Rimo Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 Thanks for all you do for us budget minded travellers. We are from STL and have decided to save for a big vacation next year so a quick road trip is in order. I found a condo on vrbo which looks very appealing, but the price of $169 plus $75 cleaning fee ends up being on the high side for this trip... rather eat. I stumbled on the board with that Chicago avebue hotel that looked appealing as well.FACTSDriving. Party includes wife, 16 year old son (going on 21) and me. Wife needs accessible building. Want a nice hotel (not convention like Hyatt Regency or Marriott) with a pleasant view and some character. Budget is probably tops $125 ish (a little wiggle if you talk me into something). Only been there once (stayed at a friends house while they were gone - stained their goose down with red wine ummm not an option this time) and I guess we'd want to stay downtown.Your guidance on where to bid would be genuinely appreciated. Link to comment
jacqueusi Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 I think we may have looked at the same condo!I'm in a similar situation. I've noticed you've posted before, so you are aware that you may not always get the hotel you are hoping for.As for the condo, since I have kids and don't care to eat out all the time, I find condo's more convenient and actually cheaper long term assuming the price spread is about $50-$60. Why? Condo's tend to have considerably cheaper parking, you factor in meals per person and $6 for breakfast, $8 for lunch, and $10 for dinner per person eating out everday tends to add up.Gotta go, kids are calling, but I'll be checking in later. Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 Want a nice hotel (not convention like Hyatt Regency or Marriott) with a pleasant view and some character. Budget is probably tops $125 ish (a little wiggle if you talk me into something).Given your wants/needs for this stay, PRICELINE may not be the best option...First issue tht you'll be triple occupancy, and PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, so you could receive a room with only one bed and the hotel may be unable, or unwilling, to give you a room with two beds (or there may be an additional charge to do so)Second, you're not willing to accept any hotel in the zone, as you want a non-business hotel with a particular type of character, and there is no way to target such a hotel when using PRICELINE.HOTWIRE may be an option as they allow you to search for up to quad occupancy, andyou may alos be able to identify the property beforehand based upon the amenities shown, to know if it's the type of property you're looking for or not... still as risk as you need to have guessed correctly, but at least you can take an educated guess.If you search HOTWIRE for your dates, 2adults/1child, does anything appear within your budget?Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
AaronJB Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 There is a well-located condo right off Michigan Ave ("Steps to Everything 30") showing on Expedia.com for $175 per night, w/the last night free = $131 per night average. Plus, $50 free gas card if you book on Expedia by 7/31 (details on Expedia.com.)The condo is 900 SQ ft, which is about 2.5X the size of a regular hotel room.Additionally, you can use coupon code 10JUL for $10 off each night = $121 per night average.Please use the site's Expedia.com ink if this idea is of interest.I also see what appears to be the Hotel Indigo on HOTWIRE - that's a wonderful hotel with personality, but if your wife needs an accessible hotel, I figure she may need something more centrally located. Link to comment
Rimo Posted July 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 Thank you all for your responses .. I went to book but Expedia has a $60 additional fee per night or 30% which sounds really high... ?? Is that normal ... what looks appealing ends up at $191 per night which is very deceiving.... Link to comment
AaronJB Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 I didn't see that (usually that's total taxes, for this it says per day) I wonder if that's a combination of cleaning fees and taxes? Let me see what else is available. Link to comment
AaronJB Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 HOTWIRE is showing a 4.5* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area w/fitness, business, restaurant, internet. That is likely the Intercontinental, which is a richly historic property centrally located on Michigan Ave.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links. Link to comment
Rimo Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Thx yes this board has helped me with my vacation plans. I will try the HOTWIRE option you indicate and see what I come up with and go report back... Link to comment
Rimo Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Thx for looking so is hotwire a straight booking. Do you still get as good a discount. I am really grateful for your help. Will look again tomorrow. Have family visitng and the pc is tabu while they are around.Is this one you would recommend. I see now with HOTWIRE you don't know where you are actually booking until later... this seems like a better option than the Steps to Everything condo .. and you are prob right... cleaning fees were likely wrapped up in add fees. Sorry for all the replies. Link to comment
