Hotel Deals - $27 Holiday Inn NEW YORK CITY FIFTH AVE

I only find july, 19 available. Go to holiday inn website, search for goverment rate for this hotel for July, 19-21. It shows $121.50. reserve it. It shows July 19 @ $27, July 20 @ $269. Go back and modify dates to July, 19 only. Bingo!
You also get points :)

I only find july, 19 available. Go to holiday inn website, search for goverment rate for this hotel for July, 19-21. It shows $121.50. reserve it. It shows July 19 @ $27, July 20 @ $269. Go back and modify dates to July, 19 only. Bingo!
You also get points :)I do see the 2-day breakdown gives $27 for first night.
But modifying back to one night does not retain the $27.

Strange glitch, maybe already fixed.
Has something to do with Advance Purchase rate 3 day advance.

Won't they require Govt ID ?

Very rare.

Won't they require Govt ID ?

flash your govt issued passport..thats govt ID (technically)

:Hmmm...I never actually entered a "govt rate",
it is not in the pulldown rate options.

You have actually booked it as NR and got email confirm?

This glitch happens at a few other HI's also,
but I still cant isolate the Sat night and grab the small rate.

I am not going to NYC this weekend anyway eek:
interesting behavior though.
Hope someone else can figure it out.

Pretty cheap deal, if they honor it. Let us know how it goes.

Pretty cheap deal, if they honor it. Let us know how it goes.I don't kniow if there is anything to honor.
I can't book it, no one else said they confirmed yet...

I don't kniow if there is anything to honor.
I can't book it, no one else said they confirmed yet...

Sorry, went to sleep last night. :)
I have booked it, comfirmed it, have it on my reservations list etc. The key is to book both Sunday night and Monday night on a cancelable reservation, THEN to change it just to Sunday night.
What are other hotels that offer similar rates?

thats great for the free night offer!

Rate seems gone this morning. Does anyone knows any other hotels with such strange rates?

Did anyone actually book it at $27 rate?

Did anyone actually book it at $27 rate?Just 2 posts before yours, the OP confirmed that he booked it. :eek:

Very rare.

I think you will find the likelihood of getting asked for gov't employee ID is inversely proportional to the rate paid.

Al: please let us advised how it is working out.

definitly you want govt pass port and Id proof.

definitly you want govt pass port and Id proof.

You need a Federal government EMPLOYEE ID. If you pull out a regular passport, all you will get is a laugh from the desk clerk.

I made reservation in my name and added another person to the reservation. This person checked in ok today without any goverment id. Now, lets wait for the points :)

I made reservation in my name and added another person to the reservation. This person checked in ok today without any goverment id. Now, lets wait for the points :)

Has anyone else tried this tactic? Personally, I think its genius, if only a little shady.

Well, only the OP seems to have done this deal,
it is not even clear a gov't ID was required.

There were some strange results on the booking site,
involving the breakdown of a weekend 2-night stay.
It seems there was an opportunity, but for a short time.
I was never was able to duplicate it.

If you want a cheap NY deal,
there is new action on the LMT thread.

Well, only the OP seems to have done this deal,
it is not even clear a gov't ID was required.


My friend checked in without any kind of goverment ID. I never heard it was a problem with goverment rates anywhere anytime.

Has anyone else tried this tactic? Personally, I think its genius, if only a little shady.

It seems price for this hotel is $80 for the night of Aug 9 if you use this tactic (not goverment, but entertaiment rates - they let you cancel second night) and its $60 for HI 6th Ave when you use "best rate". Those are not $27, but still very good for HI in NY. plus you get points with these deals. I'm sure there are plenty more. Lets share! may be someting like a thread on Fuel Dump on MR?;)

Still a low rate for NY.

BTW, I wanted to share how i found these deals in the first place. I looked in the deals section of kayak under hotel deals. You can pick a city or an area there. A lot of junk, but also some samples of low prices found by other users (like in airfare and you can sort deals by price). Try it. Right now HI 6th ave is for $52 if you do the 2 night trik.

BTW, I wanted to share how i found these deals in the first place. I looked in the deals section of kayak under hotel deals. You can pick a city or an area there. A lot of junk, but also some samples of low prices found by other users (like in airfare and you can sort deals by price). Try it. Right now HI 6th ave is for $52 if you do the 2 night trik.

Hmm...August 9, unfortunately, won't work for me as I'll be away, but I'm seeking one inexpensive IHG night before August 15. The IHG site did not produce the desired result for either of the next two Sundays. Kayak showed several other websites that did have rates sub-$60. I tried Orbitz, which had a $57 rate for this Sunday, but it showed as prepaid and non-cancelable.

And come to think of it, I suspect an Orbitz booking of that rate might not count as a qualified stay.

Points just posted.

July, 26
Book Great Rates Arrival: Sun 26 Jul 2009 Departure: Sat 1 Aug 2009. First night $63, rest $200.
After you book it cancel all nights except first.
"Modify or Cancel Policy: Canceling your reservation before 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on Saturday, 25 July, 2009 will result in no charge. Canceling your reservation after 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on 25 July, 2009, or failing to show, will result in a charge equal to the first night's stay per room to your credit card. Taxes may apply. Failing to call or show before check-out time after the first night of a reservation will result in cancellation of the remainder of your reservation. "

July, 26
Book Great Rates Arrival: Sun 26 Jul 2009 Departure: Sat 1 Aug 2009. First night $63, rest $200.
After you book it cancel all nights except first.
"Modify or Cancel Policy: Canceling your reservation before 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on Saturday, 25 July, 2009 will result in no charge. Canceling your reservation after 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on 25 July, 2009, or failing to show, will result in a charge equal to the first night's stay per room to your credit card. Taxes may apply. Failing to call or show before check-out time after the first night of a reservation will result in cancellation of the remainder of your reservation. "

which site is that ? expedia ? orbits wants 25 USD to cancel

and also are you sure that this tricks works ? because 26 july -27 july the room cost is very high! if you cancel the other rooms , may be the first night price will also go up ? or ?

