lindabobhat

OP, Oakbrook/Downers Grove is a much better option. A more upscale suburban area with 2 nice malls and a plethora of restaurants. A lot more hotels to choose from, too. IMO, you are likely to get a better price in the Oakbrook/Downers Grove zone as well. And it's a straight shot south on Rt. 83 to get to Burr Ridge.

OP, you'll likely be pleasantly surprised. I live nearby and you are correct that it's an older property, but it was in the renovation process for a long time. They completely gutted the building. I would imagine the rooms are nice and new.

Thought it would be nice to ring in the New Year and enjoy a relaxing long holiday weekend. $30 was my first bid - thought it would take a little more, but I couldn't be more pleased as this is the exact hotel I was targeting (love the suite layout when I have my kids with me!) Of course, I used the Better Bidding PRICELINE link : ) Sheraton Suites Elk Grove 121 Northwest Point Boulevard Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007 Your Offer Price: $30.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $90.00 Taxes and Fees: $19.20 Total Charges*: $109.20

We stayed at the Knickerbocker last weekend on a Priceline stay and were very pleasantly surprised. It was the best of both worlds - elegant, traditional lobby, but modern renovated rooms. Beds are really comfy and the bathroom is very Euro. The toilet is wall mounted, and there's a rainfall shower with a handheld nozzle - no wall mounted shower head. Kind of odd, but fun. Staff was really friendly, too. Location was perfect for the Festival of Lights parade. We walked over to Michigan Avenue and got right in front for a completely unobstructed view. I think you will like the hotel.

Decided to take the kids downtown to enjoy the Festival of Lights. Started at $80, declined; added Hyde Park and went to $85, declined again, and got the "increase your bid by $22" message. Added Lincoln Park and went to $90 - success! Very, very pleased with the final price and the location, and it looks like the rooms are nicely renovated. Used BB's PRICELINE link to bid. Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago 163 East Walton Place Chicago, Illinois 60611 Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $90.00 Subtotal: $180.00 Taxes & Fees: $36.50 Total Charges*: $216.50

Last minute local getaway - Had an event to attend at Woodfield tomorrow morning and wanted to be close. Thought I'd probably get the Hyatt Woodfield but this will work quite nicely. Bid thru PRICELINE link, of course. Marrott Schaumburg 50 North Martingale Road Schaumburg, Illinois 60173 Your Offer Price: $32.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $64.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $15.49 Total Charges*: $79.49

It's a really nice hotel - huge bathrooms in the suites. Just know it can be a little tricky to find.

What zone and what dates did you input when you searched?

I think it depends on the hotel as far as seeing what you bid. I seem to recall that the hotel tells Priceline up front what the minimum is that they will accept (and that Priceline gets the difference if your bid exceeds that amount - don't quote me on this, though.) I know I have tried to use in room TV checkout at some properties that I won on Priceline and I have seen the rate I paid show up on the hotel folio. I think some hotels have certain rooms they try to assign to Priceline customers regardless of what the bid is. Like a room right off the elevators or by the ice machine or even a room that is smaller than most of the hotel's standard rooms. I can tell you that I have been assigned rooms I'm not thrilled with but have almost always been moved if I ask nicely. This usually isn't a problem unless a property is booked to capacity. A word of advice on smaller town bids - the deals are generally not as good because the availability is more limited (big cities have a plethora of unsold rooms and tend to offer better bargains.)

I wouldn't worry too much about prices going up and would probably ease into this. I agree that the Hyatt Place Itasca is a great property (stayed there many times) but a little further away from Park Ridge than you want to be. It's about a half hour drive depending on which side of Park Ridge you are driving to. The problem with the actual O'Hare zone properties is that so many of them charge for parking nowadays (which is pretty ludicrous if you ask me - it's not like the space is at a premium like downtown. It's just that one hotel got away with charging for it early on and others followed suit.) Honestly, if I were in your situation, I would continue to check HOTWIRE listings until you find a property that is easily identifiable or I might go for a 4* bid on PRICELINE and hope that the price would be low enough to compensate for any parking fee you might have to pay.

Honestly, that Hotel Monaco deal for $119 a night including valet parking is a very good value for that weekend. It is not a prepay and you could always cancel if you find something better.

Local weekend getaway, as usual - thought I'd go with Deerfield for a change of scenery. Bid thru PRICELINE link, of course : ) Hyatt Deerfield 1750 Lake Cook Road Deerfield, Illinois 60015 Your Offer Price: $42.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 2 Subtotal: $84.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $18.04 Total Charges*: $102.04

For what it's worth, I'd choose the 3* Wyndham Suites over the 3.5* Hyatt. Huge 2 rooms suites with seperate living area, fridge, microwave and more recently renovated. I've stayed at both and while either is nice, for a long weekend, I think you'll appreciate the extra space at the Wyndham.

