereuare]

There are at least 4 hotels in the MSG zone which have been reported to the board at the 2.5* level, and we don't see this star level in this zone bid too often, so i wouldn't suggest that any one appears more or less frequently than the others.

I wouldn't compromise your 'wants' for this stay 6 months before your arrival, as a lot of things can happen with hotel inventory (and the current outlook for the economy) in the next few months.

If you go to PRICELINE and select the Brooklyn zone, do you know how to determine the highest star rating available in this zone?

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

[mischi78]

So would you suggest that I wait till say May/June before I start really bidding, cause it will be closer to my arrival and the hotels with have more inventory?

To determine the highest rating in a zone through priceline I search for New York and then go to the area from the drop done list and then it lists the star rating available in that area. Is that the correct way, or do they have different areas listed for those compared to the ones you bid on?

[AaronJB]

You may want to determine a "ceiling" that you won't go past and bid up to that level once a week or so. If it gets to late May/June and you still have not yet had a bid accepted, you may want to look at raising your budget and/or looking at alternate plans/star ratings/areas.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[thereuare]

So would you suggest that I wait till say May/June before I start really bidding, cause it will be closer to my arrival and the hotels with have more inventory?

Nobody can say if there will be more, or less, inventory at that point time time... but with plenty of time on your side i wouldn't be compromising at this juncture.

To determine the highest rating in a zone through priceline I search for New York and then go to the area from the drop done list and then it lists the star rating available in that area. Is that the correct way, or do they have different areas listed for those compared to the ones you bid on?

Assuming you're using the "bidding" side or PRICELINE, and not the 'retail' side of their site, then yes, you're doing it correctly... do you see the highest star rating available in Brooklyn?

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

[mischi78]

Nobody can say if there will be more, or less, inventory at that point time time... but with plenty of time on your side i wouldn't be compromising at this juncture.

I think I will just keep plotting along as I have been and see how I go since I have plenty of time. I will reassess my bidding techniques once it gets closer if I haven't scored a hotel room.

Assuming you're using the "bidding" side or PRICELINE, and not the 'retail' side of their site, then yes, you're doing it correctly... do you see the highest star rating available in Brooklyn?

Oh now I get it! I was using the retail version to look at the star rating. So for example, if I was looking for a 3.5* in TS, then I could add in Chelsea and Long Island City for my free re-bid because they don't have anything above 3*. Is that correct?

[thereuare]

DON"T use the "retail" side of PRICELINE to determine your re-bid zones as the retail version of their site uses a different universe of hotels, as well as different zone boundaries/names, so you can't use their retail offerings as a finite list of what's available thru the bidding side/zones.

The only way to determine your re-bid zones is the approach in Priceline Re-Bidding Explained. Feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board.

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

[mischi78]

The only way to determine your re-bid zones is the approach in Priceline Re-Bidding Explained. Feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board.

Bidding 3.5* TS:

$90, if rejected add upper east side

$95, if rejected add long island city

$100, if rejected add Chelsea area

$105.

If bidding 3* TS, I would have to wait the 24 hour because there are no free re-bid zones, is that correct? From what I see all the areas have hotels are 3*, so it is just the 3.5* and 4* that you get the free re-bid zones for.

[thereuare]

Correct... in NYC there are no re-bid zones at the 3* level so you need to wait 24 hours between bids, unless there are other zone(s) you decide are acceptable for your stay.

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

[mischi78]

Just a quick update.

I have been bidding for 3.5* in TS for the past few weeks. I have just bidded up $195 per night and still got rejected :). Is it normal for the prices to be this high or is it just that it is too far out and they haven't released the stock yet?

Just trying to figure out if I should keep bidding or get Millenium Broadway from Expedia for $812.59 all up, including taxes.

[AaronJB]

Are you interested in any nearby areas or only TS? This is traditionally a very busy period in NYC.

[mischi78]

Are you interested in any nearby areas or only TS? This is traditionally a very busy period in NYC.

Just TS

[AaronJB]

I wouldn't go too much higher for a 3.5* in TS, as the Millennium Broadway is $235 regular rate on Hotels.com.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE, PRICELINE or Hotels.com links to start your purchases and searches.

[mischi78]

I wouldn't go too much higher for a 3.5* in TS, as the Millennium Broadway is $235 regular rate on Hotels.com.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE, PRICELINE or Hotels.com links to start your purchases and searches.

I know the $235 is part of a 30% off spring sale for the hotel for 3 nights or more at the moment and then it will go back to normal price. The sale ends in a few days, so I am wondering if I should get it for $235, or would I be better off to keep trying priceline over the next couple of months to see if I can get something cheaper <$190.

Thanks for you help.

[AaronJB]

Personally, I think that's a very good deal for September. You could book that listing now - but definitely read the fine print and make sure that this is a refundable booking - and then if a HOTWIRE or PRICELINE deal does open up between now and then, you could cancel the Expedia booking. If no other deal comes up, you at least have a nice hotel locked in.

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