Priceline Hotel: 4* Boston (Copley Square - Back Bay) The Westin Copley Place

lynn24 · September 7, 2012

I'm looking to book a hotel for Thurs Sept 20 - Mon Sept 24 for a vacation between my fiance and I, but am not having much luck. Prices for a decent hotel are well above my price range and I JUST found out that there's a decent sized conference going on during that weekend! We've already booked our flight and cannot change our time frame...

I am not experienced with using Hotwire or Priceline and it's my first time in Boston, so I would really appreciate the assistance! For starters, here's some preferred requirements for my booking:

- accessible to the T (subway) system (important! Willing to stay a bit farther if a station is nearby) since we are flying to Boston

- clean, safe and secure hotel, non-smoking

- MAX $200 for 4*, willing to go down to 3.5* or 3* if I can get it $150 or lower... Not looking for anything too fancy

I'm not sure how reasonable my price range is (wish the $120 for 4* was possible!) lower is better but given what i've read in the Priceline forum (I found a similar thread to mine) that's where I stand at the moment. We're on a tight budget so we are trying to keep our expenses low/reasonable.

Also, if someone could tell me which zones I should bid on, I would appreciate that as well! We'll be exploring Boston/doing tourist stuff, so accessibility to T (subway) is essential.

Thank you in advance! I will make sure that I click the Hotwire / PRICELINE links on the forum!

crito · September 8, 2012

Just looking at the HOTWIRE prices, it looks to me like you might have a shot at a 4* for $200. The Hotwire prices are a little higher than that for the favorite zones, but PRICELINE could get you in for around that price.

The best zones for tourist purposes are Beacon Hill, Boston Common, Harborfront, Copley Sq/Back Bay, and Quincy Market/Financial. Any of those would be excellent for touring, and any would have very good T access.

The next best areas are Cambridge and Waterfront, both an easy T ride to the middle of town. (Cambridge is a bit further by T but has the advantage that most of the hotels are in interesting areas, whereas the Waterfront hotels are not an easy walk to anything except the Convention Center.)

In these areas, you are very safe with 3.5* hotels, by the way (in fact, in my opinion the Copley Square 3.5*s are as good as most 4* hotels).

If you aren't hitting in those areas, you could add Brookline/Newton and maybe Cambridge North/Arlington. These are somewhat less accessible to downtown, but still manageable -- at worst you could get a taxi for maybe $15.

To save a bunch you might try Dedham -- I think I remember someone winning a nice hotel there recently with very good access to the commuter rail (but now I don't see the posting so maybe I'm misremembering). But I wouldn't do it to save $25/night, since it will be definitely more fun to stay in one of the downtown zones or in Cambridge.

lynn24 · September 9, 2012

Thanks, can someone suggest a bidding strategy for Priceline? I'd love to get a 4* for $150, but based on what I've read in past threads I feel like it may be unrealistic. Willing to go down to 3.5* or 3* if still very nice/reputable!

thereuare · September 9, 2012

Assuming all the zones in the first grouping mentioned above by crito are acceptable (Beacon Hill, Boston Common, Harborfront, Copley Square, and Quincy Market) I do think you have a chance at a 4* hotel at $200 or under...

When bidding 4* (or 3.5*) in Boston 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.

Select 4* Boston Common and Copley and Quincy Market...

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 $150, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Beacon Hill and Harborfront...

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 $150, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Boston Common and Copley and Beacon Hill...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $163, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $168, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $170, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Quincy Market and Harborfront...

Bid $155, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $160, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $163, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $165, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $168, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $170, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Boston Common and Copley and Quincy Market and Beacon Hill...

Bid $173, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $178, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $183, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $185, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Boston Common and Copley and Quincy Market and Harborfront...

Bid $173, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $175, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $178, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $180, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $183, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $185, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Boston Common and Copley and Quincy Market and Beacon Hill and Harborfront...

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 $200

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.

lynn24 · September 10, 2012

The zones mentioned by crito should be fine, but are certain zones more accessible/commuter friendly or have nicer hotels?

Also, I checked the rebidding page and I was wondering why the bidding strategies start with 2 zones rather than 1? I noticed many Boston bidding strategies are like this.

lynn24 · September 10, 2012

Actually, can someone confirm the specific re-bid zones for Boston? I'm scared of messing up!

Brighton - Brookline

Fenway

Medford

North Cambridge - Arlington

South Boston

lynn24 · September 10, 2012

I did a little more reading up and I gave the bidding a shot. I tweaked the bidding strategy a bit.. started a bit lower.

