I've never used Priceline but am considering it. My daughter will be going to New York for a weeklong class (I'm sure I'm going along as she is only 19!) The class is in the Alcone Cosmetics building in Long Island City and I'm looking for a reasonable hotel.
I've been told that as long as we can get the "7 train", we will be one block from the Alcone building. If I use Priceline, what neighborhood should I choose? Can we get the "7 train" from all neighborhoods? Of course we will want to be close to a subway station. I've only been to the city twice and took a cab around mostly..only used the subway a few times. Thanks for the advice.

I'm sure there are experts who know where Long Island City is and which zone to bid, but I use Priceline all the time, all over the country and love it.

Have used it in Manhattan a few times and been quite successful, but I get all my bidding info (how much to bid, zones, etc.) from either biddingfortravel.com or betterbidding.com.

Good luck. We love New York and can't wait to get back there again.

Like inthechips, I'm a fan and frequent user of Priceline. However, you choose only your zone, not the specific hotel. So if you have requirements that you cannot specify on PL, like 2 separate beds or being near a subway station that's on the 7 line, then PL might not be right for you. (I believe that Long Island City is in Queens?)

I am a fan of Priceline as well provided the situation is right for using it. In your situation, maybe you should use hotels.com, lodging.com, expedia or another discount site since you NEED to be near the "7" train.

Check out biddingfortravel.com for info how to use priceline and the hotels in area etc.

Here is the URL for the subway map.

http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm

You'll see the #7 runs along 42 st from the west side and east into Queens where LI City is located. LI City is the area if Queens just on the other side of the East River. (I'm not sure which stop you'd use for that building, but it would be one of the first few stops in Queens.)

Notice the map is "interactive" If you run your cursor over it, you'll see where trains connect. By clicking on one of the stops, you can see the exact stops the train makes. This shows the stops for the #7.

http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/service/sevenlin.htm

Notice there are only 3 stops in Manhattan. The white dots along the line are stations where you can transfer (for free) from one line to another. IMO, staying somewhere near Grand Central Station would be the most convenient for the train but you could also stay in the Times Square area or around 5th and 42 st.

I don't know when this trip will take place, but it seems this fall has been very "tight" for rooms in NYC. People have been having a difficult time getting rooms on Priceline in NY. It's easier to get a room for a shorter period of time. Some people have had to break up their stay and move hotels to get a Priceline rate.

In your shoes, I'd find a hotel with a location and a price you can live with and make a cancelleable reservation. Then if you want, try bidding. I agree you MUST read biddingfortravel.com (read FAQ on hotels) so you know what you're doing.

Some suggestions on places near Grand Central (42 and Lexington)

The Fitzpatrick is right across the street from an entrance to Grand Central. It's a decent boutique hotel.

The Shelburne Murray Hill (about 37th & Lex) is part of the Affiniahotels.com group. All Affinia hotels have kitchenettes and you could even get a one bedroom to have a separate seating area. I did notice a few recent complaints on tripadvisor about rooms seeming a bit worn and dated but most people give it a thumbs up.

Another similar place is the Murray Hill East Suites on 39th st.

There are actually a lot of hotels along Lexington Ave. near the station. One more is the Marriottt East side on Lex and 49th.

Your daughter might prefer the excitement of staying in the Times Square area where you can also pick up the #7. You might check the Comfort Inn Midtown (part of the applecorehotels.com group). It's on west 46th so a few blocks walk.

The Clarion Fifth Ave. at 40th just off Fifth ave. has just been redone and renamed the Hotel 5A. They have some special offers online. It would be near the Fifth ave. train stop. The rooms look small on their website though.

For Priceline, you would bid midtown east and/or midtown west. There are many hotels in the midtown south area that would work for you (some I've mentioned above!) but there are also some hotels in that area that would somewhat inconvenient IMO.

Use tripadvisor and info here to check reviews on hotels. Good luck!

Don;t wish to be discouraging - but perhaps your daughter would enjoy the trip a little more - and mature a little - if she goes by herself - and not with her mommie. You know - hook up with classmates, hang out, clubbing etc.

She is 19 after all - not 12.

That's funny, nytraveler, that's the first thing I thought, too!

Karen

My stepdaughter who is 22 went to NYC alone to meet her cousins a couple of years ago.

My husband and I were more worried about her on a recent trip to Atlanta than we were with her in Manhattan. After all, think of all the residents and college students living there on their own.

