AaronJB

It is very possibly the other CQ hotel - on Wacker and Michigan.

While I know you don't want to move hotels, still thought I'd throw this downtown option out as it just appeared this evening: HOTWIRE.com - 9/16-9/18 4* Loop Zone. Fitness/Pool/Business/Restaurant. $117 (Price you see may vary). Possibly either the Hilton Chicago or the Palmer House. The O'Hare idea would still be very good (and cheaper), but wanted to throw this out if you wanted to be able to spend part of your time downtown. Still nothing really for 9/15-18 downtown on HW.

Thank you for reporting your win! Excellent deal, considering the price on the hilton website for that date is $152.

Sorry to hear that bidding didn't work. One more downtown suggestion - probably won't work, but I'll throw it out there: call (number from the website: 312-663-8910) the Buckingham Athletic Club downtown (http://bac-chicago.com/) and ask if they have any of their rooms available. Their rates are generally reasonable and you get use of the health club, according to the website. As for regular rates downtown, unfortunately the cheapest I'm seeing are $200-250+ (Hilton Chicago $259, Palmer House $239, Holiday Inn Martplaza $226). Given the Palmer House and Hilton Chicago rates (both in the Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park area), I'm kind of suprised that a $150 bid didn't get either of those, but I guess there was simply no priceline inventory. In terms of Northbrook and Oakbrook, they were suggested because they were each towards one of the events - Oakbrook would be in the direction of Tinley Park and Northbrook is North of the city, so you wouldn't have to drive quite all the way back downtown (which is why Milwaukee was also suggested) after the game. Northbrook is slightly further from downtown in terms of mileage, but the differences are fairly minor. However, If you have to be out towards Tinley Park and also, fly from O'Hare the final morning of the trip, then it would be best to stay around O'Hare. If you stayed around O'Hare, you could be right near (or attached to, in the case of the Hilton) the airport for a short trip to your flight, you could be near a blue line "L" station if you didn't want to drive into the city and close to the highway to take North up into WI. If you had to drive North, you'd also be starting further North by O'Hare than if you stayed in the Downers Grove/Oak Brook area, which is South of O'Hare. At O'Hare, you'd still be not far from Tinley Park. There is a 4* listing for $70 on Hotwire with the amenities Shuttle, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Business in the O'Hare area, which would be a match for the reported information for either the Hyatt, Hilton or Westin O'Hare. (although more likely either the Hilton or the Hyatt; the regular rates for both of those hotels on these dates are around $140) You could also bid for a 4* for slightly less on Priceline to see if you could snag a better deal. However, if PL doesn't offer anything below $70 for a 4* O'Hare bid - or you just want to lock in something - this Hotwire offer is available. One regular rate suggestion is the Springhill Suites O'Hare, which is $99 on marriott.com. Free parking (some of the airport hotels do charge), free continental breakfast and the room offers microwave and mini fridge. Additionally, close to (0.3M away) this (http://www.chicago-l.org/stations/cumberland.html) CTA station. Gets good reviews and, as far as I know, has not been reported as a possible priceline/hotwire hotel. As always, any questions, please post and I'll respond ASAP.

You could also stay in Milwaukee, WI for the last night, so as to not have to drive all the way back to Chicago after the game (accidentially called it a concert in the last post) Milwaukee's a nice city and hotels in the downtown and surrounding area are cheap via Priceline/Hotwire.

The Allegro is an older hotel with a mix of rooms, although most are on the smaller side. You will encounter this to some degree in several of Chicago's older hotels, including: The Palmer House, the Millennium Knickerbocker, the W City Center and the Allerton. Personally, the issue I would bring up with the Allegro is that there's just not very much going on directly around it. Not a bad area, just not many choices for things to do right there. However, State St. is a short walk and the Art Institute/Millennium Park are not much further continuing East. The Allegro also does boast a wine reception at night. The best win out of what generally comes up for 3* NMA would be the Holiday Inn City Centre - nice, standard hotel in a great area.

