diabolicNYC Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Hi, I'm looking for a bidding strategy for NMA (or the loop, if necessary) for 4/10-4/12 in a 4* hotel. I know the free zones are Skokie and Midway, and comparable hotels in the area from the list are going for $280-400, if available at all. Can anyone guide me toward a suitable bidding strategy? Thanks in advance. Link to comment
AaronJB Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Oddly, there is a 3* North Michigan Ave/Gold Coast/Water Tower showing up for $100 on Hotwire.com. I've never seen it before on the service - it has the amenities restaurant/fitness/spa/golf nearby/business/tennis nearby/hi-speed internet. The hotwire rate is $100....but it says the retail price is a whopping $600. While it's not four*, it may be worth considering for the price.I would think, given the rates (and someone here will hopefully correct me if wrong) that a starting bid for 4* River North/NMA (if Priceline even has inventory, given the busy dates) would have to be in the neighborhood of $125. Link to comment
GM Mike Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Given that we have to wait only 24 hours between bids these days, I might be inclined to suggest a first bid around $60, then $75, then $80, then +5 each bid until it hits. Hate to overpay...But I'd agree with AaronJB that it might take a $100+ bid, quite easily. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Here are my own thoughts:1) what is your maximum bid? (if it's not realistic/likely for these dates then that 3* on Hotiwre becomes a realistic option)2) do you have a back-up reservation3) while lowballing is usually a good option, i wouldn't lowball if that 3* is a real possibility as while you're waiting for 24 hours to elapse that hotwire offer (which seems like a good deal given the rates you've quoted above) coudl disappear, leaving you with nothing reasonably pricedThe 3* Hotwire hotel may be a new set of amenities for the Tremont. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
diabolicNYC Posted March 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Realistically I'd like to bid no more than $100/night(if possible), and no, I don't have a backup(yet)...I'm going to try a bid tonight as suggested above(through the link, of course) and come back with the results. I think I'm comfortable with bidding for a few more days before settling on a 3* from somewhere.I don't have much experience with Hotwire so I'm wary of going with them. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 I'm doubtful you'll be successful for a 4* for these dates, but this is how i would try...Select 4* NMA...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $70, if rejected close browser however you did previously.Select 4* NMA and re-bid zone2...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $80, if rejected close browser however you did previously.Select 4* Looop...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $70, if rejected close browser however you did previously.Select 4* NMA and re-bid zone2...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $80, if rejected close browser however you did previously.Select 4* NMA and Loop...Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $90, if rejected close browser however you did previously.Select 4* NMA and Loopand re-bid zone2...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone1...Bid $100.Any questions feel free to ask.Good Luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
diabolicNYC Posted March 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 No luck so far....I bid up to $100 (using savingsbarn.com). I'm going to try once more tonight and come up with a backup plan in the meantime.As for the 3* on Hotwire, the price dropped to $95, but reviews on tripadvisor are scaring me off in the event it's the Tremont. Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Quickbook has a $129 rate for the Congress Plaza Hotel and it's a "Pay When You Stay" rate so it is cancellable (although i'm not sure how many days before check-in you need to cancel)I've stayed here before about 5 years ago so it is likely to have changed since then, but at the time it was an older hotel with a really nice lobby. Rooms were fairly basic and bare but served their purpose (the opinion of others is similar to the Tremont.). A location closer to North Michigan Ave (this hotel is on South Michigan Ave) would be better fro nightlife, restaurants, shopping, etc (we were there for a wedding) but at least this gives you another option for a back-up. If the above Hotwire hotel is indeed the Tremont, one of our users wrote this review and actually likes the hotel. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
AaronJB Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 The workers of the Congress have been on strike for the last few years.You can read about the whole situation here: http://www.congresshotelstrike.info/I haven't stayed at the Tremont myself, but from the outside, it doesn't look too bad if you just want someplace to sleep. I'm seeing something that resembles the Tremont's old listing coming up for other dates, so this may still be something else (Seneca?) Either the Tremont or the Seneca, while not the nicest hotels in the city, are both in top-notch locations. Link to comment
diabolicNYC Posted March 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Thank you for the information on the Congress Plaza, I made a reservation as a backup, some reviews on Tripadvisor are scaring me a bit..So it looks like my 4* plans are disintegrating...does anyone have a suggestion for a bid strategy for a 3* through priceline? It looks like my only rebid zone is Skokie-Niles-Evanston.Thanks again!!!! Link to comment
thereuare Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 I would try as follows:Select 3* NMA...Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $75, if rejected close browser however you did previously.Select 3* Loop...Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $75, if rejected close browser however you did previously.Select 3* NMA and Loop...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85.==================================================================If the above is rejected, 24 hours later try:Select 3* NMA...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected close browser however you did previously.Select 3* Loop...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $90, if rejected close browser however you did previously.Select 3* NMA and Loop...Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $100.I don't suppose SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID is an option for this two day stay? If it is post back as i'll have an alternate strategy for you to try... could possibly get the 4* hotel you were originally looking for within your budget (for at least one nite), but you'd have to change hotels during your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
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