Priceline Hotel: 4* Chicago (NMA-River North) Millenium Knickerbocker

[ssnfrbs]

Hi! I am new to Priceline and Hotwire and was looking for some help. I am looking for a hotel room for Aug 26-28 which is the Tues & Wed prior to Labor Day Weekend. I'd like to be close to Rush St. & State where all the bars & restaurants are. The below hotel is available on Hotwire for $132 a night. I was wondering several things...is this a decent price, any idea what hotel it is, is it in the location I'm looking for or any other helpful info. Finally, is it too early...should I wait closer to time? Thanks!

4* in NMA-Water Tower-Gold Coast - $132 a night

Boutique Hotel

Restaurant(s)

High-Speed Internet

Fitness Center

Business Center

40+ reviews...4 out of 5

[blindman]

Welcome to Betterbidding.

From this list of previously reported wins it could be either the Rafaello or Sutton Place.

My best guess is that it is Sutton Place which is at 21 East Bellevue, Chicago, Illinois USA 60611

Look at their rates for your stay and decide if the HOTWIRE rate is good for you.

If you choose to use HOTWIRE please use the support link

[AaronJB]

It would either be the Sutton or Raffaello, but the Sutton is a far less common sighting (I don't think anyone's reported as a win in ages and ages) than the Raffaello. This could be either, but I'd lean towards it being more likely the Raf.

Additionally, to the original poster, have you been to the Rush/State area or are going there on a recommendation or on something you read? I'd recommend staying a little further South, so you can explore the River North nightlife and still have State/Rush as an option if you want to.

State/Rush is so common, so touristy (plus, nightlife spot Melvin B's - whether people liked it or not, it was sort of an "anchor" - is now gone, as it will be replaced by a Morgans Hotel in 2009. Plus, the area has fallen off a tad as some storefronts have now gone empty in the area) - if you have to go there, do - but my recommendation is to seek out a few places elsewhere that interest you and try them out instead. The River North area also has a far better selection of restaurants, including places like Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill, Brassierie Jo, Fogo De Chao and places like Portillo's hot Dogs.

Additionally, is this just a nightlife visit or do you plan to see some sights? If you plan to see what else Chicago has to offer at all, you may want to be more centrally located.

[ssnfrbs]

Thank you both so much for the help. I really appreciate the feedback on the area!

Basically I am just meeting a girl friend for a few days to do some shopping and nightlife without our kids. I'm thinking of the area around Gibson's, Tavern on Rush, etc. Is this the area you said that is so touristy? If so, should I consider Hotwire's Magnificant Mile - Streeterville area instead?

I also considered using Priceline but was a bit hesitant. Any thoughts on this?

We love to eat & drink with the locals so feel free to pass along any names of places you recommend!

:)

[AaronJB]

The Rush/State area (Gibsons, Tavern on Rush) is fine for restaurants, but a lot of people don't care for the nightlife crowd around there. A lot of people who get drunk to get drunk ("Weeeooooo I'm drunk" kind of people.) Other people may have differing opinions, but I think that area is touristy, overrated and unpleasant.

If your party is two women, I'd recommend visiting the Rush/State area only for restaurants (and even for restaurants, I think there's other areas in the city that have more to offer), as you may not like the nightlife crowds there, either. How can I say this delicately....if you are married women, you may not like the crowds at some of the Rush/State areas, which - and it's a generalization, but it's true enough that the area has earned a nickname - consist of a lot of people looking to primarily to meet people. Places like Bin 36 are nicer, more upscale and would be places I'd recommend more for you if you two are looking to enjoy a drink without unwanted attention.

I'd recommend trying Bin 36 (http://www.bin36.com/index.php), which is a very nice wine bar on the river where the philosophy is educating (Alcohol 101) about the different wine varieties available. There's also Rockit' Bar and Grill nearby, the American Bar Association (Ooops, that's law-related), Rock Bottom Brewery, Clark Street Ale House (http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/brewpub/clark-street-ale-house-river-north/136910/content), J-bar, Green Door Tavern (originally built in 1871; http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs...133920/content) and Tavern at the Park (in nearby Millennium Park) and tons of restaurants - everything from fun and cheap to very elegant. The 10-pin bowling alley in the House of Blues complex also has a full bar, a very modern menu of treats and sleek, beautiful lanes.

