jaydh42

Thanks for that advice nytraveler! My wife seems to think that there is something wrong with not staying in Manhattan, it's like she totally frowns on other sections of the city like Queens or Long Island City, in which she absolutely knows nothing about. All she knows about or has heard of is Manhattan. It will really be something if I have to succomb and pay two to three times the amount for just a stadard place in Manhattan. OK men, should I hold my ground or know when to fold?????????

Jay

lisettemac

Well, I can't say as I disagree with your wife, Jay. That's because most of the tourist sites that people hear about and want to visit are in Manhattan. Will you miss the convenience of being able to stop back at your hotel to freshen up or drop off packages? Will you feel comfortable travelling back and forth to the outer boroughs via subway at night? (not suggesting you shouldn't, just asking) Will you really save any $$$ if you have to take cabs back and forth to Queens daily?

MaureenB

I have to say that staying in Manhattan is a must, IMHO. It's like visiting Venice and staying outside the old city-- don't do it.

You're planning ahead, so surely you can find a decent price in NYC. But not for $150 or less, I reckon.

We liked the Embassy Suites, near the Statue of Liberty, for its large suites and its great hot/cold breakfast buffet.

Keep looking. I'll bet you can find a compromise within NYC.
>-

nytraveler

IMHO your wife is correct. And it won;t require you to spend $500 per night. If you look carefully you can get something decent for quite a bit less than that - esp if you reserve now.

And - why do you get to put your foot down? Is it YOUR money (she doesn't have a job and you have help that takes care of the house?)

jaydh42

Ok, Ok NYTraveler and MaureenB and others, I'm starting to come around or to see the light. I guess it should be Manhattan, after all. It's not that I don't have the dough, it's the idea or feeling of being taken advantage of by those hotels charging an arm and a leg, so to speak. I guess I can try bidding for 2* on PriceLine and see what happens. There are many more two stars than there are 3, and the twos don't seem so bad. Although I don't need fancy, I feel that my DW would want just a bit more. Oh, by the way, NY traveler, I am retired and my DW is still working till August 2008. She is an educator at Children's Hospital. I have spent my days going to the health club and gardening for the past 4 years--Although just started medicare, I feel at least 20 years younger. I may look at biddingfortravel before bidding on priceline tomorrow. Willl keep you posted. If you have any moderate suggestions, I am all ears. If I could get 40-50% off of a rack rate through priceline that would be good. Thanks again for your level headed opinions. Jay

MaureenB

Just for the heck of it, I searched your dates on Expedia. The prices are high, you are right! I don't know how to use Priceline, but it could be a good bet for NYC.

Anyway, the best rate on Expedia at a three-star is this one:
Excelsior Hotel*** (Rates from $274.00)
"French-country hotel a half-block from Central Park"

I know nothing about this hotel except the photos looked nice. Anyone know of it?

>-



>-

lizziea06

I've never stayed in it but I used to live right behind it. The location is amazing - it literally faces the Museum of Natural History, the B/C subways are at the end of the block and the 1 is a short walk away. Lots of restaurants and cute stores nearby.

GoTravel

jay, your dates are flat out peak season for NYC and trying to get anything below $200 per night for Manhattan will be impossible and ridiculous. The average daily rate for Manhattan hotels last year was $300 and an occupancy rate over 82%.

Rates will only skyrocket as your dates approach.

My suggestion would be to book a cancelable backup NOW and then start shopping.

I have to agree with your wife, if you want to sightsee in Manhattan, stay there. It is part of the experience.

The Park South is an excellent boutique hotel that usually has decent rates.

http://parksouthhotel.com/

Also, try the Apple Core Group as they have five or six budget Manhattan hotels

http://www.applecorehotels.com/

Also try the Empire Hotel Group as they have a couple of moderate hotels

http://www.newyorkhotel.com/

Try the Milford Plaza. You may find poor reviews but I stayed there about a year ago and found it to be a great hotel. Right in Times Square.

http://www.milfordplaza.com/

Lastly, I haven't stayed there but The Pod Hotel seems to be pretty cool.

http://www.thepodhotel.com/

Personally, I would rather stay two nights in Manhattan than three in the burbs.

djkbooks

"it's the idea or feeling of being taken advantage of by those hotels charging an arm and a leg"

I understand perfectly, but hotel rates have skyrocketed in NYC. We spent the last weekend in October 2007 at the Beekman Tower (a wonderful stay!) for $149/night (Hotwire, booked in February). Rates at the hotel's website were $165. Rates at our favorite fallbacks were $160 at the Travel Inn and $197 at the Edison. Rates for the same weekend this year (your dates) are $529 at the Beekman, $400 at the Travel Inn, and $205 at the Edison (but sold out the Saturday night).

We stayed at the Edison over New Year's a couple of years ago because the Travel Inn hiked their rates for New Year's Eve, whereas the Edison had not. This last New Year's, we ended up cancelling because the Edison was booked and the Travel Inn hiked their rates even higher, to $350 12/28-1/1. We went the following week instead, which worked out well as rates had dropped like a stone and the Christmas decorations were all still in place.

Incredible bargains on Priceline and Hotwire seem to be a thing of the past (and I've been an avid user of both). One year (2004), I booked the Marriot Marquis Times Square over New Years for $110/night with Priceline.

Whenever I plan a trip to NYC, I check hotel rates first, then decide on dates.

It's best to know what you're doing if you plan to try Priceline or Hotwire. You don't want to prepay, then get stuck with a less than desireable hotel. If you stick to 4*'s, you can hardly go wrong. But, I, personally, would never bid for a 2* on Priceline.

