There will be a bus stop practically in front of every hotel and a tube stop a short stroll away so that is not a factor.

You are looking at the top end of the market with Priceline and the Marriott. Stop looking for 4 star places and you'll save a lot of money.

The stars only refer to the type of facilities at the hotel anyway, not the quality.

Look for B&Bs/small hotels/2 stars.

Nona1, my husband has a bad back and prefers a firm mattress. I know staying at a 4 star hotel via Priceline will not guarantee a firm mattress but he probably would have more options/success at a chain hotel than a charming B&B. He would rather sleep on the floor than on a soft mattress.

OK, but don't expect a 4 star to be 'moderately priced' as you wanted. To me, that means the cheaper end of the market.

Maybe he can take his own mattress with him?

Some of the best beds i've laid on were in smaller hotels and B&Bs

Raleighgirl - I appreciate the bed issue - my problem has been different.: I'm 6'3" and when I come upon a bed with a "foot board" I sometimes have a problem. Sometime during the night I turn over, smack my feet into the board and wake up.
On slightly short bed in Vienna got me twice early one night - so I pulled the mattress off and lept on the floor. (luckily it was one of those "split" beds for two, so there was room on the floor for the single mattress.)

I've done the same thing when faced with a sofa bed's bars poking throught he mattress: just pull it out, close up the bed and sleep on the mattress on the floor. Suddenly, firmness with not sharp objects in the back ...

We've stayed in our share of Holiday Inn Expresses, Comfort Inns, Fairfield Inns, Sleep Inns, Hampton Inns, etc. etc., where the mattress was just fine as well as at B&Bs and condos. We stayed in a 5 star hotel (Ritz Carlton) where we had to ask for a board to put under a soft mattress. It's a crap shoot as far as hotel mattresses go. My husband is tall, as well, Tomassocroccante. I know staying at the Hilton Metropole(Priceline - great price) is no guarantee of a firm mattress but most people on Trip Advisor seemed to enjoy their accommodations in this particular hotel.

If i were paying Hilton prices i'd demand a firm bed ahead of time.

ttt