Priceline Hotel: Chicago Help

[shaboom]

Hi, You've got a really great site. Thanks for all the good info and tips. I started bidding tonight, but have so far been unsuccessful. :) I need:

City: Chicago

Dates: 6/20 - 6/24

Stars: 4

Zones: Millenium (1st choice), NMA (2nd choice)

Cost: I'm impressed by the $60-$70 wins at the Hyatt. I'd be thrilled to see those numbers. I'd like to stay under $100/night, if possible.

Notes: I'm bidding for two rooms. We are a total of 4 adults and 2 kids. I realize that there is no guarantee, but I need four beds (which is why I like the $60 wins - I figure I could add another room at that rate and still be better off than alternatives to priceline).

My bidding history:

Millenium $60 - rejected

Millenium, NMA $68 - rejected

Millenium, NMA, Midway $73 - rejected (using your rebidding strategy with no 4*s in Midway).

What now?

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site. :)

Please keep in mind that what a hotel was won for on other dates is not an indicator of the price the hotel can be won on all days. If your dates are more expensive, the priceline rates are going to be more expensive, too.

Unfortunately, you are dealing with dates that are quite expensive and $60-70 priceline rates for a 4* are going to be very unrealistic.

The Hyatt is not even available on these dates and several other 4* properties are booked up on one or more of the dates you are seeking.

3* and 4* hotels on these dates are $300 and some $400.

You could bid up to $100, but I think it's unlikely to be accepted at this point, given that Hotwire's lowest 4* is $183.

I'd be happy to suggest some suburban alternatives in great areas near transit (and that would offer some sights of their own), but they would require a car.

[shaboom]

Thanks AaronJB. I won't have a car, so I'd like to be in the Millenium, NMA areas. I'm not stuck on the Hyatt and 3*s is also ok (although I don't see many example wins for 3*s so it's not clear to me which hotels we're talking about at that level). Is $125/night in the ballpark? With a month to go before departure, am I better off slowly bidding up to $100 and seeing what happens or starting my 2nd round of bidding higher?

I will happily use the betterbidding.com links for my travel arrangements:

Priceline

Hotwire

[AaronJB]

I would bid up to $125, but it very well may require more towards $140-150 based on the prices I'm seeing.

In order to open up your possibilities, I'd also be bidding for NMA, given that the two areas are literally right next to each other and walking or public transit makes it very easy to get from one area to another.

The issue with the 3* properties in the Millennium/Loop/GP area is that the two Club Quarters properties offer very small rooms and two beds is 99% unlikely. The 3* properties in the NMA area wouldn't guarantee you two beds, either, but at least the Holiday Inn, City Centre, Embassy Suites and a few other possibilities would offer larger rooms.

You've bid up to $73; I would start the next bid at $90 for a 4* and keep moving up from there by $5 each time. If you reached $125 with no luck, then you could consider starting again for 3*s.

[shaboom]

Will do. Is this the right order of bidding or is there any way to get more than 3 bids per 24 hour period?

1. 4*, Millinenium $90

2. 4*, Millenium, Midway (the only 4* free rebid zone in chicago), $95

3. 4* Millienium, Midway, NMA, $100

wait 24 hours

4. 4* Mill, $105

5. 4* Mill, Mid, $110

6. 4* Mill, Mid, NMA, $115

wait 24 hours

etc...

[thereuare]

Assuming both the Loop and NMA zones are acceptable, you would bid as follows to maximize your bidding:

4* Loop $90

4* Loop and re-bid zone $95 (close browser if rejected)

4* NMA $90

4* NMA and re-bid zone $95 (close browser if rejected)

4* NMA and Loop $100

4* NMA and Loop and re-bid zone $105

I simply used the dollar amounts you provided above in order to show you that you're able to get one 'extra' bid by following the above vs. the format you posted.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Keep us updated and let us know how it goes.

[shaboom]

Excellent. Thanks. I'll give this a go tonight!

[shaboom]

Strike one! Bid up to $105 as suggested, but no takers.

Incidentally, if I'm looking for a hotel in a different city (Boston) on different dates, can I bid them both in parallel?