Before using Priceline or Hotwire, highly recommend spending some time on Biddingfortravel and Betterbidding - and look up the possible 2* hotels and check reviews on TripAdvisor, etc.

jaydh42

Hello GOTRAVEL and others,

I checked out all of your recommendations and find they are all around $300 per night for the dates October 23, 24, 25. Think I will try bidding on Price Line for 3* starting at $160 or so. Thank you all for your continued interest.

Jay

nytraveler

Priceline generally has very little inventory in high season - since hotels can usually sell out themselves. So you can certainly try if you want - but I would definitely reserve something that you can cancel to avoid being shut out.

jaydh42

OK everybody, guess what?? Success!!!! After reading about the strategy to use on BiddingFor Travel.com I started my bidding war on PriceLine. Although I secretely wanted to get one of the Holiday Inn Express hotels in Manhattan, I didn't know what I would end up with, if anything. I initially put in for a 3* in Manhattan South and bid $175 and it was refused. I then raised the bid to $195 and added 2.5* and a few more areas and still refused. I finally added in all the areas of Manhattan and raised the bidding to $202. The web site went through its machinations for two or three minutes, like it was thinking, and finally left me a message saying we are still trying for you, call back in 15 minutes. The first two tries gave me a negative within seconds. At any rate, i got it for $202!!!!!!!!!!
The hotel is Holiday Inn Express Manhattan, Chelsea at 232 West 29th St. The rate I pulled up on a number of sites was $450 per night, if you can believe that. I found it on Hot Wire, where I'm sure it is the one at a relative bargain of $289 per night. At my $202 per night I feel vindicated, as though I won this game/contest and, I guess, we will be right in the middle of things and it includes a full breakfast. Anyone know this area and how well situated it is?Now my question is, what is the best way to get from JFK to the hotel? Super shuttle or what? I saw an ad which was asking $17 per person, door to door, one way. How does that sound? Comments please! I want to thank all of you for taking an interest and chiming in with all of your suggestions. I guess this proves that bargains [sic] can be had in Manhattan, even if reserved 9 months out. My DW was relived and happy to know that this minor ordeal is now over and that her wish to stay in Manhattan will be cominhg to fruition.

Jay

lizziea06

What a great resolution to your quandary!

kwren

congrats on the great price! I've never used Priceline, but you have given me hope that I can do this too for my next trip to NYC! Thanks for sharing your strategy.

djkbooks

You did very well for yourself!

Take a look on TripAdvisor for reviews of the hotel, not just for the reviews but included information regarding the neighborhood, nearby dining, transportation, etc.

For you future reference, though, you need a more thorough understanding of Priceline bidding. It's better to start a new bid than add a star level lower than what you started with, and it's very dangerous to add areas, especially with the lower star level. But, you did do very well, and perhaps as well as you would have done otherwise. Especially for those dates in October.

Have a wonderful trip!

mclaurie

I also wouldn't have used the bidding strategy you did, but you got a good hotel at a good price for your dates. That hotel is relatively new and it's not far from Penn station. You should NOT use Super Shuttle EVER in NYC (I hear it's not great in other cities, but particularly awful in NYC). You can use the AirTrain/LIRR combo from JFK for about $10-14/person depending on time of day. You'll get out at Penn station and will have to walk about 3-4 blocks. You could also use the AirTrain/subway for $7/person but that will likely require stairs and perhaps a crowded subway car with your luggage.

HartParker

For anyone traveling to NYC looking for a convenient and cost-effective place to stay, consider our apartments located in Midtown Manhattan on the East Side. Our apartments are often referred to by our many return guests as their favorite, little-known getaway. Please visit our website at www.hartparker.com for more information.

jaydh42

Hey McLaurie,

Thanks for the advice. I got so caught up in what I was doing that I forgot to mention that we will be getting off Princess cruise ship in New York on Oct. 23 at around 9 am or so. So, do you or does anyone know how far it is from cruise line terminal to Holiday Inn Express-Chelsea which is at 232 West 29th St and between 7th and 8th Avenue?What are the suggestions as to how best to get to the hotel and we will have at least 4 pieces of luggage (2 each). Is it taxi and, if so, about how much should it run?
We leave on Sunday, Oct 26 for JFK. Now what is the best way to get there? Super Shuttle is out, is that correct??? How else? You mentioned AirTrain. Do we do that in reverse of what you described?
Thanks for all the information and input.

Jay

mclaurie

Hey Jay, I think a taxi is your best bet to get from the pier to your hotel, assuming you're arriving at the pier in Manhattan (there's also a pier in NJ and another new one in Brooklyn-so check if you're not sure). It isn't very far either. Hopstop.com is a cool website to help you get around NYC and will give you an estimated price for a taxi ride within Manhattan. What I don't know is how plentiful taxis are at the pier and that may depend on what time you arrive. Worst case scenario, you could take a city bus (the subway doesn't go very close to the pier but the crosstown buses on 42 st & 34 st. do. Use hopstop to get that info and the MTA website will have bus route maps).

As to getting to the airport on Sun.,

>a taxi is $45 flat fare to/from JFK and Manhattan. The toll is $4 and tip of $6-9.

>a car service that you order in advance(prob. what I would do) is about same price as taxi.
dial7.com
carmellimo.com

>LIRR from Penn station to AirTrain in Jamaica connecting you to JFK will be ~ $10/person on a Sun. but do you really want to schlepp 2 bags each on a train and make connections?

jaydh42

Thanks a lot for your input Mclaurie. Will definitely check out hopstop.com and I think that we may not mind schlepping our wheeled luggage to Penn station to LIRR and to Air train-$20 vs 50 plus for taxi and I know I am (we are) hale and hearty enough to do that. DW and I will talk about it.

Jay