cramogon Posted April 18, 2012 Report Posted April 18, 2012 My fiance and I are visiting Boston May 11-13, 2012. We both tried bidding on a 4* Hotel in the Copley Square - Back Bay zone using all 5 rebid zones, with bids ranging from $110 up to $175. We didn't change the star rating, only the rebid zones and always increased our bid in random increments but all were rejected. I read the post by Tbird about how they ended up getting the Hyatt at $190. I would really like to be under $175 per night, and am wondering what other options I have. Am I looking too far out? I tried rebidding using the PRICELINE link provided on this forum but I started with the Boston Common - Theater District zone, as recommended in the post to Tbird, with $110 and it was rejected, then added a rebid zone and bid $125 and it was also rejected. Any idea or suggestions?
Romelle Posted April 18, 2012 Report Posted April 18, 2012 At this point, it might be a good idea to make a cancelable back-up reservation. Then you can comfortably continue bidding until the very last. It is always possible PRICELINE will get some new inventory from the hotels.Have you looked at HOTWIRE offerings? There might be a possibility there.Beyond that there is considering other zones and a lower star level. There is also splitting your bid. Your first night looks to be more expensive than your second. Hotwire has a 4* at $169 your second night, but for your first night there is only a 2.5* for $268.Romelle
thereuare Posted April 18, 2012 Report Posted April 18, 2012 You're likely encountering the start of some graduation ceremonies with family's of graduates taking up many of Boston's hotel rooms during this time of year. Using MAPS and HOTELS.com it looks like 'retail' rates at most 4* hotels are in the $300-$400 range and nothing in the $200's unless you're willing to stay in the Cambridge zone.Are you willing to bid up to $175 in the Boston Common-Theater District and/or Quincy Market-Financial District zones?Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
cramogon Posted April 18, 2012 Author Report Posted April 18, 2012 I've never used Hotwire to book a hotel, mostly because I've always found better prices on Priceline, and am not that familiar with it. Can you name your own price? I would prefer to stay in the same hotel for both nights, so its unlikely that I will split my bid. I would be willing to go down to a 3.5 star and also consider going up to $175 in the Boston Common-Theater District and Quincy Market-Financial District zones, but initially I was inspired by some of the lower prices I saw for a 4* in the $100-120 range in earlier posts :). After I posted last night I tried the strategy laid out by thereuare in the post to tbird by trying the Boston Common-Theater District and Quincy Market-Financial District zones starting at $120 and going up to $150 and using all 5 rebid zones, but only for a 4*. What would you guys recommend next? Thanks for your help!
Romelle Posted April 18, 2012 Report Posted April 18, 2012 You can see what HOTWIRE has to offer by using the link in the upper left hand corner on this page. All you need to do is enter your dates and "boston, ma" and hit GO. No bidding, they just offer fixed prices for the various star levels and areas. The areas can have the same names as the PRICELINE zones, but can have different boundaries. Sometimes HOTWIRE is a little more generous with stars than PRICELINE is.....maybe 1/2 star. Hotwire tends to be a little more expensive, but not necessarily so. The hotel amenities are shown, which is handy if you are looking for something specific. Also, given the list of amenities and the reports from prior bidders, it can be possible to make an educated guess as to what the hotel will be. You can see the list of hotel and amenities other members have reported in the first post of the Priceline-Massachusetts area. Romelle
thereuare Posted April 18, 2012 Report Posted April 18, 2012 Rates are date specific so you won't necessarily be able to replicate the winning bids of others when demand (and therefore rates) are lower for their dates then your own (which in this case demand is very high for your dates)What is the next step you want to take... a 4* hotel with a $175 limit in either:Boston Common-Theater District orQuincy Market-Financial District ... are yo not interested in the Copley Square-Back Bay zone?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
cramogon Posted April 18, 2012 Author Report Posted April 18, 2012 Copley Square-Back Bay was actually my top pick but I bid all the way up to 175 using the 5 rebid zones and was rejected and was never offered a counterbid. I can go ahead and try a 4* in Boston Common-Theater District or Quincy Market-Financial District up to $175 (I did 120 up to 145 in both of these zones yesterday).
