KatiesMom

I've booked a back up at the Embassy Row Hotel for $697 all in, with all taxes, resort fees, and three nights of parking ($45 a night) for a total of $697. They have a special - buy two nights and get the third free, so that's what my price reflects. I called the reservation in and the clerk signed me up for the loyalty program so there are some perks including possible room upgrade and such. It's fully cancelable up to 72 hours before. This hotel has recently undergone a $15 million renovation, so I'm hoping it's nice. I'm going to keep looking on Hotwire and Priceline to see if anything better comes along that can beat it.

PROBLEM: I clicked on the $30 off Priceline Express link to buy this hotel, and I plugged in the code BL7GXLYJDV and got the response "Sorry but this awesome code has already been used." I don't see $30 deducted in the transaction... So, haven't purchased this yet. Any thoughts?

PRICELINE EXPRESS Travel dates 11/9 - 11/12 4* Dupont $180 Pets Business Restaurant Free Internet Indoor or Outdoor Pool Fitness Center Guest Score 9 out of 10, Guest Favorite After clicking as if to buy it: Bed Choice - 1 King, 1 queen, 2 queens etc... I like the idea of saving $30 today. Do you think this could be the Omni Shoreham? Stayed there years ago, loved it, huge room. Thanks for any help.

So sorry, indeed there are more amenities. I'll take notice in the future. Complete amenities: Amenities: Pet Friendly Business Fitness Indoor Pool Pool Internet Access Smoke Free Rooms Restaurant Tennis Nearby Accessible for visually impaired Accessible for hearing impaired Accessible path of travel In room accessibility Accessible bathroom Accessible parking Roll in shower

Going to a taping of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in Stamford. Hotwire "Hot Deal" booked through Better Bidding's Hotwire QuickQuote. One night, 7-8 - 7/9 $88 for 3.5* Hilton Stamford Amenities: Pet Friendly Business Fitness Indoor Pool Pool Internet Access Smoke Free Rooms Restaurant Tennis Nearby

Special occasion and wanted a great hotel, saw what I thought was the Fairmont Battery Wharf for $234 on Priceline Express tonight based on previous poster, so went for it. Travel dates: 9/5 -9/7 5* Fairmont Battery Wharf, $234 Downtown Boston Harbor-Front Amenities: Pets Restaurant Fitness Business Customer Favorite Rated 8 out of 10 or higher Bed Choices: King accessible non-smoking, 2 double beds accessible non-smoking, 2 double beds non-smoking, queen bed accessible non-smoking, queen bed. Used coupon summer 14 to get additional 5% off. Rack rate is $349, good savings. Note: This hotel did not show up on Bidding Helper. A different hotel, what appears to be the Langham, downgraded from 5* to 4.5*, shows up instead in this zone. So I purchased this using the Priceline QuickQuote link.

I'll report back with whatever I decide to do.

My travel dates are 9/5 - 9/7. I see two 4.5* offerings in the Bostom Common Theater District zone, one is a boutique, and that's the one I can't figure out. The first 4.5*, $247, I think is the Taj. It says book soon, last person got the Taj, and description fits. 4 of 5 on TripAdvisor 90% Hotwire recommended Amenities: Pets Business Tennis Smoke Free Self Service Laundry Fitness Internet Restaurant Golf The 4.5* boutique: $214, 4 out of 5 on TripAdvisor 80% Hotwire recommended Amenities: Boutique Business Smoke Free Self Service Laundry Fitness Internet Restaurant Spa Accessible for the Deaf Since the trip's not for a while I'm waiting for prices to go down, under $200. I'm also considering 5* hotels in the Faneuil Hall area on Hotwire and Priceline. I've bid up to $200 on Priceline for 5* Faneuil Hall, with no success so far. I'm following several options on Rate Drop. I'm not stuck on 4.5* or 5*, 4* might work too depending on the zone.