Additionally, if you wanted to do a spa day (or spa half-day), the Nordstroms Spa in the North Bridge mall is right nearby, as well. There's also the Bliss Spa in the W Lakeshore Hotel.

All of these are in (or near) River North (which would fall into the Mag Mile/Streeterville area on Hotwire.)

[AaronJB]

My feeling on Priceline is that if you did want to go that route - and myself or others on the board would be happy to help with tips for it - you:

1. Do have to be willing to accept what you get. The majority of the 4* hotels in the River North/North Michigan Ave. area on Priceline are excellent. However, there are 1 or 2 that aren't so great (although one of those will be totally renovated by the time you would get here.)

2. Should start very low - since you have time - and work up. I'd start with an $80 bid for a 4* and work your way up - slowly, but surely $5 at a time; if $80's not accepted, try $85 24 hours later, etc; - until you reach $125. If $125 isn't accepted, I'd wait a couple of weeks and start the process over.

3. Keep in mind that Priceline only guarantees 1 bed (I've had quite a few instances where I've been able to get 2, but keep in mind it varies from hotel-to-hotel, day-to-day and may even depend on the person you deal with.) Hotwire also may be an issue because it guarantees the amount of bedding for the people in your party - 2, which could mean to a hotel 1 bed. Either way, once you do get settled on a hotel, I'd call the hotel to see what your options are.

If you wanted to use a hotel as a point of reference to the area where I'm recommending, the Amalfi Hotel is right there. I wouldn't necessarily recommend staying there as it's overly expensive on your dates - but if you want to get an idea of the area I think you may like better, it is generally around that hotel or within decent walking distance of it.

[ssnfrbs]

Wow, that is fantastic info...I really appreciate you taking the time to post all that! Hopefully I can finalize my trip plans soon!

[ssnfrbs]

Hi,

I am looking for a 4* Chicago hotel for 2 nights, Aug 25-27. Right now there is a 4* NMA/Water Tower available on Hotwire for only $139 a night. I just tried $97 on Priceline and was rejected. I was wondering if I should go ahead and book the Hotwire? It lists the hotel amenities as: fitness center, business center, restaurant(s) and high-speed internet access. The customer rating is a 3 out of 5.

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

The Hotwire listing would likely be the Millennium Knickerbocker, a hotel that is in the midst of a pretty major renovation and that has gotten mixed reviews in the past, as the TA rating would indicate.

The renovated rooms do look very impressive (see: http://millenniumknickerbocker.blogspot.com/), but there's no way to know if you would get a renovated room or how much of the hotel would be done at that point. Additionally, the Hotwire price isn't a particularly great deal, with the hotel's retail price on these dates at an average of $179.

Personally, I'd continue with PRICELINE and try again for $105. If you get up to the price of the HOTWIRE listing and it's still no go, you can take that instead.

Full retail rates at hotels downtown on these dates really aren't bad. I'm a little surprised that your bid at $97 wasn't accepted.

[ssnfrbs]

Thanks so much! I still have time so I'll keep trying PRICELINE. I'll be sure to post the results!

[ssnfrbs]

I have been trying the NMA area for a few weeks at $90 & $95 but no luck. Even $99 didn't work, but once I hit the magic $100, I was accepted by the Knickerbocker. It's not a huge savings considering they have rooms at $169 but I'm happy with the area. Since I'm not going until late August, I am hoping the renovations will be completed by then.

Dates of stay are from 8/25/08 - 8/27/08

Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $100.00

Subtotal: $200.00

Taxes & Service Fees: $39.38

Total Charges: $239.38

[thereuare]

Thank you for sharing your winning bid with the board.

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

Enjoy your stay.