Priceline Hotel: 3* Chicago (Airport OHare ORD) Crowne Plaza

[dlgbabe]

My husband is arriving at Chicago Ohare on May 25th at 6:30 am.

I wish to make him a reservation, for the 24th, for a hotel check in.

He plans to sleep for a few hours, then rent a car and drive to Michigan.

He is meeting his sister who arrives at Ohare at 2:30 pm on the 25th.

Any suggetions for me?

I was thinking of using Priceline, 4 star. He will have 2 kids with him, 10 and 13 and coming on a red eye from Alaska.

I want something as convenient to the airport as possible I think, since we don't know Chicago at all.

Thanks

[thereuare]

Do you have a maximum bid in mind?

HOTWIRE has a 3.5* for $49/nite which appears to be the Renaissance. If you're a new customer you can use GIFTCARD06 for $10 off, bringing this down to $39... this also allows you to not have to worry about getting two beds since hotwire allows you to search for more than double occupancy.

Assuming we're correct and this is the Renaissance, it does look close to O'Hare and is adjacent to the highway (look for yourself at Marriott.com)

If you'd still like to try priceline let us know your maximum bid for a 4* and we'll suggest a strategy to try. Please use this HOTWIRE link if you go with the above.

PS- keep in mind that you may also have parking charges if your husband gets the rental car before checking into the hotel (other option is to take the hotel shuttle and then use it to return to the airport to get the rental car and meet his sister)

PPS- no matter how you book, be sure to call the hotel to let them know about his late/early am check-in to make sure they don't think he is a 'no show'

[dlgbabe]

I don't have a max on a 4 star at Chicago Ohare. I see someone got one

for $58, I would like I would go up to $75 probaby.

He plans on taking a shuttle to the hotel and coming back to the airport

later in the day to get the rental car.

Something with a swimming pool would be nice for when they all wake up and > before they check out.

Am I asking for too much?

[thereuare]

I don't think you're asking too much but i you may be trying to "develop a plan" too much.

The HOTWIRE hotel presented above gives you the opportunity to ensure 2 beds for the three people that need to sleep (which can't be assured on Priceline), has a pool (which can't be assured on Priceline), and if our 'guess' is correct that it is the Renaissance it has 24 hours shuttle service to/from O'Hare and is a fairly new hotel.

So do you not like the Renaissance name or is there something else that makes you want to try bidding more on Priceline?

We'll of course try to help you get whatever it is that you want, but it seems silly to be when this hotel stay will likely be less than 8 hours in length.... why not just take the HOTWIRE offer?

[dlgbabe]

okay the Hotwire deal sounds good. I went to the site from this site and found a 3 star best value for $51, is that the one you were referring to.

Then I could add the gift card.

If you advise I will make the reservation tonight.

Thank you.

[thereuare]

That may be the one... do the amenities match what is shown for the Renaissance in our HOTWIRE HOTEL LIST?

Please use this HOTWIRE link to begin your purchase.

Let us know how it goes.

EDIT: a new wrinkle... the Renaissance shows no availability for this nite. While i think the amenities are very unique for an airport area and all signs point to the Renaissance, this adds a bit of a twist. While we do sometimes see wins thru the opaque services at hotels that are otherwise sold-out, it is more the exception than the rule.

[lindabobhat]

I don't think the Renaissance is showing up anymore - there are no 3.5* properties for the O'hare zone if you search for 5/24. The 3* for $51 has only a shuttle, fitness center & business center - no pool. There is a 2.5* with a pool (along with shuttle, restaurant, fitness center and laundry, but it's at $59. I'm sure you could probably do better than this with Priceline, but no guarantee of a pool (although even with Hotwire the pool icon can mean indoor or outdoor and I can assure you nobody has their outdoor pools up and running yet - it feels like winter again here!) You might reconsider a Priceline bid - perhaps Thereuare can help you with a strategy.

[dlgbabe]

Thanks for your advice. I found no 3.5 star at Hotwire.

We can forgo the pool and just go with comfortable beds and a good shower.

Thanks again.

[thereuare]

So now i think it was the Renaissance.

We're back to trying Priceline... did you want to start at a 4* or a 3* in the area? (without having researched prices i'd assume the cost difference would probably be about $10-$20 between the two).

[dlgbabe]

I'd probaby start with a 4 star. I tried one there 4 days ago for $53 and it was too low then.

[thereuare]

With the recent re-zoning of the Chicago zones you now have 2 re-bid zones available at the 4* level and one re-bid zone available at the 3* level. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read PRICELINE RE-BIDDING EXPLAINED and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before bidding.

I would bid as follows:

Select 4* ORD...

Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $55, i rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $60.

If rejected closer browser and re-access priceline however you did prevously.

Select 3* ORD...

Bid $36, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $40.

Don't get discouraged if the the above are rejected... rates are a little higher than usualy but we should test the waters with the above first.

Try the above and let us know how it goes.

[dlgbabe]

3* Chicago ORD Crowne Plaza $61 5/24/05

1.5 miles from airport in Rosemont with shuttle service

After a few attempts, bid 4* $55, rejected, bid $60, rejected, added 3*, and won at $61.

Am happy with this hotel and price. Called hotel to tell them we would be arriving at 7am the morning of 5/25 and having a late checkout around 2 pm and there was no problem with that they said and noted in the records. Very nice on the phone. They have an indoor pool and food court which the girls will like.

Thanks for all your help.

Since my husband and 2 girls are coming from a remote part of Alaska, and will be traveling 13 hours by the time they get there, they will enjoy a few hours of down time before continuing on to Michigan, a 4 hour drive.

Family reunion, I have to stay home myself.

[lindabobhat]

Even though you weren't successful with the 4* bid, sounds like you ended up with just what you needed. Crowne Plaza beds are terrific (just not as well known as Sheraton Sweet Sleepers and Westin Heavenly Beds.) I haven't stayed at this particular Crowne Plaza, but stayed at another one in Dallas last year. They have a "sleep advantage" program and even offer eye masks & clips for the drapes. Hope your family has a pleasant and restful stay there!

[thereuare]

Glad to see you were ultimately successful and received a hotel that will work well for your family's needs (and save some money in the process :) ).

One thing i would do differently on future bids is that it appears you bid 4* at $60 and then immediately bid 3* at $61, but it's usually recommended to LOWER YOUR PRICE IF YOU LOWER YOUR STAR QUALITY. I think the previous thread explains it well, but if you have any questions feel free to ask.

This is still very nice savings over their conventional rates! Thank you for sharing your win with the rest of us and adding this new property to the board.