Priceline Hotel: Chicago Illinois Hotels-7/13-7/15

[brobin01]

Hello,

I am new here and would love some help on how to get started.My husband and I are looking for a getaway and would love to ay in a nice hotel for the weekend close to all the action in Chicago. Or just a really nice hotel with a nice view or a suite???

What area is the best to stay in?

When I bid and my bid is accepted, when do I know what hotel it is?

Wat areas should I be trying to bid on.

What price should I start at

I am looking to spend less than $110/night

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

If you have never used either service, I would recommend reading this thread first: I've Never Used Priceline or Hotwire.

The two main downtown areas on PRICELINE are the Millennium Park-Loop-Grant Park area and the River North-NMA area. The former has a moderate amount of shopping and restaurants and is closer to museums (although still a walk to some museums.) The River North-NMA area has more in the way of shopping and restaurants, but is further from museums. The River North-NMA area also has more going on at night.

PRICELINE is really about getting *a* hotel for a discount rather than a specific hotel. There is no way to specify a particular property, as if you were to bid on a 4* in the River North-North Michigan Ave area, for example, you have to be willing to accept ANY 4* in that zone - there is no way to increase the odds of a particular property or avoid a particular property. With HOTWIRE, you can make an educated guess as to which hotels are showing, but there is no guarantee (as some hotels can appear in the same manner and changes can happen at any time as to how hotels appear on the service.)

Both services offer a regular, non-upgraded room. Given the density of Chicago, not too many hotels offer views, but in terms of the ones that do, it's almost always a paid upgrade.

With PRICELINE bidding, if a hotel accepts your offer, the name is shown right away. If not, you are not charged. With HOTWIRE, after the end of the purchase process, your hotel is shown. In both cases, once the hotel is shown, your reservation cannot be refunded or changed.

As for a suite, the only way to guarantee a suite is to go on HOTWIRE and look for a hotel with a suite amenity, which would specify and all-suite property. Otherwise, HOTWIRE and PRICELINE reservations are not eligible for upgraded suite rooms.

Unfortunately, given the rates I'm seeing, $110 for a 4* is going to be unlikely - based on the rates I'm seeing, a 4* is probably going to take a bid of around $130-150 +/-

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

[brobin01]

Thank you! This was very, very helpful!!!!!

[AaronJB]

Happy to help - please let us know your thoughts on the above in terms of what you would like to go for, and we would be happy to offer suggestions.

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

[brobin01]

I am really really trying to get to the W hotel, like in the NMA area. I beleive the W is the only hotle where you can see Lake Michigan. I do understand I am not guranteed any particular hotel. But I am going to go for a 4 star hotel, in the NMA area.

[thereuare]

Not sure if $110 will be enough for a 4* hotel for these dates, but to give it a try:

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* NMA...

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

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

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $108, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110

Any questions feel free to ask (especially regarding re-bidding if you're new to the subject)

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

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[brobin01]

Don't I have to wait 24 hours to rebid? I would like to have my rooms set in stone well before the trip. All those rebids, I wouldnt have a room until next week. Is that correct or incorrect?? Please let me know :)

Thanks,

Brandi

[thereuare]

No, you can make all the bids about in one bidding session. Re-read the Priceline Re-Bidding Explained thread and confirm your re-bid zones with the board. If you're still confused, do the following and post your findings:

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter 'Chicago' and your dates, and click "GO".

2) List each zone that is offered in this region.

3) Next to each zone list the highest star rating offered in the zone. The way to determine the highest star rating offered in the zone is by selecting the first zone i the list, then scrolling down to see the highest star rating selectable (ie- not greyed out). NEXT UNcheck the selected zone, place a checkmark in the next zone, and repeat the process for each zone in the region. Each time you take note of the highest star rating in the zone, make sure that only ONE zone is selected above.

4) post your findings and we'll take it from there

If you don't follow the above just post back and we'll break it down further.

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