jeremyw

Using the PRICELINE link, bid $45 for a 3.5* in Magnificent Mile and O'Hare Airport zones, and was unsuccessful. Added Downtown Chicago - Millennium Park zone, increased bid by a dollar, and got the Hotel Indigo Gold Coast.

My goal was a downtown hotel, 3.5-star or better. Bid incrementally, adding zones. Evidently this was the cheapest room on offer at the moment for my date. It looks like a nice hotel – would have preferred one with a pool, but the location is great. Started with the BetterBidding PRICELINE link, naturally...

Used BB Priceline Link link, interested in Downtown or Bloomington, 3-star or higher. Got this property for $46 – $58.02 after taxes and fees.

Tried bidding up to $50 for 4*/3.5*/3* with no success. Went up to $54 at 4* and landed this hotel ($67.54 after taxes and fees). I've stayed here before and it's a nice hotel, although as is often the case with 4* hotels there is unfortunately no free wireless. Used the [url=http://www.betterbidding.com/clicks/click.php?afsrc=1&id=40]PRICELINE[/url] link.

Was looking to pay less than $50 before taxes and fees for something in this downtown zone. Lucked out with 4 and 3.5-star hotels, won this 3-star property for $46 ($58.63 after taxes and fees). Reviews are mixed for this hotel -- some great, some poor -- but I am optimistic. Used the BB [url=http://www.betterbidding.com/clicks/click.php?afsrc=1&id=40]PRICELINE[/url] link.

Correction: Dates are 12/20-12/21.

This time through Minneapolis I was interested in staying either Downtown, in University–Metrodome, or in Downtown St. Paul. My goal was a 3.5* hotel or better, the latter two zones only having 3.5* max. Starting from the PRICELINE link, I began bidding at $35 and did the usual zone additions as I increased my bids. At $41 I was offered a no-change re-bid at $52. Instead, I kept adding zones and was successful with a $45 bid, winning a Friday-night stay at the Crowne Plaza Northstar Downtown. Total price, including taxes and fees: $59.20.

I began bidding for a 4-star hotel today at $35, adding zones as I increased my bid. At $44 I received an offer to re-bid without changes at $54 – a sign, in my experience, that I'm just a few dollars off. A couple bids later I had it, for $47. Total cost, with taxes and fees, and minus the 5% "SUMMER" coupon code: $59.11 Most of my bids were placed with the PRICELINE link, but I was distracted during the last couple and forgot. Sorry!

This hotel win happened half a year ago, but I like to post all my results since I know they can be useful to others. This time through Chicago I was interested in getting something of reasonable quality, cheap, and located conveniently near the Interstate. Unfortunately I don't seem to have kept my record of my starting bid and the zones I marked. I know I spent at least 20 minutes at it, so I probably entered some unlikely bids for a higher-end hotel, but after a little while I became more realistic and started bidding up in increments for hotels in the airport zones, starting my search each time with the PRICELINE link. We enjoyed our stay at the Four Points, which features a pool (always appreciated, though it wasn't open Saturday evening) and free parking (often not the case at the airport. Total cost, with taxes and fees: $53.55.

Starting from the BB PRICELINE link, and with my list of re-bid zones in hand, I attempted to get a downtown Minneapolis hotel for the same date a few days ago. Considering that there were only a few hotels in the forum list at the 3* and 3.5* levels (there are several more at 4*), and that they all looked acceptable, I placed bids at 3* from the start. On the 14th I bid to $43 and $44 and was offered a free re-bid at $58, at which point I was out of zones (I started my bidding pretty low). Trying again today, for tonight, bids between $39 and $43 were getting me free re-bid offers at $58. Instead, I placed a $45 bid and won a room at the 4* Westin. This is a very nice hotel in a beautiful old building -- I've stayed here before; I am quite satisfied. Total cost, with taxes and fees: $59.24.

