Jump to content
Loading...

cheapsk8

Members
  • Posts

    64
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by cheapsk8

  1. I found a nice room at airbnb.com near the Days Inn Chicago for around $150 a night. That's my upper limit.
  2. Need Help Identifying Chicago Loop - Millenium Park - Grant Park Hotel 3* Complimentary Breakfast - <amenity names only please... not descriptions> Fitness Center - Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply. Pool(s) - Property offers at least one pool area; hours and dates of operation may be seasonal. Business Center - Guests have access to business equipment and services; an additional charge may apply. Laundry Facilities (self-service) - <amenity names only please... not descriptions> High-Speed Internet Access - Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply. 95% recommended, 300+ reviews 4 out of 5 TripAdvisor rating current rate $186/night 4* Fitness Center - Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply. Restaurant(s) - Property offers at least one restaurant on the premises; hours and days of operation may vary. Business Center - Guests have access to business equipment and services; an additional charge may apply. High-Speed Internet Access - Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply. 90% recommended, 50+ reviews no TripAdvisor rating current rate $138/night
  3. There is only one 4* hotel in the Millennium-Grant-Loop area currently listed on Hotwire and it's going for $186/night. Their only 3* is going for $138/night (per night for 2 nights w/ 2 adults). Looks like supply indeed is the issue -- no time to waste. I rebid again on 4* properties: 1st bid: $120 2nd bid: $125, added Franklin Park 3rd bid: $130, added Hyde Park 4th bid, $135, added Lincoln Park 5th bid, $140, added Midway North 6th bid, $145, added Skokie-Niles-Evanston 7th bid, $150, added Midway All bids failed to secure a room for these 2 nights. I checked more into your Chicago conference site. They show the 17k attendees for the anesthesiology conference paying $250-275/night for 4* hotels. The other conferences show similar rates. I did see a TravelZoo special for $159, but thought it seemed high at the time. Boy did I lose out! Since these rates are more than I'm willing to pay, my only next option is to try to book a lesser quality (3.5*) at a lower rate.
  4. As my 7th bid, I considered dropping to 3.5*, but changed my mind when PL said that the average price paid for a 3.5* room was $129/night. They said that the average price for a 4* room was $143. What does this mean, anyway? It's obviously their way of encouraging a $143 bid, but how often is the case that a bid below their "suggestion" is accepted?
  5. I got cold feet about the big conferences being held on my stay dates and rebid again on 4* properties: 1st bid: $100 2nd bid: $105, added Franklin Park 3rd bid: $110, added Hyde Park 4th bid, $115, added Lincoln Park 5th bid, $120, added Midway North 6th bid, $125, added Skokie-Niles-Evanston 7th bid, $130, added Midway (which is the only area that goes up to 3.5*, the rest of the above go up to 3* at the highest) All bids failed to secure a room for these 2 nights. As my 7th bid, I considered dropping to 3.5*, but changed my mind when PL said that the average price paid for a 3.5* room was $129/night. They said that the average price for a 4* room was $143. What does this mean, anyway? It's obviously their way of encouraging a $143 bid, but how often is the case that a bid below their "suggestion" is accepted?
  6. My bid was for 4*. Where do you find a list of events? I looked in my usual places and didn't see any besides the JFA Expo . . .
  7. Rebid again: 1st bid: $80 2nd bid: $85, added Franklin Park 3rd bid: $90, added Hyde Park 4th bid, $95, added Lincoln Park 5th bid, $100, added Midway 6th bid, $105, added Midway North 7th bid, $110, added Skokie-Niles-Evanston Failed . . .will try again in a few weeks. Given the lack of a major event on this weekend, I think I can probably find a 3-4* room for $100 somewhere in the Millenium-Loop-Grant or NMA areas. I'm willing to wait to book until I'm 2 days out from my stay. Does this sound reasonable (apart from all the time I'm wasting doing these bids!)?
  8. Rebid again: 1st bid: $85 2nd bid: $90, added Franklin Park 3rd bid: $95, added Hyde Park 4th bid, $100, added Lincoln Park 5th bid, $105, added Midway I did not secure a room with these bids, either. I might call some of the 4* hotels in the Millenium Park area to find out what their availability is . . .
