Hotwire Hotel: 4* Chicago (Loop - Millenium - Grant Park) Hilton Hotel and Towers

[J0SH44]

Hello fellow better bidders,

I am looking to book a Magnificent Mile area hotel for 9/20 through 9/22. I am traveling to Chicago with my wife to see the city--we have not been here before. We think the Magnificent Mile area would be the best choice as it appears to be closest to a lot of attractions. I was hoping to book a hotel below 150, but that doesn't appear to be happening. I have trid 135 on Priceline (rejected--not even a counter, do they do those anymore?) and I am not seeing anything on Hotwire below 162 (4* River North area). Anyone have any suggestions or tips on getting the best bang for buck here? I would like somethng nice since my wife and I are going to Chicago for our 5-year anniversary (but i would still like to have some money left over after paying for the hotel hah)

I do use the Priceline and HOTWIRE links--at the very least they save me from having to type the words into my browser bar.

All help and information is appreciated

[AaronJB]

Happy Anniversary! :)

Unfortunately, rates appear sky-high for these dates - are you still seeing the listing on HOTWIRE? When searching, I'm only seeing one listing on HOTWIRE for these dates at over $300 downtown. Expedia only has two hotels downtown available.

It's not optimal, but I could suggest some really nice areas outside the city near public transit to downtown, but if staying in these areas, it's really best to have a car.

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

[J0SH44]

So it looks like Hotwire is now down to one hotel..... Like you said, it isn't ideal for us to go outside the city, but I may have to take you up on the suggesting if i cannot get anything in the city. I would really like to avoid having a car. What are the safe re-bid areas on Priceline for 4*s in Chicago. I guess I will just start bidding and see if they accept anything.

[J0SH44]

Apparently I do not need to know the safe re-bid areas as i have bid 10 times since my last post (maybe an hour ago). Priceline is letting me re-bid without changing a thing. When my bid fails, I come back to this thread and click on the PRICELINE link in Aaron's message and open it in a new tab. I fill out the info (Chicago, dates, 1 room) then go to the bid area. I select 4* Milenium Park area, enter a new price and just before i click submit i close my other priceline window (the one that had my losing bid in it asking me to bid again right away). When i submit my bid (after previewing it) i do get a new priceline request number each time--but I have not been successful yet. I am up to 220 and still nothing. I don't think i will be able to bid any higher than that. I will have to move down to 3.5 star or change areas. Is the North Michigan Ave area pretty decent?

[AaronJB]

Not sure how you are bidding that you are able to continue to bid - I'm guessing you may be getting a message after submitting that you have already tried this bid today/"duplicate request"? One can only make a particular bid once per day, unless using re-bidding strategies.

Given the Expedia and HOTWIRE inventory, my concern is what little (if any) inventory PRICELINE has, and my guess is - if these dates are as busy as they look on Expedia - any inventory that PRICELINE has is not likely to be aggressively discounted.

In the suburbs (if you are driving), I think you're likely looking at $45-60 (possibly a tad less/more) for a 3.5/4*, but with about a 35-42 minute train ride in each way on the Metra trains (which are nice and comfortable - certainly more than the CTA trains.) It's unfortunate and not optimal (for the occasion or in general), but I thought I'd offer the option so that you can consider it versus staying downtown. The suburbs are quite nice and have some sights of their own.

Another option would be to book a completely refundable (do definitely double check the fine print) suburban option (I see one for $87, for example) and then wait it out and hopefully some inventory opens up downtown for these dates (although I think even if inventory opens up, it may unfortunately remain fairly pricey) - if something opens up, cancel the suburban reservation (again, double check the fine print as to when you have to cancel by) and re-book. My concern is that it's pretty close to the dates, so I worry that there may not be much opening up last-minute if there hasn't already.

If some days pass and it does not look as if rates are going to come down, cancel the suburban reservation and book in the burbs using PRICELINE or HOTWIRE.

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

Downtown, the NMA area is preferable, but on a very busy period I'd consider either NMA-River North or Millennium-Loop-Grant Park.

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

[J0SH44]

I have always been given exactly what you are talking about if i try to re-bid too soon (the, you have tried to bid today message); however, today I have probably put in about 20 bids. Each one process with a new request number and each time i am told, Sorry we cannot accept your offer of $xxx for a hotel in the Chicago area (I started at 150 and increased by ten each tme). I don't know if it is because i come back to here after my bid is rejected, use your PRICELINE link in a new tab, and then go through the entire process all over again, but I do believe that these bids are going though--my inbox is full of Priceline Customer Service - Tips for Successful Bidding to Chicago, Il emails. Unfortunately i have made it all the way up to 225 for a 4 or 3.5* Millennium Park or North Michigan Ave area. There is definitely not a lot of inventory out there.

