Priceline Hotel: 4* Chicago (NMA-River North) Marriott Mag Mile

[canadianguy83]

Hi

I've got a flight booked to Chicago for the weekend of June 3, 2011. I need help with booking a hotel (3.5* or 4*) from 6/3/11-6/6/11, preferrably near the loop area or lincoln park areas. On hotwire the only thing listed is $359 for a 3.5* (appears to be hotel indigo) not a particularily great rate... i have reserved a chicago city suites at $205 as a backup, but would not be all that happy with it. After a quick google search it appears there is some huge oncology convention in Chicago that weekend, probably bought a big block of rooms. Any suggestions on how to approach this from priceline? Is there any point in trying now, if so at what rates? Anyone had any similar experience with something like this, will the rooms get released at a cheaper rate a week or two beforehand?

Thanks for any help

[thereuare]

Please click this HOTWIRE link and reply to this thread, we'll then have a look at your post above.

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

[canadianguy83]

Please click this HOTWIRE link and reply to this thread, we'll then have a look at your post above.

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

ok, done

[thereuare]

Given the extremely tight supply, and your back-up rate at $200+ at a hotel you really don't want to stay at, what would be your maximum bid for this stay? Which PRICELINE zone(s) are acceptable?

There is always a chance that rates will drop closer to the event if hotels find themselves with vacancies they thought would be sold by convention attendees, but this is ASCO, a very big deal in the science/oncology world, and it will likely be very well attended (not just by scientists but also by the finance world looking to gain insight into the next blockbuster drug)

Is your problem with your back-up hotel the price, location, or quality?

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

[AaronJB]

Expedia is showing extremely little availability downtown, with the only hotels being $400-600+.

The Homestead in Evanston is $126 (and coupon code BRIGHT11 takes $10 off each night) for $116. That also offers free breakfast. That would put you further North, but Evanston's fantastic and nearly $90 cheaper than your reservation in Lincoln Park. Given the availability I'm seeing, I'd be skeptical if PRICELINE has any inventory.

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

[canadianguy83]

thanks for the feedback... my issue with the backup was mainly quality, location is ok, would like something a bit more downtown but im sure it would be fine (areas on the map:4,7,8) . I would probably go up to $300 + tax as a max bid

[thereuare]

To avoid any confusion please use PRICELINE zone names rather then the numbers, as the order will change whenever new zones are added/removed or renamed.

To confirm, you're willing to accept:

Lincoln Park

Millenium-Loop-Grant Park

NMA-River North

... 3.5* minimum star rating and a $300 maximum bid?

Is this correct?

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

[canadianguy83]

yeah thats right sorry. I was thinking of waiting a few weeks before doing this priceline bidding in case more room become available, i don't think i'd be getting much of a deal right now, guess i could be wrong though

[AaronJB]

My thought would be to maybe persistently try up to a lower (although still high, given how expensive these dates are at this point) "ceiling" for the time being and then move up the ceiling over time if your bids are not accepted. What have you bid up to so far?

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

[canadianguy83]

So far I just put in a few bids, up to $200, with no luck, I think thats a good plan, and will keep around that ceiling for the time being, and try more seriously after May 16th (see below). If anyone else is in the same position, I found this info from the ASCO site thanks for the help guys.

Change/Cancel a Housing Reservation

Key Dates

Until Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 11:59 PM EDT

Change or cancel your housing reservation here

On Thursday, May 12 – Sunday, May 15, 2011

Changes and cancellations cannot be made

Room reservations will be transferred from the Housing Center to the Hotel at this time.

Beginning Monday, May 16, 2011

Change or cancel your housing reservation by contacting the hotel directly

72 hours prior to your schedule arrival date

Final Deadline to change or cancel your housing reservation by contacting the hotel directly

Your credit card will be charged a fee equal to 100% of your total stay if you cancel your reservation less than 72 hours prior to your scheduled arrival date.

[AaronJB]

I think that's a good plan, and while inventory may remain tight up until the dates, hopefully some additional inventory will come online, as right now there's really very little available, with most downtown properties sold out.

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

[canadianguy83]

So kept up with this plan, ended up getting the Marriott (4* North Mich Ave) for $210/night just now. Not the greatest deal, and the hotel seems like more of a 3.5/3 star hotel, but considering the prices out there for that weekend I'm happy, no more $$ than the 2.5* place I had as a backup plan 7 miles north. If anyone else was stuck on that weekend its worth another look right now

thanks for help

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Nice deal for this quite well-located property during a very busy period.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to start your purchases and searches.

Enjoy your stay.