Saw I had some bonus cash and decided to maximize my savings for Memorial Day Weekend - couldn't be more pleased to get away for 3 nights at a hotel we love for just over $100 including tax. Sheraton Suites Elk Grove (in Arlington Heights zone) 121 Northwest Point Boulevard Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007 Bonus Cash Per Room, Per Night: $5.00 Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $27.00 Total Offer Price Per Room, Per Night with Bonus: $32.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $81.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $19.65 Total Charges*: $100.65

Oh Miss Poofy, I beg to differ. I've lived here all my life and think Chicago is about the friendliest big city around. But maybe it's just me - I'm the kind of person who can strike up a conversation with anyone and I find that when you treat people nicely, the kindness is returned. Also, I use Priceline and Hotwire a LOT and have always been treated kindly when I check in. My kids and I stayed at a Hyatt Place last week paying $34 a night and we got upgraded to one of their larger double bed rooms; front desk staff gave my kids free milk and cookies, offered us late check out - treated us like gold. And I love taking my kids downtown and just walking down Michigan Avenue to window shop, or exploring Millennium Park and making faces in the "Bean" and taking our shoes off and running through Crown Fountain. Or hanging out on a free public beach on a warm summer day. Or enjoying a picnic & riding our bikes at one of the local Forest Preserves. You don't have to spend a dime to do any of that, but you might spend a few extra pennies on your sales tax when you eat that messy Chicago hot dog with tomato and pickle and celery salt on a poppy seed bun (no onions or ketchup for me, please.) There are so many wonderful things to do in this area that cost nothing. Hey, and to get downtown for the weekend we can buy a weekend Metra pass for $5 for me and the kids are free - talk about a bargain. And If you want to talk about kindness, AaronJB spends countless hours on here and the TA Chicago forum trying to help people and give them advice on saving money not just on their hotels, but on parking, groceries, etc. So please don't tell me there is no hospitality in this city. My theory is that people who are negative get negativity in return. Just my 2 cents.

If do a search in Hotwire, there is a 4* coming up in Northbrook for your dates for $77, which is likely the Renaissance (amenities are Fitness, Pool, Restaurant, Business Center & High Speed Internet.) You could bid less for a 4* on Priceline in the "North Shore" zone and I am relatively confident you would still end up with the Renaissance. As for wanting either the Hyatt or the Embassy Suites, I've never seen the latter come up on Priceline for 3.5* in Deerfield OR seen it on the Hotwire hotel list. More often than not, the Hyatt is won; once in a while the Marriott Suites comes up. I have won both and like either of them. So I think of Deerfield as a "safe zone" for a 3.5* bid; thus I've never looked for something comparable on Hotwire. But the 3.5* that comes up on Hotwire for $62 on your dates COULD be a match for the Hyatt (amenities are Fitness, Pool, Restaurant, Business Center, High Speed Internet & Golf Nearby.) It's showing on the pinned Hotwire list on this site with those amenities PLUS tennis. Keep in mind on Hotwire you want the Northbrook zone whether you choose 3.5* or 4*. On Priceline you want North Shore zone for 4*, Deerfield zone for 3.5*. Personally, I'd take my chances with Priceline for less money. Whatever you do, please remember to use the Better Bidding links for Priceline and Hotwire.

After booking other dates for my friend and knowing I could ID this hotel with 100% certainty, I just had to check some other dates. Kids and I stayed here last year for spring break and we're doing it again. Very pleased with this rate on Hotwire. The only thing this hotel lacks is a hot tub, but I can live without it for this price including breakfast. Heck, breakfast alone can run us $15-20 when we travel. Hyatt Place Chicago/Itasca 1150 Arlington Hts Rd Itasca, IL 60143 Price $34 per night 3 nights $102 plus $16.39 taxes/fees Total $118.39 Amenities: Smoke Free Rooms/Pool/Complimentary Breakfast/Business Center/Fitness Center/High Speed Internet

Booked for a friend - had a gut feeling it was the Hyatt Place as it's the only possible 3* in the zone that I know of that offers complimentary breakfast. Seems like the amenities for this place change each time someone books it. Very happy with outcome and the price was so good I wasn't even tempted to try for cheaper on PRICELINE. Used the HOTWIRE link posted here, as always. Hyatt Place Chicago/Itasca 1150 Arlington Hts Rd Itasca, IL 60143 Price $34 plus $10.23 taxes/fees Total $44.23 Amenities: Smoke Free Rooms/Pool/Complimentary Breakfast/Business Center/Fitness Center/High Speed Internet

Thereuare makes a very good point about the 4 people/2 beds scenario with Hotwire. I can tell you from personal experience that the Hyatt Lisle's rooms are all set up "suite style" with at least one "real" bed, along with a sofa sleeper in the seating area, separated by a short shelving unit with a swiveling TV set that can be viewed from either side of the room. So in essence, even when booking with Hotwire, you would not necessarily get a room with 2 double beds. I can also tell you that the Hyatt is a large property - they have 312 rooms. I have stayed there numerous times, always booking thru Priceline, and I can only think of one occasion where they were not able to honor my special room request. Keep in mind that I have a Hyatt Gold Passport card, and even though I don't have a ton of points, it never hurts to present it at check-in when re-iterating your room request. I have also found that it's helpful to call the day of check-in to ask about room requests as well, especially if you are checking in later in the day. As far as a non-smoking room is concerned, neither Hotwire or Priceline can guarantee this - but just an FYI that 80% of the rooms there are non-smoking.

