Hotwire Hotel: 4* Chicago (Magnificent Mile North - Water Tower) Millennium Knickerbocker

[atr2006]

New here. I've been reading the tips here and using the links to Priceline for a couple days now to get 1 room in the NMA (downtown CHI) zone on July 13-July 15. Budget for 2 nights is $300, was hoping for that to include parking, so actually more like $250 or less, but we can deal with $300.

I've tried the re-bidding process and going down to 3* with no luck. The highest actual bid I tried in the 3* was $115, but tried $125 with 3.5 and 4*. I'm wondering if instead of staying Fri-Sun, if we stayed Sat-Mon,we'd have more luck getting a room.

thanks.

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

Unfortunately, both periods (Fri-Sun/Sat-Mon) appear busy, although the Sat-Mon appears somewhat better. Parking is a real issue in Chicago - city lots are around $25 + high taxes, but hotel parking can be as much as $50-60 a night and is usually at least $40-50 a night.

There are some very nice areas to the North of the city in the suburbs where a 3.5* can be had for as low as $45-55 (plus free parking), but the downside of that is a train ride (although the Metra trains are very nice) of around 38-45 minutes each way, but you would be coming in probably around $150+tax versus a higher total downtown (especially with steep parking added.). In the North suburbs, I see what appears to be a possible match for the Marriott Suites Deerfield for $56, for example, for the 14th-16th, and that (or something similar) could probably be had via bidding for $45-50. Let me know if staying in the suburbs would be of interest and I'd be happy to point out HOTWIRE options or offer other suggestions.

In terms of downtown, if the 14th-16th is possible, I'd try bidding up to $125 (starting at $90 and working higher by $5's) for a 4* in the NMA area. I think a 4* for $125 or under in the NMA area is possible and worth trying. If unsuccessful, I think a 3.5* at $125 or under in the NMA area for the 14th-16th (I'd start at $80 and work higher by $5's) is more likely.

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

[atr2006]

Thanks for the response and help! We would rather not stay in the suburbs, though it is tempting. We really enjoy being able to walk everyway rather than use the trains if possible. I think we may have to change our dates then.

[atr2006]

This coming up as $173 on Hotwire for 7/13-7/16.

4-star Hotel in Magnificent Mile Area - River North

This Hotel features the following amenities:

Fitness Center

Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply.

Business Center

Guests have access to business equipment and services; an additional charge may apply.

Laundry Facilities (self-service)

<amenity names only please... not descriptions>

High-Speed Internet Access

Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply.

Free Breakfast

<amenity names only please... not descriptions>

Free Internet

<amenity names only please... not descriptions>

Accessible path of travel

<amenity names only please... not descriptions>

In-room accessibility

Accessible path from the room entrance to the window, the bed and the bathroom; accessible hardware and minimal resistance to open the door; accessible temperature controls and window coverings

Accessible bathroom

Raised toilet, hand-held shower and grab bars at the tub and toilet

Roll-in shower

Bathroom has a roll-in shower

[AaronJB]

This listing has not yet been ID'd/reported to the board, but it MAY be an upgraded (from 3.5* to 4*) Amalfi.

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

[atr2006]

This listing has not yet been ID'd/reported to the board, but it MAY be an upgraded (from 3.5* to 4*) Amalfi.

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

Thanks. There is a similar "unpublished" result on Expedia, but it lists the hotel as 3.5*.

[atr2006]

Thanks for the help thus far. I'm trying to get our the best hotel for our needs. We'll have a 13m old baby with us. We're searching Hotwire exclusively now (as our priceline bids up to $145 were unaccepted) on the dates of either 7/13-7/16 or 7/14-7/16. Room rate budge is under $200/night.

Any chance any of the results are Embassy Suites? That would be perfect.

Do you need more info from me?

btw, we almost booked the 4.5* south O'Hare hotel over the weekend for $79 but didn't--now it's up over $110/night. But O'Hare area is our back-up plan b/c it's the easiest for us to get to from where we live. And the hotels are nice for the money.

[AaronJB]

Unfortunately, I'm not seeing either the Embassy Suites (either location) or something like the Homewood Suites. Those properties have not been seen as wins on HOTWIRE or PRICELINE in quite some time. I'm not seeing much on Hotwire, unfortunately - the 4* with breakfast mentioned above (which is also showing a 4.5/5 tripadvisor rating on the detail page - if you click 'see details', then scroll down on the detail page it should show a tripadvisor rating with 4.5/5 circles shaded) that would potentially be the Amalfi for $174. The other listings at the 3-4* level are around that price or higher.

In terms of outlying areas, I like the North burbs, which offer a few sights (the Botanic Gardens, Ravinia Music Fest) and very reasonable rates. The Metra trains run from the burbs instead of the CTA trains. Some O'Hare properties do charge for parking.

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

[atr2006]

After days of priceline bids and waffling with location/dates, we couldn't resist taking the $159 rate last night. We were pretty sure after doing research here that it would be the Knickerbocker, and it should be fine for us.

Thanks for all the help the past few days.

[atr2006]

I posted my win as a new thread--I wasn't sure if I should have done that here instead. The prices went down last night so we took the lowest rate we could. Thanks!

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Nice win for this well-located and very historic property, which was renovated a couple of years ago.

Can you confirm the complete list of amenities that were showing with this listing? This information is available under the trip information in your HOTWIRE account.

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.

[atr2006]

Here are the amenities listed!

Fitness Center

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

High-Speed Internet Access

Accessible for the blind

Accessible for the deaf

Accessible path of travel

In-room accessibility

Accessible bathroom

Roll-in shower

also, I called to add a pack-n-play to our reservation and had no issues with the hotel. I also spoke with the concierge and have Shedd VIP tickets on hold. Everyone was easy to deal with.

[AaronJB]

Thank you for letting us know about the change in amenity set for this property so that we can update the site's Hotwire Hotel List.

Glad you were able to work things out with the hotel. Definitely a very historic property - it was rumored to be a hideout for Capone at one time and was the Playboy Club in the '70's, owned by Hefner. The hotel underwent a pretty significant renovation a couple of years ago where portions were closed. Certainly a terrific location at the top end of the NMA area.

With the Shedd, I'd definitely go early in the day. Let us know if you have any city questions.

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