Priceline Hotel: Help Bidding - Millenium Park - The Loop - Grant Park - 5/8-5/12

[jgilroy]

Hi,

I'm heading to Chicago from 5/8 - 5/12 and would like some help with hotel bidding. I've used Priceline before but never employed any real strategy.

In this case, I'd prefer to stay at the Palmer House Hilton as I have a friend staying there, but I'd be happy to stay at a similar quality hotel that is in the immediate area. Can anyone help me construct bids / a bidding strategy to maximize for these preferences?

Thanks!

Jason

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

There is no way to ensure or increase the odds of a particular property when using PRICELINE. Would you be okay with possibly any 4* in the zone?

The National Restaurant Association show - which is one of the biggest shows of the year - is taking place until the 8th, which may lead to some increased traffic/rates on that night. When searching on HOTWIRE for 5/9-12, prices are cheaper/significantly cheaper than searching for 5/8-12. What would be your desired budget per night?

I do see what appears to be the Palmer on HOTWIRE for 5/9-12, but not 5/8-12.

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

[jgilroy]

Thanks for your response, and the information about the convention. I would be happy with any 4* (or even 3*) property in the area, with a preference toward 4*. I realize that I can not guarantee any particular property, please consider it as just a frame of reference for the area I'd prefer. Budget is in the area of $100 / night -- less expensive is better of course. What is a good bidding strategy here? How does the fact that one night might be significantly more difficult or more expensive affect bidding when (if I recall correctly) I'm just specifying a flat "per night" bid?

Thanks again, and happy to use the site links.

J

[thereuare]

I'd prefer to stay at the Palmer House Hilton as I have a friend staying there, but I'd be happy to stay at a similar quality hotel that is in the immediate area.

The Palmer House is located in PRICELINE's (and HOTWIRE's) Loop zone... is this the only zone you want to bid or are you also interested in the NMA-River North zone (on PRICELINE) or the MagMile-Streeterville zone (on HOTWIRE)... each of these are generally considered a bit more centrally located than the hotels in the Loop zone, but not sure if you're goal is the better location or to be closer to your friend... or the least expensive hotel in either zone.

How does the fact that one night might be significantly more difficult or more expensive affect bidding when (if I recall correctly) I'm just specifying a flat "per night" bid?

You are only making a flat bid per nite for the entire stay, but you may be able to get a better price if you're willing to split the stay at two different properties (see SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID for a further discussion on this subject). Using HOTWIRE rates for your dates as an example:

There is a 4.5* hotel for the first nite of your stay for $137/nite and a (different) 4* hotel for the 3 nites at $105:

137x1nite + 105x3nites = $452

vs. the lowest priced 4* hotel for your dates:

155x4nites = $620

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

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

[jgilroy]

Thanks again for the reply. I was unaware that the other zones were more centrally located, thanks for the information. While I'd probably first bid closer to my friend in the Loop zone, I'm certainly willing to add the more centrally located zones to expand my search. Regarding splitting my stay -- I might do it to save the ~$170 indicated by the Hotwire rates, but if I could get at or near my budget on Priceline without having to do that, I'd much rather not split the stay. So while it is an option, I'd like to consider it a last resort. Changing zones and star levels (within reason) is my preference.

[thereuare]

So to begin, the game plan is to bid only the Loop zone at the 4* level with a $100 maximum bid? If that is rejected to then try the same but at the 3.5* level?

Please confirm and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

[AaronJB]

In terms of HOTWIRE, when searching for 5/9-12, I'm seeing a 4* in the Loop area w/fitness, restaurant, business, internet, pool, spa for $112 (the price you see may vary slightly.) That would be a possible match for the Palmer, which has been seen previously with that amenity set. You could try bidding for that period for a 4* in the Millennium Park-Loop-Grant Park area starting at $70 and possibly be successful at $85-95, but it may be any of the possible 4*'s in the zone. For 5/8 on HOTWIRE, I'm seeing what I'd guess may be the Best Western Grant Park or Essex Inn for $93 and a possible match for the James for $137. The River North-NMA area on PRICELINE would likely be cheaper for the 5/8 night, given the convention traffic likely taking up the somewhat closer (to the convention) Loop area.

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

[jgilroy]

I think my order of preference would be 4* Loop zone, up to $100 max, if unsuccessful then 4* including the more centrally located zone with the same maximum. If both of these fail, I'd go to 3.5* in the Loop zone first, and then extend to the other area. Hope that's clear. Thanks!

[thereuare]

As noted above i think $100 will be tough for the complete stay, but we can start there and see how it goes.

When bidding 4* in Chicago you have SIX re-bid zones. 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 proceeding.

Select 4* Loop...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100, if rejected close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* NMA-River North...

Bid $70, if rejected add Loop zone...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $98, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $100

Any questions feel free to ask. If the above is rejected please confirm that you then want to try for a 3.5* for your complete stay (rather than SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID for a 4* hotel) and we'll advise accordingly as per your preference.

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.