4* Chicago (Millenium-Loop-Grant Park) Palmer House Hilton, $69 ... 2/12/10-2/14/10 Options

[kmdunningaia]

Bid several times:

4* (NMA River North) $49 rejected
added Millenium Park / Loop / Grant Park (2nd choice location) $51 rejected
added Hyde Park $55 rejected
added Skokie Niles Evanston $59 rejected
added Midway $61 rejected
added Forest Park $69 accepted for Parker House Hilton.

A couple of notes:

Found it a little difficult to reconcile the rebid zones pinned here with the Priceline areas; never had that problem before. Maybe they've recently changed?

Was going to give up and try another day before my very last bid; hope I didn't make a mistake getting Parker House. I'm an architect and will love the historic lobby, but really concerned about the reviews ranting about the small rooms -- my 17 year old son will be with me! Will certainly call to nicely request 2 beds and a renovated room, but unsure if Priceline customers will get a break. Any advice from recent guests??

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Thank you for sharing your results with the board. While rooms with two beds can often be hard to come by in large cities, you can call the hotel now and ask them to make a note of your bed preference, as well as ask again at check-in. If you're unsuccessful, i'd also inquire if a rollaway brought into the room would be possible.

Found it a little difficult to reconcile the rebid zones pinned here with the Priceline areas; never had that problem before.

Not sure what issue you were having and it's not clear from your post, but if you're using the PRICELINE HOTEL LIST on the board to determine your re-bid zones... DON"T DO IT, as you will eventually end up in a zone you didn't intend. The correct, and only, way to determine your re-bid zones is explained here: Priceline Re-Bidding Explained. Feel free to read this previous link and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Enjoy your stay.

[kmdunningaia]

Thanks for the advice . . . going to the pinned list is always the way I have picked zones for re-bids. Will use the safer method when I book my Minneapolis hotel for next week!

Thanks again . . . love this site and all the great help given!

Karen

[AaronJB]

I would call the hotel and tell them your situation/request two beds. The Palmer is a historic property with widely varying room sizes - while they are smaller-than-normal overall (not surprising, as I believe this is one of the longest-running hotels in the US), you may luck out. A couple of notes: as an architect, I think you'll really like the Palmer and I would take a peek into some of the ballrooms/other public areas. The rooms/halls are rather normal looking, but some of the other areas (especially the lobby) are quite impressive. The Burnham is another, smaller property nearby that is also quite historic - it was formerly the Reliance Building, considered to be one of the first skyscrapers. It was designed by Daniel Burnham. The other notable Burnham-designed property is the Carbon and Carbide building on Michigan Ave, which is now the Hard Rock hotel. One last one is the Intercontinental on Michigan Ave, which has a fairly normal public space, but the property as a whole has a fascinating history -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterContinental_Chicago

[kmdunningaia]

Aaron,

Thanks for the mini-tour of Chicago architecture! Harkens back to my Arch History days; loved that subject so much almost had enough hours for a double major. Will have some walking around (if the weather cooperates) and will use your suggestions. Thanks again.
Karen

[TAMDAVE]

My suggestion is to join the Hilton Honors program and after you get your membership # call the hotel and tell them you want to add your Hilton Honors # to the reservation and that you would like to request a room with two beds. Once you get to the hotel check in where Honor members check in and kindly request that if you don't have a room with two beds, could you please have one. Make sure you bring your card and show it to them. I have done this several times and have never been denied a room with two beds. Sometimes my Hilton Honors membership was credited for my stay. However I always bring a blow up mattress in case.