Priceline Hotel: 3 1/2 * Boston (Copley Square Theatre District) Need Help

[loveboston]

I have been trying the past several days to bid for a copley square area hotel for the second week in July. I am hoping to get the Sheraton which seems to come up a lot. I had first bid $95, then changed the day of departure and bid $105 and was also rejected. The next day I bid a few times, using the tips I read on this forum. I bid $110, then added one of the zones that did not include 3 and half star hotels and above bidding $115, then added another zone and bid $118 rejected.

Last night I signed up for the bidding alerts so I can tell how many winning bids are coming out in that area for under $150. Got notified that today a $120 bid was accepted by Sheraton. So I tried again bidding at $120 and adding another zone to it. Got rejected again! I am really getting frustrated. I see lots of people posting getting bids accepted at $90, 95, 105, and $115. And Sheraton is still accepting bids at the $120 level so I don't understand why my bids are being rejected. Is it because this is a more heavily traveled time of year and therefore their asking prices are higher? Is it because I am asking for a 7 night stay? Maybe it is harder to get the great deals when your stay is more than a few days. Does anyone have any hints for me at what I am doing wrong? Should I just assume that I am not going to get a very good deal for this week and expect to pay $150 per night minimum, and possibly much more? Or should I just wait it out over the next few days and keep trying bids at the $125 level or lower. It is getting late and I was hoping to secure my hotel reservations this week. What do you guys think?

[franklin411]

It is getting late and I was hoping to secure my hotel reservations this week. What do you guys think?

The Sheraton is a conference hotel, so you can get super cheap rates on days that they haven't got a deal for a conference, for, say, July 10-12. Then they could have a conference starting on July 13, and the entire hotel could be unbookable at any price. Those rooms get held until a certain date agreed to by the conference + the hotel (ie...conference goers are guaranteed a room until, say, June 15), and then the rooms get released for sale, very possibly on HOTWIRE / PRICELINE.

Google your dates and see if there's a conference in town, and then factor that into your expectations for a cheap rate. Even if there is a conference, you can get lucky if you're persistent and/or patient.

[loveboston]

I have checked and there are conferences going on off and on from the 10th through the 28 of July. Since I am looking for an 7 night stay, this means I will be going during at least one of these conferences. Does this mean I am not going to be able to get a good rate using priceline? I am getting this impression. I was hoping to get a room for under $120 a night but am willing to pay up to $150. The going rate during these periods is about $230 to $280 for the cheaper rooms. I am beginning to feel this is all hopeless if I won't be able to get a room when a conference is in town. Maybe I will need to look into staying in another area I didn't want.

[thereuare]

For what date range(s) have you already tried bidding? What has been your maximum bid?

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

[loveboston]

The dates I have tried for are: July 11th to July 18th, July 12th to July 19th, and July 13 th to July 20th. My starting bid was $95 and I have bid multiple times in increments of $3 to $5 all the way up to $120--the price range I was hoping to get. Others seem to be able to get accepted in these amounts and the email bid alerts prove this, although these may be only for a couple night stay, while mine is a one week vacation. Every day I keep adding a few more bids and keep getting rejected. I will keep upping my bids. Will the Boston Conferences make it difficult for me to get a room through priceline? I really wanted to get a 3.5* hotel in the Boston Copley area but I know this district is very popular. Might have to check out some of the other areas.

[loveboston]

Did many, many bids tonight, from $130 to $160--all rejected. Getting really frustrated. I even went over my limit of $150. Checked out the regular websites and the rooms are going fast. This is probably why there are no priceline rooms available. Seriously, are the good deals reserved for people who are only booking a one, two or three day stay? I notice that most people who achieved these rates only stayed a few days. If you are staying for longer the hotel loses a lot of money. Wondering if I am wasting my time. I have now spent five days bidding multiple times with no luck while everyone else is booking their vacation stays. I don't want to miss out and have all the hotel rooms sold out. Should I keep on bidding for a few more days and if so, what should be my strategy?

[slruud]

Lasstminutetravel.com has the Marriott Copley place for $131/nite, available.

[Romelle]

Have you considered splitting your bid - i.e. bidding 3 days and 4 days, 4 & 3, 2 & 5, 5& 2? You might be able to score a good rate on some of your dates, and then use those savings to make you feel better about the more expensive dates.

You can get an idea of the more favorable splits if you look up the daily rates at that Sheraton.

Also, Boston has good public transportation so perhaps you could consider a few more Priceline zones for the more expensive dates. Braintree comes to mind, but there are other ones.

So - maybe 3 of your days right where you want to be downtown, and 4 of them out a little ways?

When bidding all seven days at once, you have to find a hotel that has rooms available all of those seven days. You might even find two separate hotels in your desired zone for two different spans of dates if you split your bid.

And of course there are always the lower star ratings. Maybe a higher star rating for the less expensive dates, and a lower one for the other dates.

Romelle

[thereuare]

All the above are good ideas, although i'll also add one more of possibly adding Quincy Market to your bidding as this zone typically works out well for more users as well.

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

[loveboston]

Lasstminutetravel.com has the Marriott Copley place for $131/nite, available.

Thanks so much for this tip! Booked last night and got the full week I wanted. Thought I'd have to cut off a day or two from the vacation to make my budget. Thanks again!! :)

[AaronJB]

Thank you for closing the thread. Enjoy your stay.