cheapsk8 Posted June 24, 2013 Report Share Posted June 24, 2013 I wanted 2 rooms for 3 nights (Thursday pm thru Sunday am) at top hotel in downtown Chicago (near the shopping areas) with a preference for North Michigan Ave - River North . . .here was my bidding strategy: Bid # Price Added Zones/Ratings Result----- -------- ---------------------------------- ----------1) $100, 5* NMA-River North -> DENIED2) $110 Franklin Park -> DENIED3) $120 Hyde Park -> DENIED4) $130 Lincoln Park -> DENIED5) $140 McCormick Place - Medical District -> DENIED6) $125 4.5* -> DENIED7) $140 Midway Airport North -> DENIED8) $125 4* -> DENIED9) $140 Skokie-Niles-Evanston -> DENIEDI had a hard stop at $140/room and at least at 4*, so I use my star ratings to rebid down to 4* instead of adding the ORD N/S and Millenium/Loop/Grant zones. (Using those 3 zones would have prevented bidding down to 4*).On to other options . . .A.) At Priceline, I was given the option of a PRICELINE EXPRESS Deal for a 4* on NMA-River North for $162 per night. When I went to choose it, they changed the offer and price to $184 per night. Both had wifi, restaurant, business and fitness center icons. The Guest Rating was 8.0.B.) Also listed with the $184/night (refreshed) deal Priceline Express Deal, I was offered a 3.5* NMA-RN property with restaurant and business center icons for $168 (no guest rating) and . . .C.) for $149, a 3* NMA-RN property with wifi, business and fitness center icons. The Guest Rating was 7.0.D.) The final NMA-RN property Express Deal listed was a 4.5* for $172 per night. It had a pool, restaurant, business and fitness center with a Guest Rating of 8.0 (Guest Favorite).E.) According to your Hotwire board, they have/had the following options for similar date ranges: 4.5* at $201 4* at $143Neither of these were available when I checked. Of the 5 hotels quoted in the Magnificent Mile Area - River North area, the best deal presented to me was a 4* for $194/night. It was 100% recommended on 377 reviews and came with the following amenities: Boutique Hotel, Smoke Free Rooms, Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center, and High-Speed Internet Access.Looks like inventory might be too low when trying to book with this short of notice?!Here's a question for the group: I spent an hour researching all of this. Is there a average percentage that Name Your Price (NYP) wins beat Hotwire deals? Because I probably could have saved a bunch of time if I would have thought up front.I mean, what are the odds that a NYP 4* would go for $140 when it's listing for $190 at Hotwire?! Maybe I could have expected to get it at Priceline for 10-20% less. Does anyone have experience enough to know what the discount between Hotwire and Priceline's NYP is?Thanks! Link to comment
AaronJB Posted June 24, 2013 Report Share Posted June 24, 2013 Please provide a follow-up for your prior Memphis Priceline thread (post what you decided for that stay within that thread, then reply to this thread and we would be happy to offer our thoughts on Chicago for these date/s.)Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Link to comment
AaronJB Posted June 24, 2013 Report Share Posted June 24, 2013 There is not an average % when it comes to the spread between NYOP and HOTWIRE listings, although a $50 difference between HOTWIRE and a comparable NYOP is unlikely, especially on a busier date. I'm seeing a 4* in the Mag Mile-RN area for $181 and a 4* in the Mag MileN-WT for $167. I'm guessing you're likely looking at a $150-160 bid for a 4* win in the Mag Mile-RN area on NYOP, although you could certainly try $145.I'll note this, though: there is a lot of 4* properties on PRICELINE in the River North-NMA zone. Many are nice or very nice, although there are a couple of lesser possibilities.If you are seeing a 4.5* on PRICELINE Express for $172, I'd consider bidding for a 4.5* in the River North-NMA area and hopefully get a win in the $155-165 neighborhood (although you could try $150.) There are far fewer 4.5*'s in this zone and they are all very nice properties.Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Link to comment
cheapsk8 Posted June 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2013 Still looking at options . . .I received an offer from Hotwire. Could you help me identify this hotel in the Downtown Chicago - Millennium Park - Grant Park area?$151 per night, 4*, 95% with 96 reviews. TripAdvisor 4.5 out of 5.0. Amenities include:Pet friendlySmoke Free RoomsRestaurant(s)High-Speed Internet AccessAccessible for the blindAccessible for the deafAccessible path of travelIn-room accessibilityAccessible bathroom Link to comment
AaronJB Posted June 25, 2013 Report Share Posted June 25, 2013 Please confirm which zone the listing is showing in and we would be happy to take a look and try to ID the listing.Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Link to comment
cheapsk8 Posted June 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2013 While I was waiting on the Hotwire hotel ID, I tried bidding on Priceline in the Millenium/Loop/Grant Park area. Here was my bidding strategy: Bid # Price Added Zones/Ratings Result----- ----- ------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------1) $100 4* Millennium Park, Loop & Grant Park Area -> DENIED, but Priceline suggested bidding @ $136/night2) $110 Franklin Park -> DENIED3) $120 Hyde Park -> AcceptedI booked The Fairmont Chicago 200 N Columbus DriveChicago, IL 60601 Check-In: Thu, Jun 27, 2013 / After 03:00 PMCheck-Out: Sun, Jun 30, 2013 / 12:00 PMRooms: 2 rooms / 3 nightsBB and AaronJB, thanks for being a great resource for smart bidding! Link to comment
thereuare Posted June 25, 2013 Report Share Posted June 25, 2013 Congratulations on your success! Thank you for sharing your win with the board. Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
mazinblu Posted June 25, 2013 Report Share Posted June 25, 2013 Congrats, I tried to book almost the same trip... the same areas for 6/28-6/30 over the past two night and I have had not luck.Any suggestions? Link to comment
AaronJB Posted June 25, 2013 Report Share Posted June 25, 2013 Congrats, I tried to book almost the same trip... the same areas for 6/28-6/30 over the past two night and I have had not luck.Any suggestions?Please start a new thread for your stay and we would be happy to take a look and try to ID the listing.Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches. Link to comment
AaronJB Posted June 25, 2013 Report Share Posted June 25, 2013 Happy to help! :)Additionally:There are a number of breakfast options within decent walking distance, some particularly close. The trio that come to mind would be Wildberry (newer and very popular - http://www.yelp.com/biz/wildberry-cafe-chicago), the Pittsfield Cafe (an old-school Chicago diner in the Pittsfield building - cash only http://www.yelp.com/biz/pittsfield-cafe-chicago) or the Rick Bayless casual offering Xoco (http://www.yelp.com/biz/xoco-chicago). Wildberry is *right* by your hotel.If you are looking for a breakfast treat, it's a ways West (although a nice walk if you walk along the river for a good portion of it) is the Doughnut Vault (http://thedoughnutvault.tumblr.com/), but that is cash only and they sell until they run out. Let us know if you have additional city questions.Additionally, while no guarantees, you may want to consider signing up for the Fairmont President's Club (free, on Fairmont website) and putting in a request for a view - some rooms at this property do have nice views of the park and/or surrounding area. The hotel very well may say no, but worth a try if you're interested in a view. Link to comment
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