ChillEDog

if you are flexible and can delay your trip a bit I think you'll find hotel prices drop in the latter half of December, up until Dec 27/28. For example Dec 14-27. Then they skyrocket for New Years.

So I tried the 10% off PRICELINE EXPRESS deal, the only thing I saw MTE was 7.0 for $151. The 7.0 scared me. So I went back to bidding, a lot of permutations starting at $125 MTE, ESB, TS, $5 increments, finally got W New York on Lexington at $140/night 12-24 to 12-27, and I added a night. I used the PRICELINE link hear. THANK YOU for all the advice and feedback.

Thank you. That is tempting but I am a little concerned about getting old wing of One UN. Kind of tough call 'cuz its for my boys and they'd probably not even care. Also, sort of hoping to get them ESB, we stayed there before and they liked it a lot. So going to bid a little more, try to get ESB, any idea how long this offer lasts ? Thank you.

Thanks. Tried 90 3.5* ESB, then 95 3.5* ESB, MTE, then lowered to 3* same zones/amount, no joy. Will try again later. Frankly if I eventually get $125-135 I'm thrilled. Thanks.

So, I'm ready to bid, MTE per your suggestion, and any other zones you suggest, but not TS, again per your suggestion. The boys' mom and I will be staying Affinia Shelburne, roughly 36/Lex (or possibly One UN). Or should I wait until closer to our travel time in December ? If I can snag a room now, at $135/night, which is do-able I think, that sure does sound like a good deal. That is why I'm willing to bid now. Thanks for any advice.

A lot of helpful insight in your post, thank you. One thing I take from it is to bid even lower than planned. No sense in wasting a 4* hotel on 3* boys ! <g> I will use the link here come bid-time. Thanks again.

Our travel is obviously a ways off, and I'm not even ready to bid yet (waiting for a new credit card that will give me AA points) so maybe it is too soon to ask. This room is for my stepsons, 21 and 18, who will fly up to join their mother and I 12-24 thru 12-27. We are staying midtown east so I am thinking that area, ESB or TS. But further out is ok (but in Manhattan) because they're pretty good at the subway. But close to us would make meeting up easiest. If I look now I see Hotwire and Priceline deals for 3* starting at $140 (not many but there are one or two) and more in the $155+ range. So I'm hoping I can get a 3* or better, maybe $125-135/night ? I guess the 3* floor makes it tough as far as rebid zones, since most have 3*. Hopefully this is realistic. Any guidance greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you for the very helpful reply. That makes sense and I appreciate your explaining the additional details. I am much more comfortable now. I've actually booked our room (my wife and I) conventionally; two reservations 1) One UN and 2) Affinia Shelburne, obviously we will be cancelling one. Got A.S. for $200/night using their weekly rate so pretty excited about that. I do enjoy bidding but this time decided to book via hotel website. Still get to bid for the boys' room. I'm thinking $125-140 should get a 3-star or better in Manhattan that time of year (my understanding is the week around Christmas is slower). Yes it will be a big, delightful surprise. It was my wife's idea for just us two to spend Christmas in NYC but I know darn well at some point she will be missing everyone, so I suspect there'll be a bunch of hysterics and tears when the boys show up. I might just hide out in the bar <g>. But seriously, the biggest task is keeping it secret, not sure how we're going to accomplish that given the trip is six months hence.

My wife and I are going to NYC for Christmas. I'm going to surprise her by having the boys fly up for a couple of days. I plan to get them a room via PRICELINE or HOTWIRE. Looking ahead, I'm concerned about when they check in at the hotel. The oldest is 21, the younger is 18. I plan to give the oldest one of my credit cards but of course it is in my name not his. Will the hotel have a problem with this ? As I write this, I seem to recall that the bidder has to be present at checkin. That is doable since we will already be there, but better (surprise-wise) if they can check themselves in. Any insight appreciated. Thank you.