Priceline Hotel: Boston 9/5-7 2006 -- TOO EARLY?

[KJC]

I'd like to hear whether you believe Priceline works okay for booking advance reservations, or is it only effective for last-minute deals?

If you think it's not too soon to bid, we need a place in "downtown" Boston for Sept. 5-7, 2006. What would you suggest I bid in this area for a 4*, and which hotels are most likely to come up?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

As far as bidding early or late, see the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

If you want to bid now, let us know your maximum bid and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

[KJC]

Thanks -- I read the FAQ and it was very helpful. Seems like no harm done by bidding early, so...

Here's the scoop on my trip; I am traveling with my daughter and my mother so we need a room that can hold 3 people. My mom is used to staying at very nice hotels, so we need 4* or above. In Boston, we need something near the tourist sites (Fanueil Hall etc.). I'm hoping to find a FABULOUS hotel for which we could pay $150 + tax, or a VERY NICE hotel for which we would pay $100+tax.

Does that seem possible? What would you suggest?

[KJC]

Forgot to add that I wouldn't mind low-balling at the beginning if you think I can do better than those prices.

[thenewbie]

In order to understand how to bid on priceline, you will need to learn how to find your priceline rebid areas. Once you find the 3 areas in Boston that lack 4* hotels, please post their names and we'll provide you with bidding advice.

Also, there is a list of reported Priceline hotels. It should give you an idea of what hotels are in the 4* category. However, you cannot pick which one you will receive, so you will either need to set your max to $150 and accept any of the 4* hotels or set it to $100.

Let us know the 3 rebidding areas and what your current maximum will be for the 4* level.

[KJC]

At the moment, the three rebid areas look like:

Brighton/Brookline

Medford/Somerville

South Boston

None seem to have 4* hotels. I hope that doesn't change though, because I wouldn't want to end up in any of them!

I'd be a very happy camper if we got anything under $100 for a 4*. Since we're looking early, I guess I won't go above that at this time; I can always raise it later.

There seems to be a new zone not on your Boston Priceline list: World Trade Center.

Does anybody know a 4* in Boston that offers free parking?

[thereuare]

In the PRICELINE FAQ did you also see the part that priceline only guarantees double occupancy... after that it is at the discretion of the hotel.

Since you'll be three in the room, is that something you're comfortable with?

[KJC]

I did read the FAQ about the double occupancy issue.

I was hoping to pick a zone and hotel class that tended to have newer hotels because I think it's the older hotels that tend to have small rooms with inadequate bedding. I was thinking the World Trade Center area might be a good fit because that sounds newly constructed, and I figured a 4* would have at least a double/double.

Or do you think that's not realistic and that PL might be a bad choice for this trip?

[thereuare]

It's a calculated risk that you have to determine if you are willing to take, based upon how you will deal with it if you don't get the bed configuration you want.

Have you considered Hotwire or EasyClickTravel, both of which will allow you to search for triple occupancy?