GOMUPACK

Began bidding for 4.5 star in DOWNTOWN-RIVER NORTH, DOWNTOWN-MILLENIUM PARK, and MAG MILE-GOLD COAST at $90. Increased by $5 up to winning bid of $115. PRICELINE EXPRESS deal showed a 4.5* Downtown-River North offering at $122. My guess is that this was the Westin that I won at $115. On the Express Deal description page, it showed the following: PETS ALLOWED BUSINESS CENTER RESTAURANT FREE INTERNET FITNESS CENTER NON SMOKING Hope that helps someone.

Messed around bidding, but even $155 per night was rejected, so I just went to PRICELINE EXPRESS. NOTE TO ADMINISTRATORS: You need to update your geographical areas for Priceline - it seems that they have moved some borders and have created new/different areas around Michigan Ave, River North, Millennium Park. ALSO: The Fairmont is not listed as one of the potential 4.5* hotels.

I was looking for a friend, traveling down from Milwuakee as thier daughter is sailing in the America's Cup - Bluesfest only adds to the crowds! Now I understand. Thanks everyone.

From preliminary looks, this weekend seems VERY EXPENSIVE! Does anyone know why? Is there a large event in Chicago this weekend? Looking for a hotel in MAG MILE/GOLD COAST or in MILLENNIUM PARK. May also consider RIVER NORTH. Usually look at 4*+ for best deal, but those are indicating $300+ per night. So dropping to 3.5*, and maybe 3? Bid $50 per night (yes, that's ridiculously low) just to see what happens and then hopped over to the PRICELINE EXPRESS Deals. All were VERY high, but I'm seeing the following Express Deals: $202 - 3* River North: 7/10 rating, Bus Center, Fitness Ctr, Restaurant, In/Out Pool $217 - 3.5* Millennium Park: 7/10 rating, Bus Ctr, Fitness Ctr, Restaurant, Non-smoking, Free Internet.....Bed choice avail The low 3* scares me - so the upgrade to $217 in better area looks better. Any help identifying these candidates is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Started at $72, won at $92. For reference, the PRICELINE EXPRESS listed a 4.5 star for $105. So I am very pleased, especially on a Thanksgiving weekend. Have stayed at the Gwen on prior visits (it was formerly the Conrad) and it is always TOP notch. Truly deserving of 4.5 stars. :D :D :D

started at $45, increased by $5 per bid, hit at $70. PL express was $75, so that was a hint. Hot.wire was $75 so that was another hint. Okay deal - I've had this hotel cheaper in the past.

Bidding on 4.5 star Chicago - (Mag Mile - River North) Started at $70, increased bid by $5 increments, hit on $90. The Gwen used to be the "Conrad" hotel (as in "Conrad" Hilton). We've stayed here before - it's awesome. On Rush St., one block from Michigan Avenue adjacent to Nordstrom. Thrilled with this hotel at this price. Another trick: check out the PRICELINE EXPRESS deals. They were showing a 4.5 star for $104. This gives you a good idea of what you'll have to pay, as the bid price is usually about $10 to $20 bucks below that price. In this case my rate of $90 was $14 below the "Express" deal.

Started at $35, increased by $5 increments, hit at $55. Please see my previous posts - This is a good hotel at great price for downtown Milwaukee - don't worry about 3.5 stars - its quality is more like 4.

Thanks for the pointers. I will probably call first, but upon check-in I will mention that my friend had his wedding there last year, and that we had such a wonderful experience! Then I'll ask for a bit larger room! (It's a Sunday night so hopefully they will have something available) ;)

Began bidding at $70, increasing by $5 increments. Won hotel at $90. I saw a 4-star Priceline Express Deal for $100 and judging by amenities it was the Allerton. So I sort of knew this was the hotel and the price. Having read reviews on TripAdvisor, some rooms can be VERY small (think: cruise ship). This is understandable as the hotel was built in 1920. However my confirmation says: "Room Assigned upon check-in" - so here's hoping that the person at the front desk is in a good mood!!! I feel when booking through Priceline I'm a "beggar who can't be a chooser...."

Bidding on 6 rooms in Milwaukee - have done this several times before (my friends think I'm a genius ;) ) When targeting Milwaukee (Downtown) I HIGHLY recommend shooting for this hotel: 3.5 Stars Hilton Milwaukee City Center Yes, with Priceline you never know what hotel you're going to get...but as far as we know the only other 3.5-star hotel in this category is the Ambassador. But their prices never get this low, so you are virtually guaranteed a stay at the Hilton Milw City Ctr. The prices always seem to hit from $45 to $55 per night. You could try for a 4-Star hotel in the downtown area, but you will be paying TWICE as much - over $100 per night - and the quality is not any better. Anyway, $43 per night did not work, and we hit at $45. AMAZING deal considering the on-line "discounted" price of $109 per night!!

Started with a low bid, then immediately looked at the offered Priceline.Express deals. Saw that there was a 4.5* offered for $136....so that was my top. Rebid at $90, increments of $5. Won at $130 - saved myself $6 over the Express Deal - whoop de doo. Oh well, still happy with THE JAMES - have never stayed there before but reveiws look good on Trip Advisor.

