Priceline Hotel: Boston 2 Rooms, July 13 - 15, I don't know boston!

[lcohen999]

We are looking for two rooms in Boston.

However, I do not know the city well enough to know what is a good area or how to bid.

We are trying to keep the rates as low as possible (3* or 4*).

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Please follow-up your previous Priceline California thread with whatever you ended up doing for that stay... then bump this thread and we'll have a look at the above.

[lcohen999]

done!

[thereuare]

Downtown and Copley are the most frequently bid zones, but you'll need to do a bit of research first to determine why you're going to Boston in the first place... nobody can comment on the appropriate zones for you as they don't know the purpose or needs of your trip.

If you have an idea of what you'll be doing in Boston you can use our Priceline Map of the area to determine which zones are close to the places you want to see/visit.

Keep in mind that Boston is a relative expensive hotel city, so you'll also need to adjust your zone expectations based upon your budget (which you didn't state in your post above).

Once you determine your acceptable zone(s) and budget we'll be able to advise further.

I'll also add that as you ended up booking direct for your California thread linked above, we are affilates of almost all the major hotel chains and using the links in our SUPPORT PAGE for your travel purchases helps keep this place running :)

[lcohen999]

Sorry about the links...I will make sure in the future I will book any hotels via those links :)

As for Boston, our primary reason is for Fenway Park.

My travel agent found the Doubletree near cambridge for $169 (two bedrooms). So I would say, per person if we could find a decent hotel for ~100-120 per night, that would be perfect.

[thereuare]

I'm fairly certain you can do better than the Doubletree offer.

Go to Google Maps and enter "Fenway Park, Boston, MA" (withou the quotes) and see the location on the map. Then compare it to Priceline zones, and Fenway appears to be just beyond the western edge of the Copley zone and just east of the Cambridge zone. However, note that the Cambridge zone extends to the northeast quite a ways and you could end up anywhere within the given region. I don't know the area well enough, but i would imagine that even if you stayed Downtown there would be mass transit available to get to the ballpark and might give you more things to do in the daytime (although i think the other two areas are probably 'active' as well).

Once you decide which zones you're willing to accept let us know and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

[lcohen999]

I would say, if I had to pick an order, it would be Copley, Downtown and Cambridge

That should keep us where we want.

Also, it is going to be two rooms, if that makes any difference

thanks again, as always

[thereuare]

Would you like the least expensive hotel in any of the three zones above OR would you prefer to pay more for a hotel in the Copley zone vs. a less expensive hotel in one of the other zones?

Are you willing to pay more for a 4* property vs. a 3* prpoerty? (ie- go up to your limit first for a 4* and then try for a 3* if rejected)

Let us know and we'll advise accordingly.

[lcohen999]

I would be willing to pay more for a 4* than a 3*.

If I could somehow get the Wesin for $95-120 that would be exactly what we would be looking for...

I know I can't make requests but to give you an idea...

[thereuare]

So we'll try for a 4* up to your limit before switching to a 3*, but what about the zones...

Would you like the least expensive hotel in any of the three zones above OR would you prefer to pay more for a hotel in the Copley zone vs. a less expensive hotel in one of the other zones?

[djs]

If you wind up with the Doubletree, you will not be able to walk to Fenway, nor will you be able to easily walk anywhere else. If you get something in Backbay or Copley you will be able to walk to Fenway, and to many bars and resturaunts. I don't know if Hotel Commonwealth is available on PL or HW, but that would be on the outer edge of the Back Bay/Copley area and is only a couple of blocks from Fenway.

There is easy to use public transportation if you were to get a hotel in the Downtown area (again you could walk too, but it would probably take about 30 minutes or so...longer if there are kids involved).

If you're looking at a weekend where students would be graduating, or during the Boston Marathon you'll have little chance of getting anything as most hotels are probably booked solid those weekends.

For what it's worth, I'd say there is just as much to do in the Back Bay/Copley area (probably more) as there is to do Downtown.

You could do well with Cambridge, but as thereuare points out, their area is kind of expansive; for the purposes of your trip I wouldn't take anything in Cambridge.

[lcohen999]

Thank you for the info.

I figured that Fenway wouldn't be within walking distance at all (sorry for the long time it took me to come back, was on an extended business trip).

So how do we do this :)

[thereuare]

Which zone(s) are you willing to bid?

What is your maximum bid? (is it different for 3* vs. 4*)

Are you willing to pay more for a 4* vs. a 3* or are you looking for the least expensive 3* or better hotel?

Let us know the above and we'll suggest a strategy to follow.