thereuare Posted April 19, 2012 Report Posted April 19, 2012 So i'm assuming all three zones are acceptable:Boston Common-Theater District orQuincy Market-Financial District Copley Square-Back Bay... and you want to stick with a $175 maximum bid?Although based upon current rates (and your previous rejections) I think your chances of success are low, I would try as follows using your FIVE re-bid zones...Select 4* BCTD and CSBB...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* QMFD...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* BCTD and QMFD and CSBB...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $170, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $175Any 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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
cramogon Posted April 19, 2012 Author Report Posted April 19, 2012 Last night I tried a variety of combinations with the 3 zones (copley, financial district, theater district) for a 4* from $175 to $210 and all were rejected. A few times when I was in the 185-190 range the rebid screen would look different and it would say that I could rebid "NOW" so I thought I was getting closer to winning a bid but when I would increase my bid, I still got rejected. I think I might need to up by budget to $200-225. I've been using the rebid pricelink link posted on this forum. When I access priceline through that, does it give me a clean slate from a price perspective or does that just allow me to rebid in less than 24 hrs?
thereuare Posted April 19, 2012 Report Posted April 19, 2012 I think it may take even a bit more than $225, but you have some time so you can certainly start there and see how it goes.You might be successful at $225 (or less) if you include the Waterfront zone in your bidding... the Silver Line T-stop is in this area which can take you to the 'center' of the city, or it's about a 15+ minute walk.If you need us to revise the strategy based upon a new bidding limit, or if you decide to add the Waterfront zone, let us know.Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.Good luck and keep us updated on your progress. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
cramogon Posted April 20, 2012 Author Report Posted April 20, 2012 I had my fiance go through the PRICELINE rebid link provided on this forum and we tried $215 with Copley Square and it got rejected, so we added the waterfront convention center zone and lowered our bid to $155 and it was accepted for two nights on the first attempt with the convention center. I'm glad we got a hotel and its not too far from the other areas. Can I call the hotel and request two double beds for a hotel room won on priceline?
cramogon Posted April 20, 2012 Author Report Posted April 20, 2012 After several attempts in the Copley Square Back Bay, Quincy Market Financial District, and the Boston Common Theater District we finally got a hotel in the Waterfront Convention zone.
thereuare Posted April 20, 2012 Report Posted April 20, 2012 Congratulations on your success and glad to see you got this stay for difficult nites settled.Yes, you can call the hotel and request your room type but each hotel has their own policies (and users have also had different experiences at the same hotel depending upon the person on the phone)... most will state that they will note it on the reservation but can't guarantee anything and the room will be assigned based upon what is available at the time of check-in, others will take (and honor) the request and some other will simply tell you that they can't make any changes.What is the star rating and hotel you received?Thank you for sharing your win and using the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding.Have a great trip. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
thereuare Posted April 20, 2012 Report Posted April 20, 2012 Congratulations on your success! Glad to see you were ultimately successful for these busy nites in the area.Yes, you can call the hotel and request your room type but each hotel has their own policies as to how they handle requests (and users have also had different experiences at the same hotel depending upon the person on the other end of the phone)... most will state that they will note your request on the reservation but can't guarantee anything and the room will be assigned based upon what is available at the time of check-in, others will take (and honor) the request and some others will simply tell you that they can't make any changes.Thank you for sharing your win and using the PRICELINE links on the board to begin your bidding.Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
AaronJB Posted April 20, 2012 Report Posted April 20, 2012 Congrats on your success. :)Definitely a nice win for this Renaissance property. Hope you are looking forward to your stay.Thank you for sharing your win and please use the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.Enjoy your stay.
cramogon Posted April 20, 2012 Author Report Posted April 20, 2012 Thanks for your help! I recorded the win separately. The hotel we won is the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel and it was rated a 4*.
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