Throwing out ideas (no particular order.) 1. Stay downtown 9/15-9/17 via Priceline, if you are able to get a winning bid. Since you have to head to Green Bay on Sunday the 17th (I'm guessing you're driving), you may want to consider staying North of the city. HOTWIRE has a 3* in the Northbrook zone (fitness/business/restaurant/pool/laundry/internet) for $53 that would be a likely match for the Radisson Northbrook. Very nice suburban area. You could also bid on Priceline for that area. The listing that appears to be the Radisson is also available for 9/15-9/18 for $52 a night. However, I think it would only be best for the last night, if you didn't want to have to come all the way back into the city after going to Green Bay. Otherwise, Northbrook would not be the most central location for what you wanted to do (it's 30-40 minute drive from there to downtown and you could take the nearby train in Glenview, which is 2 miles from the Radisson. However, Tinley Park would definitely be further.) Worst case scenario that Priceline isn't coming back with anything reasonable for downtown for the three days, this would be a cheap option for staying outside the city. Gets good reviews on tripadvisor. _____________________ 2. Continue to increase your bid for River North/NMA and the Millennium Park/Loop/Grant park zone for all 3 days. It may take as much as $150, although I would work up towards that instead of bidding $150 right away. _________________________ 3. If Priceline doesn't come back with anything after bidding up to a reasonable max for those dates and Hotwire does not offer anything of interest for downtown, you could also consider west of the city near O'Hare, which would be approximately a 40-45 minute CTA "L" ride into the city. This would also be cheaper than staying downtown (Hotwire currently has a 4* for $70 for your dates, but you could bid on Priceline for a 4* in the area.) ____________________________ 4. Stay out closer to Tinley Park the first night (HOTWIRE has a 3* for $69 in the Oakbrook/Downers Grove area with the amenities Complimentary Breakfast, Fitness, Kitchenette, Business, Laundry. This is a possible match for the Staybridge Suites; the Oakbrook/DG area is very nice) and then try for something downtown for 9/16-18. Coming up with additional ideas, but wanted to toss these out first. Please post any questions and I will respond ASAP.

Oops, sorry didn't notice the header! :) Those days are busy in the city due to a number of festivals taking place in the city and a handful of minor conventions. Several hotels already appear booked up. A couple of questions - what is the maximum you are willing to bid? Would you be willing to split your stay between two different hotels?

What days are you bidding for exactly?

I've put up friends at the Hyatt and they've had no trouble getting doubles at check-in on days that had low-to-mild traffic. The automatic check-in option didn't offer them the option and they just asked at the desk and it was not an issue. No guarantees at all, but, as you noted (and I also just looked up), they do have doubles listed on the website. I don't know if I'd risk bidding again. While most of the 4* possibilities in the loop are a reasonable walk from the Hyatt, you wouldn't want to get the W or Hilton on South Michigan Ave, which would be more of a ways away. The Hotwire property you mention does look like the Hyatt.

Cool. If you have time, check out the Lincoln Park Zoo. Admission is free and it's located essentially across the street from the Belden Stratford.

Not sure what it is, but Hotwire has a 2.5* in the O'Hare area for $50 for 9/26/check-out 9/27.

A 40,000 person convention in Chicago will mean severly limited space and likely, little (if any) priceline inventory. What's your budget max & would you be willing to commute into the city from one of the outlying areas?

Both CQ properties are on Hotwire. I believe the Loop location is a 3* in the Loop, while the Adams/Wacker is a 3* Mag Mile/Wacker Drive.

For 9/2-(check out) 9/3, for 2 people, I see (picking a few out) 4 star, Mag Mile/Wacker Drive: Fitness/Business/Tennis/Spa, $148 (the price you see may vary slightly) Likely Swissotel. 4 star, Loop - Restaurant/Fitness/Hi-Speed - $185. Likely W City Center (this is 3 out of 5 on Tripadvisor.) 3.5 Star, Loop - Boutique/Fitness/Restaurant - $183. Likely Allegro.

Unfortunately, pool at the Radisson won't be open at that time - hotel just answered my email.

The Swiss is a very nice hotel and many rooms offer great views. It is a couple blocks to Michigan Ave. Cheaper Snacks/Toiletries: Walk a couple of blocks West of the Hotel to Michigan Ave. Walk about 2-3 blocks South on Michigan Ave. - there's a CVS on the East side of the street and a Walgreens on the West side of the street. There's a Corner Bakery on the corner of Wacker and Michigan, a couple of blocks East of the hotel - a good choice for quick breakfast/lunch/dinner.

