Priceline Hotel: Looking for >= 3* in Mill Park/Loop/Grant Park in Chicago Aug. 4-9

[dapuma]

Hi,

I've been trying to find a deal on Priceline for a 3 star or greater in the Central Loop/Grant or Millennium Park area (maybe even the Mag Mile) for Lollapalooza weekend in August (Thurs. 4th - Tues. 9th).

I've low-balled a couple of $85-$95 bids yesterday & have been rejected w/o counters - basically just to try it out. (I'm a n00b to Priceline.)

My limit is $110-$115; otherwise it's more convenient to go w/ Expedia for a flight + hotel deal where I can get the Aeroplan points. The deals I've been seeing on here for that area are a little cheaper, but I guess Lollapalozza is having an effect on the prices? Would I be better off waiting or should I bid again now?

Also, are there other areas of Chicago I should consider that would give me a better rate, but still keep me in reasonable proximity to Grant Park?

Really appreciate any insight or assistance offered! Cheers...

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

Lollapalooza is generally one of the toughest weekends of the year and the first area to pile up is the Loop, as those headed for Lollapalooza want to be closer to Grant Park. The North Michigan Ave area to the North of the river is not far, but both areas are pricey for these dates. The 7th-9th when looked at separately is better than the 4th-7th. I think you could probably get under $100 for the 7th-9th, but the 4th-7th alone is going to be expensive.

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

[dapuma]

Thanks for the reply - really appreciate it! I hadn't thought about splitting the trip into 2 sections, but I guess that's an option. By booking separately will I pay more for the first 3 (Thurs/Fri/Sat) than I would if booked the full 5 days together? Let's say I can get a rate for the full trip at $125/night - can I expect that same rate if I just booked the first half, then booked the last 2 days at a cheaper rate, thereby saving on the overall cost? Or can I expect to pay more for the shorter first stay that will negate the savings on the end?

Hope that makes sense - it's about as clear as mud when I read it. :)

[thereuare]

The idea of SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID is that the hotel with the least expensive rate for the 'peak' dates (from your post the first 3 nites if i'm reading your post corretly) may not be the hotel which has the least expensive rate for the slower dates (the last 2 nites). By splitting your bid you will likely need to change hotels during your stay, but it enables you to take advantage of the least expenisve hotel for each leg of your stay... vs. the hotel with the best average rate over the entire period of your stay. The booking fee is usually slightly more when making two separate purchases, but the room rate savings of booking separately should easily overcome the difference in booking fee.

Is the NMA-River North zone acceptable as well... or are you only willing to accept the Loop zone?

What is your maximum bid for this stay? Have you priced out a package deal, backed out the airfare to determine the 'hotel only' cost... what is that amount and for what property?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (or our Expedia link if you decide to book a package)