=====

Select 4* Boston Common and Copley

Bid $100, rejected

Bid $105, rejected

Bid $110, rejected

Bid $115, rejected

Bid $120, rejected

Bid $125, rejected

re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Beacon Hill and Quincy Market and harbourfront

Bid $100, rejected

Bid $105, rejected

Bid $110, rejected

Bid $115, rejected

Bid $120, rejected

Bid $125, rejected

re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Boston Common and Beacon Hill

Bid $130, rejected

Bid $135, rejected

Bid $140, rejected

Bid $145, rejected

Bid $150, rejected

Bid $155, rejected

re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Copley and Quincy Market and Harborfront

Bid $130, rejected

Bid $135, rejected

Bid $140, rejected

Bid $145, rejected

Bid $150, rejected

Bid $155, rejected

re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Boston Common and Copley and Quincy Market and Beacon Hill

Bid $158, rejected

Bid $160, rejected

Bid $163, rejected

Bid $165, rejected

Bid $168, rejected

Bid $170, rejected

re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Boston Common and Copley and Quincy Market and Harborfront

Bid $158, rejected

Bid $160, rejected

Bid $163, rejected

Bid $165, rejected

Bid $168, rejected

Bid $170, rejected

re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Boston Common and Copley and Quincy Market and Beacon Hill and Harborfront

Bid $172, rejected

Bid $174, rejected

Bid $176, rejected

Bid $178, rejected

Bid $180, rejected

Bid $182, rejected

=====

Used the following Re-Bid Zones:

Brighton - Brookline

Fenway

Medford

North Cambridge - Arlington

South Boston

=====

Will try again in 24 hours...

lynn24 · September 10, 2012

GOOD NEWS AT THE BOTTOM OF MY REPORT! :)

=====

Shortly after my 4* bids, I started some 3.5* bids last night... no luck:

3.5* Copley Square - Back Bay

bid $100, rejected

bid $105, rejected

bid $110, rejected

bid $115, rejected

bid $120, rejected

bid $125, rejected

3.5* Harbor Front- Aquarium

bid $100, rejected

bid $105, rejected

bid $110, rejected

bid $115, rejected

bid $120, rejected

bid $125, rejected

3.5* Quincy Market - Financial District

bid $100, rejected

bid $105, rejected

bid $110, rejected

bid $115, rejected

bid $120, rejected

bid $125, rejected

Took a break for the night. When I woke up, I started bidding again:

3.5* Copley Square - Back Bay, aquarium

bid $120, ACCEPTED!

I got upgraded to: 4* The Westin Copley Place

I was really surprised to have my offer accepted on the first shot this morning. I wish I started bidding a bit lower today, but considering I had my highest bid of $182 rejected last night, I'm VERY happy to have my offer of $120 accepted just now and I was upgraded to a 4*! I actually used a $36 Priceline credit ($9/night credit) too, so the actual amount per night that I bidded and had charged to my card was $111!

The icing on the cake was my one other time using Priceline, I also got Westin and I loved the hotel! Thank you BetterBidding for your help and support! And just for the record, I used the PRICELINE link religiously throughout the bidding! ;)

Conclusion: 4* The Westin Copley Place for $111/120! (not sure how you list it if someone uses Priceline Credit) (And I'm very happy that I kept nearly within half my budget!)

AaronJB · September 10, 2012

Congrats on your success.

Very, very nice win for this Westin property! Glad you are pleased with the result and are looking forward to your stay.

Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.

Enjoy your stay.

crito · September 10, 2012

Aaron, I think you mis-labeled this thread. The Westin Waterfront would be a good deal for this price, but the Westin Copley Place is a great deal!

Copley Place is very T-friendly, excellent for general Boston tourism, and for shopping and upscale nightlife it's about the best in the city.

AaronJB · September 10, 2012

Fixed - thanks.

JojoJams · September 18, 2012

Would love some help with my bidding in this same location. I've been bidding tonight and have had no luck. What would you recommend I do now? Also, how did you get upgraded to a 4* on a 3.5* bid?

I really want to stay in Copley Square and no other zone, so I have been using rebid zones with no 3.5/4* hotels

Here is what I've done so far......

4* Copley Square Back Bay

bid $100, rejected

Rebid

4* Copley Square/Fenway Park

bid $110, rejected

Rebid

4* Copley Square/Fenway/Brighton-Brookline

bid $115, rejected

Rebid added 3.5*

4* and 3.5* Copley Square/Fenway/Brighton-Brookline

bid $110, rejected

thereuare · September 18, 2012

JojoJams,

Please start a NEW TOPIC for your own trip, including the dates of your stay, and we will assist you there.

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

Thanks.

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Priceline Hotel: 4* Boston (Copley Square - Back Bay) The Westin Copley Place

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