Priceline Hotel: 3.5* Chicago (Mill Park/Loop/Grant Park) 5/22

[Nelep]

I've been bidding for the past week with no success for May 22 (Saturday). My ideal location is NMA 4*, but I've expanded that to include Mill Park/Loop/Grant Park at 3.5*. I've used the rebid zone strategy each day and still no luck. The National Restaurant Association convention is in town that weekend and I know that is why I am having trouble. Here's what I've done so far:

On 5/11 I started at $75 for 4* NMA. Added rebid zones and went up to $100. All rejected.

On 5/12 I started at $72 for 3.5* NMA. Added rebid zones and went up to $87. All rejected.

On 5/13 I started at $85 for a 4* NMA. Added all rebid zones and went up to $130. All rejected.

On 5/14 I started at $75 for a 3.5* NMA. Added all rebid zones and went up to $90. All rejected.

On 5/16 I started at $85 for 4* NMA. Added all rebid zones plus 3.5* and went up to $102. All rejected. (I messed this one up a bit!)

For some reason, Priceline let me bid several times on 5/16. Not sure why...

On 5/16 I started at $75 for 4* MILLENIUM PARK/LOOP. Added all rebid zones (including NMA) and went up to $126. All rejected.

On 5/16 I started at *75 for 3.5* Mill Park/Loop. Added all rebid zones and went up to $121. All rejected.

On 5/17 I started at $126 for 3.5* Mill Park/Loop. Added all rebid zones and went up to $165. All rejected.

OF COURSE, I USED THE PRICELINE LINK FROM THIS SITE!

Not really sure what to do at this point. Do hotels tend to open up as the dates get closer? (i.e., they still have vacancy and are trying to get rid of rooms.) I've looked at the web sites of a few of the hotels listed on this site. There are some that show rooms available (Blackstone, Embassy Suites - State St., W City Center) and some that show no vacancy (Doubletree, Embassy Suites Lakefront, W Lakeshore).

What do I do now?

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

On Orbitz, I'm seeing the majority of 4* properties sold out, with very limited availability at the 3* level, as well. There's no way to know if rooms will open up at the last minute, but with this date only days away, I think the chances of more reasonable rates appearing unfortunately seems slim. I'm seeing the Manilow Suites at Presidential Towers for $251 on Orbitz and the Hilton Towers for $269 via Expedia.com. The only downtown HOTWIRE listing is a 4* Loop for $255; I have to wonder if there's much (if any) PRICELINE inventory for this date.

Please provide your desired budget for hotel for this night.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[Nelep]

Hi Aaron!

Thanks for checking out availabilty on Orbitz, etc. !

My max budget is $250 including tax. It's not looking too promising :)

It's my daughter's 6th birthday on the 23rd and we are going to American Girl Place on Sunday. I thought it would be nice to stay the night in a nice hotel and have breakfast that morning before the BIG purchase (doll). I'll keep trying. If you find anything let me know! Thanks for your help!

[AaronJB]

Are you driving in? If so, there are some terrific areas outside the city. It would be a trip into the city, but the hotel would cost a fraction of the price of downtown hotels on these dates. It would be maybe a 40 minute trip into the city, but the hotel (on HOTWIRE) would cost in the $50's (for a 3.5*) or in the $70's (4*) versus (when searching for only 2 in the room; if there is more than 2 in the room, prices would be higher and options would be less) around $250 (on HOTWIRE) for a 4* downtown.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE, PRICELINE, Orbitz or Expedia.com links.