tmas74 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Posted July 9, 2012 Hello everyone,We're headed up to Boston in October... staying for 3 nights (Oct 18, 19, 20).We've reserved a room at the Hampton Inn/Logan Airport for $190/night... but would love something cheaper and more central.We probably want to stay in the same areas most first time visitors do... Boston Common - Theater District, Copley Square - Back Bay, or Quincey Market - Financial District.I'd love to get a 3.5* to 4* for less than $160, if possible. Any suggestions on the best bidding strategy would be helpful. This will be my first time using Priceline.Let me know if you need any other information.
tmas74 Posted July 10, 2012 Author Report Posted July 10, 2012 I do want to start with just 4* hotels and see what happens. Just not clear on rebidding or even where to start the bidding at.
thereuare Posted July 10, 2012 Report Posted July 10, 2012 First let's make sure you get up to speed on re-bidding, then we'll dive into a bidding strategy.When bidding 4* or 3.5* in Boston you have FIVE re-bid zones. See Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and ask question and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board, if you're still confused after reading the previous thread just post back and we'll break it down further for you.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Thanks. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
tmas74 Posted July 10, 2012 Author Report Posted July 10, 2012 OK I think that makes sense. So the five areas with no 3.5* or 4* should be Brighton - Brookline, Fenway Park, Medford - Somerville, North Cambridge - Arlington, and South Boston.
thereuare Posted July 11, 2012 Report Posted July 11, 2012 Yes, you have your re-bid zones correct. HOWEVER, always double check them just before starting a bidding session to make sure that nothing has changed since you last checked as hotels can be added, and other hotels can be upgraded/downgraded, at any time.To try bidding the three zones you mentioned with a $160 maximum bid you can try as follows, using your FIVE re-bid zones:Select 4* Boston Common and Copley...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Boston Common and Quincy Market...Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $110, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $115, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $120, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $125, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $130, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Boston Common, Copley, Quincy Market...Bid $135, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $140, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $145, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $160If the above is rejected you can, if you wish, close the current browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE, and re-try the above at the 3.5* level.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. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases
tmas74 Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Posted July 11, 2012 Great. Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. I'll let you know what happens.
tmas74 Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Posted July 11, 2012 One more question. When closing out of the browser... should I sign out of Priceline and quit the browser completely? Or is simply closing the browser window and then re-entering the site through the link (even though I'll still be signed in) enough?
tmas74 Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Posted July 11, 2012 ok, simply closing the browser is enough. After re-entering priceline through the link on this page it asks me to log in again when I start a new bid.No luck on 4*... I'll see what happens with 3.5...
tmas74 Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Posted July 11, 2012 No luck with 3.5* either. I may be willing to go higher than $160. Wondering if I should try to wait it out a bit or try again w/ a higher price. I still have 3 months.I may also be willing to come down to a 3* in the Boston Common - Theater District or Copley Square - Back Bay if I could get a great rate. Looks like the 3* hotels in those two areas are Courtyard Downtown, Doubletree and Courtyard by Marriott Boston Copley Square.
tmas74 Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Posted July 11, 2012 Are the Boston Harbor Front/Aquarium and Beacon Hill areas central to everything?
tmas74 Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Posted July 11, 2012 Also tried for a 3* in Copley, Boston Common and Quincy Market from $65-$90 with no luck.I guess I'll wait and try again later this week.
tmas74 Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Posted July 11, 2012 Ended up adding Beacon Hill and Boston Harborfront Aquarium... and still no luck at even just a 3* up to $150.
thereuare Posted July 12, 2012 Report Posted July 12, 2012 It's still early, but you'll need to see a significant rate drop to see rates come down to your current bidding levels... any backup plans or reservation?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
tmas74 Posted July 12, 2012 Author Report Posted July 12, 2012 Yeah, I actually have two backup reservations right now.190/night at the Hampton Inn/Logan Airport and 239/night at Hotel 140I was looking at the Courtyard Copley Square website and their prices make a significant jump to $399/night on 10/19.Could the World Series starting that week and the possibility of the Red Sox being in it have anything to do w/ the very high prices at that time?