[thereuare]

Yes, you can bid them in parallel, changing the check-in/check-out dates, city, zones, or lowering your star rating is treated as entirely new bid. Since you're changing both the city and dates there is no issue with the attempt in the second city being viewed as a duplicate bid.

However, if you're successful with one leg of your stay, please return here and click our PRICELINE link <again> to begin your second purchase.

Thanks, keep us updated and let us know if we can be of further help.

[shaboom]

Strike two :) As you guys predicted I'm up to $125/night and still outta luck with PRICELINE.

Just checked HOTWIRE and found a 3* for $166/night. If I continue to bid up, I may want to consider this given the non-smoking policy and opportunity to identify the number of people staying in the rooms. Can you ID this hotel:

Hotwire 3* NMA, Water Tower, Gold Coast: Botique Hotel, Fitness Center, Smoke Free Rooms, Restaurant

Oh... I started my search on www.betterchecker.com and received the offer above for my dates. However, when I search on the hotwire site directly seeking 2 rooms for 4 adults and 2 kids (my party), I don't get the listing. I do get it again if I omit the kids... I suppose that suggests it is one bed per room offer...?

[thereuare]

It could be for a room with only one bed OR that the hotel never upgraded it's agreement with HOTWIRE to allow searching for up to quad occupancy... but all that is guaranteed is accomodations for the number of people included in your search, so there would be a risk if you booked the above without including the kids on the search.

With the above noted, the HOTWIRE hotel above is a match for the Tremont so that would be our best guess.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[AaronJB]

Eeeek. I really would not recommend the Tremont.

[AaronJB]

Given that the cheapest 4* Hotwire listing is over $180, you may be looking at $150+ for a 4* in either of the two downtown areas on Priceline.

[shaboom]

Bid up to $150 for 4* in NMA and the Loop. No luck. Now thinking of looking at 3*s in NMA (only, per Aaron's earlier note). What is a good starting point for a 3* in NMA for my dates?

[AaronJB]

I would probably start at $125 for a 3*. Worst case scenario there is a $189 4* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area on HOTWIRE when searching for 2 adults/2 kids for these dates. The HOTWIRE listing could either be the Westin River North or Hard Rock, but given the customer favorite designation, I'm guessing it's the Westin.

The only other option I can suggest is splitting your bid; I see that the Palmer House Hilton is $219 regular rate on Friday and Saturday *only.* There are also a couple 4*'s (the Knickerbocker, the Sheraton) in the NMA area that are in the $200-250 area. Therefore, you may want to try to bid $100 for a 4* in the Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park and NMA areas for 6/20-22 only.

If you were successful at $100 for the first two dates, you could then raise your max bidding level higher for the busier second two dates. Thereuare will be better at offering a strategy, but I did notice the first two dates are cheaper if you did want to try to bid for them at a lower price.

[bellamom6]

I am new to this awesome site as well. I did use the link on this site to bid on a 4* Mich Ave. I bid $90 for 6/30-7/4. I won the Knickerbocker which I am now in the middle of a complaint with Priceline because I feel they were unfair in not disclosing this hotel in under major refurbishment. We are traveling with a child who has severe asthma and allergies. Now we need to worry about all the dust, ect the construction is causing. Can anyone help?

[AaronJB]

Bellamom, I do sympathize regarding allergies, as I have bad ones, as well. I do ask that you start a new thread for your question, though.

[shaboom]

Thanks Aaron. Good advice as usual. I'm intrigued by the idea of splitting my bids, but uneasy about the potential of having to switch hotels after two night (sorry, I know the site has a no whining policy) :) Would you agree that the odds are low I would end up in the same hotel for both date ranges if I split my bids?

[AaronJB]

Given the difference in prices between the dates, your odds of getting the same hotel are probably going to be pretty low.

The prospect of moving hotels does sound unappealing and understandably so. However, I have suggested it to people in the past and while they were not pleased with the idea, they actually ended up liking it because - while there was the aspect of the move - they liked the change of scenery in terms of hotel and in terms of the ability to be near different things at the new hotel.

