I'm new to using Priceline to book hotels and will be visiting New York City for the first time this October. Has anyone booked with Priceline recently and what type of prices should I expect for a 4 or 3 star hotel at this time of year? Is it too early to start bidding?

Thanks in advance!

You can get these and many more questions answered at www.biddingfortravel, which includes a list of the hotels that Priceline has awarded in NYC, sorted by neighborhoods and star ratings, plus messges from recent bidders, detaililng their experiences. Many people believe that 3 to 4 weeks in advance isthe best time to bid, but no doubt this varies a lot from one season to another.

Sarah, Jen is quite right. Check out www.biddingfortravel.com and you will be aboe to find all your answers. We went to New York in AUgust and stayed at The Stanhope and were very very happy. The hotel was beautiful and we never would have been able to afford it if not for priceline. We payed $95 a night.
We bid a couple of months in advance, so I'd go ahead with it. It's not too soon.
Good luck.

Now is not to soon to start bidding, as October is a very busy month in NYC - and with conventions, many hotels are already booked up. Highly recommend you read the FAQ's at biddingfortravel and request bidding assistance since you are new to using Priceline. You never know about timing. Sometimes it's best to try, and keep trying, if you want the lowest rate possible.

I bid for a hotel in NYC Midtown East (2 1/2 star) for next week and got the Marriott Courtyard Midtown East for $80. per night. I used Priceline once before and got the Grand Hyatt. Even though the Courtyard is rated 2 1/2 and the Hyatt I believe is a 3 star....I'm actually happier with the Courtyard than I was with the Hyatt. The rooms at the Courtyard are larger, they offer coffee makers in the room, phone calls, complimentary newspapers. I understand that star ratings have more to do with the total amentities of the hotel NOT the actual room itself. I'm delighted. Don't be afraid to offer around $75. per night and maybe you too will luck into the Courtyard (unless there is a reason that you want one of the larger hotels but they charge room service rates for a cup of coffee and outlandish fees for all phone calls). I've used priceline 3 times(Hyatt Grand and the Courtyard twice). I also have used hotwire.com and received the Sheraton Towers (it is also a very nice hotel in the best location). Good Luck! Laurie

Marriott Courtyard Midtown East for $80. per night? Sound too good to me. Is so please prolvide details.

I too bid on NYC east, 2 1/2 star and received the Marriott Courtyard through priceline. Unfortunately, I can't remember what I paid per night but it was probably in the $80-$90 range. I too prefer that hotel to some others because most NYC hotels (unlike other cities) DON'T have coffee makers in the room, may sound silly but we like making our own without paying room service prices. We had a nice, very adequate room, way up high!

Priceline is the way to go in NY. We've stayed at the Stanhope for $95 in July and The Waldorf for $115 in April. Great deals! My nephew stayed at the Marriot East for around $80 and said it was GREAT.

How do you bid (or can you)on a room for 3 people? or a disabled person?

Sorry, you can't bid on anything special on Priceline: All bids are automatically for 2 non-disabled, nonsmoking people.

Priceline can save you money, but make sure you know what you are getting into. You have no say over specific hotel - just area and star rating. So if you want any specific amenity - size of bed, kitchen, pool, balcony - it is not the way to go. Also, no cancellations, for any reason, even a really good one. When you bid and it is accepted, your credit card is charged immediately - no backing out if they give you a hotel you do not want.