Rimo Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 OK so change of strategy. For such a short stay we think the condo and potentially cooking is far too much trouble and the cost does not necessarily off set the price for meals. So we are now interested in staying at a hotel that is reasonably priced and comfortable. Last year, your suggestions landed us at the Westin in Seattle for a reasonable price. So I want to try to get the most out of our dollar with a min 4* at no more than $120. Hopefully, a pool/ jacuzzi could be expected. My plan is to try and park at the Millennium Park Garage - ( http://www.millenniumgarages.com/garages/millennium-park ) $24 for 12 - 24 hrs. I did look at Hotwire and found what Aaron thought to be the Intercontinental for $116. I do realize the issue of 3 in my party .. willing to roll the dice here. I did like the Chicago Avenue hotel, but realize we can't pick and choose here. Our interest is downtown Mag Mile or North Michigan Avenue from what I've read. So how would you suggest I bid? Hope all info is included here for you to help me. Is there a way to identify all hotels in each zone? When I click it seems to just show a sample. Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 You can see the hotels reported to the board in each zone in the Priceline Hotel List. (be sure to read the comments at the top of the hotel list, there are only hotels reported to the board)While the hotel you receive may have a pool/jacuzzi, i don't think this is something that should be expected. If there are certain amenities you want you should use HOTWIRE and purchase a hotel with a Pool icon (and also ensure accomodations for everyone in your group... i don't recommend using PRICELINE for more than double occupancy in many large cities, but if you want to roll the dice, it's up to you... not sure how your 16 year old son, who you say is gonig on 21, will react if he hs to sleep on the floor :) )Did you want to bid the NMA zone as well as the Loop zone... or just NMA? The zones are adjacent to one another and you can walk from one to the other, but the NMA zone is a bit more 'lively' and has bars, restaurant, etc, whereas the Loop zone gets a bit quiet at nite after business hours, but is where the museums, aquariums, etc are located.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Rimo Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 All your points are well understood and good ones. I would like to proceed with both the loop and NMA. I think the garage might be closer to the loop area if so, then I'd start with the loop. If not really that much further as you indicate (walk from one to the other) then I'll start with NMA. Thanks again for your guidance. Link to comment
AaronJB Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 If you would like to try and low-ball a bid, I'd try for $60 for a 4* in the Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park area. The Hyatt appears to be showing for $87 on HOTWIRE, and while one cannot guarantee which hotel shows up when bidding on PRICELINE, the Hyatt - which needs to fill its 2,000+ rooms - would certainly be a likely possibility of a bid of $60 was accepted.Please use the site's PRICELINE link if this is of interest. Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 With HOTWIRE showing a 4* hotel lin the Mag Mile zone at $87 (and a NMA property for $99) there is no reason to bid up to your $120 limit.If youre goal is the least expensive 4* or better in either the Loop or NMA zone, i would bid as follows:At the 4* level you have FOUR 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.Select 4* Loop...Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $60, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* NMA...Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $60, if rejected close browser and use our link to re-access PRICELINESelect 4* Loop and NMA...Bid $65, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $70, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $75, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $80, if rejected add re-bid zone...Bid $85Any questions feel free to ask.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Good luck and let us know how it goes. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
Rimo Posted July 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 Well that was way too easy .... Bid $55 Loop RejectedBid $60 rebid zone - Accepted Hyatt Regency Chicago ... now need to tap into network to see if someone knows someone for an upgrade.... Great savings AGAIN thanks to the folks here.... Thanks for your, help, patience and understanding. Link to comment
thereuare Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 :) Congratulations on your succcess!Glad to see this came easy for you and that you're happy with the results.Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.Enjoy your stay. Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases Link to comment
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