If she has a good head on her shoulders, I'd let her make the trip on her own. Of course lots of preparation (maps, subway & bus maps, etc).

If she goes without you, make sure no problem with under-21 alone in hotel - we had problems with hotels in Nassau (Long Island) and minimum age - which they did enforce after checking IDs.

I know 18 is legal adult and all that - even got info here from lawyer speaking to age discrimination - just wanted to give you advance warning.

I too was surprised by the attitude that it's crazy to let a 19 year old travel without her parents. Maybe it's just this board, but when I read this coupled with the mom who planned and arranged her son's proposal, I wonder whether this generation of kids is being allowed to grow up as independent adults.

I know that others have said they've never experienced this, but my one and only bid on Priceline was accepted at the New York Times Square Hilton. We got what had to be the "worst room in the house". When I went back down to the desk, she admitted it was, looked at our reservation and said, "oh that's because you got it through Priceline", although she added that it was also because we were only there one night.

I don;t think hotels are a problem for responsible young adults. (I did a lot of traveling on both vacation and business when I was 20/21 and never had a problem). They're much more suspicious of young men - especially in groups - than a single young woman. But your'e correct - better to confirm inadvance.

And also agree - that there seem to be lots of parents uot there that are treating young aadults as if they're still children.

(When I was 19 I was starting my junior year in college, self-supporting - and traveling with my boyfriend - not my mommie.)

I've never had a bad experience using Priceline for hotels. It's the only way I book a hotel in NYC.

I also have never had a bad experience with a hotel I got on Priceline, particularly in large cities like NY. In fact I've always gotten a better hotel than I would have been able to afford on my own. I always bid 4* though. And it takes time to decide which area is best and develop a bidding strategy. My husband is always amazed at the deals I'm able to get through Priceline, but he doesn't have the patience to do it himself. In fact, he still doesn't really grasp the concept even though I've explained it to him many times.

You haven't mentioned WHEN, which week, and much depends on that.

You can bid on Priceline for Long Island City, versus bidding for NYC and commuting via the "7 train".

If you peruse BFT, there are only three hotels known for Priceline results (in three different star categories), which would make bidding infinitely simpler.

If you are (both) planning to stay in Manhattan, and have your daughter "commute" to the Alcone, you can find a subway map at the NYC Transit website. No matter where you stay in Manhattan, commuting to the Alcone would be reasonably convenient, though you should consider the time required. No matter where the hotel, you can easily connect to the "7 train".

Nearly every hotel in Manhattan is "close to a subway station" - within a reasonable walk.

It may (most definitely) be far more economical to sleep in LIC and for you to "commute" into the city while your daughter attends classes.

I would recommend a) checking rates at the Priceline LIC hotels for your dates then check recent winning bids for same, and b) checking recent winning bids for Manhattan hotels for your dates.

Be advised that Priceline guarantees a room for two people, but it may be a room with just one double bed. Unless the hotel is fully booked and you arrive very late, you may be assigned to a room with two beds, but you cannot count on this. Note also that week-long stays are a bit more challenging on Priceline that one-night/weekend stays.

IF you know what you're doing, Priceline is incredible. You really can stay at a 4* hotel for 2* prices. Except during "peak" periods.

....and if you cancel or postpone your trip, you pay for a week at the hotel regardless.

djkbooks, I've scoured BFT and see no listings in LI City. Where are they? Couldn't find them under NYC, airport locations or "other areas" that includes Long Island.

I did look on tripadvisor yesterday for hotels in LIC and they all sound awful. I know LIC is "an up and coming" area, especially for young people, but I really think you have to know your way around or else you wind up on a very "iffy" street. Not what I would recommend unless this course is suggesting something right across the street...

We typically bid 2.5* for Priceline and have always had satisfactory experiences, often landing Courtyards by Marriott, Residence Inn, or another extended stay chain I can't think of the name of right now. Sometimes, we've been upgraded to a 3* - 4 Points Sheratons or Doubletree. Only bad experience was once when I couldn't get anything in southern Virginia and dropped down to a 2* - which got us a quite ratty Ramada. Will never go below 2.5* again.

Thanks for the advice. However, the question was about using Priceline, not whether my daughter travels alone or not. That is a decision that is ours alone to make..and FYI..she has no interest in traveling alone or "hanging out with classmates", after all, this is only for one week. Believe it or not, some 19 year olds don't mind hanging out with their moms...maybe says something for our family.