Someone else just got a hotel on HOTWIRE (reported in the HW forum) in the Evanston/Niles/Skokie area with the same amenities and star rating - not guaranteeing that you are seeing the same one, but it was the Holiday Inn Skokie. It would not be an entirely optimal location (in my opinion; you do have to take the bus to the nearest "L" station and then go from there) if you're using public transit. Additionally, that hotel doesn't get very good reviews on tripadvisor. As always, please feel free to post if you have any questions about hotels or getting around the city in general.

The W promotion appears to be a price mistake. Moderator thereuare can hopefully offer some insight/input on whether or not he thinks it will be honored and what is the best way to proceed (I'd think the best thing to do would be to take a printout of the reservation to the hotel) if you do try to book it. Regular rate thoughts (throwing out suggestions as I'm coming across them) around the price range of your Hotwire listings: 1. Whitehall (EasyClickTravel $160). Mixed reviews, but optimal location half a block from Michigan Ave. shopping and the Hancock Observatory. 2. Talbott (Orbitz.com, $229) Cozy, boutique-style hotel just down the street from the Whitehall. 3. Embassy Suites Downtown ($249) - Very nice Embassy Suites property in the River North area. Grocery store next door and subway station a block away. Free breakfast/evening reception. 3A. Embassy Suites Lakefront ($251; non-refundable) - Also a very nice Embassy Suites (and also across from a grocery store. Short walk to Michigan Ave. and Navy Pier. However, further away from a subway station.

The Intercontinental has gotten some mixed reviews over the last year or so, but I would still recommend it without hesitation to anyone interested. I would also consider it one of the better potential wins for the 4* River North/NMA area (certainly better than the commonly seen Sheraton or Millennium Knickerbocker.) The Intercontinental in Chicago is a grand, older hotel that has undergone quite a bit of renovation since its birth as an athletic club in 1929. Its pool (which has been retained from the original structure; it's one of the first pools on a higher floor and was considered an engineering feat at the time) is incredibly beautiful and worth viewing even if you're not planning on taking a dip. The public areas are lovely (the grand ballroom has a 12,000-pound Baccarat crystal chandelier, which is the largest in North America) and the hotel's front entrance is directly onto Michigan Ave. There are two different towers: the newer tower and the original, historic tower. The differences are summed up well by the Frommers review: "The guest rooms have two distinct identities, depending on location. Rooms in what's called the Main Building (the '60s addition) have an elegant, urban style, with lots of dark wood, deep yellow walls, and red velvet banquettes. The bathrooms feel brand-new but aren't particularly spacious, with smallish tubs. Rooms in the Historic Tower (the original building) have a more old-world feel: elaborately carved headboards, gold accents, and deep-red-and-cream drapes and bedding. The bathrooms, however, are completely modern; most come with both a tub and separate, large shower stall. (You'll pay about $50 more for rooms in the Historic Tower)." I've stayed in the newer tower - expect to probably end up there - and liked it. For snacks/toiletries, there's a Walgreens across the street and slightly South. The two main boat tours (Wendella & Chicago Architecture Foundation) leave from the Michigan Ave. bridge that's about 3-4 blocks South.

Additionally, sorry I'm not aware of the locker situation for Amtrak. However, I would contact Amtrak by email or otherwise, as they've been helpful when I've had to contact them in the past. If you decided to stay at the Radisson, you could still visit the Botanic Gardens, but it would require a taxi - it's about 6-7 miles from the hotel.

The first hotel appears to be the W City Center. Not sure about the second hotel, as I don't think it's ever been reported here. If I had to guess, I would say the Affinia, but that's a *big guess* - definitely not sure. The 4* Mag Mile/Wacker Drive could be the Westin River North or the Hyatt with some amenities hidden. However, given the customer comments and tripadvisor rating in the details page, I would lean towards it being the Westin. A tip (hopefully the moderator will be okay with the post of this, and please change the link of it can benefit betterbidding): If you are interested in the W, Visit this page: http://chicago.destinations.starwoodhotels...00X250_1_072606 Click on the W City Center "book now" button. Search for 9/16-18, 2 people. KINGTUT should be in the special rate plan box on the same page (should already be there) before clicking search. The rate that should come up is $219. The hotel's lowest reg. rate for those dates is $309 and the Hotwire price is only $3 lower. This is the "King Tut" promotion, w/2 VIP tix to see "Tut" at the Field Museum.

