Priceline Hotel: Jan 12-13 Downtown then 13-15 in Waukegan

[Planner]

We're driving to Chicago to participate in a bonspiel in Waukegan. We usually stay at the Courtyard Marriott (Waukegan/Gurnee on Northpoint Blvd.) but plan to plan to watch the Blackhawks on Jan 12 2010. The drive from Waukegan to the United Centre is a bit much so we were planning to spend our first night close to the United Centre and then head to Courtyard on the 13th. We usually book the Courtyard by phone however I would appreciate help in acquiring 2 rooms for 4 guys close enough to take a cab or transit to the hockey game.

Price isn't a big issue, we would like a safe part of downtown.

[thereuare]

If you go to PRICELINE and look at the zones for this area, the Greater Chicago zone is closest to the United Center but it also goes pretty far south, which may put you too far away, making the NMA and/or Loop zone a better option.

If you look at the zone(s) at PRICELINE which areas do you think would be acceptable? What star rating are you seeking for leg of your trip?

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

[AaronJB]

A couple of thoughts:

1. If you stay outside the city for the first night, free parking. Prices downtown in terms of hotel aren't bad, though, given the time of year, so it

2. I wouldn't stay near the United Center; there are few hotels nearby and some of the nearby area is iffy. I would either stay downtown (and pay parking and then take public transit or cab) or stay outside the city and drive in.

3. Rather than staying all the way up in Waukegan, I'd suggest looking between Waukegan and Downtown, in areas like Northbrook, Skokie, Glenview and Deerfield.

4. If you search for 1 room/4 adults on HOTWIRE for 1/12-13, there is a 4* in the NMA area for $89 (the price you see may vary slightly) with fitness, pool, restaurant, business, internet and spa for $89. This is likely the W Lakeshore, and you could park at Navy Pier down the street. If you search for 4 adults/2 rooms for 1/12-13, there is a 4* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area for $69 w/fitness, business, restaurant, internet, spa, which would likely be the Hyatt. You would then park @ Millennium Park.

5. If you search for 2 rooms/4 adults for Northbrook, IL for 1/13-15, there is a 3* in the Vernon Hills-Lincolnshire-Mundelein zone for $49 w/suite, breakfast, fitness, pool, laundry, internet. That may be the Staybridge, Springhill or Homewood Suites.

Additionally, if you are looking for a burger in the North Burbs before or after the game, you may want to try Hackney's, in Glenview. (video in link.)

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

[Planner]

Mr ThereUare,

After mediatating some seconds on the map I think it's a toss up between the 3 zones you mentioned. What order would you chose the zones? I'd bid on 4 star.

What do you think the chances are for separate beds or rooms relatively close to each other are?

thanks,

[thereuare]

AaronJB is local to the area so i'd start by re-reading his thread and suggestions.

Based upon your response, i think it comes down to whether you want to stay outside of the city (free parking) or be closer and stay directly in the city (pay for parking and easier commute to the arena). If the latter, for me it would then come down to what you want to do other than the game... if looking for a little nitelife around the hotel i'd seek out the NMA zone... if you don't necessarily need anything near the hotel then i'd bid both the NMA and Loop zones and let PRICELINE assign me whichever was cheaper.

As far as rooms with 2 beds, there is no way to say, it will depend greatly on hotel policy, occupancy levels and what's available at the time you check-in. If separate beds is a priority for this stay then searching HOTWIRE for more than double occupancy per each room may be a better option... although note the second 'bed' could be a pullout sofabed, rollaway, etc.

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

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

[AaronJB]

Based upon your response, i think it comes down to whether you want to stay outside of the city (free parking) or be closer and stay directly in the city (pay for parking and easier commute to the arena). If the latter, for me it would then come down to what you want to do other than the game... if looking for a little nitelife around the hotel i'd seek out the NMA zone... if you don't necessarily need anything near the hotel then i'd bid both the NMA and Loop zones and let PRICELINE assign me whichever was cheaper.

I completely agree. If you want to be out later at night, focus on NMA. If you are in the city primarily for one night for the game, bid on both and just focus on whatever's cheapest.

I would not recommend the Greater Chicago zone.

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

[Planner]

I was thinking that trying to get to the 3.5* Crowne Plaza (West Loop-Medical District-UIC ZONE)

would be optimum. We could book two rooms stating three people per room so as to make 2 beds likely.

Can you tell me what the car parking might be? The website said to call the hotel.

We really only want to just go to game then head to the Waukegan Marriott the next morning.

Perhaps we should move this this to the Hotwire forum?

[AaronJB]

I'm seeing $36 parking for the Crowne Plaza.

If you bid 3.5*, you could also possibly get the Marriott UIC or be upgraded to the 4* Hyatt McCormick, which is South of the city.

When searching for four (as you would be ensured some sort of bedding for everyone when searching for four on HOTWIRE) in the room, HOTWIRE is showing a 3.5* in the West Loop-UIC-Med District area for $162 w/fitness, restaurant, business, internet and golf. That would be a possible match for the Crowne Plaza, although regular rate is $189 ($149 + $40 extra person fee for the 2 added adults on Expedia) I'd rather the nicer Hard Rock down for $149 on sale via Expedia (50% off, and does not show any extra person fees when trying to book w/4 adults) and then park in the Millennium Park garage across the street for $25.

When you search for 4 people/2 rooms, the UIC property on HOTWIRE mentioned goes down to $139.

When you search for 4 people/2 rooms, there is also a 4* on HOTWIRE in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area downtown for only $69 a night; more inventory/competition in the core areas of downtown and much cheaper rates. When searching for 4/1 room for these dates, there's a Mag Mile listing for $99.

The HOTWIRE prices you see when searching may vary slightly.

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