Priceline Hotel: Can't get Millenium-Grant Park

[bliggie75]

Any reason why I'm getting shot down for a 3.5-4 star request in this area for June 30-Jul 2? I placed a bid once with 4-star at $75, then added 3.5 star at the same price and was still rejected.

[AaronJB]

$75 unfortunately isn't realistic for these dates for a 4* downtown. What would be your desired budget per night?

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[bliggie75]

I was bidding based on two wins I saw on here in the same area for the same dates. I'll try something else, I guess. Thanks.

And you're welcome. :)

[AaronJB]

Rates are not high for these dates, so my guess is that you're not far off - $85-95 is a more likely neighborhood for a win. I'd bid to $80 for a 4*, then try $85 if $80 isn't accepted.

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[thereuare]

I was bidding based on two wins I saw on here in the same area for the same dates.

Were the wins for the exact same dates as your stay?

I'll try something else, I guess.

I don't think you're too far off from a win, and although I haven't checked, i'm doubtful that you'll be able to find a 3.5* or higher hotel for under $100 in Chicago thru conventional booking channels... what other options do you have around this price point? Have you consider also include the NMA zone in your bidding?

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[bliggie75]

One win was for the entire week (this was an $80 bid), the other was for the exact dates of my stay ($75 bid).

I wasn't expecting to find anything under $100 on any other sites...I was just going to bite the bullet and make other (read: more expensive) reservations in the meantime. I wanted to ask about the NMA zone, but I figured if they wouldn't take 3.5 at that price, they probably wouldn't do it in another high profile, neighboring zone like NMA either.

As far as the surroundings are concerned though, what's the difference (if any) between the two zones? I'm going to try it for my next higher bid...I just really fell for the 3.5 and 4star hotels in Millenium Grant Park :)

Thanks for your help, guys!

[AaronJB]

The Millennium/Loop/Grant Park zone is South of the river and contains some shopping (mainly on state st) and the main museums are either within the zone or a short walk South of it. A good portion of the Loop is a business district, and given that, it can be quiet/very quiet at night once the offices let out (especially in the West Loop - the La Quinta, W City Center and Allegro are examples of this West portion of the area.) The South Loop (for example, the Hilton and Blackstone Renaissance) can also be on the quiet side.

The River North/NMA area is further from the museums, but offers more shopping and stays lively later - more is open later into the evening and there are a great deal of restaurants.

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[bliggie75]

This is crazy! Somebody else just won the same area (different dates) for $75/night the other day. I just bid $80 for Millenium/GrantPark and NMA for 3.5 and 4 stars and they still rejected it. Guess they don't like me much :)

I'll keep chugging along..

[thereuare]

It's really not crazy at all... rates are date specific. If hotel occupancy is higher for your dates then when another user won for $75, then it will likely take a higher bid price for you to win then the other user.

However, a quick look at your dates and they're not that high, if you're bidding both the Loop and NMA zones i suspect you will likely win something about about the $100 area... how high are you willing to bid at this time?

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