Just a quick follow up to say I really liked the Loews Boston Hotel. It has been recently remodeled, very modern, sleek, 4* bordering on 4.5* in my opinion. Friendly and accommodating service. You can get parking validation from the hotel for a self-park garage at 100 Clarendon that will cost $28 a night. Worth it. Great area, near public transportation, and free use of a cappuccino/latte/hot chocolate maker in the lobby. Yes indeed, my kinda place.

Assuming zones stay roughly the same, I'm from the Boston area and have been around the block and back and I think the Copley Square Back Bay area is the most central and one of the nicest zones. There's a good selection of 4* hotels, and it is convenient to public transportation. There are some nice hotels in the Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market area but you need to be careful that you don't get one in the far extreme of that zone. As your trip draws nearer post again and we'll see what's up. Avoid Cambridge, too much of a schlep.

I agree with Chris. The amount of money I have saved on trips utilizing the information on BetterBidding.com has been invaluable. I stay in better quality hotels at cheaper prices thanks to this site. And yes this site is very user friendly. Cheers!

Happy update! This morning I saw a 4* Priceline Express listing for $147 so I decided to go for it. It turned out to be the Loews Boston Hoel. I stayed there once when it was the Jurys and liked it! It's a cool historic Boston building, a former police headquarters. With taxes and fees it comes to $177.11, $39 less than the cancellable reservation I had for the Marriott Copley Place (Last Minute Travel). The $39 difference should just about pay for our parking! I used the PRICELINE link on this site for my weeks of searching and today's booking. Details: Priceline Express Dates 5/31 - 6/1 Copley Square-Back Bay $147, 4*, Loews Boston Hotel Guest Rating: 8 Guest favorite Amenities: Free Internet In Room Pets Restaurant Business Fitness

Thanks Aaron, I'll pass on that one then. We're going to a Red Sox game, just spending one night. Copley is preferred area, but not necessary. Back Bay/Beacon Hill/Faneuil Hall are fine. No Cambridge. Would prefer 4* but 3.5* is fine. Need to be near T. Brookline would be ok if it was the Holiday Inn (3* I believe), but not the Crowne Plaza in Newton. Does not need to be a Marriott. Thanks.

Hi, hope anyone has an idea which hotel this might be. Priceline Express 5/31 - 6/1 Downtown Boston - Harbor Front 3.5* $169 Amenities: Free Internet, Restuarant, Business, Fitness Rated: 7 out of 10 or higher. I thought, great this could be the Marriott Long Wharf that Frank 999 posted about in March. But he never posted the amenities. If it is most likely the Mariott, I'd buy it. But another 3.5* in this zone is Club Quarters and I dont want that. When checking out Club Quarters I noticed they have a Queen room with sofabed, which is one of the express options... so that makes me think it could possibly be that. I have a cancellable reservation for this trip at the Marriott Copley Place for $216 all in with taxes, fees, etc... So looking to beat that. Thanks

Nice feature! I just logged into it and posted for an upcoming trip. Now it's up to Priceline and Hotwire to lower the rates. ;-)

Agree, the $200 price is tricky. I sent you a private message kendyllm with an option to consider that will allow you to book something now and keep trying with Hotwire.

I agree with the recommendation of Back Bay/Copley as a first choice. I live in Connecticut and visit Boston quite often, and also go to quite a few Red Sox games (in fact we're coming up over Memorial Day weekend for a Sox game.) The Copley area is very accessible to public transportation and if you want to walk as well to Fenway it is doable. Hotels on Better Bidding's Hotwire list I have stayed at in Copley/Back Bay and have liked: Hilton Boston Back Bay Sheraton Boston Westin Copley Place Boston Common/Theater District: I've stayed many times (conventions, plus my wedding reception there eons ago) at the Park Plaza Hotel, 3.5* on Hotwire. It's very close to public transportation (Arlington stop) and near the very pretty Public Garden/Boston Common. Rooms vary though because it is an older historic hotel. It has some quirks. The Park Plaza has the same 3.5* rating as the Doubletree Downtown which I have also stayed at. I do NOT recommend the Doubletree. The area is a bit sketchy and sirens from ambulances going into the hospital across the street can be loud. Other Hotwire zones (i.e. Fanueil Hall/Waterfront-North End) are further away but doable by public transportation. I've stayed at 4* Omni Parker House, small rooms, older hotel, not my favorite place. Stay there only if you get a GREAT deal. The worst hidden charge for all Boston hotels is parking fees. They can be very high.

