Priceline Hotel: 4* Chicago (Millenium-Loop-Grant Park) Hyatt Regency

[missbee]

Hi:

I am looking for a hotel near Union Park for the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. We'll be flying in on Thursday, the 15th of July, and staying until that Monday, the 19th. We'd like a nice place, but it doesn't have to be a 4 star hotel, unless that is the best deal. I am looking to be under $100 a night if at all possible, and being close to Union Park is pretty important. I don't necessarily mean right across the street, but close enough.

I am not sure what zones I am to be looking in, and not sure how to begin the bidding process. I love this message board, and have learned a LOT from it, so I truly appreciate your help!

I am also open to using HOTWIRE-again, just trying to get the best deal!

[missbee]

Hi:

There are two of us, and we'll be flying in on Thursday, the 15th and flying out that Monday, the 19th. I am looking at HOTWIRE now, and am trying to figure out what the following property is and where it is located:

4 star, Museum Campus, McCormick Place, Soldier Field, $92 a night. Amenities are: Fitness, Pool, Restaurant, Business, and Internet.

I appreciate any help you can offer! Thanks!

***Also: I was wondering if we would save money by booking our flight through HOTWIRE and doing a package. Any advice?

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please don't double post... keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread. If you ultimately use HOTWIRE we'll move the entire thread to that section of the board.

Is the Museum Campus zone where you really want to be as it looks a bit south of Union Park (not to mention there is not much else going on in this area other than the convention center) If you go to MAPS and HOTELS.com and enter "1501 W Randolph St, Chicago" i believe you'll see the location of Union Park. Unfortunately this property isn't directly in a PRICELINE or HOTWIRE zone, HOWEVER, it appears that the Lakeland train stop is right next to the park, so i would think most downtown locations would be fine for your needs.

Comparing this location to the PRICELINE (and HOTWIRE) zones, would you be willing to accept a hotel anywhere within the shaded boundaries of any of their zones?

I'm not that familiar with the train system (AaronJB can probably confirm or correct my info) but it apear that the Loop zone may be slightly a bit more convenient to the park, but this zone would also be more quiet at nite and not as much to do in the way of nightlife, restaurants, etc. vs. the NMA-River North zone which might involve a transfer on the train, but would have more to do in the way of nightlife.

Let us know your thoughts and we'll take it from there.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[AaronJB]

There are no hotels really right in this area - the closest main hotel area is the Loop area.

The Museum Campus property could be the Hyatt McCormick or Hilton. The Hyatt is not particularly well-located South of the city - there's really nothing much around it aside from the convention center. The Hilton is more centrally located, but that area is still very quiet at night.

If you are looking primarily for a place to sleep and are going to be at the concert most of the days/night, I would suggest trying to bid for a 4* in the Millennium Park-Loop-Grant Park area, as the hotels within that zone are right near an "L" station. I'm guessing you may be able to get a 4* in this zone possibly as low as $80, but more likely around the $90-95 area. This does appear to be a rather busy time period in the city, so if a bid at the 4* level for $100 is not accepted, you may have to consider a higher bid or looking at different star levels/areas. Hopefully, a 4* will accept under $100.

If you are looking for more nightlife and restaurants at night, I'd suggest the River North/NMA area, although that would require a bit of a train switch.

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

[missbee]

I personally will only be attending the festival Friday, but the fellow who is traveling with me will go all three days. If I am near an "L" station, I am good to go. If we did the River North zone, is there an L Station near that zone that I could use?

Our dates have some flexibility as well. I will need to fly back on Sunday.

The properties on HOTWIRE all appear to be out of my budget. Should I proceed with PRICELINE? Thank you for your help.

[AaronJB]

The nearest "L" station to the park is Ashland/Lake, which is on the Green & Pink line. Both of those lines are easily accessible from one of the downtown "L" platforms.

If you were to stay North of the River in the River North/NMA area, then you would either have to taxi it to one of the downtown "L" stations or take the Red Line subway to Lake, then transfer there to the State "L" platform and take the Green or Pink line.

A few of the River North/NMA hotels are a good walk from an "L" station, but it would be an easy cab ride from that station to the hotels in question. If being right nearby an "L" station is the primary focus, I'd suggest focusing on the Millennium Park-Loop-Grant Park area.

I would suggest PRICELINE for this stay, starting at $80 for a 4* and working higher, hopefully getting accepted under the $100 price point. If no 4*'s accept at that price point, there are some nice 3/3.5*'s in the city, although primarily in the River North/NMA area.

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

[missbee]

Thank you for the help. Is it better to do this sooner or later? Thanks.

[AaronJB]

I would recommend starting to try as soon as possible, as rates have been moving up for quite a few periods of the Summer recently.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[missbee]

Thank you for all your help: Here is what happened.

Bid $80 in the Millenium Park Zone, rejected, but got an offer to raise it $15. This was for a four star property. I did it-got the room for $95 a night.

The property is the Hyatt, right where we needed to be. Can't thank you enough for the help!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you received a nice deal for this property and it works well for your plans.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Enjoy your stay.