July can be hot or it can be bearable. On the up side, there are so many things to do, a lot of it is free, and the days are longer to enjoy it in. My location choice is the upper west side. Between Riverside Park and Central Park, with lots of shops and cafes. Nice to stroll at any time, even alone. And, if you're going to the theater, you can either walk home, take the M104 bus up Broadway, or a very easy subway ride. The express 2 or 3 gets you from Times Square to 72nd Street in one stop.

You might also check info sites betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com. There are location maps and calendars of recent bid wins. If I remember correctly, the upper west side area for priceline usually gets you the Hudson or the Empire. Both small rooms but great location. Do read through the info on those sites before bidding.

I agree about bedbugs. Strip the bed and check the mattress seams. The hotel can be very clean, but the person who checked out before your arrival could have tracked bugs in.