Giving closure to this thread, I ended up needing 30 rooms so booked with the hotel directly.

I spoke with an official at the Park Plaza who naturally, would not confirm or deny the HOTWIRE listing, but he did say they are indeed now pet friendly and that IF that is the Park Plaza on HOTWIRE the price is ONLY good for their "petite room," which I once stayed in, and yes they are shoebox-sized PETITE (my 6' tall husband's legs were too long for the bed, our luggage did not fit in the room). Also, once again, the property is under new ownership (less than a year). The clerk told me it is going to undergo a multi-million dollar renovation - guest rooms, conference rooms, and the LOBBY. The lobby? I asked, It's the most gorgeous, historic lobby.... YEP, the lobby. GAH! FYI: Until the reno don't expect much from the Park Plaza room-wise.

I'm seeing "pet friendly" as an amenity on a hotel on HOTWIRE for 2/7 - 2/9 Boston Common Theater District, 3.5* Pet friendly, Smoke Free Rooms, Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center, Internet access, In-room accessibility, Wheelchair accessible Thinking this might be the Park Plaza. BB pinned description doesn't list "pet friendly," so that may be new. Park Plaza's website now says they are pet friendly. I am liking this hotel less and less. I don't trust them to clean their rooms well. Price on Hotwire for this property for above dates is: $84 a night. What do you think?

Will do... expecting nominations to be announced this week.

Thanks for the update. I'll probably need three rooms for three nights: 2/6 - 2/9, and about 8 - 10 rooms for two nights 2/7 - 2/9. Not sure yet, waiting for convention to confirm award nominee list. In the past, when the Park Plaza was a Starwoods hotel they gave us a significant group discount, much lower than HOTWIRE, plus I got Starwoods points. Now, I don't know who owns the hotel. The website looks like it may be The Boston Hotel? So going to keep tabs on the HOTWIRE rates and do the best I can for our company. The lower rates I get the more staffers can come. Also, the group has its heart set on the Park Plaza, I can't convince them otherwise. But if I find a lower rate at another Boston Common hotel, I'll run that by my boss. You never know. Thanks.

Checking hotels in Boston for upcoming convention. We usually get a group rate at the Park Plaza (where the convention is being held), but I'll book rooms on Hotwire if its cheaper. In the past, the Park Plaza was rated 3.5*. The pinned listing on BB says 4*. The last win I see on this board lists it at 3.5* So just checking. Is it now a 4* property? Thanks.

On HOTWIRE for $300: 4*, Empire State Building Amenities: Free Internet, Pet Friendly, Fitness, Restaurant, Business, Hi Speed Internet 4 out of 5 on TripAdvisor 85% Hotwire Recommendation Description matches St. Giles The Court

Congratulations, that's so nice! What a lovely way to spend your honeymoon. If you aren't already a member, you may want to click on the loyalty tab on the Omni's website and join their loyalty program. They give extra perks to their members. Well worth it. http://www.omnihotels.com/SelectGuestProgram.aspx Also, for one special dinner, I highly recommend The Four Seasons Restaurant. You are in walking distance: http://www.fourseasonsrestaurant.com/ It has QUITE a history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four_Seasons_Restaurant I was there this weekend, celebrating my wedding anniversary. They treat their customers like royalty. Even though we were there later than the time they offer their prix fixe menu, I asked if we could still order from it - no problem. Because it was our anniversary they offered us several treats on the house. Tell them you are on your honeymoon when you make the reservation and you'll be gold. Also, ask in advance to have Giuseppe as your server. He's wonderful!