Priceline Hotel: Help needed for 5/5-5/7

[KCIP]

Hello,

I have been trying to get a hotel in the Copley Square Area on from 5/5-5/7. I have been using the PRICELINE link and have used the strategy to choose multiple zones to bid more than once. Over the past week I've been trying different combinations of 3 and 3.5* hotels. I'm trying to get the courtyard or radisson. I based my bidding off previous winnings bid starting at around $65 gradually increasing.

Due to failures in the $65-$75 range, I started moving up to $80-$90 range for 3* with no luck. I don't know if something is going on that weekend, but any info or help would be appreciated!

thanks

kcip

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please start by reading your messages.

Rates are date specific, based upon hotel occupancy levels (ie- supply/demand) and rates for these dates seem pretty high... what is the best deal you're able to find at an acceptable hotel thru conventional booking channels?

Is Copley Square the only zone you're willing to accept?

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your bidding, searches and travel purchases.

[KCIP]

Hello thereuare,

I read message, thanks for the intro. I hadn't really thought about other zones. I have a wedding to go to in the Copeley Square area which is why I wanted to stay near there, also going to a Red Sox game which I think is close. I took a look using Orbitz and the Courtyard that I've been trying to get is listed at $199 before taxes. Radisson is around $230. Is there some type of general guideline for bids...like a certain percentage of the normal rates? Thanks for the help.

[thereuare]

If you enter 'Boston' and your dates in the search box on the top right of this page you'll see the PRICELINE zones, and you can see that the Quincy Market zone is adjacent to the Copley Square zone, so including this zone should keep you fairly central. Even if your event is in the most western part of the Copley Zone, and you end up in a hotel in the most Northeastern part of the Quincy zone, it's only about two miles, so not far at all... an inexpensive cab ride and/or making use of the very good Boston subway system (although the trains do stop running shortly after midnite or so).

Some hotels discount more deeply then others so there is no fixed percentage of retail rates that you should use as a starting point, but currently your bids are well under 50% of prevailing rates, and while we do see some wins at this deep of a discount, it doesn't give you a very high probability of success.

If you include both zone i'm guessing you could get a 3*/3.5* for ~$110-$140 or so (although we would of course start low and work our way upwards). Does the Quincy Market zone seem acceptable to you as well and, based upon the $200+ rates you're seeing thru traditional sources, what would be your maximum bid for this stay?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[KCIP]

Update on finding a hotel

I'm still searching Copley Square and Quincy Market zones for 3* and 3.5* places. I've tried 125, 130, and 134 unsuccessfully. The 125 and 130 bids asked for an auto rebid of +35. I think I'm getting close. Will try again tomorrow.

[thereuare]

Good luck on your next round of bidding... if you'd like help with a specific bidding strategy let us know your maximum bid, confirm the zones you're willing to accept, and if you're willing to pay more for a 3.5* vs. a 3* OR if your goal is the least expensive 3* or better for this stay.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your bidding.

[KCIP]

I have the option of staying at the Radisson in Copley Square for $169. That's the group rate the wedding couple arranged. Ideally I'd like a 3* minimum for as cheap as possible and also close to the Boston Public Library (wedding location). I wouldn't be too opposed to expanding to other zones. I've spent a couple days in Boston before and seen the tourist stuff (freedom trail, harvard, fenway, etc), but I don't know the city that well so I've been reluctant to move out of the 2 zones.

[thereuare]

There a few public libraries throughout the city... what is the actual location of the one you need?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[KCIP]

oops. the one near copley square.

700 Boylston St, Boston MA 02116

[thereuare]

I'm guessing you're looking at about $125-$145 for a 4* in the Waterfront-Convention Center area OR about the same for a 3* in the 'Downtown' areas you've been bidding... how high are you willing to bid before taking the group rate at the Radisson? Of these two options, would you prefer the higher rated hotel a bit further from the wedding location or a lower rated hotel 'downtown'. Also, if you're adding other zones, is the Harbor Front-Aquarium zone acceptable as well?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[slruud]

Lastminutetravel.com has the Westin Waterfront for $141/nite, and the Radisson for $153/nite.

[KCIP]

I wouldn't mind expanding to the aquarium zone. I'd prefer to stay closer to the original location even if that means taking a lower * hotel. After seeing the prices on lastminutetravel, I'd say my max is around $135. I'd go with the Westin Waterfront if I couldn't get lower than that.

Thanks

[thereuare]

I wouldn't mind expanding to the aquarium zone. I'd prefer to stay closer to the original location even if that means taking a lower * hotel.

This is a bit contradictory... did you want to first bid for all three zones (Copley, Quincy Market, and Aquarium) at the 3.5* level up to $135, then if rejected try these same three zones at the 3* level?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.