It is not a perfect plan - you have to hope that something would accept for the second two dates, but my thought was if you were able to get something for $100 on the first two dates, that would give you the flexibility to go up to $200 (although I wouldn't start bidding for the second two dates at $200, I would start lower) on the second two dates, bringing the average to around (possibly a little less, depending) the $150 you're already at.

Thereuare would be better at offering a strategy, but again, I thought given the difficulty you've encountered bidding for all four dates, this may be a way to not pay more than you've already bid up to and have at least somewhat better potential for being accepted.

The other idea is that, if you bid $100 on Priceline and are accepted for the first two dates, you could try Priceline's "Extend Your Stay" feature. While I doubt that you will be able to extend your stay at $100, the service should tell you what the price is the hotel is willing to accept - or if they can even extend your stay at all (they may not be able to if the inventory isn't there.)

If you have any questions, please ask before bidding.

[AaronJB]

Better yet, if you can move your dates forward one week (6/27-7/1 instead of 6/20-24), the hotel prices are significantly cheaper.

Additionally, if you were to move your dates up a week, you would be here for the Taste of Chicago festival (not the world's greatest thing ever to be completely honest, but it is fun to visit at least once and certainly is quite a huge event.)

[thereuare]

I'll add one more comment though regarding SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID...

It's not for everyone, and the first reaction of most people is "why would i want to do that?" But think about the following scenario... let's say you were booked at the same hotel for the length of your stay. Half-way thru the hotel asks you: "We're a little overbooked, we'll pay you $100 cash if you finish your stay at the hotel down the street". Given this scenario, if you would take the hotel's offer, than splitting the bid may be right for you (assuming you can save $100... or whatever amount would make you take the hotel's offer)

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know your thoughts based upon the above comments, and those by AaronJB, and we'll take it from there.

[shaboom]

Thanks guys. I went to $170 tonight and failed for 4*. I can't change my dates, though I like the suggestion of the taste of chicago festival. I'm leery of splitting and having to move hotels, but you both make a compelling case. I'll need to sleep on the idea tonight...

Is this Priceline List of 3* hotels in NMA up to date?

Chicago (North Michigan Ave - River North)

3* Affinia Chicago REVIEW

3* Allerton Hotel

3* Amalfi Hotel REVIEW

3* Chicago City Centre Hotel and Sports Club Holiday Inn City Center (Will be re-branded as a Doubletree in April, 2008)

3* Embassy Suites Downtown

3* Holiday Inn at the Mart

3* Marriott Chicago MagMile

3* Radisson Hotel and Suites tripadvisor review

Some of the reviews on tripadvisor related to a couple of these hotels and priceline wins scare me a bit, but given my concerns with splitting, I think my next move is likely to be to drop down to 3* Confining myself to NMA and without a rebid zone, I think I can only get two bids in per 24 hour period:

3*, NMA 125

3*, 4* NMA 125+

Is that right?

[thereuare]

Is this Priceline List of 3* hotels in NMA up to date?

See the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ.

I think I can only get two bids in per 24 hour period:

3*, NMA 125

3*, 4* NMA 125+

No, that wont' work... you will only have one bid every 24 hours. When you select 3 stars, that is the minimum star rating you are willing to accept, so 4 star properties are also checked when you select 3 stars (in the first bid) and therefore your second bid will be treated as a duplicate.

You can get two bids if you try:

4* NMA

3* NMA

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[AaronJB]

The Radisson is now the Avenue Hotel; not sure if it is a Priceline participant. The City Centre is in the midst of a renovation in prep for turning to a Doubletree in July.

The Allerton isn't a great hotel, but the location couldn't be better.

[shaboom]

Decided to go with HOTWIRE @ $189/night. Made it through the input screen twice and then....

We couldn't process your request.

We're sorry, but the itinerary you selected is no longer available. Your card has not been charged. We apologize for the inconvenience.

You may retry your search by modifying your date, neighborhood or select another hotel within a different star category and we will search all other hotels to find the best available hot-RateSM.

Note that this price is not guaranteed until the purchase is complete. Hotwire Customer Care Associates will not be able to assist you with this problem. Error #111