Started bidding at $60 Upon first refusal, noted that a 4* in this area was offered via Priceline.Express Deal for $86 - so I knew my top was around $75 - $80. Went back to bidding, increased by $5, won hotel at $70. This is an easy one, as the Westin is currently the only known 4* in all of the Chicago - North Shore bidding zones.

Began bidding on Priceline via link on betterbidding.com Opening bid: 4.5 Star in North Michigan Ave - River North area @ $120 Increased bid at $5 increments Won Intercontinental Hotel at $145 per night. We have stayed here before, location and hotel are excellent (hope we get a good room...) I am very happy with the price for the Memorial Day weekend!

WOW. Very excited to try this GORGEOUS building! The coolest addition to the skyline in many years. Was splurging for this night, shooting for a 5-star on NMA/River North - with full expectations of it being the Park Hyatt (which would have been pretty damn cool too...) Anyway, I noticed that there was a Priceline Express Deal for a 5-star for $245. So I started bidding for a 5-star at $180, increasing by $5 increments. Won at $225, so I saved myself $20 over the Express deal - that can help pay for parking ;-) NOTE to administrator: Include the Trump in your list for 5-star properties.

Started bidding at $65, increasing by $5 increments. Won this hotel just a couple days before our trip...sorry I was not able to report until now. Very happy with the price, but honestly this particular location did not live up to the "Westin" standards that we have come to expect. It is a very good hotel - no problems at all, with a GREAT location. It just seemed average....guess I was expecting a little more "cool" or "upscale" factor. But considering the $80 price I was thrilled.

Started bidding at $42 based on history of posted wins on this site. Won at $45. Great deal!!! :D

Well, this is getting much more predictable, now that Priceline has added their "Priceline Express Deal". Basically, it seems to me, that your winning Priceline bid will most likely be about $5 cheaper than the "Priceline Express Deal". That deal was for a hotel (un-named of course) for $126. My winning bid was $121 - not a huge discount from that number. Began bidding at $96, increased by $5 until I won at $121. Never been to Hotel Felix - I usually end up winning the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, which we like very much. Hopefully Hotel Felix will be nice as well - we are concerned about location, several blocks WEST of Michigan Ave…. Now I need to find the best option for self parking….which in itself is quite a tab in Chicago!

Damn I love this board and PRICELINE. From previous winning bids for this property, I knew to start bidding at $60. Increased by $5 increments....and bing, got it for $65. Very happy for a WESTIN that is listed on Hotels.com for $119 per night!

Searched only in the Atlanta/Galleria area, 4-star or better. Started at $45 with increments of $5. Won at $60. That's HALF the price that the hotel quoted me when I called them direct. Perfect!

Dang! I saw other posts for 4 star hotels, and there were a couple for 4/15 and 4/16 that won at $170 and $200...so I thought "I'd better not start too low, I want to give myself enough room to go up." Started at $90 and BANG, won the hotel immediately. I was fully expecting to ride it up to $130 or higher, possibly $150 after I wait 24 hours to rebid. So there you have it - a guy who complains about getting a hotel too cheap! (ha ha) Actually not too bad, as the lowest I have seen Washington DC 4-stars go for is mostly around $80. In the end, I'm HAPPY!

Started bidding at $40, increase increments of $5. I have found 4-stars in Milw go for around $65. If you want to save about $20, you can go 3.5-star.

Whew. Finally got a hotel for Saturday night, July 28. I've been bidding for a week or so, and now dropped down to a 3.5 Star, searching in the NMA-River North and Millenium Park/Loop/Grant Park area. Began bidding for a 3.5-Star at $125 in $5 increments. Won the room at $150.

Whew. My wife and I are going to Chicago for the weekend (July 26-29), and we have a hotel for Thursday and Friday nights (Shertaon Hotel Tower - $125). We are looking for the area NMA, we greatly prefer this to Millenium Park/Loop. I've had troubles getting a hotel room for Saturday night, JULY 28. I've been bidding PRICELINE for a 3.5 and 4-Star hotel, up to $165 with no luck. (another member got a Priceline win for the Allerton at 8:19 am, yet I had no luck later that same day....guess that's the way it goes sometimes...) Recently, I saw a post by THEREUARE stating that he saw what he believed to be a WESTIN HOTEL on NMA for $140 on HOTWIRE. I'd love that! I have never used Hotwire....I find that it seems rather difficult to sort through about a dozen "amenities" arranged in random order to narrow it down to try to ID the hotel....sheesh there are about a thousand combinations, and it seems a difficult task. Maybe I am not approaching it the right way. Anyway, if I could get some help for a 4-star on North Michigan Ave area on EITHER Priceline or Hotwire, that would be great. Budget? Well at this point I'll take anything below $160-ish. Thanks MUCH. BTW this board is such a GREAT tool! (of course I always always always post my wins and begin searches here).

Won on first bid of $125. That'll teach me - never start so high..... I was bidding a couple days ago for Thur, Fri, AND Sat nights in Chicago, with no luck (4* on North Mich Ave-River North ONLY). The trouble was SAT night, no bids accepted up to $128. So I split my bid, and got this hotel (I'm very happy - we have stayed here before). Now I have to go get the Saturday hotel....we'll see what I end up with.