Hotwire Hotel: Chicago - Central 3.5-4 stars 5/13 - 5/15

[kavm]

Hello,

My wife and I are driving up to Chicago to spend the weekend (Fri & Sat nights) in Chicago starting May 13th. While we do not need to be on the Magnificient Mile, we don't want to be off long distance away and want the hotel to be reasonably nice - say 3.5 to 4 stars. Can come down to 3 if the tradeoff was great. Last time, we got Hyatt near Soldier's Field and that was great. Anyway, looking at HW, there did not seem anything that was less than 170. Should one wait and try again in a week? Alternately, what might be a good price/area to try in Priceline?

Thanks a lot!

[AaronJB]

The issue with these dates - unfortunately - is that there is a conference w/20,000 attendees + the usual Spring traffic on top of that. There may be some calming of rates closer to the dates, but that's not assured - rates could go the other way or stay at these levels if traffic comes in higher than expected.

What would be your desired budget per night?

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

[kavm]

Thanks a lot for the information. That explains the high rates we are seeing.

We are not exactly at a fixed budget. Can afford the 170 or so that's on offer, though would have preferred it to have been nearer 100 or so.

Am inclined to wait to see if the rates drop. If they remain sky high, we do have a car and an option to stay on the outskirts.

[AaronJB]

In terms of staying outside the city vs. staying within the city, there are downsides to staying outside the city (the trains downtown do not run as often on the weekends, it is a trip of 35-40 minutes in, although it's a nice trip), but there are positives (some of the outlying 'burbs are very nice and do have some sights of their own; hotels are cheaper and most offer free parking.)

In terms of the North burbs (PRICELINE's Deerfield zone at the 3.5* level is what I often recommend in terms of the North Burbs), I think you're likely looking at somewhere in the $40-49 neighborhood for a 3.5* and free parking. You'd be looking at approximately $7 each way on the train for Friday, then you can buy a weekend pass for the Metra trains for Saturday/Sunday (only on the Metra trains, not CTA.) The Chicago Botanic Garden (chicagobotanic.org; despite the name, it's in a burb) is also nearby and quite beautiful this time of year.

In terms of the city, you're likely looking at $120-150 for a 4* in either the River North-NMA or Millennium Park-Loop-Grant Park zones, although it may take somewhat higher ($155-165) if hotels are not aggressively discounting due to higher demand due to the weekend events. Parking at downtown city lots is $25 per night, although parking at hotels is $40-50 per night at most properties. Definitely more expensive, but it is nice to be downtown and not have to take a fairly lengthy train ride in.

Overall, the suburbs would be substantially cheaper, but it becomes if it is worth it to take a Metra train ride (although the Metra trains are nicer and more comfortable than the CTA trains) for 35-45 minutes each way vs. being right downtown.

There may be some calming of rates closer to the dates, but that's not assured - rates could go the other way or stay at these levels if traffic comes in higher than expected. There is the potential for price variation on the city rates, but suburban rates will very likely stay substantially cheaper.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

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

[kavm]

Aaron,

First of all, thanks a lot for the very valuable advice! Staying in the outskirts is a fallback and not an option we prefer.

I want to try some aggressive bid on the Priceline now. If it does not succeed, I can retry something a week from now. With that in mind, would one try something like 130 be a reasonable try for the two areas you list? Would you suggest going lower/higher?

Thanks,

[AaronJB]

I'd say $105 would be a starting point in the Millennium Park-Loop-Grant Park zone at the 4* level, while $125 would be a starting point in the River North-NMA area at the 4* level. Neither opening bid may be enough, but both would be a reasonable starting point. If not accepted, you could up the bids by $5 each time.

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