We are actually not driving in to Chicago, we are going to take the southshore train in from Michigan City (have some friends in that area where we can leave our vehicle). Not sure how practicle a suburb hotel would be in this case, but it may be my only option. What would be the best area to choose if i were to go with the suburbs? What train would we take to make it downtown?

Thanks for all the information, i really appreciate it

[thereuare]

I've move this thread to the ILLINOIS >> Priceline section of the board so Aaron will see it and advise accordingly... he knows the suburbs best.

[AaronJB]

Unfortunately, staying outside the city is tough without a car, as when using PRICELINE or HOTWIRE you could end up in a property away from public transit and without any shuttle.

There are a few different options for these dates - unfortunately, none of them entirely optimal.

One:

9/21, if looked at separately, is cheaper than 9/20. For 9/21 *only* I see what appears to be the Sheraton -indoor pool, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business for $162. I also see what appears to be the La Quinta Downtown for $143. The Congress Hotel, which I would not recommend (see detailed thoughts below under option four) is, unfortunately, the only hotel when looking up 9/20, for $233. The Congress is an old property whose reviews have improved somewhat but are still very mixed - it's extremely expensive for a what is at best a so-so 2* property. You could stay outside the city for the first night for cheaper, then stay downtown in the Sheraton or La Quinta the second night.

Two:

Stay near Midway, although a number of hotels in this area are either booked or expensive due to overflow from downtown. The Marriott at Burr Ridge would be one available option at $139 on Expedia, and they offer a shuttle from Midway, according to the website, although it requires a reservation and the hotel does not detail hours of availability. The problem would be that there's no easy way to get there from the South Shore train line - you would have to get off at a stop, then take taxi (and there may not be tons of taxis to the hotel, or taxi to Midway and then get shuttle the rest of the way or go downtown with your stuff, carry it around with you and then go to the hotel via the CTA to Midway and then shuttle at the end of the day. Not optimal, but an option. HOTWIRE unfortunately does not have a whole lot in/around Midway for these dates - a 2.5* for $128 and a poorly reviewed 2* for $49.

Three:

The Hyatt Deerfield is $87 on Expedia for these dates. In this scenario, you would take the South Shore Downtown, then at the end of the day, take the Metra Milwaukee North Line North to Lake Cook Road station and then get the Hyatt shuttle to the hotel - but the hotel does not detail the hours of the shuttle.

The other option nearby would be the Embassy Suites Deerfield for $99.

The issue with heading to the North Suburbs is that you're coming in from the South, so it's coming in from the South, getting to the city, then heading North - it's a straightforward commute, but it's a trek in and a long trip on the way back South. It's a very nice area, but there's little directly around either of these hotels - you really need a car to get around.

Four:

What appears to be the Congress Hotel is now showing for these dates for $213 if you look up both dates together. While reviews for this property have improved somewhat in recent months, this property used to get terrible reviews and was (not sure - it may still be going on) the site of the longest hotel worker strike in US history. It is a 3* on HOTWIRE and a 2* on PRICELINE - the PRICELINE star rating is more accurate - $213 is VERY expensive for a basic, and so-so hotel.

Let us know your thoughts and if you have any questions before booking.

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

[J0SH44]

Thanks Arron for all the great info. We decided to book one night (friday night) and keep an eye out for something Thursday night (our backup will be to take a train back to Michigan City Thursday night and stay with family before heading back into town Friday). We went with 'Downtown Chicago - Millennium Park - Grant Park area hotel' 4* 183 per night Indoor pool(s), Smoke Free Rooms, Fitness Center, Pool(s), 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, Handicapped parking, Roll-in shower and it ended up being the Chicago Hilton (which because of the website we had already known).

Now we will be on the lookout for something popping up Thursday night in the same area. I won't mind a hotel change but would love something to pop up in the same-ish area and the same price range; otherwise, we will be taking the train back to Michigan City Thursday night and training it back in early Friday morning. Not ideal but at least we have a room for one night.

We did go for the Sheratin originally but when I got to the final confirm page, confirmed the purchase, Hotwire came back and said ti was gone, so we had to pick another. Looks like it is now back but at 172, so who knows....

Thanks again for all the help, we really appreciate it. I did make sure to use your HOTWIRE link to book the trip as well.

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Very nice deal and glad you were able to score a deal for part of the stay.

One new interesting - not optimal, but it might be interesting - is a 2* in the Lakeview-Lincoln Park area for $117 for the first night with:

Smoke Free Rooms

Fitness Center

Laundry Facilities (self-service)

High-Speed Internet Access

Free Breakfast

Accessible path of travel

In-room accessibility

My guess is that this may be a new amenity set for the Days Inn Lincoln Park. If it is the Days Inn LP, basic but good reviews and good location in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Please start a new thread for the additional night.

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.