aussiedreamer

208USD per night? Sound ok? Looks lovely, and their website is quoting 369 to over 400 for the time of our stay.

So I'm pretty happy......

Love to hear if anyone has stayed there or know the hotel.

Going to try for Vegas & San Francisco now I've got my nerve.

(ps. does anyone else's heart rate rise when they realise they've won a bid? Glad I had a glass of wine in my hand )

aussiedreamer

oh yeah should have mentioned, that includes taxes. My winning bid was 175.

rkkwan

What dates? People are reporting winning bids of around $120 for 4* Mid-town East on Priceline for upcoming weeks and months.

So, for a 3.5*, yes, I will say you overpaid.

Did you know and use the "free rebid" process? If not, you need to learn about it before you bid for your other cities.

aussiedreamer

1st week of October this year.

I knew someone would tell me I over paid............

I will look at "free rebid" before I try again.

(I still think its a good buy)

mp

for october, one of the busiest times of the year, it's most probably a good bid . . hard to say for sure, this far ahead, but most likely, it's a good price. Did you check reviews of the hotel on Trip advisor? I think rkkwan is referencing Jan./Feb. in NYC.

emcash

That sounds like a good bid for october. Rates right now are low, but october gets pretty pricey.

Anonymous

Please learn everything you can about bidding strategies, such as how to use free rebidding via zone selection, before you bid on the other cities.

yk

IMO, you are bidding way too early for October 2009.

I would wait for a few months before bidding for Las Vegas and SF (assuming you are going there in October 09 as well). In the meantime, book a fully-refundable hotel for LV & SF if that will make you feel better.

rkkwan

"Early" meaning two things:

1. Many hotels won't be releasing inventories to Priceline this far out, as they may think they can sell out the hotel in regular prices then.

2. Priceline is no-refund. If you have to make changes to your itinerary or you cannot make the trip, you won't get money back.

But if you think hotels will get full (economy getting better, etc), and you are sure you will go (or don't mind losing your money), then it's your choice.

I never book anything this early, unless it's for something like a wedding I must attend.

Jed

Would you tell us how your bidding went?

aussiedreamer

Thanks for all your responses. I did realise its early but the last two time in NYC we paid a fortune for hotels (albeit travel agent booked), so I guess thats why I was pretty happy. A work collegue is going to New York next month and he has been trying and trying with no success.

I will take your advice and book a refundable hotel for Vegas and wait until the time gets closer. I looked into Free Rebid..... bit complicated IMHO.

I know they are non refundable but just as a sidebar, my daughter used priceline for a hotel in London last June, plans changed and she contacted Priceline and they very kindly supplied her with a voucher for use at another time, which I thought was great. She used it to book another hotel in London a week later. Not that you'd want to risk it, but nice to know.

thanks again.

sf7307

A work collegue is going to New York next month and he has been trying and trying with no success.

Unless he's trying for Valentine's Day or President's Day Weekend, he must be doing something wrong. January and February are the lowest of the low seasons in New York. Even without Priceline, hotels can be had fairly inexpensively.

Anonymous

There are certainly plenty of reports on biddingfortravel regarding successful bids for NYC hotels in February. We'd be glad to help your colleague out. One obstacle can be bidding for too many nights; for visits of more than 3 or 4 night, his odds of finding a place are considerably reduced. Many visitors split a week-long visit into two separate bids.

rkkwan

Studying the bids on biddingfortravel.com and learning how to use the "free rebids" are ways to get the cheapest (or close to cheapest) prices on Priceline. I'm sure most people who use PL don't know about these, and are still happy.

If everybody gets these cheapest bid, I'm sure PL will need to change its models, and hotels may not give them all the inventories.

aussiedreamer

too late for my collegue. he's booked and paid. I think he was finding it hard to get round the credit card/address issue. It sounds complicated but it isn't really, just a matter of manipulating the post code.

I got the Tudor for 5 nights.

I know there are ways and means around things, but I'm ok with my bid. but i will definately wait on Vegas. New York is our first stop, arriving 1am, wanted it sorted.

ncounty

just so you know for vegas and SF....I've gotten 3.5 stars in SF for about $60 (Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf) and I've heard of getting 5 star (the Wynn) in Vegas for $95. Just a reference point for you...

rkkwan

I recently got a hotel in LV. The problem with the Strip North 5* Zone which contains the Wynn is that the Trump is also in that zone.

On the dates I was trying to bid, the Trump can be booked directly for under $100. I decide I'm not going to bid more than $80 for that zone because chances are I will get the Trump.

[Anyways, eventually I got the 4* Treasure Island for $65.]

Amie

I have stayed at the Tudor hotel and will be there is a few days again. It is my favorite, small, staff is friendly, location is great. The 42 bus stops right outside the door. The neighborhood is lovely too.... walk a couple of blocks to a nice views of the UN and some gardens with benches.

aussiedreamer

Thanks ncounty good to know.

and amie......... you've made my day. How long a walk to T/Square roughly? I'd love your restaurant thoughts for the area around the hotel as well.

SandyBrit

aussiedreamer:

Do you know about www.hopstop.com? Easy to plan your walking/bus/subway route from one address to another. You can print your walking routes out ahead of time.

NYC hotels - what a challenge? Booking is different in that you need to be very careful in what you are getting for your money. Lots of bad hotels around. Please report back on how the Tudor Hotel works out.

San Francisco - stayed at The Hyatt Regency, 5 Embarcadero Center. If you qualify the senior rate discount is very good. Took Bart in from the airport, stops right outside this hotel.

Sandy