Priceline Hotel: 4* Boston Waterfont

[flannbarr]

I am new to Priceline. I have a ressie for 9/8/07-9/10/07 at the Marriott Cambridge for $199/night including breakfast which seems like a very good deal. My goal though is to be on the waterfront as we will be going whale watching Sunday morning. I thought about Priceline. If I put in Boston Waterfront and 4*, what price do you recommend? I would love to stay at the Marriott Long Wharf but I know that probably won't happen. It looks like a lot of people have gotten the Westin which is fine.

[blindman]

Welcome to Betterbidding.

The Boston Hotel list is only those that have been reported

There could be others in that area that are not the Westin.

Read the topmost paragraph on that page. :)

Obviously you can bid for a 4* for that area but just be aware you may not get the Westin

Having said that if you look at HOTWIRE for your dates you may be able to ID a hotel that may suit.

This will give you an idea of what priceline may have and at what price to bid (PL is usually cheaper than HW)

[flannbarr]

So if I want a specific hotel, then should I try Hotwire? I would love to stay at the Marriott but not for $400/night.

[blindman]

If you want a specific hotel then neither of the 'opaque' sites will suit.

With HOTWIRE you have more of a chance at IDing the name (because of this site :) ) but there are no guarantees. Also your specific hotel may not come up on HOTWIRE.

With priceline you have less of a chance.

In the Waterfront area the Seaport Hotel has been reported elsewhere :) as a win.

[flannbarr]

On Hotwire, how am able to ID a hotel name because of this site?

[blindman]

Go to HOTWIRE

Input your City\dates\rooms and adults.

Click the Find a Hotel.

When the results come up compare the amenities each hotel offers with the Hotwire Hotel List of previously reported wins.

If there are no exact matches then feel free to ask for further help.

Simple. :)

[flannbarr]

Thanks. Which hotels are considered Boston Waterfront 4*?

[flannbarr]

There were no exact matches. My goal is to stay in a 4* property on the waterfront near Long Wharf. What is best way to do this if I am not concerned with the specific property?

[blindman]

Then you could use priceline.

However if Hotwire is not showing availability for your dates for a 4* (I only found a 2.5*) then it's possible priceline will not have inventory either. :)

[flannbarr]

On Priceline, I selected Boston Waterfront/Convention Center and step 2 showed 4 star and 3 star as my choices available to click on. Does this mean that 4 star hotels are available? Does waterfront mean the Long Wharf area?

[blindman]

It means there are both 4* and 3* hotels.

Look at the Priceline Waterfront map of what the area covers.

[flannbarr]

So when I click 4 star and got to the next step, it does not necessarily mean that there are 4* hotels available? When I click on the Waterfront, the map displayed does not mean a lot to me since I am from Michigan. Is this the area where the Marriott, Westin, and Seaport are? It looks like people have been pretty successful getting the Westin.

[blindman]

I think you need to read the FAQ's to familiarise yourself with how priceline works.

As I live in UK, without looking at a proper map of Boston the priceline map doesn't mean much to me (though I have been twice :) )

At present the two 4* hotels that have been reported (here and elsewhere) are the Westin and the Seaport.

Google for their web-sites and see where they are in relation to the map.

[flannbarr]

I think I am all set blindman. Thanks for your help--just a little gun shy at first. I am going to bid and see what happens.

[blindman]

Ok, if you're happy.

If you have any questions or need a strategy then ask here.

(or the HOTWIRE one if appropriate)