Priceline Hotel: 3* Chicago (North Michigan Ave - River North) Four Points by Sheraton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile

[tpuppie]

Hi there. I am looking for two rooms per night from 6/15-6/17. We like to stay in the River North/Mag Mile area. We aren't picky about # of stars, as long as a place is clean and has a decent location. We stayed once at the Best Western River North one year and loved it. Nothing fancy but a great location and big pool, plus free parking! Other times we have used Marriott points to stay at the Residence Inn on Dearborn and that was great too, but we're too big now to all fit in one suite there. I hate to use the Marriott points we have accumulated (which isn't much) when the discount is off the full price of rooms. Our points wouldn't all of the cost. I'd rather use Hotwire or Priceline.

What do you think is a realistic price range for these dates? Also, we are two adults and four kids. But when I enter 2 adults and 4 kids on hotel websites, I get results that say no rooms available. I don't know if that is because places are booked or if it's because of the # of people I am entering in my search.

Any advice before I begin bidding? Am open to Hotwire or Priceline. I see a 3 star $74 per night propoerty on Hotwire that 80% recommend. Scares me a little that it is so much cheaper than other places, though.

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

How many rooms/how many per room? The issue with PRICELINE is that bidding only guarantees double occupancy/1 bed. HOTWIRE is a better choice if you have more than 2 people per room.

There are only a couple of hotels in the city (the only one that I can think of is the Residence on Walton, and in that case only the 2BR units) that accept 6 in one room.

What would be your desired budget per night for this stay? In terms of location, is anywhere in the River North-NMA area acceptable?

If you would like us to help ID the HOTWIRE listing, please provide all information regarding the listing - star rating, amenities, zone and price per night in USD$ (before taxes/fees.)

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

[tpuppie]

Hmm. The prices for 6/15-6/17 have scared us off so we are going to take the whole family over the 4th of July instead and use our Marriott points, which would cover everything at those reduced prices. I will instead go to Chicago by myself and stay a night on 6/16 and will use Priceline to book that room. I'd like to be in Mag Mile/River North/Gold Coast area and would go to any 3-4* (maybe even 2.5....it would just be me and I'd hardly ever be in the room). What would you recommend as a starting bid for one room for 6/16 in that area? I would like to go for $120 or less. Is that reasonable? If I got a very good deal, I might try to stay 6/15 as well, but looks like prices are higher that night.

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

The 4th of July period is a good idea - it's definitely cheaper and some of the suburbs actually have very good fireworks displays if you're in Chicago on the 3rd and don't mind the trek.

For 6/16, if you don't mind a 3* and aren't going to be in the room a lot, I'd start bidding at $70 for a 3* in the River North-NMA area and move higher by $5's. There's really very little at the 2.5* level in that zone.

Please let us know if you have any questions before bidding.

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

[tpuppie]

Darn. I think I screwed that up. I bid 3* NMA/RN for 6/16 for $70 and was rejected, but now I can't rebid for 24 hours bc I can't change any part of my bid. Were you assuming I would bid every 24 hours, increasing by $5 increments each day? I can do that.

If I didn't want to wait 24 hours, I probably should have started with a higher star rating initially, so I'd have something I could change, right? And then I could use free rebid zones?

I am rusty...haven't used Priceline in awhile.

[thereuare]

When bidding 3* in Chicago you have THREE 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.

Are you able to determine your THREE re-bid zones?

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

[tpuppie]

Looks to me like they are Franklin Park, Hyde Park and Midway Airport North?

Okay, stay tuned...

[tpuppie]

Done!

Four Points Sheraton on N Rush St.

$85 ($106 with tax, etc)

3*

Sun, 6/17/13

started with $70, increased by $5 increments

Thanks! I am pumped!

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Really, really nice deal for this well-located property. HOTWIRE has this property for these date/s a bit over $100. If you are not going to be in the room a lot and are just looking for a place to sleep, this is a very nice, superbly located property. There's also a Trader Joe's around the corner for cheap snacks/drinks to take back to the hotel or around during the day.

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.

[tpuppie]

Yes....I am tempted to do it again and stay the night before too. Would be more expensive, being a Saturday. But I might do it. If I do, I will post results here.

Thanks again.

[AaronJB]

If you need an additional night, you can use the "Extend Your Stay" feature and see if the series presents an offer (it may not, it may at a higher price or it may for the same price) for an additional night at the same property.

Let us know if you have any questions before booking.

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