Priceline Hotel: Strategy - Chicago 08/02/12-08/06/12

[abih]

I am planning on booking 8/2/12-8/6/12

We are going down for Lollapalooza from Aug 3rd-5th and staying on the 6th to run around the city for a day while we're there.

Recommendations or tips on bidding and what to see/do? (Cubs aren't playing while we're there :( )

Trying to get near Grant Park - that's where the concert is.

I had planned on using "Newbie's" method as follows - is this correct?

4 star Chicago hotel on North Michigan Ave.

1 franklin park 1 star

2 greater chicago 4 star

3 hyde park 2 star

4 lincoln park 2.5 star

5 MDW 3.5 star

6 MDW N 1 star

7 Millenium/Loop 4 star

8 N Michigan 4 star

9 ORD N 4 star

10 ORD S 4 star

11 Skokie 3 star

areas with less than 4 star hotels 1,3,4,5,6,11

bidding in 5 dollars increments

first bid 7

second bid 7 + 1

third bid 7 + 3

fourth bid 7 + 4

fifth bid 7 + 5

sixth bid 7 + 6

seventh bid 7 + 11

then

7,1,3

7,1,4

7,1,5

7,1,6

7,1,11

7,3,4

7,3,5

7,3,6

7,3,11

7,4,5

7,4,6

7,4,11

7,5,6

7,5,11

7,6,11

[abih]

and that's how new i am........ the person's name clearly wasn't "newbie". I stole the strategy from "aaronsmith"

[thereuare]

What is your maximum bid for this trip?

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

[abih]

$180 max

[thereuare]

Trying to get near Grant Park - that's where the concert is.

Is the Loop zone the only acceptable location OR is NMA-River North get you close enough? (usually the Loop zone is a little cheaper than NMA-River North, but given the event the opposite may be true for these specific dates)

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

[abih]

That area seems decent enough. Honestly I'd like to spend between $85-$150 max and I don't mind going down to a 3 star as long as they're decent in the area. I tried bidding for the loop and used that strategy - I got up to $180 and still no hotel :(

HOTWIRE has a 3 star in NMA River North for $130.... not sure how far that would be from Grant Park

[AaronJB]

Unfortunately, this is one of the busier periods of the year in terms of hotels, and the Loop hotels fill up quite a bit in advance because people want to be closer to the festival. If there is a substantial discount between staying North of the river and South of the River in the Loop, I think it's worth considering. What are the amenities showing with the 3* HOTWIRE River North listing? (Please provide the full list of amenities without the descriptions.)

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

[abih]

3-star Hotel in Magnificent Mile Area - River North

This Hotel features the following amenities:

Indoor pool(s)

Fitness Center

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

Laundry Facilities (self-service)

High-Speed Internet Access

Accessible for the blind

Accessible for the deaf

Accessible path of travel

In-room accessibility

Accessible bathroom

Handicapped parking

Roll-in shower

[thereuare]

My best guess for the 3* above would either be the Four Points or the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza.

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

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

[AaronJB]

I'd also guess the Four Points or Holiday Inn Mart Plaza. If you're interested I'd take it, because the issue with bidding 3* in the River North/NMA area is that you could wind up at the top/North end of that zone. These two possibilities are towards the SE (Four Points) and SW (Holiday Inn) corners of the zone. Neither would be a terrible cab ride at all from Grant Park, and the Holiday Inn has an "L" station right next to it - you could at least take the subway most of the way there. and a cab back if it got too late. Wouldn't be a bad walk at all on a nice day to the concert from either of these hotels, too.

In terms of what to see/do, let us know likes/dislikes and I'd be happy to offer more specific recommendations.

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