VonDrake

Thanks Valencia for the advice. I understand you cannot bid for a specific hotel. I am looking for advice that will give me the best chance of getting a reservation at a specific hotel (Novotel St Pancras). I'm hoping that if I choose the zone that the hotel is in, the class of hotel, and the price people have recently been getting for it, then more than likely I will get this specific hotel. Does that sound correct?

I love this site, extremely helpful. I would like to bid on Priceline for a London hotel, with the intended result being awarded a reservation at the Novotel London St Pancras. I have an early morning train leaving from St. Pancras, so this would be most convenient. Is there any way I can bid and be almost assured I will get this specific hotel? I see many people on this board have gotten this hotel in the $58 - $62 range. I will be bidding for early June. Thanks in advance for any help.

Thanks GM Mike and Thereuare for all your very thorough help. I had no idea how this all works, so your step-by-step strategies will of course help enormously - for me and anyone else reading this board. I'm not "chomping at the bit" to bid just yet, as I'm waiting to see if a swap for my New York place comes through (that would be the best deal of all - free). For my dates (July 28-August 4), when do you think would the best time to begin bidding? Would a week or so before the 28th be too late?

Thanks GM Mike, for all your help so far. Yes, it is a bit confusing, but I understand these are the hoops one must jump through in order to get a (hopefully) great bargain. Okay, as you suggested I entered bid amounts, and here are the (possibly unrealistic) numbers I came up with for maximum bids. World Trade Center, Cambridge, Downtown Boston, Copley: $50 All Other Zones: $40 As far as quality level, I'm perfectly fine with a 1* EconoLodge, although of course I'm hoping for something better. But 1* is okay with me. And yes, I would consider leaving the car at home if parking is expensive. Might I have a better chance with Hotwire? I would be happy to try that as well - but I suspect that topic should be discussed in the Hotwire forum?

No, I have not used Priceline before. In my previous travels, I've been quite flexible with dates and locations. This is the first time I've had a set place and dates for reserving a hotel (although the actual conference dates are July 30-August 3, so I could shorten my visit a bit). One bed in a double room is fine. I'm not picky about hotel conditions, simple is fine. I would be thrilled if I could find a double room 20 minutes or less driving to the World Trade Center area, as long as the area is relatively safe and the room clean. Beyond that, maybe free parking. I'm easy.

I don't really know Boston well, but yes, the parking fees in the city are a concern. I could probably live with parking fees if I got a great deal in a really nice or nearby hotel, but realistically a bit outside the Convention Center (20 minute drive) would be more convenient. As for maximum bid amount, around 60-70 a night for 2 (all taxes included). Is this possible?

The Conference Center is located in the "World Trade Center" zone, but I'm sure that area is out of my meager price range ($50-60/night for 2). "Cambridge", "Copley", and "Downtown Boston" would be terrific, though I'm not sure how realistic those zones would be. ""Medford-Somerville" and "Brighton-Brookline" would be fine too, I'm not really picky. I assume my best chances would be in the "South Boston" zone, or in the Boston Metro-South zones of "Randolf-Braintree-Quincy" or "Needham-Dedham-Norwood", though I would prefer to be closer. Thanks again, hope this helps.

I would like to stay in the Boston area for 1 week from July 28 thru August 4. I'll be attending the SIGGRAPH conference at the Convention & Exhibition Center in the World Trade Center area. I am driving from New York, so I'll have a car. Is it possible to find a room in a 1 or 2 (or even 3?) star hotel within 20 minutes driving time of the Convention Center for around $50-60 a night for 2 people? I already have a reservation at the Motel 6 in Weymouth for $80 a night. I hope someone here can help me get a better room cheaper and closer. I would appreciate any help on this as I'm new to this forum. Thanks