thereuare Posted July 12, 2012 Report Posted July 12, 2012 The Red Sox possibly being in the World Series may be a contributing explanation, but i have also found that there is a 3500 person convention taking place 10/17-10/20, and a 4K person conference 10/19-10/21... combined this makes an 'extra' 7500 people in hotel rooms for the nite of 10/19, and that i'm guessing is the more likely reason for the spike rates (which will only become more of an issue if the Red Sox are in the World Series and there is a home game during this date range.Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.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
tmas74 Posted July 12, 2012 Author Report Posted July 12, 2012 I'll keep trying every couple of days and see what happens.If you could recommend a strategy for a top bid of $200 in my four original zones plus Beacon Hill and Harbor Front/Aquarium that would be great. I'm still leaning toward 3.5* or 4* but would settle for a 3* if I need to. I really appreciate the help.
thereuare Posted July 13, 2012 Report Posted July 13, 2012 I see three original zones:Boston Common - Theater DistrictCopley Square - Back BayQuincey Market - Financial District.What is the fourth?And to the above you want to also include the Beacon Hill and Harbor Front/Aquarium zones?Please confirm the other zones you're looking to bid and we'll advise accordingly.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
tmas74 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Posted July 13, 2012 You're right... only 3 original zones.Boston Common - Theater DistrictCopley Square - Back BayQuincey Market - Financial District.also include the Beacon Hill and Harbor Front/Aquarium zones
thereuare Posted July 13, 2012 Report Posted July 13, 2012 With your new parameters, and FIVE re-bid zones, you can try as follows:Boston 4* Boston Common, Copley Square, Quincey Market...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 add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected close brwoser and use this link to re-access PRICELINEBoston 4* Beacon Hill and Harbor Front...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 add re-bid zone...Bid $150, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $155, if rejected close brwoser and use this link to re-access PRICELINEBoston 4* Boston Common, Copley Square, Quincey Market, Beacon Hill...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 $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected close brwoser and use this link to re-access PRICELINEBoston 4* Boston Common, Copley Square, Quincey Market, Harbor Front...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 $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $185, if rejected close brwoser and use this link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Boston Common, Copley Square, Quincy Market, Beacon Hill, Harbor Front...Bid $188, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $190, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $193, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $195, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $198, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $200Any questions feel free to ask. As there are FIVE re-bid zones at both the 4* and 3.5* levels, if the above is rejected at 4* you could always close the browser, use the board link to re-access PRICELINE, and re-try at the 3.5* level.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
tmas74 Posted September 19, 2012 Author Report Posted September 19, 2012 Just a quick update... I haven't bid any more on this in awhile. I was having no luck up to about $210/night. And looking at what people are getting hotels for during this time, I may not have any better luck now. Presently I have a regular reservation (queen room) at the Boston Park Plaza for $237/night. I may try again once or twice, but I'll be ok w/ this price if that's what it comes down to. Thanks for the initial help. I do appreciate it.
AaronJB Posted September 19, 2012 Report Posted September 19, 2012 Sorry to hear that bids haven't been successful. Glad you were able to find something that works well for your stay, and hopefully more inventory will open up between now and your stay.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.Enjoy your stay.
tamatem Posted September 22, 2012 Report Posted September 22, 2012 And thank you, tmas, for citing your backup plan here, which I'll also booked in case nothing else works out.
tamatem Posted September 22, 2012 Report Posted September 22, 2012 And thank you, tmas, for citing your backup plan here, which I'll also booked in case nothing else works out.This is why we usually ask user to post whatever they end up doing for a stay, even if not PRICELINE or HOTWIRE, as it can help others with their own stays for times when PRICELINE or HOTWIRE isn't working out.Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.Keep us updated on your progress or any changes.
Chrism.CT Posted September 25, 2012 Report Posted September 25, 2012 The Redsox are currently in last place. They have zero shot at the playoffs. GO YANKEESAlso I booked the Millennium Bostonian for that same weekend for $295. That was as cheap as it gets for a 4 star
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