Priceline Hotel: 3* Chicago (Millennium-Loop-Grant Park) Essex

[cammyv]

Quick question, I'm looking to book a hotel room 4* in Chicago NMA area for 2 nights on Sept 13 & 14. (Although, I've never been to Chicago so I'm not sure if the hotel I get would be any good or not. Any suggestions on tips, etc. would be appreciated.)

Anyway, I haven't officially submitted a bid yet, however I did submit one of their hotel bid alerts that tells you when someone else gets a winning bid in your price range. I received a bid alert yesterday for $90 and today for $100.

My question is, if I submit a bid for $90 or $100 now, will my bid DEFINITELY be accepted?

(I do know that when I do decide to purchase that I should click through the links on this website, rather than the priceline email so that betterbidding will get credit for my purchase.)

Thank you in advance for your help!! :)

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

The email bid alerts are for bids in the desired area, but they are not likely bids for your same dates.

What would be your desired budget per night? Additionally, are you checking out on the 14th or 15th?

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

[cammyv]

Hi there -

I'm checking out on the 15th (checking in on the 13th). As for budget, as low as possible I guess. That $90-$100 deal sounds awesome but I feel like the cost would be more like $120-$130? Though I really don't have much of an idea since I'm a newbie at this. And, I'm not sure if weekday hotel stays are usually cheaper in Chicago since we're staying on a Tues & Wed. (I was unsure due to business travelers maybe driving prices up.)

I've never been to Chicago but would like to see a few of the sites and do some of the touristy things during the few days I'm there. Would the NMA area be the best area to stay in?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for any help and advice you can offer!

-Jen

[thereuare]

The NMA zone would be ideal, but unfortunately current rates are high for these dates and i don't think $130 will likely be enough for a 4* hotel in this zone. The Loop zone is still do-able, as it's not far from the restaurants/shops/nightlife of the NMA-River North area, but it (the Loop zone) does get a little quiet at nite. I'm not seeing too much in the Loop zone either at the moment, but would you want to include this area in hopes of improving your chances... or do you want to stick with only the NMA zone? Do you want to keep your maximum bid at $130?

Let us know your thoughts on the above and we'll take it from there.

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

[cammyv]

What do you think would be a good bid for those dates in the NMA zone? And what about the Loop zone?

Thanks again for your help!!

[AaronJB]

Prices during this period are definitely on the high side. Unfortunately, I'm guessing a 4* bid in the NMA-River North area is going to likely run towards the $145-175 neighborhood, and you're probably looking at $125-150 in the Loop zone for a 4*, although it may run a bit higher. Some properties are also sold out for one or both days (convention, possibly?)

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

[cammyv]

Bummer. Maybe a 3* hotel would be ok if it was in the preferred location. Do you have any thoughts on bidding on a 3* in NMA area?

Again, thank you thank you thank you for your help!

[cammyv]

Bummer. Maybe a 3* hotel would be ok if it was in the preferred location. Do you have any thoughts on bidding on a 3* in NMA area?

Again, thank you thank you thank you for your help!

I am trying to lock up my reservation soon (so I apologize for being a pest) but does anyone have any thoughts on suggested 3* or 3.5* bid in Chicago NMA area?

Any help would so very much be appreciated!

THANK YOU! :)

[AaronJB]

3*/3.5*'s on the mile are, unfortunately, similarly expensive. I'm guessing for a 3.5*, you're looking at the $125-145 range, and possibly higher if hotels are not aggressively discounting. There is a moderately big convention at McCormick Place, but it's not quite enough to put rates as high as they are for these dates - not sure what else may be going on.

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

[cammyv]

Thanks for the help. I tried a bunch of different options NMA 4* @ $140, 3.5* & 3* @ $140 and they were a no-go. Then I added the Loop area at 4* and 3.5* for $140 and both were a no-go. I finally added the Loop area 3* for $140 and it was accepted. They gave me the Essex hotel. It reviews don't look super great but hopefully it'll be ok.

Not sure if I should start a new forum topic but I had a few questions about the city. Since we're first timers in Chicago, I was hoping to maybe get some advice from someone more familiar with the city. (Let me know if I should start a new topic)

1. We'll have a car with us so are there any suggestions for parking semi-close to the Essex hotel? (I hear parking can be very expensive.)

