cigarman - $389 at the Westin Copley is outrageous. If you have your heart set on staying there at least rebook it through an AMEX travel agency (or some other agency that has negotiated rates). The AMEX "Select Rate" (negotiated corporate rate) for the Westin is $349 from 9/7-12/31. Personally, for that money I think there are much finer hotels in Boston, but if its those Snackwells you're craving you can't beat that Platinum Amenity, and who can put a price/value on that?!

BeantownFlyer, You can't rebook what is "sold out"... I agree it is an outrage! However, I absolutely have to be a National Association of Securities Dealers compliance meeting to satisfy their annual torture requirement. And these bozos start at 8am!! I normally would stay in the suburbs and take the train in. However, I am Not a morning person...I get up at about 10am normally. It was $389 or no show. Thanks anyway!

Just an update... the Wall Street Journal showed the average room rate for next week in BOS at $313, just slightly below number 1 highest city, NYC.

"Everything happens for a good reason," an anonymous tome once wrote.

I re-scheduled the trip to do ATL & CLT that week instead. My sales rep has season tickets for the Carolina Panthers, so I'm going to the Panthers-Rams game on 10/8 .

Thought I'd update this thread...

I was able to book a 3 night stay at the Renaissance in Bedford, MA at $100/night. Their posted 'best rate' was $169, but this was a '21 day advance/pay at booking' deal. I took it.

I just called them back to book 1 more night, later that week. After jousting with the Res. Agent at the hotel about rates from $169-219 night, I finally got fed up. I said "tell me what your best weekend rate is & what I need to qualify!"

After punching computer keys, he said "I can offer you a Weekend rate of $99 that also includes 2 free breakfasts." I replied..."Is that a AAA/AARP/any-special- thing rate?" "No" he said, "just a weekend special."

It really is a game...could they be paid commission on the room rates they book?

Again, in the spirit of updating the thread, a general resource for Boston hotel is:
http://boston.hotelguide.net/

An excellent hotel (where we put up visitors) is The Eliot http://boston.hotelguide.net/data/h100029.htm

A bit more affordable is a super-B&B: http://gryphonhouseboston.com/index.html

Finally, a little further out (but on the Green Line B-train so trivial to get downtown) is a good Best Western: http://boston.hotelguide.net/data/h100010.htm

This hotel is about 5 minutes drive from BC.

Hope all this helps.