Priceline Hotel: 4* Chicago (Millennium-Loop-Grant Park) Hilton

[ktp]

Hi

I will be flying in to Madison, Wis for a family reunion. I would like to take my teen to see Chicago as she has never been there. The only time we could go is June 19 to June 20. My bid thus far has been:

4* NMA...

Bid $60, rejected so added Midway

Bid $65, rejected

Close browser Select 4* Loop...

Bid $60 rejected so added Midway

Bid $65, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* NMA and Loop...

Bid $70, rejected added Midway

Bid $75

Is there any reason I could not add Lincoln Park as a free rebid zone?

Any suggestions?

Also I live in a rural area with very light traffic. I am a very leery of driving in Chicago. I plan on parking and leaving the car until it's time to go! My question is how confusing or difficult would it be to find/drive to my hotel?

Thanks

[AaronJB]

Hmmm...it's not pleasant to drive in Chicago, with freeway and street traffic, as well as construction (I believe there's a pretty nasty construction project on the Edens currently, for example) on expressways. It won't be confusing for you to try to find your hotel - it just may be stressful to drive in the city if you're not used to it.

I'm trying to think of a way to get to Chicago from Madison without having to drive, but not coming up with much, aside from maybe a bus.

The other issue is that if you do drive downtown, be prepared to pay $40-45 per night parking at the hotel, as that is generally what parking costs at the downtown hotels. Parking at some hotels has now gone up to $49-50 a night.

My other suggestion would be to stay in the North burbs, which are very, very nice and would not require you to drive all the way in (and when you departed, you would already be North of the city.)

If you stayed in Northbrook or Glenview, you could drive to the nearby Metra station, park and take the train the remaining distance into the city. The Metra trains (metrarail.com) are quite nice and a lot more pleasant than the CTA trains.

Additionally, if you stayed in the North suburbs, there are also a lot of pretty little towns and some bigger sights, such as the Chicago Botanic Garden (despite the name, it's in the suburb of Glencoe - see chicagobotanic.org) and the Ravinia Music Festival (Ravinia.org.)

If you have any interest in seeing Willie Nelson perform, he is actually playing on the 20th at Ravinia - $15 lawn seats are available.

To answer your question about Lincoln Park, Lincoln Park is not an area one can bid on via Priceline, as there is apparently no participating hotels in that area yet.

So, to summarize your options:

1. Staying in the city

Note: given the prices on these dates, $85-90 for a 4* in the NMA area is probably going to be a more likely price to be accepted.

Pros: No travel time, you're right in the middle of the city.

Cons: Driving, expensive parking.

2. Staying in the North burbs

Pros: Less of a travel time in, less of a travel time out, much easier driving, free parking, likely cheaper priceline win, some nice sights/towns, great/pretty/safe area.

Cons: Drive to the train, park ($2) and a 40 minute train ride downtown.

Less us know how you would like to proceed, and we would be happy to suggest a strategy for either downtown or the burbs.

Additionally, are your dates 6/19-checkout 6/21 or 6/19, checkout 6/20?

[thereuare]

To add to the above...

I'm not sure if it would be out of your way geographically, but could you park at one of the airports (OHare or Midway) and then take the train into the city for the lenght of your stay. This would probably offer minimal savings, but more so do it for your comfort of not driving in the city.

If it's within your budget i would recommend staying directly in the city. While the suburbs may be easy enough to commute in from, the trip is for your daughter to see the city and staying outside of downtown will lose some of the "we're in the city" appeal (that is, assuming, she finds the 'big city' appealing :) )

Lastly, Lincoln Park is indeed now available for bidding and you can use it as a re-bid zones when bidding at the 4* level. (always doublecheck before bidding to make sure nothing has changed). If you let us know your maximum bid we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow to continue from your bidding above.

Also, i had the same question as AaronJB... is this just a one nite stay? (or two?)

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

[AaronJB]

Oh, sorry about the above - I didn't know Lincoln Park had been added as a new zone. Not too many hotels at all in that area, though.

[ktp]

Thank you both for all your help and great ideas.

I talked with my daughter and we both agree, we have to stay in the city!

We will need a hotel for one night. We plan on arriving early AM on Thursday, June 19th to do the Architecture Foundation boat tour. The Shedd Aquarium and many museums are participating in Museum Campus Free Days during that week, so we will be in paradise! We will check out of our hotel Friday morning on the 20th, but not leave until Friday evening.

I checked out the Greyhound and both of us can travel round trip for as low as $78.00 total from Madison. I will check out the logistics of the bus. If that doesn't work out, I think I'll try the airport parking as I'm not a big city driver.

I am going to try bidding again using Lincoln Park as a free rebid zone.

Thanks again!

[AaronJB]

If you are going to be spending a lot of time at the Museums on this date, I'd recommend considering bidding on the Millennium park/Loop/Grant Park area. That would put you within more reasonable walking distance to the museum campus, which is South of the city, along the lakefront. It would also put you close to the Art Institute and the boat tour.

If you drive, I'd recommend parking at one of the city lots in Evanston. That will put you North of the city and in a really nice town - Evanston is a college town a lot of great restaurants and shopping.

Evanston lots: http://www.cityofevanston.org/departments/...g/parking.shtml

You would park and then take the Metra train in. It will be a LOT easier and nicer to get to/from Evanston than it is to get to/from O'Hare airport.

[ktp]

When I was trying to reply, I mistakenly copied the posts I was replying to. Sorry. Can the redundant copies be removed?

I tried again

4* NMA, Loop and Lincoln Park for $80.00

It said to add $22

I added Midway for $85.00 and my bid was accepted for the Chicago Hilton. Im off to Tripadvisor to check it out!

[AaronJB]

Funny that you mention wanting to spend time at the museums and then wind up with the downtown hotel closest (still a walk, but the closest of the downtown hotels) to the museum campus.

Congrats on your win. :-)

Edited to add: cheapest rate is $229, so certainly a nice discount.

If you have any questions about getting around or the city in general, please ask.

[thereuare]

Congratualtions on your success!

Glad to hear it went well and you'll be able to show your daughter a fun time in the city.

I can't vouche for them as i haven't traveled the route yet (have an upcoming trip in August) but MegaBus also makes the Madison-->Chicag trip and has a 3am departure which gets into the city at about 6:30am. Depending upon your viewpoint this could be good that it gives you the whole day in the city or bad that you'll likely be tired for most of the day, but thought i'd mention it as an option.

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

Thanks for sharing and enjoy your stay.