Priceline Hotel: PL Question

[ak1330]

I am looking for a 4 star room in Chicago near the Magnificent Mile (Navy Pier) for 3 nights starting July 9, 2008. What is a rate that is reasonable - I am obviously looking for a deeply discounted rate. I overheard someone last year at the Palmer House Hilton say they had their room for 16 dollars a night from priceline - when I was paying $170+

Can anyone give me some guidance - is it better to wait unti the last minute??

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

I overheard someone last year at the Palmer House Hilton say they had their room for 16 dollars a night from priceline

That would either have been a rate loaded in error or you mis-heard, as a $16 rate is not what should be expected.

If you look at the PRICELINE maps of Chicago and how the zone boundaries they use to divide the city, are you willing to accept a hotel anywhere within the NMA-River North zone? Would the Loop zone also be acceptable?

Let us know the above and we'll advise of our options accordingly.

[ak1330]

I would be willing to stay in the greater chicago zone, millennium zone and North Michigan ave. (options 1, 4 and 5 - I think). I have a conference at the Convention Center and Don't want to be too far away. THe 16 dollars a night may have been split 4 ways, so it would have been 64 a night -possibly.. still much better than 170+

[thereuare]

As we wouldn't want to suggest a strategy that went higher than you were willing to pay, what is your maximum bid for this stay? (per nite before taxes and fees)

Let us know the above and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

[ak1330]

I don't know... I had bid 60.00 per night and was rejected already.. that is when I came looking for a site to help me. I don't want to pay too high when people are getting it for much less (like last year).

Is it better to wait until the last minute?

[thereuare]

Rates are very date specific... go to Chicgao in the winter and you can usually find 4* hotels starting in the $60 range. However, summer, which is a busy season for Chicago, typically sees higher rates than that.

We employ bidding strategies here which enable you to gradually increase your bidding, which ensures that you don't overbid for the stay at the time you are bidding.

What is the best rate you're able to get for these dates thru conventional booking channels? (use our BetterChecker to assist in your rate search)

[ak1330]

the best rate I can find is 185.00

[thereuare]

So based upon a rate of $185 for a 4 star hotel, how high would you be willing to go now in order to lock in an 'unknown' 4* hotel for this area?

Would you need a 30% discount, 50% discount, 70% discount? (the discount being for the 'unknown' factor of exactly which 4* hotel you will get)

[ak1330]

I don't really want to pay more than 70 a night.

[thereuare]

... and if you're not successful at $70, what will you do? (where will you stay and how much will it cost)

If $70 is your absolute maximum we will sugges a strategy for that amount, but i think you need to be more realistic in your expections and base your maximum bid upon what you will pay if you're not successful with the opaque suppliers (and not fixated on some number you overhead in a hotel lobby which may have been during a time of low occupancy)