Priceline Hotel: 4* Boston (Copley) Colonnade Hotel

[Timothy Denike]

I need some help.. Should I expand my area, raise my price, or are there any other tricks? We're getting pretty close to what I could find online without bidding.. Last Thanksgiving, Copley accepted at $85. Last May, Downtown accepted at $75.

Goal - 4 star minimum, prefer Copley, Downtown backup..

Yesterday:

$65 - Copley - rejected

$70 - added Brighton (no 4*'s there) - rejected

$75 - added Medford (no 4*'s there) - rejected

$80 - added South Boston (no 4*'s there) - rejected

Done for the day - too many attempts.

Today:

$85 - Copley - rejected

$90 - added Brighton (no 4*'s there) - rejected

$95 - added Medford (no 4*'s there) - rejected

$100 - added South Boston (no 4*'s there) - rejected

Done for the day - too many attempts.

Expanded search to include Downtown & Copley 4*'s

$75 - Downtown - rejected

$80 - added Copley (we know they won't take < 100..) - rejected

$85 - added Brighton (no 4*'s there) - rejected

$90 - added Medford (no 4*'s there)

$100 - added South Boston (no 4*'s there) - rejected

[thereuare]

What are the actual dates of your stay? (5/25-5/28?)

What (and where) is the best rate you kind find thru "traditional" means?

What is your maximum bid amount?

[Timothy Denike]

Good guess. 5/25-5/29 I've looked at the Hilton and Hyatt websites in more or less the same neighborhoods, and found Internet rates of $169. Westin $209.

My upper limit is pretty flexible. I just want a centrally located luxury hotel for cheap. :-) Perhaps it's time to consider the Waterfront or Cambridge areas. I don't think I'll consider Logan Airport area.

[thereuare]

I'm showing rates at the Hilton at over $200/nite.

The Hyatt has a refundable rate of $179, if you choose to wait you may want to book that (please use our link) as a cancellable back-up.

Based upon the Hyatt rate, it does seem like it may just be that inventory hasn't been released yet, but i also think that:

1) the alternate zones may be a bit cheaper than the two zones you're bidding

2) you're not too far off for your prefered zones... another $10-$20/nite may just be enough to succeed (which is still about $50/nite savings, but don't know just how high you're willing to bid at this point)

Let us know how you want to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

[Timothy Denike]

Spent a couple days bidding up from $60/nite for a 4 star in Copley. (I followed the link on savingsbarn.com)

My last bid attempts exhausted at $100. Mom needs a hotel also, so I started working on her reservation first - which is one day longer. 5/24-5/29.

Bid $110 4* Copley - rejected - site offered to let me rebid $22 higher - I declined

- rebid at $120 - accepted!

Next - did another reservation hoping to get the same hotel.

Bid $115 4* Copley - accepted! (Same hotel)

5/25-5/29

A little more than I had originally wanted to spend - but I get to stay in the neighborhood I wanted, and the hotel looks nice. (Rate on the Colonnade Hotel direct is $169 - 30% savings.)

Thanks guys for the help,

Tim

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your win.

Glad to hear that you got it settled and received the same hotel on both purchases. As mentioned above, i didn't think you were too far away from a win.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board and for starting your bids with the PRICELINE links at SavingsBarn.com

Enjoy your stay.