and exprience ?

which site is that ? expedia ? orbits wants 25 USD to cancel

only priorityclub.com. Exclusive trick :)

only priorityclub.com. Exclusive trick :)

thanks for this nice trick.

but may be I am newbei that is why I can not find this rate on this site.

when I try , it always shows 190 usd first night and 313 USD other nights, i am sure I do something wrong. but what ? :confused:

Whch rate are you choosing? Are you sure, its the right hotel? Just look for 1 Hotel - HI 6th ave, pick Best Available rate from the menu on the left and click on "Great rates" when they appear. make sure that you search for July 26- Aug 1 stay. the great rates would NOT be $63 a night, but when you click on them it will give you a breakdown by nights.
thanks for this nice trick.

but may be I am newbei that is why I can not find this rate on this site.

when I try , it always shows 190 usd first night and 313 USD other nights, i am sure I do something wrong. but what ? :confused:

yes you are correct , I choice 6th ave. one :(

thanks again

It works. For example, I was able to get it to price 31 July-2 August at $63 if I selected 26 July-5 August.

Arrival: Sun 9 Aug 2009
Departure: Tue 11 Aug 2009 Rate Type: Discount Rate
Be careful with cancelations:
" Modify or Cancel Policy: Canceling your reservation or failing to show will result in a charge for the first night per room to your credit card. Taxes may apply. Failing to call or show before check-out time after the first night of a reservation will result in cancellation of the remainder of your reservation. "

Discount Rate does not appear when you search under Best Available, only when you search under Entertaiment Rate.

Thanks ai613, you are developing this very nicely !

A new trick !
( I stopped looking at Entertainment rates years ago).

Anybody testing it in other places, internationally even?

And good warning about no-shows.,
I came close to getting bit by that once (spg),
and fortunately talked my way out of it....:o
but it was scary !

That simply means : Entertainment Rate.

Arrival: Sun 9 Aug 2009
Departure: Tue 11 Aug 2009 Rate Type: Discount Rate
Be careful with cancelations:
" Modify or Cancel Policy: Canceling your reservation or failing to show will result in a charge for the first night per room to your credit card. Taxes may apply. Failing to call or show before check-out time after the first night of a reservation will result in cancellation of the remainder of your reservation. "

Discount Rate does not appear when you search under Best Available, only when you search under Entertaiment Rate.

what is Entertainment Rate ?

most probably they will ask proof of it or ?

I do not want to have any discussion or problem at the desk. so better to keep away if it is not tested.

what is Entertainment Rate ?
The Entertainment Card is a rate for holders of an Entertainment Card, which comes with an Entertainment book, a coupon book sold for various regions in the US and Canada. I believe they will ship internationally.

The Entertainment year ends in November every year, so they are currently having clearance on the 2009 books.

You can visit entertainment.com for more info.

You may or may not get asked for the card, but you are not entitled to the rate unless you hold a valid Entertainment card.

July 30. Use the same method, looking for July 30 - August 1. If you only could use it with current Expedia offer :)

it is not even clear a gov't ID was required.

My friend checked in without any kind of goverment ID. I never heard it was a problem with goverment rates anywhere anytime.

Some people are willing to sacrifice their ethics to save a few dollars. Of course government rates are for those who have government ID's, whether they are asked for or not. Same for Entertainment, AAA, industry, or other association rates.

Not trying to be the moral police here, but some people have much bigger problems if they are taking advantage of rates to which they obviously know they are not entitled.

This poster summed it up quite nicely:

You may or may not get asked for the card, but you are not entitled to the rate unless you hold a valid Entertainment card.

The Ent card is widely available if you buy the book from about $15 to $35 depending on region and where you purchase it. There is nothing improper about it.

The Ent card is widely available if you buy the book from about $15 to $35 depending on region and where you purchase it. There is nothing improper about it.

There IS something improper if you book an Entertainment rate but do NOT have the card, which you MAY be asked to show at checkin.

Also, Entertainment rates do NOT earn points, etc. That's OK if all you are looking for is a cheap rate. But not OK if you DO want the points! ;)

Some people are willing to sacrifice their ethics to save a few dollars. Of course government rates are for those who have government ID's, whether they are asked for or not. Same for Entertainment, AAA, industry, or other association rates.

Not trying to be the moral police here, but some people have much bigger problems if they are taking advantage of rates to which they obviously know they are not entitled.

If you are including me in "some people",
you have mis-interpreted my simple post.

I said "it was not clear if a Govt ID was required".
At the time of my post it was indeed not clear.

First, gov't ID had been mentioned.
Later it was an entertainment rate.
I am still not sure what is what here.

My interest is to understand precisely
the mechanics of a deal.
I would not take a chance on the ethical breach
you infer upon me. That would be a stupid risk,
as others pointed out before you.

It is strange when "some people" say things like
"Not trying to be the moral police here, but...."

You can be sure that is exactly what they are doing. :D

First, gov't ID had been mentioned.
Later it was an entertainment rate.
I am still not sure what is what here.
This strange pricing (where one or more nights are appreciably cheaper than the average rate for the whole booked stay) is available for certain dates at a handful of properties on various rates.

This strange pricing (where one or more nights are appreciably cheaper than the average rate for the whole booked stay) is available for certain dates at a handful of properties on various rates.

It would be interesting if we can share such lower rates between FTers.