  9. 1st bid: $65 2nd bid: $70, added Franklin Park 3rd bid: $75, added Hyde Park 4th bid, $80, added Lincoln Park 5th bid, $85, added Midway 6th bid, $90, added Midway North 7th bid, $95, added Skokie-Niles-Evanston I never was able to secure a room with these bids. There didn't appear to be any big events on this date. I'll try again maybe once we're within 30 days.
  10. Both do . . .smoking in Wisconsin hotels isn't allowed by law. The $70 hotel is now up to $82. Do you have any other questions to ask? We've been dragging this one out for a few days now . . . Rebid again: 1st try: Madison (west), 3.5*, $60 <- rejected 2nd try: added Madison (southwest), $65 <- rejected Booked via Hotwire: 3* Madison west - Middleton (6-7 miles from center) 95% recommended Fitness center Pool Biz center Laundry Free wifi It turned out to be: Hilton Garden Inn 1801 Deming Way, Middleton, WI, 53562 (608) 831-2220 Hotel Charges: Rate per night: $66.00 Tax recovery charges & fees: $14.68 Subtotal: $80.68 Trip total: $80.68 Thanks for your help.
  11. The first one is madison west-middleton and the 2nd one is madison west.
  12. The 2 hotels are listed as follows: Fitness center Pool Biz center Laundry Free wifi Madison west - middleton (6-7 miles from center) 95% recommended 3* Fitness center Pool Dining Biz center Free wifi Madison west (5-6 miles from center) 90% recommended 3*
  13. My last rejected bid was $55. $66 to $70 isn't that far off -- time is money, after all -- but I'd like to know what the Hotwire properties are before purchasing...
  14. Back at it again . . . 1st bid: $55, Madison (west) <- rejected 2nd bid: $50, added Madison (southwest) and 3* <- rejected 3rd bid: $55, added Madison (south) <-rejected Will try Priceline again tomorrow . . . AaronJB, do you know what the 2 Hotwire hotels are? They're both listed as Madison West and 3*. One has Middleton in the title and is priced at $66, the other is priced at $70. I think the $66 could be the Holiday Inn and Suites or Homewood Suites.
  15. Thanks for your thoughtful response. Unfortunately, the group I'm travelling with probably wouldn't appreciate camping! I'll be in the Madison area for an event on Saturday during the day with plans to return home in the late evening. I do have an excursion planned for Friday to help break up the travel, which is why I considered staying in another metro area. Thanks also for the HOTWIRE link. If I can't Priceline a 3* - 3.5* in Madison (West) for less than $60, I'll consider the downtown location. It would be nice to not pay for parking!
  16. The Marriott Madison West is hosting the 2011 STAR (Start Touring and Riding) Days from July 19 - 22. The motorcycle group has reserved a block of rooms here that weekend and also has rooms reserved at 8 different area hotels. Yikes! When I called the hotel, they said that all of their lower quality rooms are reserved. What are the chances that they'll release inventory for their most expensive (King suite) rooms, maybe closer to the stay dates? Since they don't guarantee a room type, would hotels even offer via Priceline their most expensive rooms? Since I'm travelling a few hundred miles after my stay, I'm not tied to this general area. I could try to book in another adjacent major metro area or in one of the other Madison zones. AaronJB, do you have any recommendations?
  17. I wanted the Marriott in Madison (west), which is Priceline's only 3.5* hotel on Madison's west side. Marriott wanted $145/night on their website. 1st bid: $42, Madison (west) <- rejected 2nd bid: $45, added Madison (southwest) <- rejected 3rd bid: $48 , added Madison (south) <-rejected 4th bid: $51 , added Madison (east) <- rejected No rebid zones left. I'm surprised none of these worked, as this hotel has been booked several times before in the $42 to $51 range. Any ideas on why my bids failed? Could this be a busy weekend? Or did I bid too far out in advance? I'll have to wait and try again later in the week. What is the minimum wait period for Priceline?
  18. Wanted 2 nights (Thursday and Friday) at a 4* in downtown Chicago with a preference for NMA-River North . . .here was my bidding strategy: 1) $75, NMA-River North -> REFUSED 2) $85, added Skokie -> REFUSED 3) $95, added Midway Airport North -> REFUSED 4) $105, added Midway Airport Area (MDW) -> REFUSED 5) $110, added Lincoln Park -> REFUSED 6) $115, added Hyde Park -> REFUSED 7) $120, added Franklin Park -> REFUSED Started over with: 1) $90, Millennium Park, Loop & Grant Park Area -> ACCEPTED I've since seen that other BB'ers got the Palmer House for $75 a night for similar dates . . .looks like I might have left some on the table!
