mcqueeney449

I've done my homework reading up on biddingfor travel. I just want to double check for recent info with all of you. I plan to bid 2.5 stars for MTE in NYC b/c I want the Marriott Courtyard.

If anyone has any recent info on this strategy ... like Priceline changed the star rating for the Courtyard or added another 2.5 star in MTE that I might get instead ... please let me know.

I'll be bidding for 2 nights (1/1/04-1/3/04) for one room. We have Producers tickets for 1/2/04 (woohoo!). I'll check biddingfortravel again before I decide what $ to bid but any recent bid info is welcome.

Thanks!

djkbooks

The most, and most up-to-date, information will be on biddingfortravel.
The experts in bidding strategies are there as well.

Highly recommend you re-review ALL the information at BFT.

For one thing, it is important to start with booking the best room you can find NOW that you can cancel.

For another, it is never a good strategy to bid on Priceline hoping for a specific hotel. Everything turns on your dates, hotel room availability and prices at that time, and Priceline's inventory. It's a good idea to check prices for your dates at lots of resources so as not to overbid on Priceline.

Remember, you can bid only once every 72 hours. If you restrict your bid to a set of dates, and one specific area with only one hotel at your star-rating, if your bid is rejected, you won't know whether you bid too low or Priceline had no inventory at the moment you bid.

ozres

We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard last July with a Priceline bid of $75 per night. It was quite the bargain!!! Just watch the bids posted on biddingfortravel.com and wait patiently to make your move. Make sure you understand the "free rebid" concept and you won't have any problem getting the Marriott Courtyard MTE. To my knowledge, biddingfortravel.com stays current with all the latest hotel changes in NYC.

Good luck and enjoy NYC!

Marla

Anonymous

I had the same experience as ozres, bidding for a 2.5* in MTE and getting the Courtyard for $75 and considering it a great deal. Currently the Courtyard is the only one listed by PL, which is why the OP is hoping to get it. Its star rating is unlikely to change; apparently the reason PL can't rate it 3* is that it lacks an in-house restaurant -- hardly an issue in that area of NYC! They do offer room service from the nearby Outback Steakhouse (IIRC).

BFT can only stay as current as the reports it receives. For all we know, PL could add another 2.5* hotel in MTE tomorrow. But since that's extremely unlikely, I think the OP has taken the right strategy, dong their best to check up on this situation. I personally would go ahead and bid for the 2.5* MTE. Good luck!

grantop

When you are ready to bid (and it's not too early) be sure to check out betterbidding.com they are similar to biddingfortravel, except that they are friendly - no one screams at you if you don't understand you free re-bid zone or if your budget happens to be less that what the "moderator" thinks it should be. Nice site, it will make your Priceline experience a little less frustrating.

(and before anyone asks, no I have no "ties" to the betterbidding.com site)

djkbooks

In my observation, "betterbidding" is not nearly as effective as "biddingfortravel".

Given that you plan to check in on January 1st, and that many may be extending their stay through the weekend, it could not be more prudent to book something NOW for a backup. Even at the Marriott Courtyard, if that is your only hotel of preference.

There are NO winning bids reported in the past several months for your specific dates ANYWHERE in NYC, along with Priceline winning bids for this year's holiday season have been at an all-time high, with many reporting that the have been unsuccessful.

Just because others have lucked out previously, with a few nights at your hotel of choice, via Priceline is no indication whatsover that you will be able to do likewise for your particular dates.

Highly recommend that you follow the BFT advice and book a room NOW that you can cancel, should you be successful bidding on Priceline.

mcqueeney449

Thanks for all the replies. I will try bidding today and if rejected I will book something else today that I can cancel if Priceline comes through next time. Will also check out betterbidding.com. I realize there is no way to be 100 percent sure Priceline won't give me something else besides the Courtyard but it seems like a small risk at this point.

Sarah

Just my opinion and I am not a regular bidder on priceline. I will tell you mcqueeney449 that the time you are looking to bid is high season for hotels in NYC. If it were me I would be concerned about getting a dump that time of year through priceline. Have you taken a look at bid4travel.com (sp?)? They will tell you some recent winning bids.

mcqueeney449

Just thought I'd let you all know what happened. After re-checking my research again I decided going for the Courtyard in MTE was a reasonable risk as it is the only 2.5 star to ever come up in MTE.

I first bid $70 for 2.5 stars in MTE. Rejected. Did not rebid b/c I didn;t think any zone was "safe" for a rebid.

Waited 72 hours and bid $75 for 2.5 stars in MTE. Rejected but priceline offered a free rebid if I added $22 to my bid. Seemed to high so I didn't do it. Waited 72 hours.

My third bid for $80/night for 2 nights 2.5 stars in MTE was accepted. When I saw the acceptance my heart skipped a beat b/c priceline "upgraded" me to a 3 star property and I thought OMG this could be bad, just because the 2.5 star Courtyard is good doesn't mean a 3 star won't be a dump. Then I scrolled down and found I got the Marriott Eastside for $80/night! Works for me but it just goes to show you never know what is going to happen on a priceline bid no matter how much research you do!

Margie

Glad you got your room, the Marriott Eastside will be fine and you got a good rate. PL "upgraded" me once too; I was bidding for a boutique hotel in Chicago and received a 4* Hyatt. Worked out perfectly fine, and when they "upgrade" you it will never be in a different zone than you have bid.

Have a great time in NYC, and enjoy The Producers!!