I believe that is the Hyatt Lisle. Pretty safe bet you can get it on PRICELINE for less. It comes up frequently for around $35 for 3.5 stars in the Lisle/Naperville/Warrenville zone (and even if you didn't get the Hyatt, the Wyndham and the Hilton are the alternatives. All good options really.)

Sheraton Suites Elk Grove (in Arlington Heights zone) 121 Northwest Point Boulevard Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007 Your Offer Price: $32.00 Number of Rooms: 1 Number of Nights: 3 Subtotal: $96.00 Taxes and Service Fees: $19.48 Total Charges*: $115.48 Started at $28 and worked my way up to $32, a buck at a time, using all possible free re-bids (Algonquin, Aurora, Bolingbrook & St. Charles.) I have to admit, for me, half the fun of using Priceline is knowing I didn't pay a dime more than I had to (yes, I'm cheap.) Wanted a local escape for a long weekend and was 99% sure this was the hotel I would get. Love the remodeled rooms and 2 LCD TV's and the pool & hot tub. I would have been open to about any suburban zone for the right price, but this one is just a no-brainer for me. And, of course, I used your PRICELINE link to book : )

For the record, that hotel has been a Marriott for at least 30 years. I don't doubt that it is in dire need of renovations, however, to the best of my knowledge it has never been a Holiday Inn.

I've been scoping this out for while, using Hotwire 4* price for similar zone as my gauge. A few weeks ago it was coming up for $95; last night it came down to $72. I decided to bid $40 and immediately got a counter-offer for $12. Added Elmhurst as a free rebid and upped my offer to $43. No counter. Decided to stop. Tonight I checked Hotwire again and found 4* Oak Brook for $59. Lowered my bid back down to $40 again, adding Aurora as a free rebid (had been less than 24 hours.) Got it! Very happy. I love this hotel and pretty much knew it was what I would end up with (but easily could have dealt with the Westin-Lombard as the only known alternative.) And I'm officially done with local weekend getaways at least until the end of the month. Does anyone know of a 12 step program for Priceline addicts? As always, used your PRICELINE link to start my bidding. The Hyatt Lodge At Mcdonalds Oakbrook - Downer's Grove 2815 Jorie Blvd Oakbrook, Illinois 60523 Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $40.00 Subtotal: $40.00 Taxes & Service Fees: $12.10 Total Charges*: $52.10

LOL - Suburbanite05 - I told you I was a bargain hunter. I can't resist staying at a nice hotel for less than $50 including tax. This zone has worked out nicely for me the last couple of weeks. And now that I've learned that even the Holiday Inn Select is not a bad option, I will continue to seek this zone out (though I do miss the days of landing the Hyatt Lodge for $30 back when it was a 3*.) Had another nice stay this weekend and I know just what you mean about Friday stays. I don't get off work til 6, so I don't even try anymore. We just shoot for Saturday and check in as close to 3PM as possible. Really made the most of the one night stay this time - checked in at 4PM, then drove out to Aurora to hit the new Sonic Drive In (imagine a 20 minute wait in the car to eat at a drive-in...kids love it though.) Went back to the hotel and swam. Relaxed and watched TV. Got up this AM and ordered room service breakfast (my justified indulgence - I figure I'm getting room and breakfast for $20 less than most people pay for the room alone - and I get Hyatt Gold Passport points.) Kids swam again while I worked out, then with a late 1PM check out we took our time to get ready and pack up. Spent a perfect cooler afternoon just up the street at the Morton Arboretum.

Stayed last weekend for one night. I am a little leery of the Holiday Inn chain in general, and some others have inferred that this hotel is a dump compared to the nearby Hyatt, Hilton and Wyndham. But I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. While the decor could use a little updating, my room was immaculately clean and the bed was incredibly comfortable - nice firm mattress with good quality linens and pillows. Very big bathroom with lots of counter space on the vanity, and great pressure and plenty of hot water in the shower/tub enclosure. I requested my "usual" - high floor, end of the hall and was delighted to find myself in a HUGE corner room on the 5th floor. I think it might have been a suite at some point in time and easily could have accomodated more furniture. There was also a wet bar which had the cabinetry to house a mini fridge and microwave but did not. And even though the room faced I-88, I could not hear the traffic noise at all (I have stayed on the 12th floor at the Hyatt Lisle and the traffic noise is much worse.) Also note that this hotel is completely non-smoking, which is a big plus. For dinner, I drove about 2 blocks to Buona for great drive-thru pizza and salad, which I brought back to my room, sprawled out and enjoyed. With all the space in the room a couch would have been nice, but there was a big comfy lounge chair and ottoman, which more than sufficed. Hotel staff was pleasant and obviously accomodating. I was very pleased and think this particular Holiday Inn more than lives up to its 3 star rating.