Starting a couple of days ago, I decided to focus on downtown Chicago zones 7 (Millennium Park, Loop & Grant Park Area) and 8 (North Michigan Ave - River North Area) for my upcoming stay, Sunday Dec. 16. I figured I would try my luck bidding low at the 4* level. Based on BetterBidding wins and Hotwire I thought I might get a room for $60 or a bit less. Eventually, however, I decided I'd rather save some money and get a hotel with a pool (few if any of the 4* hotels in this forum's list have one), and shifted to 3.5* and 3* properties. I also narrowed my search to zone 8, realizing that street parking wouldn't be an option in zone 7. Following a failed 3* bid of $40, where I was offered a re-bid without changes at $50, I tried again at $43 and was successful, winning a night at the Four Points. Total price including taxes and fees is $57.09. For reference, bidding at 4* in zone 8, when I hit $53 I was offered a re-bid without changes at $64. Bidding at 3.5* on zones 7 and 8 (together) I hit $50 with no bites. All bids were made using the BB PRICELINE link.

Total price including taxes and fees, $101.66 USD.

Started bidding at $25, using the BetterBidding PRICELINE link, changed options and added zones until winning this hotel at $35. Located on the edge of the city, this hotel is convenient for travelers, and should be available for a cheap rate, but it doesn't have much going for it otherwise. Our room had dated furnishings and a single double bed with a hard mattress and two small pillows. Free breakfast is available; when we visited, the pastries and cereal were stale, and the kitchenette was crowded. Total price including taxes and fees, $47.29.

A decent hotel for the price we paid, located right off the Interstate. Includes a small pool and hot tub, and complimentary continental breakfast (more generous options than most, but quality was still about what one expects from a free motel breakfast). If you have time to kill, visit the Mocha Mouse cafe, cheese, wine, and used book store next door. Our one complaint was that our room was apparently once a smoking room, and had an unpleasant odor. Total price including taxes and fees, $41.02. And of course, I used the BetterBidding PRICELINE link.

Following the PRICELINE link, I bid $61 for 3.5 stars or higher and was given an offer to increase my bid to $72 without changing any criteria. I instead added a zone with no hotels in the 3.5+ star range, and was successful. I'm looking forward to my stay in what looks like a very nice hotel.

We enjoyed our stay at this funky medium-sized hotel. One thing we weren't expecting, however, was the $20 fee for overnight parking. Deal-hunters should keep in mind that this is apparently not uncommon for airport-area hotels. Had I recalled I paid a similar parking fee at a hotel in the same zone two years ago, I might have done some research into other Chicago zones.

Last year I successfully bid $35 for the Holiday Inn near O'Hare (3*, I think), and was aiming for a similar deal this time around. Ended up paying just a few dollars more for what looks like a nicer hotel. Total including taxes and fees, $51.14.

My goal was to get a 4-star hotel in downtown Minneapolis for a maximum of $50. Starting with a fairly unrealistic bid of $40 (and using the BB PRICELINE link), I added zones with lower-rated hotels and made the following bids: $45, $47, $49, and $50. Mission accomplished! I'm looking forward to my stay at what looks like a very nice hotel.

We were satisfied with the hotel. The room we got had not been renovated, but it was nice enough. I didn't notice anything that warranted the negative reviews that had made me slightly nervous. It would have been nice to have free wireless Internet, but the more expensive hotels generally seems to want to charge for this. I recommend the Millennium!

I started bidding with a maximum of about $50 in mind for Saturday night (12/18/2010-12/19/2010). I paid a bit less for a suite at the Doubletree last year (3-3.5*), the same weekend, also in Downtown Minneapolis, so it seemed reasonable. After bidding up to $50 for a 4* hotel (unlikely, perhaps, but worth a try), I started at the 3.5* level. At $45 I was given the opportunity to bid again without changing anything but the price, to a minimum of $60. That seemed like a good sign I was getting close, so I added a zone and went up to $50. I ended up winning the Millennium -- the one hotel I was hoping not to get, based on some negative reviews here and on TripAdvisor. Hopefully we at least get one of the renovated rooms! I am happy it has a pool, though. Total cost: $50 + $14.04 taxes and fees = $64.04