paintergirl

Happy to help! :)

You could park your vehicle outside the city and then take the train in, but the options aren't really super or varied.

There are downtown lots: Navy Pier and Millennium Park (which are $20-25, but add on high taxes.)

You can see the schedule for Metra trains at Metrarail.com - the trains from the North burbs (for example) are about 35-45 minutes into the city, possibly a minute or two more or less than that. Trains come less frequently on the weekends, but there are express trains in the mornings and evening rush. Parking in the burbs at hotels is free, but you would likely have to drive to a nearby Metra station (although some hotels may have shuttles) and then take the train. This would be less (both in terms of hotel and parking), but more effort.

You could also spend a portion of your stay in the burbs and a portion in the city to bring down the average cost. Looking this morning, 12/1-5 is much cheaper on HOTWIRE than 11/29-12/5; I'm seeing what appears to be the Hyatt on Wacker Downtown for $89 on HOTWIRE when searching for 12/1-5 only. Those dates would also cover the weekend, when trains from the 'burbs are less frequent.

Would splitting your stay be of interest?

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

So, staying in the suburbs could be an option because it would save us so much money. Which suburb would you suggest? My other concern is looking at where the train station comes in to the city we would probably take the Union Pacific NOrth line? It looks like that station is not very close to the Merchandise Mart. Is this distance walkable? My concern would be walking this at night, because we could be trying to catch a train after 10pm to head back.

Splitting up could be doable as well. the 29th and 30th we could stay in the suburbs and then do the 1-5 downtown. I could leave the vehicle anywhere as long as it was safe, we won't be needing it to drive while we are in town. Also, if we split it up we would have to see about an early check in at the hotel on the 1st, because my work day starts early in the morning, and won't be finished until the evening late. Or, we would have to be able to do a late check in after the work day is over. I am not sure if hotels allow that....

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated!! I will look at the Hyatt on wacker in the mean time...

Sorry, also I would be willing to do a 3 1/2 *. Maybe, a 3* depending on the options that I could get. In my experience 3* can be ok, but you take the chance of them being not good.

I am still looking for a hotel, and now my time is running thin! Yikes. I like your suggestion of saving money in the North Burbs. However I am concerned about a commute because I am in town on business where I am going to have very long work days, that start early in the morning. There is a hotel block offered through the show I am doing. It is $156 a night for the Holiday inn chicago mart Plaza +parking, $159 for the Amalfi +parking, or $140 for the Best Western parking included. The hotel locations are great options since the show is at the Chicago Mart. But, this is more than I was hoping to spend. I could do the Best Western, but the hotel doesn't look very nice to me via the internet. Do you think I can get a better deal than this bidding?

So far last night I bid up to $95 for NMA-River NOrth, and Millennium Park. 4*

Is there an option where I could park my vehicle in Chicago during the stay and not at the hotel that is cheaper than hotel parking?

I appreciate your help, and sorry for so many questions!

I would like to stay under $100. I am assuming I am going to have to pay something for parking as well. I am in town for business and would like to keep my expenses as minimal as possible, not sure how much money I will make while I am in town. ;) My preference in 4* hotel. (maybe 3 1/2) I will pay what I have to. But, like no one else, I am trying to keep my costs at a minimum.

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

I would like some help bidding. I am searching for a 4* hotel 11/29 - 12/5 I have bid twice $55 for the Millenium Park, adding $60 North Michigan Avenue.

I am trying to get a 4* hotel that is not too far from the 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza. The two areas I bid in seem the best. If you have some other suggestions I would greatly appreciate it!

Thank you!

Won 8/31 - 9/5

San Rafael, Four Points by Sheraton

3 1/2 * $92

Thanks for your help in getting a hotel for my stay. I had a lot of problems getting a hotel through priceline bidding.

AWESOME! Thank you so much for the tip! I will get on that! (and of course use the HOTWIRE link)

You have been so kind to help me!

Well, I have gotten my bid up to $95, for 3* san Rafael. and they didn't accept it. I am not able to switch hotels. So, I am not sure what I am going to do. I really need a hotel in this area. I really don't want to go any lower than 3*. (I am a little picky).

Ok, sorry for the confusion. I am bidding in San Rafael-Larkspur zone. I am trying to get the 3*, since that sounds like my best option. I am adding the two other zones to allow myself to bid again. I took my bid up to $86, and have not "won" yet. I am hoping to get a room there. If not my other options are not looking too good. I think you are right the SF would probably be WAY too expensive.

I will try again tomorrow.

(side question.... if I accidentally didn't wait a full 24 hours to bid. It might have been 30 minutes shy of it, would that make a difference? Would it tell me if I was bidding too soon?)

Best idea if you need to get to Sausalito is to be in the area near the Ferry. That would be Embarcadero/Financial District. It's an easy walk to the Ferry Building, which is at the base of Market street. Fisherman's Wharf is farther; you'd probably need to take the F Market trolley over to the FB.

Thanks for the tip! Any suggestions if I have to be taking my automobile? Also, is parking really difficult/expensive? i will be in a cargo van.

Thank you in advance for any advice!

I have started bidding in the Sausalito area. 3*, I started with 50 and I have gotten my bid up to $75. I have not had any success. Do you have any suggestions? Is there an area in SF that would work? I need something that would be no longer than a 20 min. commute via automobile to Sausalito, and ideally would like somewhere that parking is easy and/or provided with the hotel.

Any help would be awesome!

