slruud

Not sure what happened to the dates, but correct dates are 6/20 - 6/23.

Started bidding at $60, and Priceline immediately countered at $74. Rebid at $62...denied. Rebid $64...accepted. Marriott website quoting $189...Expedia and Priceline quoting $206. Used PRICELINE link on this website.

Lastminutetravel.com has the Palmer House Hilton for $150/nite for 2 adults/2 children, cancellable up to 3 days before stay. They are promoting better deals if you call them. You can book it while you still look at HOTWIRE, Hotels.com, et. al. ETA: Expedia Wednesday 24 hour sale has the Whitehall for $127/nite for 2A/2C for OP's dates.

Thought I'd post here rather than down below, seeing as Expedia "Unpublished" rates are pretty much the same as Hotwire. Amenities: Internet, Pool, Restaurant, Business Center, Fitness Center. Used Expedia link on this website.

We are currently staying at The James, and overall we are quite pleased. The location is near quite a few high end bar/restaurants for easy bar hopping. I was quite surprised that internet access is free, and the big bottle of water in the room...replenished twice a day...is free. It's not a fancy brand, but just local water triple filtered. That being said, The Omni would be more appropriate for the type of celebration you are looking for. It is an all suite hotel, and a little north of The James. Still close to night life on Rush. If you were to go that route, sign up for their Select Guest program and get complimentary morning beverage service delivered to your room. If you mention your reason for your stay, you'll probably get some type of nasty baked...usually chocolate...goods in the evening, possibly with a bottle of wine.

It would be worth a shot to try and book the Hyatt Embarcadero thru Lastminutetravel.com for $154/nite. It is "on request", so would take a day or so to see if you get the booking.

LMT. Give them a call. Sometimes they have cheaper rates if you call them rather than what's listed on the web site.

LMT. Give them a call. Sometimes they have cheaper rates if you call them rather than what's listed on the web site.

Only if you cancel less than 3 days prior to your stay. Each hotel is a little different. I've cancelled plenty of times after I've gotten a better deal elsewhere.

Book a cancellable backup via Lastminutetravel.com and take your time looking for a deal. LMT is offering the Marriott Copley Square for $147/nite or the Hilton Back Bay for $154/nite for above dates for the OP's criteria.

There's a thread up above under "Off Topic: Run of House" titled LAST MINUTE TRAVEL - Tool For Identifying Hotels that shows a couple of ways to determine the name of the hotel. You can also call LMT directly and ask for a specific hotel. Sometimes the call in rate is cheaper than the website rate.

You've got plenty of time before your stay, so why not book the Hard Rock for $160/nite on Lastminutetravel.com, or the Westin for $171/nite...cancelable up to 3 days before stay. They are both in the same area as the Intercontinental. Then you can keep an eye on Hotwire and possibly try a bid or two on Priceline. Expedia has the Hotel Felix for $162/nite, cancelable.

Just a FYI, Lastminutetravel.com has the Crowne Plaza San Antonio Riverwalk...4* on their site, 3.5* on Priceline for $83/nite.

Just FYI, the Benson is available on Lastminutetravel.com for $125/nite.

The terminology on LMT is a little confusing, but if you cancel at least 3 days before your stay, it is totally refundable. Give them a call and ask. Also, if you call them to book with a person, sometimes the rate is cheaper than what is on their site.

You can book the Hyatt Embarcadero/Financial District for $158/nite on Lastminutetravel.com while you continue to bid on Priceline. Bookings on LMT are cancellable up to 3 days before checkin.

To the OP: You have some time, so why not try to book the 5* James hotel... on Lastminutetravel.com for $95/nite. Most other sites have it at 4*.Though it shows up "on request", you can still try to book it. Within a day or so, they will let you know if they have the rooms. If not, you can keep trying on Priceline.

If you're willing to book on Hotwire for $200+, why not book the James Hotel on Lastminutetravel.com for $199/nite for 3 adults. It's cancelable up to three days before, and you can keep looking at Hotwire, Expedia, and others. Or you could book the same hotel for 2 people for $164/nite, select 2 people/2 beds, now you have enough beds, and just don't tell them there's a 3rd person. If the previous is against board policy, please feel free to delete.

My mistake...I could have sworn I put in 3 persons.

HOTWIRE also has a 4* in North Michigan Avenue-Water Tower-Gold Coast area for $165/nite for above dates.

To the OP...I may have missed it in the discussion, but are you aware of what parking rates might be for any of the downtown hotels? Don't want you to get a bid accepted to find out the hotel charges $30-$50/day to park...something to consider.

Lastminutetravel.com has the James Hotel for $129/nite, available.

I do believe Le Meridien is still a 4*???

If you do want to drop star level, Lastminutetravel.com has a 3*...their rating...for $77/nite, again "on request". It appears to be the Inn of Chicago, which is still located in a prime restaurant location. Reviews on Tripadvisor.com look positive.

Just for reference, Lastminutetravel.com has the James Hotel for $106/nite, albeit "on request". Location is smack in middle of a whole bunch of restuarants...Flemings, Joe's Stone Crab, Buca De Beppo, Billy Goat Tavern, Lawry's Prime Rib, and others.