musicphan Posted August 9, 2010 Report Share Posted August 9, 2010 Dates: 10/21 - 10/26 (can also travel 10/14 - 10/19 and have bid on this, too)I've been bidding on a 3.5* & 4* in Boston for a couple weeks now. Copley or Quincy are the target areas and I've been strategic about about adding the zones which don't have my desired star level when increasing my bid.NO LUCK up to $130.I'm hoping you can confirm something I think I'm noticing after looking at proximity of bid to the actual dates of stay. In general, do most people have the most success bidding about 3+/- weeks before their stay? Other than my NYE win, that is the luck I've had with my other bid in Seattle via the link found here and a Hotwire bid before I knew about this board were in the 3-4 week window. My suspicion is that this is generally true (not always) b/c most people book their flights about a month before so as to get the best fare, so the hotels have a general idea of their occupancy 3-4 weeks out, any will release un-reserved rooms to PL and/or Hotwire at better rates to fill up the hotels?Is my logic at all logical? Link to comment
AaronJB Posted August 9, 2010 Report Share Posted August 9, 2010 If there is something going on during your stay (event, convention, marathon, etc.) then prices could continue to go up towards your stay. They may come down, too, but there's no way to know if they will and if so, how much. The Fall in Boston and NYC are often particularly expensive, as well. With HOTWIRE rates showing at $189-289 for 3.5/4* properties in the main areas of Boston, unfortunately, $130 is not going to be enough for these dates at current prices. 10/21-26 looks pricey across-the-board when looking at regular rates, as well; there's not 2-3 particularly bad dates causing the problem. 10/14-19 looks a touch better, but unfortunately not by a wide margin.Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Link to comment
Liset Posted August 9, 2010 Report Share Posted August 9, 2010 The Head of the Charles Regatta is Oct 23-24 and my guess is that prices will continue high and availability low for that weekend. Link to comment
AaronJB Posted August 9, 2010 Report Share Posted August 9, 2010 Thank you for the note on the local event, Liset. Link to comment
musicphan Posted August 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2010 Thanks for the replies. I knew the (damn) regatta was going on. Then another one of my friends also pointed out some schools have Parents' Weekend around that time - and BOOM - BU is having theirs that same weekend.I guess I'll move the trip to 10/14 - 10/19 if I can't get the success I want come a month out. I am obsesses with this trip as I'm taking my 11 yr old niece as her b-day gift, and my other niece will be going to look at colleges. I'm like a kid on Christmas morning with this.Will post results as soon as I have them.Thanks again. Link to comment
musicphan Posted August 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2010 Aaron, you bring up a question. Is there a general correlation between HOTWIRE prices to PRICELINE? You pointed to a Hotwire price of as low as $189. It was always my belief that PRICELINE is less than HOTWIRE as a general rule.i.e. if a Hotwire price is $189 can you generally get a similar room via Priceline for less? Link to comment
AaronJB Posted August 9, 2010 Report Share Posted August 9, 2010 With a 3.5* Back Bay-Copley Square showing for $159 for 10/14-19, I have to imagine you're not far off at $130 and would proceed higher slowly. If you are a party of more than 2, do you need 2 beds? This is not guaranteed via PRICELINE, especially in a major city during a busy period.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Link to comment
musicphan Posted August 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Thanks for the info Aaron. It's a relief to know that I'm not going to have to spend $175/night for a decent hotel.Yes, we're a party of 3. And I know 2 beds aren't guaranteed. Since I am traveling with my nieces (17 & 11), we could make a king work if we had to. But so far I haven't had any trouble getting a double room via PL or Hotwire reservations. When I went to Seattle over Memorial Day weekend I actually had 2 bed for just me when I opted for the room with the better view. And if need be, we can ask for a cot. It will all work out... Link to comment
AaronJB Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Glad to hear you will be able to "make it work" if it comes down to only getting one bed. PRICELINE is - with some exceptions - less than HOTWIRE, although the level of discount can vary (sometimes it's fairly minor, sometimes it's significant, often in-between) Best of luck with your next round of bidding, and hopefully you'll be successful shortly at the 3.5* or 4* level, and with the 3.5* at $159, I would guess that a 3.5* win isn't too far off.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Link to comment
musicphan Posted September 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 I've seen the recent winning bids for 3.5* properties in the Copley area for $107-ish. I have bid up to $130 without success for the above dates. Any thoughts on why I'm not getting a win at the $130 price point? The only thing I can think is that it is the length of the stay? I would have no issue breaking up the stay into 2 bids (even different locations) if I were likely to get a similarly good deal like the others have.Any in put?Thanks! Link to comment