I might bid in Sausalito. I had a friend tell me that she got a 3* in Sausalito for 55-60$ in the past. So, I could attempt this. I like getting hotels that are atleast 3 1/2* normally. But, it doesn't sound like that is available. If I were to be in SF, what area is closest to Sausalito?

Thanks!!

I am needing a hotel for 8/30 - 9/5. I need to be either in Sausalito, or a close commute to. I was looking for a list of hotels in Sausalito. Is there one?

Also, if I were to bid in San Fran what is the closest region to Sausalito? Any suggestions would be great.

Thank you!!

Finally got a room! Bid 60$ for a 4* Bloomington West. It offered me to rebid right away if I raised it to $75. I decided not to do that. I moved my *to 3 1/2, and bid $55. I got the Doubletree by Hilton Minneapolis.

Dates are 8/4-8/8

I appreciate everyone's help! (and yes I used the PRICELINE link)

One question. I am confused. This is the hotel that it says that I won.

Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Minneapolis-Bloomington South

7800 Normandale Road

Bloomington, MN 55439

952-835-7800

Why do pictures of the Sheraton come up? It also has pictures of the Sheraton, and the same address as the Sheraton. Anyone understand this? Which hotel am I actually staying at?

Thank you so much for the information. I think I will go for another zone. I took my bids up on the midtown zone attempting to get the 3* and I couldn't get it. I stayed in Bloomington for another show. It really wasn't too far. So, I think i will try that! Thanks so much for the info about midtown. It is nice to have some insight on that.

I REALLY appreciate you taking the time to help me! I will post my findings!

Wow, thanks so much for the info! That is super helpful. I will post what I find! I might have to try another zone that is a little further away.

I tried midtown region 3*, bid $45, $50, and $55. I added regions with out a 3* hotel. I will have to try again tomorrow.

Thank you so much for the tips! I think I will go for the 3 star in midtown. A Sheraton wouldn't be bad at all. Hopefully that is what it is, and I can get it on a bid. I will post back what I find!

I decided to try to get a 4* downtown region. I started at $50 and went up by $2 until I reached $74. I kept adding regions with out 4* rated hotels. I still did not get my bid accepted. 8/4-8/8

I didn't want to go much higher than that. I might try 3 1/2 * downtown, but I read a review that wasn't so great for one of the options in that range.

suggestions?

Thanks!

Well, I don't want to be too far from "Midtown". No more than maybe 10-15 minutes at the most. I am afraid of bidding for a 3* in that area. In my experience the 3*'s can be pretty borderline, and I prefer to stay in somewhere nicer. However, I also travel in a large van, and sometimes downtown parking can be expensive and difficult to navigate.

Do you have any idea what the 3* property might be in midtown?

Thanks for your help!

(btw, I did click the PRICELINE link)

I am needing a hotel for the Midtown Minneapolis area. I am looking at the hotel list, and I don't see the region labeled "midtown" like it is on the Priceline website. Can you tell me which section on your list would be considered Midtown? On priceline that region only has a 3 star rating as the highest. I prefer a 3 1/2 or 4 star. Can you tell me also if there is another region that is close enough to midtown that could work for me as well that has a 3 1/2 or 4 as an option.

I need a room 8/4 - 8/8.

My event I need to be close to is the Uptown art fair, which is basically at Lyndale and Hennepin. Any suggestions on region will be helpful!

Thank you!

I got 4* hotel for $66 per night. (3 adults) 5/6- 5/9. Amenities were Fitness, Pool, Rest., Biz, Laundry, Internet, and golf. Hilton @ the Ballpark. I called ahead for parking, and they assure me that meters are free on the weekend, and there is 5$ lot next door as well.

I think this should work out well.

Thanks!

Hopefully somebody more local to the area can comment on the commute from Downtown towards the South, but i'll note that the South zone only contains hotels as high as 3 stars, so if you decide to bid in this zone you'll have to adjust your star quality downward.

You can see some of the hotels reported at each star level in the Priceline Hotel List and Hotwire Hotel List, then visit the hotel websites to see how much parking is... this should at least give you a general cost for parking in the area.

As PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, for 3 adults HOTWIRE can be a better/safer bet if you want to ensure bedding for everyone you include on your search.

What is your budget for this stay? If you search HOTWIRE for 3adults, does anything appear in any of your desired zone(s) and within your expected budget?

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

I decided to go with Hotwire for this hotel, so I can insure I have two beds big enough for 3 adults. I am going to take my chances with the downtown commute so I could have a nicer hotel. It looks as though it will take about 20 minutes to get to where I need to be.

I got 4* hotel for $66 per night. 5/6- 5/9. Amenities were Fitness, Pool, Rest., Biz, Laundry, Internet, and golf. Hilton @ the Ballpark. I called ahead for parking, and they assure me that meters are free on the weekend, and there is 5$ lot next door as well.

I need 1hotel room for 3 adults 5/6-5/9. I am in town on business that is "South" St. Louis. It looks like there are a lot more options for hotels in near by areas, specifically downtown. I would prefer a 3 1/2 or 4 *. Can someone help me if downtown is a bad commute to travel South? Is parking tough/expensive in downtown? If not, I will start bidding in the downtown location.

Is Hotwire a better option for 3 adults in one room, since you can specify that?

I appreciate any help!

Thanks!

So, I added in the Round Rock location, along with the Downtown location. Failed bid for 4* at $105 per night. Accepted bid for 3 1/2 * at $100 per night. (Sheraton Austin @ the Capitol)

This is more than I wanted to pay. But, at this point I am happy that I at least got a room.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice!