Priceline Hotel: Need hotel in Chicago for two separate dates...

[eshspres]

I am going to be in Chicago on business on two separate occasions for one night each. The first is Friday, November 17th and Saturday, November 18th. The second is Sunday, November 26th and Monday, November 27th. I am going to be driving into the area, so staying outside Chicago is not a problem at all. I also have no preference as to star rating (obviously the best deal is best) as I basically need a bed and a shower. Hotwire has some good deals near the airport, but I would PREFER something away from O'Hare, but will take it if that's the best deal. Tips on how much to bid in the various areas in and around Chicago?

[thereuare]

Please follow-up your previous Priceline New York / New Jersey thread and your Priceline Missouri thread with whatever you ended up doing for each stay.

Then bump this thread and we'll address your questions above.

[eshspres]

Threads have received a response. And responses of no help whatsoever as I ended up finding alternate ideas from priceline and hotwire. Bumpity bump bump!

[AaronJB]

Personally, I'd recommend staying in the Northbrook area if you are looking for a place outside of the city. It's a lovely, upscale 'burb not too terribly far North of downtown, and Metra Train stations are nearby. There's also a couple of big malls (Northbrook and Old Orchard) not far away, and if you happen to be in the mood for a Wintery nature hike, there's the Chicago Botanic Gardens (chicagobotanic.org), which are in a nearby burb.

HOTWIRE has a 3* with a Suite icon in Northbrook for $65 for the 17th, and that would likely be the Wyndham Suites Glenview. From there, you could drive to the nearby Glenview Metra station, park for $2 and take the train into the city.

HOTWIRE also has a 3* in the same area for $61 for your other date, but it appears to be a different hotel (likely the other frequent Northbrook 3*, the Radisson. Could also head to the nearest Metra station from here to park-and-ride.

$45 would seem like a reasonable starting bid for 3* Glenview/Northbrook.

[thereuare]

Based upon AaronJB's comments above (and he knows the area very well), what are your thoughts?

And your replies to the other posts does accomplish a few things:

1) gives others an alternative if they are having trouble for a hotel in the same area (yeah, they probably can't call your friend to sleep at their place, but the Expedia suggestion in the other thread may benefit others)

2) keeps the board better organaized and adds 'closure'... now others know what ultimatley happened for that stay, rather than left wondering if you were ultimately successful and maybe just didn't follow-up your post

3) many of us who provide assistance to others on the board get a bit of satisfaction knowing if the strategies and suggestions helped somebody save money and/or make their trip a more pleasant one, posting a follow-up let's us know how we did as well as enables us to tweak strategies and suggestions going forward as the environment is constantly changing.

[eshspres]

Thank you for the advice, but I didn't end up taking either trip. My appointments were moved to a venue closer to home and the Chicago leg of the trip were not necessary. Thus the lack of a response.