2. Any suggestions on sites to see/things to do? We'll only be there for 2 full days but would like to see the best of the best in that short amount of time.

3. Suggestions on public transportation to get to NMA from the Essex hotel area? (I'm assuming that's where many of the 'things to do/see' suggestions will be)

4. Any suggestions on reasonably priced restaurants/places to eat?

Again, THANK YOU for any help/advise you can provide!

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Good deal for a busy period, and hotels do not appear to be aggressively discounting - HOTWIRE has nothing in the Loop area for these dates now.

I would be more than happy to offer suggestions/thoughts (and will write them out momentarily), but one question - in terms of dining, any likes/dislikes?

Thank you for sharing your win and please use the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.

Enjoy your stay.

[AaronJB]

1. Parking. I'd suggest the Millennium Park lots (http://www.millenniumgarages.com/, which are $24; there are multiple garages though - do look at the website for details on exact rates for each garage and the directions.) That's the closest city parking operation. You should not need the car to get around the city.

2. I'd skip Navy Pier, for starters. I'd strongly suggest the Art Institute. If you are planning on visiting the Sears Tower or Hancock, I'd suggest one or the other, but not both - your hotel is closer to the Sears Tower. Given that school is back in session, the Shedd Aquarium would be an option, as it should not be as uncomfortably crowded as it can get during prime Summer season. This would not be a terribly far walk from where you are staying.

I do often recommend Lincoln Park Zoo, which is a very nice zoo - and free. If the weather's nice, this is a pleasant option, and you can investigate the nearby Old Town neighborhood (where Second City is, as well as one of my favorite little stores, the Spice House), as well as the shopping and restaurants that Lincoln Park has to offer. If you are planning on shopping, you can set time for NMA and State St shopping (or boutiques further North in Lincoln Park), but if that's not a priority, you could then devote more time to sights.

3. In terms of public transit, the Harrison Red Line stop is right near your hotel (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_(CTA_station) You can take that North to the NMA area - if you wanted to go to River North (a neighborhood full of restaurant options near Michigan ave, you would stop at State/Grand. If you wanted to go up further towards the Water Tower shopping area and more of the core shopping area of NMA, you would stop at Chicago/State.

4. Any specific likes/dislikes on restaurants?

Are you planning on getting in early on the 13th? You could then drop baggage off at the hotel if they are not ready for check-in and you could start heading out and around.

Let me know your thoughts on the above, and then I would be happy to offer more specifics/directions.

[cammyv]

Wow! Thanks for such detailed and great info!!! You're awesome!

I will definitely take your suggestions for sites and shopping areas.

As for eating, we aren't too picky (no national chain restaurants though) but something not TOO pricey but very good. Restaurants in the areas you recommended would be good or if there's anything near the Essex, that'd be good to know too.

Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your wealth of knowledge! It is SO VERY much appreciated! :)

Also, one other quick question about Priceline/Hotwire bidding in general...do the prices (for bidding) typically get cheaper/lower the CLOSER you are to your date or is it best to book as far out as possible? (Or does it really just depend on how busy the date is and whether it's a weekday/weekend, etc?)

[cammyv]

Oh and yes, we're planning on arriving very early on the 13th.

Do the hotels typically keep your bags for you if you drop them off early? (I assume check-in isn't until much later in the day)

THANKS AGAIN!! :)

[AaronJB]

In terms of timing, there is no way to know for sure - there are times when rates do calm down closer to the stay, but there have been many instances of people who chose to wait and then came back closer to the stay and found nothing in their price range. This is also discussed very well and in greater detail in the FAQ under the timing section.

I often recommend Rick Bayless' newer Xoco, which is a more casual offering from the famed Frontera Grill head; this is a more casual/reasonable and easier to get into place right nearby in the River North area. Frontera is great, but if you want to sample Bayless in a quicker/more casual atmosphere, this is a great choice.

