Priceline Hotel: 3.5* Boston (Copley Square-Theatre District) Radisson Boston

[klam]

Hi there,

I've used Priceline before with the help of this great site (and have posted my bids on these forums, and used the PRICELINE link for my bids).

Want to bid on a 3.5* in this area and was looking for direction on the best way to proceed. I noticed previous winning bids for this timeframe from 2010 and 2011:

$106 weekend

$95, $105, $130 weekdays

The stay is for 6 nights and I was wondering if I should try to split the stay? If so, what type of split?

These hotels currently have rates at ~$250/nt.

I have a refundable booking for $189/nt but would like to save some money and/or stay in a nicer place. However, I cannot pay more than my backup booking so I'm estimating my maximum PL bid can be $150? (to include buffer for taxes + fees).

Any suggestions much appreciated!

cheers,

:)

[thereuare]

To confirm... is Copley the only zone you're willing to accept... or perhaps is Quincy Market acceptable as well? At the moment i think bidding Copley Square by itself will make this a tough win... adding Quincy Market will improve your chances somewhat on a SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID basis... if the Waterfront area happens to work that would greatly improve your chances for the complete stay.

Please let us know and we'll suggest a strategy to follow.

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

[klam]

Yes, Copley is the only area that will work as we will be there for a conference and need to be close to Prudential Center.

If it makes things easier, I can bid for the Saturday (24th) completely separately or just go somewhere else that nite (i.e., would love a bid strategy for checking in Sept 25 & checking out Sep 30, either as 1 bid or as split stay). Thx.

cheers,

:)

[thereuare]

At the 3.5* level you have FIVE re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

(NOTE: 're-bid zone1' is not the same as priceline's Zone1, 're-bid zone2' is not the same as priceline's Zone2, etc, etc)

Select 3.5* Copley...

Bid $80, if re-bid zone1...

Bid $85, if re-bid zone2...

Bid $90, if re-bid zone3...

Bid $95, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* Copley and re-bid zone4...

Bid $100, if re-bid zone1...

Bid $105, if re-bid zone2...

Bid $110, if re-bid zone3...

Bid $125, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* Copley and re-bid zone5...

Bid $130, if re-bid zone1...

Bid $135, if re-bid zone2...

Bid $140, if re-bid zone3...

Bid $145, if re-bid zone4...

Bid $150

You can try the above for the following date combinations:

9/25-9/30 if this is rejected and SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID is acceptable (which would put you in 3 hotels over this complete stay) try:

9/26-9/30

9/25-9/29

9/27-9/30

9/25-9/28

Any questions feel free to ask.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[klam]

thereuare, thx a mint for the detailed bidding strategy - much appreciated!

I used the PRICELINE link you provided and followed your bidding stategy exactly, without any success, for a non-split stay (9/25 - 9/30). I considered your comment about staying in 3 hotels and realized that it'd be a bit much to move hotels as we wouldn't have a car.

The lowest price for this level hotel during that timeframe is $236 so I'm bidding well above the 50% mark. Because inventory can change, I'll re-bid again unless you think it's not likely to have any success. Thx for your help.

cheers,

:)

[thereuare]

Where is the $236/nite rate?

If it gets to be mid-September you're still unsuccessful, what would your game plan be at that point? (raise budget, lower star rating, consider other nearby zones)

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board for your purchases.

[klam]

$236 is for Marriot; the others have availability but at higher rates.

If I'm unsuccessful still in mid-September, I will stay at my current refundable booking, at a lesser place.

Thx for your help. I'll use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links and post back what happens.

cheers,

:)

[thereuare]

Current rates at the Marriott are at $299... but then drop to $259 on 9/28. Not sure if rates have increased since you saw the $236 rate or if that is with some sort of discount (AAA, government, etc), but based upon the $299 rate, your bids are only at half price, and hotels may not be willing to discount as deeply during times of higher demand (even though the price goes up and there is more margin for hotels, the level of discount often decreases since hotels are in a position of strength and less need to offer a deep discount)

Where and how much is your 'lesser' back-up?

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links.

[klam]

Just wanted to report back that I have been bidding on and off (using your links) since my last post without success. Given the hotel rates that were listed without special discounts (AAA, etc.), recent winning bids for this timeframe for this zone, and that upon review my backup hotel price of $189 is pre-tax as well, I used the same bidding strategy outlined but upped the amts starting at $125 and ending at $185.

I rec'd a promo of $5 reward dollars/nt so have been using that as "free money" and not including it in my bid (i.e., top bid was $185+$5bonus).

Not sure if it's relevant or not but the median price it suggests has ranged from $259 to $306 on different days that I've bid. Seems not to make a difference on whether my bid is accepted as my top bid is much higher than 50%.

My bonus offer expired yesterday but I'll try my luck a few more times btwn now and departure date. Will report back either way.

cheers,

(=

[thereuare]

Thanks for the update on your bidding.

The increase in retail rates is not encouraging, but this information is usually not very accurate so i wouldn't read too much into it.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

Continues to keep us updates and let us know if we can be of further help along the way.

[klam]

Was out of town so hadn't tried in 2 weeks but thought I'd give it a try today in case they were trying to offload inventory for this weekend.

PL median price listed as $299. Did a quick check of retail rates and they're still up.

Used this site's PRICELINE links and the strategy suggested on this thread starting bid at $125. Had a $7.20/nt "bonus cash" offer added to my bids.

At bid $165 a counter offer was made for $226. I figured that meant I could win at $195 but was only willing to go to $185 (price has to be less than back-up corporate rate secured). I declined and thought I'd have no luck but carried on with the bid strategy anyway. In past wins, I've found if I have a winning bid, it comes back very quickly with an answer. If it's a losing bid, it takes a while for the page to load. It was taking a long time, and I was getting ready to close the window, when SURPRISE...

Bonus Cash:

Per Room, Per Night $36.00

Offer Price:

avg. per room, per night $185.00

Rooms: 1

Nights: 5 + Add nights for the same rate!

Room Subtotal: $925.00

Taxes & Fees: $160.20

Total Charged to Card: $1085.20

As you can see, there was also an offer to add nights for the same rate.

The hotel is a bit farther from Hynes Convention Center than I was hoping but I just noticed that the Green T Line has stops near both so that will make the 1 mile walk a lot easier in the mornings! For about the same price, we'll be getting the use of the pool, fitness center, coffee maker and probably larger room over our back-up at the Chandler Inn.

Successful bid for Radisson Hotel Boston 3.5* from 9/25 to 9/30.

Thx a mint for all your help with this - much appreciated!

cheers,

:)

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Nice to see PRICELINE ultimately came thru for you and it sounds as if this is a nice upgrade vs. your back-up reservation. Glad to see you're happy with the outcome and can make this property works for your needs.

Thank you for sharing your win and using the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding.

Enjoy your stay and hope it's a good conference.