priceline

Well, I am returning 6/29 for 4 nights with my boyfriend to celebrate my b-day. I had reserved RCA last Aug. as I knew NYC is where I wanted to be. I have a studio reserved for 140. NOW, I am tempted to give priceline a try. (never have) but would like special accomadations for this special time. Do you think I should or stick with what I have? I guess my question is can I get an awesome hotel for the same price? Thanks!

priceline

I think that if you have a studio at RCA for $140 you should keep it.

Priceline is great, but I don%26#39;t think that you are really going to do that much better. Personally, the lowest price I have ever got is $105.

The other thing is that the hotels that you will get on Priceline will be the larger hotels in midtown, Hilton, Sheraton, W New York and the IC. They are all great hotels, but not exactly WOW hotels.

Also it is way too early to get a deal on Priceline.

Do a google search for ';better bidding'; and use some of the websites to gauge what people are paying in NYC.

priceline

Depends on what you consider ';awesome.'; Go to biddingfortravel.com and betterbidding.com and see what hotels people are winning and for what prices. End of June is typically a busy time, but you%26#39;d be leaving just BEFORE the holiday weekend. (did you realize that?)

Anyway, if you think the Hilton NY, Times Square Hilton, or Grand Hyatt would be ';awesome'; yes, you could get one of those for $140/night or less. Just remember at those hotels you won%26#39;t have a kitchen like you do at RCA and no breakfast included.

If you were willing to spend a bit more than the $140, I would be tempted to try bidding for upper midtown/central park south up to $160. I notice people are winning the Parker Meridien for $160/night. It%26#39;s got an enclosed rooftop swimming pool.

Another poster, mikemo, has just mentioned the Millenium UN Plaza hotel will give you 3 nights for the price of 2 on weekends if you use an Amex card. They also have a rooftop pool and great views. Checking your dates, they have a rate of $159/night on their own website and on quikbook, a lower $149/night on their website with an AAA membership (like your AA I think) so those are good anyway w/o Amex. ;) But this is for a basic room and there have been some complaints on reviews here about some of the basic rooms. I think the east tower of the hotel has been renovated and the west has not.

The decision for this vs. RCA is location (this is on the East River in the 40%26#39;s so not near to Times Square) and not sure this rate would get you a room with a kitchen although some of their rooms now have kitchens.