Priceline Hotel: Bidding Help - Chicago 60601 (Loop/Millenium Park/Grant Park)

[maitrilyn]

Hi,

I will be attending a class in the 60601 area code & would like to get a room nearby preferably 3+ stars for $70/nt from 6/3 - 6/16.

I used the Priceline QuickQuote from this website & began at the 4* level choosing Millenium Park at $70.

Changes:

1. I changed to 3.5* @ $70

2. then 3* @ $70

3. then added the "North Mich Ave" area @ $70

4. Finally, I changed the date to 6/2 - 6/15 @ $70

All of these were rejected. I thought I might get some input before trying Hotwire.

Thank you.

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

Unfortunately, the Summer is definitely a busier and more expensive in the city. In this case, there are also a few patches that are extraordinarily busy, including the first couple of weekends.

The back portion of your stay (11th-16th) is somewhat better, but even a 3* is quite possibly going to cost over $100 and possibly a good deal over $100.

If looking at 6/3-11, the cheapest option on HOTWIRE is a 3* for $235 (although looking up some patches of that period specifically are significantly worse. Unfortunately, keeping under $70 would require staying outside the city.

Are you driving or flying in?

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

[thereuare]

As well, is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?

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

[maitrilyn]

I live in Indiana & could potentially drive in. However, the parking rates are astronomical in the city. Also, it looks like the commute into the city can take an hour each way (according to Google maps).

I figured with the Blues Fest it would be very difficult to get around $70/nt :(

I just found an option I am looking into, though. The University Center has reasonable rates over the summer & my stay could be around $64/night, taxes included (and one meal/day, too). It is one mile from my classes & looks to be the most reasonable option I can hope for.

I really don't want to have to move while I'm there, but if The University Center doesn't work out, I'll try splitting my Priceline bids & perhaps stay in the hostel for a couple of days over the Blues Fest weekend.

Thank you for your assistance.

BTW - I'm thrilled that I found this site & am more than happy to support it by using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links for my purchases and searches.

[AaronJB]

You could likely get a hotel in the 'burbs for the $40's-50's (and free parking), but then it becomes getting a train downtown (around 35-45 minutes +/- depending), although that would be the nicer Metra trains.

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

[maitrilyn]

Hmmmm.... This sounds like it might be an option. My fuel costs from IN to Chicago are estimated @ $70 versus ~ $200+ for the flight (both round-trip). If I were to bid on this, what area do you recommend?

[AaronJB]

I generally recommend the North 'burbs.

Closest to the city:

1. Skokie-Evanston-Niles

Pros: Good deal of restaurants/shopping. Relatively close to the CTA train (park and ride) in terms of most of the hotels. If you are able to get a hotel in Evanston, those hotels do charge a parking fee (although you can park in a nearby city garage, probably for less), but Evanston is extremely convenient w/both Metra and CTA stops.

Cons: Parking if you get a hotel in Evanston, but those hotels haven't been seen in a while. The Holiday Inn (a possibility at the 3* level in Skokie) gets very mixed reviews. The Doubletree (another 3* in the Skokie part of this zone is a better result.) These hotels are a little more expensive in the Summer months, because they do see overflow traffic from the city.

A bit further North:

2. North Shore (note: the region is called North Shore, but this is actually a North Shore zone within the greater North Shore region, and Glenview/Northbrook are the towns that make up this zone.)

Pros: Should be pretty easy to get a win at 3.5* the $45-55 range. HOTWIRE has a 3.5* for $63.

Cons: There's not a lot right around some of the hotels, but the Metra stations are a short drive, as are restaurants and shopping.

Yet further North:

Deerfield:

Pros: Should be pretty easy to get a win at 3.5* the $45-55 range. HOTWIRE has a 3.5* for $63. A couple of the 3.5*'s have shuttles. The 3.5* possibilities in this zone are either suites (Marriott Suites, Embassy Suites) or what the Hyatt calls "junior suites". At the 3* level in this zone, two nice Courtyards have been reported as wins, although there may be other 3* possibilities in the zone.

Cons: There's not a lot right around some of the hotels, but the Metra stations are a short drive, as are restaurants and shopping.

I wouldn't go any further than Deerfield.

All three areas are quite nice. The hotels in the Deerfield and North Shore zones are generally right near or a reasonable drive from a Metra station, but are not near a CTA station. All three areas are pretty easily accessible from the expressway and a number of hotels in the zones are close to a PRICELINE EXPRESSway.

Please let us know your thoughts and we would be happy to offer further suggestions.

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