paintergirl

Ok, I will! If I change arrangements I will post them! Thank you SO very much! I appreciate all of your help!!

Ok, so I went ahead and booked a back up hotel through my company. A room opened up that wasn't available before. It is the O hotel, 1/2 mile from the convention center. I am paying $169/ night, and am hoping I can find someone to room with me and share in the costs. This way I won't have to pay cab fares, and I have extreme convenience. Thank you for your help in trying to help me get a room. NEXT time I will book further in advance!!!

I have gotten my bid up to $165/ night for a 3 1/2 *

If i go for a 3* how low do you think I can start my bidding?

For 3 1/2* I have my bid up to $150. It looks like I am going to have to pay a lot more than I wanted. I debated about bidding on 3 *. However, the location of the 3 * hotels wouldn't be very convenient.

I have not booked a "back up hotel".

Awesome! Thank you for the info. I wasn't sure how that worked.

I really would rather not pay more than $125 for a 3 1/2*... If I could get a 3* much cheaper that would be REALLY awesome! The only thing about the 3* hotels is they are further away from the convention center than I would like. Looks like I would have to take a cab? which would make up for the money I could save with the 3*.

So far have the bid on 3 1/2* up to $110. Can't bid anymore on 3 1/2* for another 24. :(

After looking at the hotel list the 3 1/2* and the 3* options don't look so bad. I might opt to go as low as a 3* and try to stay more in the comfort of my budget.

I have gotten my bid up to $140 for a 4* and have not gotten a "win" yet. I might have to take it down to a 3 1/2* Can I start over if I click 3 1/2*? or do I have to wait another 24 hours? The 4* is pushing my budget...Thank you for your suggestion below.

So far I have bid on 4* only

$85, $90, $95, $100, $105 The regions I added were Culver City, Inglewood, Lawndall, and USC. I will continue on my 4* bidding tomorrow. I might take my bid a little higher if I have to. It looks like one of the 3 1/2 * options downtown has gotten some ROUGH ratings. 3.5* Millenium Biltmore

OMG, I feel so dumb! I totally get how to do this now! Thank you!!!! I was doing it ALL wrong in many previous bidding! LOL!

Thank you so much for the strategy! The only thing I am struggling to find is the re-bid zones. The only one I can confirm is the Culver City area. I am ready to start bidding other than that detail. The zones in the better bidding list do not quite match up with the ones listed on the Priceline bidding section.

Started with Knox zone with a $50 bid, added the park central zone, and got the Westin for $55/night. Not too shabby! I am sure it will work great!

I would like to try to get a 4* under 100$. That would be my goal. If that is not possible I will go to 125$ My last option would be a 3 1/2* under 100$. I need to look at the list of 3 1/2* hotels and see the caliber.

I hope this answers your question. I just don't know what is feasible....

Thank you!!!

Well, I would love to pay under $100. Maybe $125 would be close to my max???

I updated the thread. Thought I had posted it already... apologies.

I added the airport location and sadly it gave me a "4 *" Sheraton by the airport. This is not the location I wanted, but was adding areas I thought didn't have a 4*, (big risk I know) trying to bid again. And, I paid WAY too much for it $135 per night. The Sheraton is in need of some major upgrades. But, for as much as I was in the room it sufficed. It was an added expense of a cab ride downtown and back each day.

Thanks!

I need help on a bidding strategy. I need a 4* or maybe 3 1/2 * downtown LA for 5/17-5/20. Where can a start my bidding? And, how high might a need to go?

Thank you for any help!

I clicked on both links! I know the drill! I always do. :)

I need help bidding on a room 2/17 - 2/19. I need the hotel downtown, and I am seeking a 4* hotel. I started my bid at 55$ and increased it all the way up to $95. I added areas with out 4* hotels each time. I still have not gotten a room. Do you know how high I might have to bid to get a room?

Thank you for your help!!

