Priceline Hotel: Chicago - 11/15 check out 11/16

[guy0611]

Hi! My best friend and I are going to see Wicked on 11/15 and are looking to priceline a room for that one night (Saturday, November 15th). I have no idea where to start with the bidding...we are looking for the most affordable 3.5 - 4*, I've seen people getting rates as low as $69 etc but I think we could pay up to $100+fees. We could stay in the Loop or N Michigan... Any ideas? We of course will use the betterbidding PRICELINE link too. :) What should I start bidding at to get the best rate do you think? Thanks for any tips you can provide! :)

[AaronJB]

Good evening :)

I wouldn't go on what other people are getting, as rates can vary sharply from day-to-day.

I'd recommend searching for 2 adults on HOTWIRE.com for 11/15, checkout 11/16. There should be a 3.5* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area with the amenities: Suite, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Complimentary Breakfast, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business and a price of $99. This would likely be the Embassy Suites Lakefront, which would get you a suite, free breakfast, free evening reception and a very nice property. It's also a pleasant area of the city near the lake.

The Hyatt Regency is $95 on Orbitz.com for this particular night. This is a special sale rate; I don't think the Hyatt is a particularly great hotel and the Embassy Suites would get you a bunch of bonus amenities that the Hyatt doesn't offer. The Hyatt is, however, a little closer to Wicked - not by much.

If you would like to bid on PRICELINE, I'd recommend trying to bid for the Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park area only. If you bid for the River North/NMA area, you could wind up at the North end of that area, which would make for a longer (although not terrible) trip to Wicked.

If you bid on PRICELINE, I would recommend a starting bid of $75 for a 4* in the Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park area. If that doesn't work (and that very well may be too low), then $80 24 hours later. If that doesn't work, $85 24 hours after that. If that doesn't work, $90 24 hours after. However, if you reach $95, I'd just take the Embassy Suites at that point instead of bidding $95.

However, if you have a strong interest in the ES Hotwire listing (and it is a nice property at a good price), then you may want to just take it, as a HOTWIRE listing may disappear at any time.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could start your purchase by using the site's links to HOTWIRE or PRICELINE.

If you have any questions, please ask - and let us know how it goes.

[guy0611]

Thank you for your help Aaron! The funny thing is I work in hotels, so you would think I would understand a little better how this system works. I will try the things you have suggested: I think the Embassy Suites sounds great if I can get it. I'll use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links here and let you know what works! Thanks again!

[thereuare]

guy0611,

Can you please also follow-up your Priceline Las Vegas thread with whatever you ended up doing for that stay (even if it wasn't PRICELINE or HOTWIRE)

Thanks.