Priceline Hotel: Help locating the best zone

[andrea32]

Hi!

I'm auditioning for Chicago Lyric Opera at the end of this month (May 29th to be precise! Agh!)

I'm looking for a hotel that is close to the opera house....can anyone advise me on what priceline area to bid in?

The address of the opera house is 20 North Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606. It looks like the closest major cross streets are Wacker and Madison

Is that River North? Or The Loop? I have reservations at the La Quinta 0.2 miles from the theatre, but they are charging $135/night, and I'd really, really like to avoid having to pay that. This audition is getting expensive.I guess it's not THAT important to be close, as I will most likely end up having to drive to the theatre anyway (big instrument). But it would be nice I guess not to be clear across town....

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

This location is right on the edge of the Loop zone, but the NMA or Loop zone should work fine for your needs as both zones are geographically small and even if you ended up at the further point in either zone away from this location, you shouldn't be more than 1.5 miles away.

What are the actual date(s) of yours stay? What is your desired star rating? What is your maximum bid?

Please click this PRICELINE link and let us know the info above, as well as if both of these zones are acceptable, we'll then suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[andrea32]

I'm going to be there March 28th-30th, so 2 nights...I know I've left it until the last minute but I thought I'd give it a shot...

I guess my maximum bid would be $125, and I'd like to stay in as nice a place as possible....I guess 4 star?

I did a search using your PRICELINE link, and it's returning anywhere from $119-135 for those dates.

Please let me know what you think I should start bidding at! I haven't done this in a while...

Thanks.

Also--I've never used Hotwire before...maybe I should give it a shot.

In my dreams, I'd get a hotel that had a kitchenette...I think there's a Residence Inn downtown? I don't know if you guys have any tips on finding that using Hotwire, or lucking into it with Priceline...but if you do let me know!

[thereuare]

Your budget shouldn't be an issue as i think you should be able to find a 4* hotel for under $125/nite for these dates, but please confirm what you really want for this stay...

Residence Inn properties are generally 3* rated and most 4* hotels don't have Kitchenettes, so what is more of your goal, a hotel with a Kitchenette or the nicest hotel you can get for under $125/nite?

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

[AaronJB]

Wow! Congrats on the audition and best of luck!

The Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park zone is the best choice in this case, although the Opera House is on the West border of this zone and it's a fairly sizable zone, so you could end up on an opposite corner of the zone.

If you are driving in, you can stay in the 'burbs, which are very nice and offer free parking and are quite a bit cheaper (probably $45-60 for a 3.5-4*), but then it's expressway in or having to take the train in.

If you stayed in the North Burbs and then took the Metra train in, it would mean lugging the instrument on the train (although Metra trains are larger and have more space than CTA trains). HOWEVER, both Ogilvie Transportation Center and Union Station are right next to (about 1-1.5 blocks) from the Civic Opera House.

When I look on HOTWIRE for these dates, there is a 4* in the Loop zone w/fitness, restaurant, internet, business, pool for $94. That is likely the Palmer House.

So, as an overview:

1. Suburbs: quite a bit cheaper, possibility of suite (at least at the 3.5*/4* level in the North suburb of Deerfield on PRICELINE), free parking, nice area. Downsides: Having to take the train in, although the Metra trains are nice and the two possible final stops (depending on which line you take) are right by the Civic Opera House.

2. Downtown HOTWIRE. What appears to be the Palmer is showing @ $94. You could also try PRICELINE, although you could wind up further away on the opposite corner of the zone. There is also a 4* on HOTWIRE in the Mag Mile/Streeterville zone for $86 w/fitness, business, restaurant, internet. This could be a possible match for the Hard Rock, Hyatt, Westin River North or Sheraton.

Please ask any questions (city or hotel) before bidding.

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

[andrea32]

Yeah--sorry...I was vacillating about the kitchen, but I'm only there for 2 days,, so probably it would be better to go with the nicest hotel, preferably 4 star.

I think I'll do PRICELINE, and maybe start at $55/night for a 4 star in the Loop area? What do you think? too low?

[thereuare]

I think I'll do PRICELINE, and maybe start at $55/night for a 4 star in the Loop area? What do you think? too low?

$55 is likely going to be too low, but why not bid both the Loop and NMA zone, and let the one with the lowest priced 4* available be the one to accept your bid?

Let us know if this is a good idea to you or if you prefer to only bid the Loop zone and we'll take it from there.

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