AaronJB Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 Different dates - even dates right near one another - can result in different (and sometimes considerably so) rates. I'm seeing pretty high rates when searching for these dates all together on HOTWIRE. I thought that this may be a case of a half/half - that part of these dates are busy/expensive and part are not, but when splitting this stay on HOTWIRE, all of the dates appear expensive, with 4*'s around $225-250+.Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Link to comment
thereuare Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 From 10/10/2010-10/16/2010 (which includes the first 2 nites of your stay) there is a 20K person convention, which is quite large by Boston standards... not sure what else might be driving up rates for the other nites of your stay.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
musicphan Posted October 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 This trip seems cursed! I've bid on:3.5* up to $150 denied4* up to $180 deniedI can break the trip up as follows:10-14 to 10-16 and would ideally be Fan Hall/Quincy area for this part of the trip10-16 to 10-19 Copley OR 10-17 to 10-19 (with the night of the 17th in Portland, ME.HELP? I'm starting to get irritated at seeing people get 3.5* for ~$110. Thanks for any help!!! Link to comment
thereuare Posted October 8, 2010 Report Share Posted October 8, 2010 This trip seems cursed! I've bid on:3.5* up to $150 denied4* up to $180 deniedI assume this was for the complete stay?I'm starting to get irritated at seeing people get 3.5* for ~$110.Supply vs. Demand... different rates for different dates :)Could you head to Portland for the first TWO nites of this stay and then Boston for the balance?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
musicphan Posted October 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2010 I'm def. breaking up the stay now. Unfortunately, 2 nights in Portland aren't an option as we have a lot to do in Boston - including college tours. I've accepted that there isn't much supply, so it's going to demand a lot more of my wallet! Going to consider 3* now, too.In my ideal world, I'd spend 10/14 & 10/15 in Quincy Market area, 10/16 in Portland, 10/17 & 10/18 in Copley. I think this is going to work out...eventually.Thanks for all the advice. Link to comment
Romelle Posted October 9, 2010 Report Share Posted October 9, 2010 Have you looked at some of the outer areas (listed on the PRICELINE screen just under the map)? Some of them aren't really that far out, and are connected to the greater Boston public transport system. Braintree is an example. And if you will be having a car, sometimes the airport hotels can be a really good value.RomelleIf you do start bidding some of these optional areas, do recheck the probably rates so you don't overbid. Link to comment
thereuare Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 In addition to alternate areas, have you tried bidding for a sub-set of the full date range yet OR have you only tried for the full length of your stay?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
musicphan Posted October 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 I tried every conceivable combination of dates up to about $210! Finally gave up and booked a hotel through HOTWIRE which I'll post soon. I got a room in Portland through a friend in the industry.In the end, I didn't end up paying too much more than I had expected to pay via PRICELINE, so I'm not really upset by it. Link to comment
thereuare Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 Finally gave up and booked a hotel through HOTWIRE which I'll post soon.Please post the details of the win as a reply to this thread and we'll take care of editing the topic title and move the entire thread to the HOTWIRE section of the board.Glad you found something that works for your needs.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
musicphan Posted October 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 Got the Hilton across the street from my other hotel (Sheraton)$169.00 - per night$ 57.25 - taxes and fees$395.25 - total stayAgain, given the low availability in Boston at this point I am pleased with this deal. Link to comment
AaronJB Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 Congrats on your success. :)Very nice deal for these busy dates, and while changing hotels isn't optimal, this situation couldn't have worked out better.Please provide the amenity icons that were showing with this HOTWIRE listing. Thanks.Thank you for sharing your win and please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.Enjoy your stay. Link to comment
musicphan Posted October 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2010 In this instance, changing hotels really is inconsequential b/c we're spending Saturday night in Portland, ME. So ultimately, I'd be checking out of one hotel anyway.Amenities for the Hilton are:Smoke Free RoomsFitness CenterPool(s)Restaurant(s)Business CenterHigh-speed Internet Access Link to comment
thereuare Posted October 14, 2010 Report Share Posted October 14, 2010 Thanks for the follow-up! Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
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