Priceline Hotel: 4* Chicago (Millenium-Loop-Grant Park)) Swissotel

[Castarah]

We are going to Chicago from Dec 27th until Dec 30th.

We want to try to get a hotel by using priceline, and we were hoping you could give us some advice.

Since we do not have a car, it is very important to have a hotel somewhere close to either public transportation, or close to the most attractions. Furthermore, we don't care about the number of *'s a hotel has, but do want to get a price as low as possible.

Thanks in advance for giving us some advice about the bidding strategy!

[thereuare]

I would assume that the Loop and NMA zones would be ok for your needs, but you should look at the boundaries of the zone to make sure that you're comfortable receiving a hotel anywhere within the shaded region.

I'll also forewarn against "we don't care about the star levels" as very often, especially in a city like Chicago in the winter, you can get to the next star level with only a few extra dollars. As well, i would think that a lower star rated hotels are more likely to be on the outskirts of a zone (and less centralized) than a higher rated hotel.

What is your maximum bid?

[Castarah]

Thanks for the warning about the *-level. It might indeed be smart to bid a little bit higher to getter a better hotel then.

The maximum amount we want to bid is 60.

Do you think it is possible to get a good hotel for that rate?

[thereuare]

Yes, you can probably get a 4* hotel for that price (one of the benefits of Chicago being cold in the winter :) )

Assuming the two zones above are sufficient for you, you have two re-bid zones when bidding 4* in Chicago (for anyone following along, re-bidding is explained in this thread Priceline Re-Bidding Explained).

Select 4* Loop...

Bid $40, if rejected close your browser and re-access priceline however you did previously.

Select 4* North Michigan Avenue...

Bid $40, if rejected add Loop...

Bid $45, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $50, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $52.

If the above is rejected you can then go to Hotwire where there is currently a 4* in the MagMile/Wacker Drive zone for $54/nite (believed to likely be the Hyatt Regency)

Any questions feel free to ask.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

[AaronJB]

The Hyatt would be fine, especially for in the $50's. There is an "L" and subway station on State St, approximately 4-5 blocks from the Hyatt.

I really don't think there's a hotel in the city that's far from any transportation. Even the hotels more towards the water (definitely a bit of a walk from the subway stations) that appear frequently on Priceline (3* River North/NMA Holiday Inn City Centre, 4* River North/NMA Sheraton.) are still near busses on Michigan Ave.

Anything in the loop is not that far from a subway or "L" station, although you may not want to get the Hilton and Towers (4* Loop) on South Michigan Ave as I think (and others who have gotten it sometimes share the same opinion, some don't) that it is a bit far South and out-of-the-way, with not much around it.

The best possible scenario would be to get the Hilton Garden Inn on Hotwire (a subway station is directly outside, and it's in a great location), but that's difficult because a few things on Hotwire look like the Hilton Garden Inn (same amenities/zone), so there's no guarantee.

[Castarah]

We tried the bidding strategy you suggested, and our bid got accepted at $50.

We got the Swissotel, in the Loop area.

Thank you very much for your help.

[thereuare]

Glad you were successful... may be the nicest $50 hotel room you ever stay in (this property has great views of the river)

Enjoy your stay.