Priceline Hotel: Help- 4* Chicago Loop 7/9-7/12, bid up to $80 failed

[grabthedeal]

We are going to be in Chicago from July 9 - 12 (3 Nights).

I am looking for 2 rooms. Palmer Hilton has no rooms available during this time.

I started at $75 and up to $80 failed. and then split the night July 9-11, no availed.

I know I still have one last free re-bid, but want to get some ideas from your guys first.

My target is $100, max budget $120 per night.

by the way I use your PRICELINE link to start my bid as always.

Thanks,

[AaronJB]

Given the variation in room availability and prices in the Loop versus the North Michigan Ave. area on the other side of the river, I'm guessing that there is either a convention at McCormick Place (which is closer to the Loop, so Loop hotels fill up first) or there is a convention at one of the Loop hotels and therefore, the hotels around it are either full or more expensive.

However, I'm guessing that it is a fairly mid-sized convention, as the hotels on the other side of the river are all showing availability and at lower average rates.

Have you bid at all for the River North/North Michigan Ave area on Priceline? I'm guessing you could probably have a better chance of a win on the other side of the river. If you need to be in the Loop area, the North Michigan Ave. area isn't a very far walk from it - plus, theres a few public transit options as well and it wouldn't be a long trip.

If you have not bid $80 for a 4* in the NMA area, I would recommend giving that a try.

[thereuare]

Do you need to be in the Loop zone vs. the NMA zone? (as it's a little surprising that you chose to split the bid first before considering adding the NMA zone)

Thanks for trying your bids thru our PRICELINE link.

[grabthedeal]

Thank you all for your reply. I thought NMA's hotels are normally more expensive than those in the Loop. That was why I chose to split rather than adding NMA.

Both zone are fine with me. I will try to add NMA and bid again.

So what price should I start at? $70? $75 or $80?

[thereuare]

At the 4* level you have two re-bid zones. If you're not familiar with re-bidding please read Priceline Re-Bidding Explained and feel free to ask questions and/or confirm your re-bid zones with the board before proceeding.

I woudl bid as follows:

Select 4* Loop...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* NMA...

Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $80, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 4* Loop and NMA...

Bid $85, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $90, if rejected close browser and re-access priceline.

Select 4* Loop and NMA and re-bid zone2...

Bid $95, if rejected add re-bid zone1...

Bid $100

This will take you up to your current preferred maximum bid of $100. If the above is rejected, you can then decide if you'd like to try SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID up to $100 for each leg of the stay OR try up to $120 for the complete stay and not have to change hotels.

Thanks for using our PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your bidding.

Any questions feel free to ask. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[AaronJB]

Both zones are fairly similar in their pricing (the Loop does have more appeal to those visiting on business, while NMA is more tourist-friendly). However, when there is a convention, you do see the Loop hotels taken up first as they are closer. If it's not a major convention (which appears to be the case here), then only some Loop hotels fill.

[grabthedeal]

Followed Thereuare's strategy, bidding all the way up to $100, failed.

I did the splitting days bidding last night. What should I do now?

Thanks,

[thereuare]

I did the splitting days bidding last night.

Last nite you only bid up to $80, correct?

[AaronJB]

HOTWIRE does have a 3.5* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area for $116. (amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business)

While the amenities would be a match for the Wyndham, the tripadvisor 3.5/5 rating on the detail page would lead me to believe that it isn't the Wyndham unless there's an error and the tripadvisor rating on the detail page is incorrect. If it's something else, I'm not sure what it is.

[grabthedeal]

Last nite you only bid up to $80, correct?

That's correct,

[thereuare]

That's correct,

So i would think that the next step would be to try the above strategy up to $100 for the split dates, no?