  19. Hotels tend to be in short supply (and are more expensive) for weekends when big conferences are being held. If you're wondering about the supply of hotel rooms for Chicago area hotels, this events calendar should help you gauge availability: http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago-con...conferences.htm Or, you can check the Rosemont or McCormick Place calendars
  20. 3-star hotel in Lake View - Lincoln Park - Wrigleyville 10/21-10/23 This hotel features the following amenities: Complimentary Breakfast - &lt;amenity names only please... not descriptions&gt; Fitness Center - Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply. Golf Nearby - Property is located within walking distance or a short drive of at least one golf course; an extra charge typically applies.
  21. I've booked in downtown Chicago a couple of times via this website and Priceline, but seem to get matched to the Palmer House Hilton frequently . . .it's a nice hotel, but it's older and in need of some renovation. Is there a good strategy of booking in Priceline's Millennium Park, Loop & Grant Park Area but AVOIDING the Palmer House Hilton? Maybe I should just go with Hotwire?! Here's more info on my situation. I'm traveling to Chicago in October for a 2-night stay (Friday to Saturday). I'll be coming in from the south and will have a car. I'd like to stay downtown, but have plans to attend an event in the Belmont area. My thought was to park near Navy Pier, stay downtown and take the CTA's blue line. Does anyone have a better idea? I'd be open to staying in one of the shopping communities to the south (Elmhurst/Oakbrook) or north (Schaumburg/Woodfield) as mentioned in another post, though using the public transit system from these locations would require at least 3 transfers . . .it would have to be a pretty big savings on parking/lodging to make it worth while.
  22. Thanks for your Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins -- really helps to know where to start my bidding. Here was my bidding strategy: 1) 4*, NMA, $70 --> Priceline asked if I would raise my bid by $20 to $90, but I could also "click here" to change other options (which I selected) 2) 4*, NMA/Skokie, $75 $75 was accepted . . .thanks for a great site! Intercontinental Chicago North Michigan Ave - River North Area 505 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60611 312-944-4100 View Map and Directions Check-In Date: Fri, Dec 10, 2010 / After 03:00 PM Check-Out Date: Sun, Dec 12, 2010 / 12:00 PM
  23. OK, I'm back at it . . . First bid: 3.5*, Copley, $144 Second bid: add Fenway Park (zone #6), $149 Third bid: add Medford - Somerville (zone #7), $154 Fourth bid: add Brighton - Brookline (zone #3), $159 Fifth bid: add South Boston (zone #11), $164 Sixth bid: North Cambridge - Arlington (zone #8), $169 No luck . . .I'm already staying at the Cambridge Marriott on shoulder dates to my bid attempts. At this point, I don think it's worth a train/cab ride across town just to save $50. I hope BB'ers benefit from my bidding experience. (I sure didn't!)
  24. First bid: 3.5*, Copley Square - Theatre District, $109 Second bid: added Fenway (zone #6), $114 Third bid: added Brighton - Brookline (zone #3), $119 Fourth bid: added South Boston (zone #11), $124 Fifth bid: added Medford - Somerville (zone #7), $129 Sixth bid: added North Cambridge - Arlington (zone #8), $134 I didn't get anything this go-around . . .will try again when I have time. As a back-up, I booked the Cambridge Marriott at a corporate rate of $199/night. This is a tough area to book, and I have only seen a few successful BB'ers book for similar time periods.
  25. p.s. I called the hotel and, despite Priceline not showing it as a feature, they DO have a pool.
QUICKQUOTE [X]
PRICELINE & HOTWIRE on one screen!
NOTE: Priceline searches for
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ONLY
Room %roomN%:
Age of child:
FINDFAST[X]
EXCLUSIVELY at BetterBidding:
10% OFF

PRICELINE COUPON


(click here) and use

promo code

: EASTEREGG

(Hotel and Car Express Deals max $60 discount... expires 03/31/2024)
×
×
  • Create New...