I started the bidding at $65. I added additional areas that did not have 4* hotels in them. I increased the bid 5$ each time until I got the rooms for $80/ night. We needed a hotel in this region. North Michigan Ave. was too far away. I hope this is a nice hotel. I have booked it for my boss and business associate. So, I hope it is a winner!

Thanks so much!

I started with 4* North Shore $50 bid. I added Deerfield 3 1/2*, I was trying to get the 3 1/2 * in Deerfield as you suggested. I then added all of the other areas until it upgraded me to the 4* in North Shore. It sounds like Deerfield would have been better. But, I am happy with the results.

I can't thank you enough for all of your help!! :D

Thank you so much for all of your help, and the additional tips!! You have gone above and beyond to help me, and it is so much appreciated! Cheers!!

First bid was $65, and I bid $70 on my next bid and won the room! Thank you for your help in getting this win!

If I go for a north suburbs which one do you suggest? If I try to get another hotel for 11/29 - 12/1 downtown, what route do you suggest? Hotwire or Priceline?

Thank you for all of your help! It is so much appreciated!

In terms of taking the Metra from the suburbs to downtown, some trains come into Ogilvie Transit Center, while some come in at Union Station, which is a block or so South of Ogilvie. This is really not very far from Merchandise Mart. However, in terms of the Loop in general once you get to 10pm at night, I'd suggest using a cab. It would be a very quick cab ride - just a few minutes, especially later at night when there's not a ton of people around - from the Mart to either of those stations. It's just that the Loop can be VERY quiet later into the evening, and it's not a bad idea to take a cab late at night even if you are staying downtown.

I'd suggest staying in the North burbs in terms of the suburban options. In terms of the suburbs, would you be looking for a 4*, or would you be more interested in a 3/3.5*, given that you're going to be downtown most of the day?

The Hyatt isn't right by the Mart, but it wouldn't be too far and is centrally located in the downtown area. That property was recently renovated - it's a massive convention-oriented property.

When searching for 12/1-5, I'm seeing a 4* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville zone on HOTWIRE for $90 w/Restaurant, Fitness, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Laundry, Spa. That would likely be the Hyatt.

In terms of switching hotels, what you could do is drive downtown early in the morning on the day of the switch and then check-in at night. You may want to call in advance to let them know that you'll be checking in later (which should not be any problem) and they may allow you to check baggage in the morning in advance of your check-in later. Unfortunately, I doubt that full check-in would be allowed very early in the morning.

Finally, you could also get the Hyatt for $90 for 12/1-5, then combine that with a more expensive downtown hotel for the first two nights, which would likely then average to around $130-135, depending on the hotel. That would be more expensive, but would not require a trip in from the burbs. For example, if you were able to get the Hyatt for $90 for 12/1-5 on HOTWIRE, you could then go to Orbitz and get the Hyatt regular rate for $221.38 per night (which requires coupon code ORBITZ5), then that would average out to $133 and change per night for the stay and not have to require a change of hotel.

If you stayed in the suburbs for the first two nights for $45-60, then you're looking at around $70-80 average per night for the entire trip, plus free parking the first two nights.

Finally, you could also bid for downtown for 12/1-5 on PRICELINE to see if you could get those nights at a 4* even cheaper than $90, although there's no way of guessing which 4* property may accept.

Let us know your thoughts and then we would be happy to offer additional suggestions. Additionally, please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE or Orbitz links to start your purchases and searches.

Ok 12/1 - 12/5 I got the Hyatt Regency, Millenium Park 4 * $70 per night.

Now I have to try to get a room for 11/29 - 11/30

Ok, I like the idea of staying in the burbs the first 2 nights. Then, we can drive into the city in the morning, and get to a downtown hotel location for the 1-5. For staying in the burbs I would like a 3 1/2 or 4*. Which region should I bid in?

Then, I will attempt to just bid dec 1-5 downtown, and hope for the best that I can get cheaper than 90$ night. If not. I will go with the HOTWIRE. I will just try to find the cheapest parking option I can...