Luxury Travel Diary, a high-end travel blog with great reviews based in the UK, has a bunch of travel auctions — some about to close, others extend into October — and there look to be some real bargains.
They wanted to highlight some of these, and offered to help organize a giveaway of a 3 night hotel stay in a suite at a top property in New York for readers of this blog. Details on how to comment on this post to win below.
I suppose that folks who already know about these auctions won’t like the added attention, because frankly there aren’t enough bidders relative to the value of the offerings and some of these items go too cheap.
Here’s an auction ending in 3 days for a private jet flight between New York and California – a transcon – going for 1000 British pounds as of this writing. There’s no minimum/reserve price, which is ridiculous.
Or 3 nights in St. Barts for 103 pounds as I write this:
There’s page after page of auctions to scroll through, generally nice places that appear to be selling for less than they should.
Prize: a three-night stay in a terrace suite at The William New York – subject to availability with no blackouts.
The property is currently rated 11 out of 189 ‘specialty lodging’ options on TripAdvisor, with 4.5 stars.
The William is a modern extended stay hotel located near Bryant Park in Manhattan. Stay for a month or more and be immersed in a lifestyle localized in culture, yet tailored in service. Thoughtfully crafted for our discerning clientele, The William features thirty-three guest suites that leave no detail unexplored.
These reviews look pretty typical:
To enter: leave a comment on this post with your favorite item up for auction at Luxury Travel Diary, or why you would choose to stay at The William over other hotels in New York. You may enter two times if you wish and answer those two questions one time each in separate comments.
Contest deadline and drawing winner: Entries close Friday, October 2 at Noon eastern. I will draw winner with the assistance of random.org.
The fine print: For avoidance of doubt I have no affiliation with either Luxury Travel Diary or The William hotel. I will put the winner in touch with the hotel for booking. They are solely responsible for providing prize to winner. All decisions made in the course of running this giveaway are final and unappealable and your entry signifies your acceptance. The goal here is to make readers aware of a pretty cool auction opportunity, and to give away a suite stay in New York. So please don’t make it hard on me for doing so!
my favorite item on the auction is 7 nights at the Hotel Marinedda Thalassotherapy + Spa, Sardinia
My favorite item for auction is the cross-country private jet trip – definitely something worth doing at least once!
What a cool new find! Assuming it all lives up to its billing, the auction for the Summerfield’s Rose Retreat in South Africa is really attractive. My wife and I are planning a trip to South Africa in 2016, and being able to tack on a couple of nights at this resort for a handful of GBP would be a fabulous add-on. Thanks for the tip!
I’m hooked on the website. Better than drugs. I love the high of the bidding without the crashing if I lose out because there will always be another auction to get high on.
I’d stay at the William to try something other than the big chain, cookie cutter service of the larger hotels.
The William for sure! It’s within walking distance to Times Square and it feels like you have your own deluxe apartment in NYC
I think the best auction is the tree.
The reason i’d love to stay is it’s free.
As far as the William goes, it’s hard to beat a spacious room in a hip property that’s really well situated in Manhattan — and a free stay would just make it all the more attractive. Looks like a great NYC base of operations.
Entry 1/2- My favorite item up for grabs is the transcon flight!
The Williams looks great. Bryant Park is great neighborhood. My wife would be pleased with me if I won that!
Favorite auction item has to be the Andaz 5th Avenue NY item — it’s hard getting award nights there during the weekday. I’ve tried.
Cross country private jet sounds like something that would appease my wife.
Entry 2/2- I would choose to stay at the William because it seems like a cozier, more personal stay than staying at a larger hotel. It’d be a nice change of pace.
I’m thinking of 5 nights at boutique Hotel Adriatic in Rovinj, Croatia. A part of the world I’ve never been to.
Also – getting this suite would help a baller on a budget.
The treehouse looks great for a family weekend retreat and it is nearby. This auction has many interesting options. Thanks for the heads up.
Love Bryant Park. Saw Shakespeare in the park this summer, only a few blocks stroll to MOMA
5 nights at John F in Berlin. It’s close to Museum Island and has a kitchenette!
I’d choose to stay at the William because of its location in one of my favorite cities !
I’d stay at the William to visit friends in the greater NYC area.
The William sounds great – so close to Broadway and where the action is!
I can imagine having a few cocktails on the Terrace and watching people from my Terrace at the William.
7 night stay at Jannah Burj Al Sarab in Abu Dhabi. Mainly because I like to say Abu Dhabi and have been wanting to try Emirates first-class.
Luxury Travel Diary has some good auction items. I like 2 nights at O Hotel Fonte Santa in Lisbon. Also I would rather stay at the Lisbon for a terrace over a hotel.
I would stay at the William due to its great name.
Favorite Auction would be the private jet. Never flown private before. The William would be great because it is such a great location to explore the city from.
Favorite auction item is the stay at the Andaz New York.
Golf Holidays! YEA — great thing to bid at auction, either for myself or a terrific gift. Indian Wells is my choice out of the three current offers.
My favorite item up for auction is 2 nights at the Grand Hyatt Singapore. I’d use it to visit my daughter who has been living in Singapore for the past 2 years…plus I love Hyatt properties!
2 nights at the PH Buenos Aires… holla!
(Though I doubt these would earn elite stay credit).
I would choose the William because of their beautiful and vibrant color palette!
I stays at the Andaz last time and I really liked the Bryant Park neighbourhood.
I guess I’m all about Hyatt properties.
2 Nights At The Hyatt Andaz Xintiandi, Shanghai, China
The William enriches by its obvious exquisite attention to detail – what a visual treat.
I’ve been wanted to stay at this Andaz Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica. That is a great rate
I’d love to stay at the William Hotel in NYC so I could get tickets to see the new Picasso Sculpture exhibit at MOMA. Plus my wife and I would love to see a Broadway Show…maybe “Hamilton” if we could get it!
Favorite auction: 2 night weekend at the Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, because I love Park Hyatts, beef, and red wine!
Just bid on a vacation in Belize!
I’d stay at The William because it’s a little oasis away from the hustle and bustle.
The Williams Hotel looks really nice! Would like to compare it to some of the other places I have stayed
My favorite auction item would be the private jet to CA!
I’d stay at the William because it looks cozy and convenient to the great sights.
I would love to take my wife to visit New York and the William. It sounds like it is the kind of place she really likes.
I’d like to stay at the William in NYC so I could take my wife to see the Picasso Scupture exhibit at the MOMA, and maybe see a show (“Hamilton” would be great if we could get tickets!)
The William is probably the most colorful hotel I’ve ever seen, which is fitting considering NYC is the most colorful city!
favorite auction item: 4 night yacht charter in the Caribbean
Favorite auction item: two tickets to the London Chocolate show 🙂
Great hotel, great location. I’d love to visit NY during the holiday season!
I am new to your newsletter but am enjoying it quite a bit. I have considered myself an informed frequent flyer and usually find some very good deals when my husband and I travel. I would love to add this stay at the William Hotel to my list of “great finds” if I should be so lucky to win it.
As for the auctions, I’ve always felt they were rigged or some sort of hustle. Can you really get good deals in the end? I guess I will find out when I give it a try.
Thanks for the contest!