Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - What is it with Baltimore in August?

My boyfriend and I have tickets for the Yankees-O's game on Saturday Aug 16 so we are planning to spend the weekend in Baltimore. I lived in B'more for period of time so I also want to show him my old haunts, visit some dear friends, and just go bar hopping in Fells Point.

I prefer to stay at BWI because of the free parking and it's closer proximity to Annapolis (we're returning to NYC via Annapolis and the Eastern Shore so we can walk around the city dock) than any other B'more area hotel.

Well I've done every trick in the book to get rebids but I can't even get a 2 1/2 star property at BWI for under $58 per night. What is Baltimore's attraction in the height of summer when it probably will be 100 degrees outside. People want to spend the weekend? I'm a Yankee fan; I have a reason. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/biggrin.gif

Why is B'more that expensive? I got a prime 3 star Portland, ME hotel in the last weekend of June, the height of Maine tourism for $52 per night. By I can't get in that range for a 2 1/2 star in Baltimore??? What gives?

Thanks for letting me rant. What can I expect to pay for 2 1/2 stars at BWI?

"...What is Baltimore's attraction in the height of summer when it probably will be 100 degrees outside...."

My son lives in Baltimore and tells me that the Inner Harbor and horse racing are among two HUGE draws for the area....especially in the summer.

I managed to get the Hilton Garden Inn which is 2.5* for 8/16-8/18 for $45 a night. This is in the BWI airport zone. I think I bid this about 2 weeks ago. I tried to get the Inner Harbor with no luck, then checked and found the Yankees were playing the Orioles so I knew why.

I've done BWI zone a few times, hit or miss really. Sometimes it works out better than others. Have you checked on Hotwire? I'm assuming you have for a guideline price, but if not it never hurts to see what they're pricing (keeping in mind the difference in star levels). BWI is also a zone that I feel comfortable bidding 2* in, if I can get it cheap enough. I've stayed at the Microtel (heh, those are pretty lame, but at least it's new lame and cheap, like 30 bucks) and the Holiday Inn (which was okay, I stayed on a Hotwire at I think $32, at the time Hotwire called it 3*, but I'm sure Priceline would call it 2*). If you see a 3.5* designated all-suite on Hotwire, it's the Embassy Suites. (Hotwire tells you when it's a suite.) Supposedly a couple other low-end suites may come up for 2* at BWI: Homestead Village and Candlewood. Or there's a Fairfield Inn. Normally I don't feel comfortable with 2* bidding, but there I don't mind at all.

Someone just got the 4* Hyatt (Inner Harbor zone) for $65 for 8/18-8/20. (And someone got it next week for $55!)

Resolved---I blew off Baltimore. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/biggrin.gif

I made a $48 3* bid in Columbia, MD which was accepted.

[This message has been edited by Analise (edited 07-10-2003).]

Now Analise you know better than that. Which hotel was it? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/biggrin.gif

I suppose Columbia isn't bad accessibility-wise. No problem if you're driving. $48 for 3* is pretty good for anywhere.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CrazyOne:
Now Analise you know better than that. Which hotel was it? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/biggrin.gif</font>

The Columbia Hilton.

I used to live in Baltimore, Annapolis, and College Park (lots 'o' Maryland) so I know Columbia isn't too far from the ballpark.