Priceline Hotel: 3*-4* in Boston for 6/13/11

[franklin411]

I'm looking for a 3* - 4* in the Financial District, Back Bay, or the airport area for my mileage run overnight on 6/13/11. I was hoping I could piggyback on one of the existing winning bids (Sheraton and Westin Back Bay seem to be going for $105-$125 around that date). Unfortunately, 6/13 seems to be a bad day--you can't even book a room on the Sheraton website because it's listed as unavailable!

So we'll see. For now I'm going to stick to my price ladder of $125 for a 4*, $110 for a 3.5*, and $70 for a 3*, while checking Hotwire to see if there's any loosening of inventory over time.

So far I've done a number of bids in the Financial District and Back Bay zones at 3.5* and 4* for up to $125 without success or counterbids.

I also did a few 3* in the same zones for $55 just in case, but of course that didn't fly!

We'll see.

[thereuare]

Indeed rates are very high for this particular nite... have you also considered including the Waterfront-Convention Center zone to your bidding? Not sure if it will help at all, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.

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

Keep us updated and let su know if we can be of further help along the way.

[franklin411]

I'm going to try adding my less-preferred zones towards the end of May. I googled around and saw that there's a nanotech convention at the Sheraton starting on 6/13, and in fact the Sheraton is completely locked up right now (if you go to the Sheraton website, it says there's zero availability for 6/13 at any price). Apparently, the conventioneers have until 5/27 or so to reserve their rooms at the convention rate. So I'm hoping that there might be a mid-month release of inventory and then another inventory release at the 5/27 deadline.

There doesn't seem to be anything else going on on that date, so maybe it's just a matter of the Copley/Back Bay convention hotels hoping to catch some side-action from the convention and withholding their inventory till the last minute. I've been plugging away with my daily re-bids and holding my price, but so far not even a counterbid.

[thereuare]

So I'm hoping that there might be a mid-month release of inventory and then another inventory release at the 5/27 deadline.

Chances are that inventory might be released after 5/27. For the size of the city, Boston does not have a very large inventory of hotel rooms, do you know how big this conference is?

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

[franklin411]

Ugh...The conference website says 5000 attendees. I wonder if that's why I had to book a crazy flight in to Boston as well (I'm flying from LAX to MIA and then MIA to BOS). Oh well. I guess I'll have to take my chances. Thanks!

[thereuare]

Keep us updated and let us know whatever you ultimately decide to do for this stay.

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

Let us know if we can be of further help along the way.

[franklin411]

I ended up going with lastminutetravel, and ID'd/snagged the Fairmont at Battery Wharf for $169. I've checked Hotwire multiple times daily over the last 3 weeks and it's the same inventory all the time, +/-$5. I started increasing my bids and my zones and got absolutely shut down every time. I bid all the way up to $163 ($158 + $5 PL Cash) for the Harbor, Quincy Market, Back Bay, Cambridge, and Waterfront zones--not even a counterbid.

I also looked at the conference schedule at Hynes convention center. 5000 attendees for a conference at the Sheraton arriving on the day I'm coming into town, and 6000 for a different conference holding the Marriott the day after. I guess I'll still check to see if anything comes up out of curiosity, but PL/Hotwire looked like a losing proposition.

Oh well. It's the most I've ever paid to stay in Boston, and I feel ridiculous for paying so much to spend 15 hours in a room, but that's what it is.

[thereuare]

Glad you found something that will work for your needs.

Thanks for the follow-up and closing this thread.

Enjoy your stay.

[franklin411]

Thanks! I'll post back if I see anything pop up on HOTWIRE. I'm booked already, but I'm very interested in developments with PRICELINE and HOTWIRE lately. I have a few friends who have also been trying to book their summer travel, and all of us are noticing significantly higher room rates and a general lack of inventory. I suppose that's to be expected in a recovering economy, so I'm interested in finding out if my strategy needs to change. During the depression, I could book things 6 months out and get incredible rates. I'm wondering if I need to be a lot more patient and opportunistic due to the recovery. :)

[scottlevin]

I've encouraged a number of my friends to spring up that Fairmont deal lately. It's pretty special. Mods, any LMT link we can click?

[thereuare]

Unfortunately LMT no longer has any type of referal program, we'll be sure to let the board know if/when there is a change in status :)