Priceline Hotel: Possible to get specific hotel?

[Doum334]

Is there any trick to get a specific hotel for sure? I want to get the Westin Copley in Boston...But I'm affraid I'll get something else like the Fairmont. Is there anyway to get the Westin?

[thereuare]

In a word, "no".

The deep discounts that are provided by Hotwire and Priceline are in exchange for purchasing the hotel before knowing the name.

If users could pick the hotel and buy at rock bottom rates, there would be no reason to ever book at higher rates directly with the hotel. The concept of buying an 'opaque' product gives the bargain-seekers the discounts they desire while also protecting the hotel by continuing to have 'brand loyal' guests pay higher rates for that privelege.

In certain areas, many of us are able to virtually figure out the hotel we will receive (or at the very least, narrow it down to a few potential candidates), but there are never any guarantees. If you want a specific hotel, then Priceline and/or Hotwire is probably not the right method for reserving your room. Perhaps Orbitz or Expedia might be a better option to try?

If on the other hand you decide that you'd like to give Priceline/Hotwire a try, let us know and we'll be happy to design a bidding strategy for you.

[WillTravel]

If you want a specific hotel for a certain purpose, then it makes sense to look at if you can buy what you need separately. For example, if you want a shuttle to the airport, maybe you'll still save money getting a Priceline room not knowing if it has a shuttle, if the taxi fare to the airport is less than the difference between the regular-rate room with the shuttle and the unknown Priceline room. Then if you get a Priceline room with a shuttle, that's an extra bonus!

Sometimes, there's just no way that is good enough. For example, if visiting Disneyland, I want a 7-minute-or-less walk to the front gates - and taxi rides would not be a good substitute. Thus, Hotwire or Priceline just won't work, because I don't want to take the substantial risk of not getting what I want.

[Doum334]

Thanks for your replies!! :)

Well I want to stay in the Boston Back Bay/Copley/Theater District, I would prefer Westin, but any other 4* hotel would be fine EXCEPT for the Colonnade. I read so many bad reviews about this hotel, I just to want to get it :)

[thereuare]

It sounds like you don't want the Colonnade or the Fairmont :)

I don't know what reviews your read, but the ones here Colonnade Reviews don't seem too bad. There are a few negatives, but i've found even the best hotels have negative comments mixed in with the positive ones! The thing about Priceline/Hotwire (at least for me) is that i can walk out of a hotel thinking it was the greatest stay for the price i had paid and will review it as such, yet if i was paying $250/nite for that same hotel i'd leave feeling as if i was ripped off and would review it negatively.

I think you have 2 options:

1) When i was bidding Boston a while back, i recall the Westin being the low acceptance in the area. Although i don't know if it still is, you may get away with bidding low in hopes that you'll be at the Westin's acceptance rate but below the other hotels acceptance rate. Of course, this is somewhat of a risky proposition, and the zones have changed since i had bid the area, but it may be worth the risk compared to the typical $200+ rates often found in this area.

2) Consider using Hotwire. You may be able to match up the amenities with the posts in this thread: Hotwire Hotel List and have a better idea of what hotel you may get. Of course doing this still involves some risk, but perhaps less risk than a Priceline bid. As well, i would think that the more amenities that are listed, the less the risk gets (especially if some of the amenities are less common ones) and even less risk if you can find amenities listed at the Colonnade (thru a source like Expedia) and find a hotel that offers an amenity which is not offered at the Colonnade.

How long is your stay? Only you can determine if either of the above are options for you. Personally, since getting interested in Priceline, i refuse to pay big money for a hotel room (but i'm also not that picky). I would tend to take the chance in a situation such as this IF my stay was only for a few nites, as i can deal with almost anything for a couple of nites, but if my stay was for an extended trip (say a 5+ nites) i would think about it more. This is especially true in an area such as this, where traditional rates are typically $200+, and a Priceline/Hotwire reservation will likely save me more than 50%.

Let us know what you decide to do (even if it's booking direct), and if you decide to go the Priceline or Hotwire we'll be more than happy to help with the bidding/buying process and research.