fallidar

3 Star Upscale Hotel

Check-In Date: Sunday, October 9, 2011

Check-Out Date: Monday, October 10, 2011

Region Chicago Suburbs

City Areas: Algonquin

Arlington Heights

Arlington Heights North

Aurora

Bloomingdale - Carol Stream

Bolingbrook - Romeoville

Dundee - Elgin

Elmhurst

Hoffman Estates

Itasca Area

Lake Zurich

McHenry County

Oak Brook - Downer's Grove

Saint Charles

Schaumburg

Willowbrook - Burr Ridge

Check-In Time: Guaranteed late night arrival

Check-Out Time: Check-out times vary by hotel

Room 1:

Number of Rooms: 1

Number of Nights: 1

Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $35.00

Subtotal: $35.00

Taxes and Service Fees: $11.44

Total Charges*: $46.44

No takers at 3* $35 or 2.5* $30. Used all zones. These were guaranteed wins on a Sunday night just a few months ago.

Decided to spend a little more for this weekend but still not break the bank. Also wanted to try a different area. So north shore time...

Bid 45

Counter Offer 59

Bid 48

Bid 50

Won @ $52

Interesting, not sure what to expect. Not the embassy suites (I am quite enamored with this chain) I was hoping for, but still interesting.

Ended up being a great value. This property is in my eyes equal if not superior to the 2* homestead just a block down the street I've stayed at for $22.

Blew a hole in my star theory since this property also had a recliner and a semi-room divider.

I'd write a review but I doubt my opinions are in line with what the average person looks for. I find that reviews I read expect far too much from low price properties (there's water on the floor in the bathroom... boo freaking hoo throw a towel on it) and far too little from high priced properties ($10 for WIFI WTF IS THAT! And no free amenities at all! When did that become acceptable?).

Star level? Some good 3.5 star properties can be had from $55-$80 but 4* are running around $100-$125 this time of year. I thoroughly enjoyed the embassy suites downtown 3.5* at $55 earlier in the year probably one of the best properties I've stayed at downtown in terms of value considering the free drinks for 2 hours and great free buffet style breakfast.

Decided to go cheap for this weekend. Could have gone with my usuals of $21 2* Itasca for the Days Inn (good property with free internet and breakfast (why is it that a 2* offers more free services than all the 4*s I stay at?)) or $23 2* Itasca for the extended stay (too much shame to go back after I set off smoke detector and fire department had to come out(who puts the smoker detector right above the stove top anyway?) or $22 in oak brook for the Homestead (okay property). Instead I was brave and tried my first 1* bid. Started at $18 and counteroffer for $24. Bid $19, still nothing. Bid $20 and hit Extended Stay America Chicago - Downers Grove. Just another extended stay property, pretty sure on what to expect, somewhat disappointing since the reason I use priceline is to experience different properties. I wonder why this one is 1* while other extended stay properties are 2*. I'll find out tomorrow.

Judging from the room layout it appears that priceline gives the extended stays with a true suite style layout 2* and the ones with a crammed in kitchenette in the back of a normal sized hotel room 1*.

So extended stay style properties seem to break down something like this.

2.5* = Couch and recliner and bed and room divider and Kitchenette usually with oven

2* = Recliner and bed and semi room divider and Kitchenette usually without oven (stovetop only)

1* = Bed and small kitchenette (stovetop only) with small or no divider

Some extended stay style properties have separate rooms for priceline/hotwire folks. I was accidently put in one of the new rooms which seem to have more modern fixtures/appliances and a newer television (which made the manager awfully upset with the girl who checked me in)

Congrats. I've stayed at this property many times as it is a reliable $30 3*. Love the comfy beds and the suite layout. I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay. Just watch out for the minibar - $5 for a bag of M&Ms $7 for a jar of gummy bears... really?

Hi, love priceline to death and this board has been quite helpful but I have a problem. There are alot of GREAT 3.5* properties in the Oakbrook area. Thing is, whenever I try to bid for them I keep getting "upgraded" to the Hyatt McDonalds 4* because their rate is so cheap (deserves a 3*). Don't get me wrong HMcD is an okay property (BORING and all services overpriced) but many of the 3.5* properties are far superior, the embassy suites for example (free drinks and breakfast and better rooms, atmosphere, etc.). Is there anyway to keep priceline from 'upgrading' my 3.5* bids to HMcD. I don't want to stay at HMcD anymore!