Hotwire Hotel: boston weekend

[11shannon]

Meeting a friend in Boston for September 3-7 and I have 2 questions to start

1. where is best to stay if neither of us will be driving? Theater district looked nice and back Bay appeared to be better value but looks like it is surrounded by highways.

2. How does trivago measure up to hotwire and priceline?

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding.

 

Trivago is not a booking service as much as it is a search service. PRICELINE and HOTWIRE should offer better deals since they are 'opaque' (the hotel names is not shown until after booking). We would be more than happy to help you explore options both in terms of the discount rate services (PRICELINE/HOTWIRE) as well as regular rates, if there is a regular rate option that may work better for your needs.

 

What would be your desired budget per night for this stay and what would be your desired star rating?

 

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

[11shannon]

Thank you. Am hoping for 3.5-4.5 star for $100-200/nt CDN ... is that just wishful thinking?

[thereuare]

Assuming that you're looking to stay 'downtown' in Boston, unfortunately at current rates $120 is not likely going to be realistic.

Using our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com you can search '3 miles of Boston, MA' for your dates and then use the filter on the left side to only show 3.5* and higher hotels... you'll see that the best rate (for something in the 'downtown' area... not including Cambridge area) is the Hilton at $229/nite.

To give you an idea of the PRICELINE/HOTWIRE vs. the 'search services'... i see on HOTWIRE what i'm guessing to be The Westin Copley Place for $169/nite. Now granted i can't see the hotel name and this is my 'best guess' for the property offered, but use any 'search service' you like and i suspect you'll see this hotel at $301/nite for your dates (and furthermore i suspect that every hotel company they offer has it priced at $301... so what's the point??)

So hopefully you can see the value PRICELINE and HOTWIRE can provide by being flexible in your plans and the ultimately hotel you will receive. If you'd like to move forward, i think you need to decide if you want to lower your star rating in order to get as close to a $120 price point as possible... or if you're willing to increase your budget for a 3.5* or 4* (or higher) hotel.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

[11shannon]

Thanks for your recommendations. I have a few more questions.

1. Should I assume the prices you are giving are in USD? I am willing to increase the nightly price to $170ish USD ... would that help?

2. I read somewhere on here to bid 70% of the price you find on hotwire ... does that usually work?

3. Which would you recommend for getting to attractions by foot ... the theater district or back Bay?

[thereuare]

The prices i referenced above are in US Dollars and before taxes/fees.

Boston is a relatively small city but if you want to see/do as much as possible you should plan on taking the T (their train system) to some places and then walking from there... its convenient, cost effective, and will help you make the best use of your time.

What is it that you plan on seeing/doing while in Boston?

Also, in regards to PRICELINE vs. HOTWIRE... what is most important to you, the lowest possible price (bidding on PRICELINE) OR willing to pay a little more and being able to have a guess as to the hotel you may receive before your purchase (HOTWIRE, which usually costs slightly more than bidding on PRICELINE)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

[11shannon]

The usual I guess ... the common, cheers, a boat tour, harvard, fenway park ... do you have any suggestions?

[yellowdog]

I see a 3.5* on HOTWIRE priced $134 + tax in Boston Common - Theatre District. I believe this is the Boston Park Plaza Hotel.

 

3.5* HOTWIRE $190 + tax in Copley Square - Back Bay. I believe this is the Hilton Boston Back Bay

 

3* HOTWIRE $145 + tax Copley Square - Back Bay. I believe this is the Hotel 140.

 

This is what I can see in your preferred zones within your budget.

 

Would any of above be of interest?

 

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

 

Yellowdog.

 

 

[thereuare]

If as indicated, you're willing to increase your budget to $169/nite, i would take the 4.5* HOTWIRE offer in the Copley Square-Back Bay zone with:

Indoor Pool

Smoke Free

Fitness

Pool

Restaurant

Business

Laundry

Hi-Speed Internet

Spa

... as noted above, best guess for this property would be The Westin Copley Place which gets very good reviews, is well located (and near a T stop), and bars, restaurants, shops nearby.

You could try bidding on PRICELINE for a lower price (this hotel is currently 4* rated by PRICELINE) but you then run the risk of landing a different 4 star property in the zone.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

Let us know your thoughts on all of the suggestions above and we will take it from there.

[11shannon]

Thanks so much for your help and suggestions ☺

[thereuare]

So what did you decide?

If you like any of the offers above and they are a good deal, you should book now as they can disappear (or the price can jump) at any time.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

[crito]

The usual I guess ... the common, cheers, a boat tour, harvard, fenway park ... do you have any suggestions?

 

Just a quick reply on this specifically.

 

The Common is in (unsurprisingly!) the Common/Theater district. Cheers (the Bull and Finch) is also in that region but right next to Back Bay. Harvard is across the river but easy to access by the T. Fenway is in Kenmore Square but that's not a great hotel area; it's close to the Copley/Back Bay neighborhood.

On the whole any of these would be central and easy to sightsee from: Downtown/Financial, Common/Theater, Copley/Back Bay, Faneuil/North End. The Financial district is pretty empty at night.

 

I think Aaron's suggestion of the Copley area hotels is a good one. I've stayed at the Westin and the Hilton. The Westin is definitely a better deal. The Park Plaza is a lovely old building in a great location, but the rooms are very small. I would grab the Westin.