carver1 Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 My wife and I are traveling to chicago next weekend on the 26th and staying thu the 2nd. We want to stay on the magnificent mile, but the hotel prices are super high with such short notice. I have tried to bid on priceline using 4 star hotels and i have bid up to $200 and still not luck. We really dont want anything lower than that in that area because the 3+ stars have hotels with low reviews. Please help us so we can get a nice roomy hotel for under $200. Thanks Link to comment
AaronJB Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 The problem/s with these dates are a 19,000 person convention that's 7/27-31 (and then people probably coming in night before) and then the Lollapalooza Festival from 8/1-3 (and then probably people coming in night before.) Are you driving in or flying in? Would you be willing to split your stay between two hotels and/or potentially stay in the Loop if it meant getting under $200? Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Link to comment
carver1 Posted July 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 Staying on the loop would be just fine i suppose as long as it is close to everything. I dont want to split the stay up between hotels. We are flying in on Saturday afternoon. I dont mind staying outside of the city i was just worried that the parking and the car rental would add up to more than the hotel downtown, but i am open to suggestions since the time is getting so close. I would appreciate help please Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 20, 2014 Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 Given the lack of anything perfect (in terms of star rating and location) within your budget, this is what i would do... You can use this link to book the Hyatt Regency for just over your target budget at $219/nite... but it's refundable until the day before your arrival (double check the cancellation terms and dates on the landing page) I would take this as it's within 10% of your budget (and i would want more than 10% savings on an opaque purchase) and has a good location. This gives you something 'good' which should work for your needs, as well as give you the flexibility to take advantage of any last minute deal should one become available in the day(s) before your arrival. As well, sign up with our sister site RateDrop to get an alert should any 4* PRICELINE EXPRESS or HOTWIRE hotels drop below $200/nite for your dates. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Your thoughts? Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
AaronJB Posted July 20, 2014 Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 A few suggestions and thoughts regarding each: 1. Airport. Although the airport is more expensive than usual - looks like overflow traffic from downtown - you could stay by the airport and take the CTA in. The only issue with the CTA is that it's not the most comfortable ride for the hour or so long trip into the city and back each way. 2. North Suburbs A. You could likely bid and win a 3.5* for the low to mid $60's. You would then take the Metra trains downtown, which are much more comfortable than the CTA trains (upper and lower seating area, more comfortable seats, conductors, bathrooms) and that would be around 35-45 minutes each way. You would have to rent a car, because there's no way to know when bidding in this area if you'll get a hotel with shuttle (only a few have local shuttles) or if there's any sort of transit to the nearest train station (usually is not.) In a lot of instances in this area, it's a quick drive to the train station, but it's not walkable. 3. North Suburbs B. The Hilton Northbrook is $104 for these dates. The hotel's website says it has a shuttle within a 5 mile radius. I don't know the details of the shuttle - for example, the hours the shuttle runs - but there are Metra stations within 5 miles. So, this would be more expensive, but you could use the shuttle. The North Suburbs actually have a lot of great restaurants and some shopping, as well as a few sights of interest - particularly the Chicago Botanic Gardens (chicagobotanic.org.) If you had a car, you could see all these sites when you want to and have more flexibility. If you relied on the shuttle, wouldn't have to rent a car but less flexibility. There is no charge for parking at the hotels in the North suburbs if you were to rent a car. 4. North Suburbs C. The Hilton Orrington in Evanston is $159 regular rate. This property is in Evanston, which is the closest city to the border of Chicago. It's actually a great college town, with tons of restaurants and a fair amount of shopping. A few blocks from this property, you have both CTA and Metra stations, so you have either option there or back, which gives a lot of flexibility. During the morning rush hour, there are express Metra trains but there are also the Evanston Express CTA trains, which make stops in Evanston then are . This would be the easiest, quickest and most convenient (unfortunately, also the most expensive) option for staying outside the city and getting to/from downtown. Wouldn't have to rent a car. When you walk out of the hotel in Evanston, everything's right there (and it is more city-like) versus the suburbs NW/W, which are more spread out. 5. Downtown. If you don't want to split the stay, the only option is really to start lower and bid up to $200 again for the Millennium Park-Downtown-Grant Park area on PRICELINE. You would have to be willing to stay anywhere within the zone. When searching for downtown for these dates, a number of hotels are sold out - I would definitely suggest starting lower and working up to $200 for the Millennium Park-loop-Grant Park zone, but given how busy these dates are, $200 may still not be enough. Please use the site's Hilton link in the Support Page section if you do book regular rate at either the Hilton Orrington or Hilton Northbrook. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of the above (or any city questions) before booking. Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Also: While you didn't want to split your stay, I will note that for 7/26-29, there's a 4* in the Loop area on Hot.wire for $172 w/: Free InternetPet friendlyBoutique HotelSmoke Free RoomsFitness CenterRestaurant(s)Business CenterInternet accessSpa ServicesAccessible for the blindAccessible for the deafAccessible path of travelIn-room accessibilityAccessible bathroomHandicapped parkingRoll-in shower Then for the 7/29-8/2 period, there's a 4* in the Mag Mile-RN area for $234 w/: Free BreakfastFree InternetPet friendlyFitness CenterBusiness CenterInternet accessSpa ServicesAccessible path of travelIn-room accessibilityAccessible bathroomRoll-in shower The per night average would be a bit over your desired budget per night, but you'd get free breakfast for the second half of your stay. Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Link to comment
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