This could *possibly* be the Purple Hotel, which gets largely negative reviews. However, not sure. Taxi from Amtrak to Evanston will likely run you $30 or more, depending on exactly where in Evanston you're going (there's a lot of Evanston and the Evanston/Skokie/Niles zone covers a LOT of ground - I wish Evanston was in its own zone, but oh well.) Downtown Evanston has a lot of transit options to the city (but I really don't think this is one of the three downtown Evanston hotels), but it becomes a little more complicated - taking the bus a ways (20-30 minutes) to the nearest "L" station and then going downtown from there - from parts of Skokie. Further West and it becomes more problematic. In other words, whlle there are commuting options from the area, it's not the easiest commute downtown and it's a big matter of where you end up in the large Evanston/Niles/Skokie zone. My alternate suggestion would be a 3* on HOTWIRE in the Northbrook area with the amenities fitness, pool, business, restaurant, laundry, hi-speed internet. $48. This would likely be the Radisson Northbrook. A little further out than the Evanston/Skokie/Niles zone, but there are some benefits. The nearest Metra station is about 2m away in Glenview, but the hotel (if this is in fact the Radisson) does have a shuttle listed on the website. The pool at that hotel *is* outdoor, but it's usually still nice weather-wise (it's actually my favorite time of year in terms of temperature) in September in Chicago. If you want to call the hotel to make sure that the pool will still be open at that time before taking the risk on Hotwire, the number of the hotel from the website; (888) 270-0185. I just emailed the Radisson to ask about the pool. If I get an answer back before the original poster gets a chance to contact the hotel, I'll post the hotel's response here. The nice thing is that the particular Metra line closest to the Radisson goes downtown to Union Station, which is exactly where the Amtrak comes in, so you wouldn't have to leave the station or take a taxi when you arrive. You would just get a ticket for the Metra and head over to one of the Northbound tracks (there are signs next to the tracks that list which route is next to leave from that track and what stations that train will go to.) On the way out, it'll also be nice to be able to go right to Union Station to catch your Amtrak back. Plus, taking the Metra each day will be much nicer - they're more comfortable trains and have bathrooms. As thereuare noted, the trip is going to seem long if you're coming in from any of the outlying areas, but at least Metra is a little more comfortable and your son may enjoy the fact that the train has two levels (you can sit on the upper level and look out.) If you want to go to Brookfield, you could take the Metra in from Glenview, then switch to the Metra that heads out to Brookfield, which also goes out of Union. You could even potentially take Amtrak (although it would be more expensive than Metra) to Glenview (it does stop there, as well, although be sure to get off at Glenview, because the next stop isn't for a LONG while), and then shuttle or taxi the remaining distance to the hotel. Additionally, this is a largely well-reviewed hotel in a very, very nice area. The other hotwire option is a 4* Northbrook with fitness/pool/restaurant/business. $84. This is likely the Renaissance Northbrook, which gets mixed reviews. Really not around the hotel in terms of stores, but there is a nice pizza place across the street. Getting to the nearest Metra station in Glencoe will require the complimentary shuttle listed on the hotel's website. That particular Metra route will take you to Ogilvie Transit Center, which is about a block from Union Station, where Amtrak arrives/departs. Downtown Glencoe, which is small and about 2 miles from the Renaissance, has two Grocery Stores (one high-end, one general), as well. The benefit of the Renaissance location is that the Chicago Botanic Garden's "walk-in" South entrance is located within a short walking distance from the hotel. Admission is free. http://chicagobotanic.org/ for information. While there isn't much around the Renaissance otherwise, it is also in a very nice suburban area. Also, if you do use Metra, be sure to get a weekend pass for $5 for the Saturday/Sunday you're there. That entitles you to unlimited rides for those two days on Metra. In terms of Metra, there are trains generally every hour, with more frequency during morning and evening rush. Trains are generally every two hours on Saturday/Sunday. Metrarail.com for information on Metra. If you have any questions at all, please post them here and I'll respond as soon as possible.

I think for someone new to the city, I would definitely recommend going right to transit and then head downtown. The transit system is Chicago is definitely straightforward and easy to use. Transitchicago.com offers maps, fare information and more. Chicago-l.org offers more specific stop information. Any questions you may have, please ask and one of the locals here will respond.

Mike pretty much said it all. Just be careful and use the hotel shuttle to and from the hotel to public transit. The hotel itself gets pretty good reviews, but it is not really in an optimal area for a tourist looking to see the city. It's mainly for people who need to stay near the Medical District.