If you are looking for a burger nearby your hotel, Hackney's Printers Row (http://www.hackneys.net/) is right nearby, and if you sign up for the email program on their website, you get a coupon. It's more carry-out oriented, but I do like Edwardo's Pizza nearby at 521 Dearborn. There's also a Lou Malnati's near your hotel at 805 S State. More upscale near your hotel, I'd recommend Custom House (http://www.customhouse.cc/) While not quite what it once was, the Berghoff - one of Chicago's most historic restaurants - (http://www.theberghoff.com/) is also nearby.

There's not a ton of places in the South Loop open at night; there's more restaurant options North of the River at night. However, there are certainly some options not far from your hotel.

The area around this hotel is quiet/quieter at night, but during the day you're likely going to see a lot of college kids - a few colleges are nearby.

[AaronJB]

Lets say you get to the hotel around mid-morning on the 13th. You could do something like this (obviously, this is just sort of an outline)

Take the Red Line from Harrison Northbound to Fullerton. Walk East on Fullerton towards the lake. This will take you through the very nice Lincoln Park neighborhood; there's plenty of places to have a bite to eat. Keep walking on Fullerton until you reach the corner of Fullerton and Stockton. If you look North, there's a rather sleek, glassy building. This is the Peggy Notabert Nature Museum (admission), the core of which is a neat live butterfly exhibit.

If you walk South a minute or two on Stockton from that intersection, you're at the North entrance of the Zoo, which is on the left hand side of the street. The Lincoln Park Conservatory (free, beautiful plant exhibits) is right next to the Zoo entrance. If you walk towards the South end of the Zoo, you'll reach Farm in the Zoo (the South end). At that point, walk West through the park to Clark Ave. Walk South on Clark to North Ave. At North Ave, you can walk West a couple of blocks to Wells. The few blocks North and South of that intersection (North/Wells) are the core of Old Town.

Additionally, the Chicago Historical Society is at the corner of North and Clark. If you are at North and Clark, you can continue South on Clark until you get to Clark/Division. At Clark/Division, there is a Red Line station that can take you back to the Harrison Station.

Or, if you are at Clark/Division, walk East on Division to Lake Shore Drive. Walk South briefly on Lake Shore Drive, and you'll find yourself at the top end of Michigan Ave shortly. The Hancock is right there.

So at the point of Clark/Division, you could either walk over to Michigan Ave and continue South or take the subway back.

This would involve a pretty good deal of walking. There is another variation on this walk where you could take in much more of the Lincoln Park area, as well.

---

So, if you got in mid-Morning on the first day, you could do a stroll through Lincoln Park/LP Zoo, Old Town and Michigan Ave. You could also take a boat tour.

Additionally, do look at this city website for attraction coupons:

http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/supp..._Discounts.html

For example, there's a coupon for 2-for-1 tickets on the Wendella Boat M through W; you could do that on the way back and if you could make that work, that's a really good savings.

[AaronJB]

Longer variation (and I'd really only recommend this if you start earlier, otherwise I'd suggest the shorter variation above):

Take Red Line from Harrison North to Belmont. Walk East on Belmont to Broadway. You will see Ann Sather, which is an institution in Chicago, on Belmont on the way to Broadway (http://www.annsather.com/). If you stop here, definitely arrive hungry, as the portions are rather substantial.

At the corner of Belmont and Broadway, walk South on Broadway to Clark, then continue South on Clark to Fullerton. Walk East on Fullerton and then you'll reach the same intersection of Fullerton/Stockton and can go through the Zoo as noted above.

This would be a much longer walk, but the Lincoln Park area has a lot of neat boutique/thrift stores (certainly different options from Michigan Ave), as well as a ton of restaurants along the route. Certainly a nice walk if it's a nice day, and there's plenty of places to stop and have a drink/bite to eat/relax.

Please let us me know if you have any questions.

I'd also take a look at that coupon link above, as there's some good deals on that - if you stop at the Hancock Observatory while going through Michigan Ave area, there's a coupon for that: http://www.chicagoofficeoftourism.org/chic...s5.html#hancock

[cammyv]

These both sound like great options! Thank you again for including so many details and thank you so very much for your help!

I'm very excited for the trip!!!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!! :)

[cammyv]

THANK YOU for including the coupon links too! That ALWAYS HELPS!!! And the restaurants sound great!

I really can't thank you enough!!

[AaronJB]

Happy to help! Please let us know if you have any other questions.