Hotwire Hotel: 4* Mag Mile issues with hotwire

[clarkeo]

I have been looking for the last for weeks for good deals from Hotwire for our trip from 10/16-10/19. I find it strange that I have seen others get these great deals for the same dates or within my date range but I can not seem to find them. Swissotel for one has been $133 and 109$.

When I go to try to find the deals all I get is $199 or up. Even the 3 star hotels are 169 and up in the same area.

This is my first post sorry if I did this wrong. I will keep trying to find that good deal. Does it usually get better the closer I get?

I always go the this site when checking HOTWIRE.

Thanks

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

The lower wins you're refering to are not for your exact dates, and if you check rates for your dates individually (one nite at a time) you'll see that the first nite is relatively inexpensive while the latter two nites rates jump much higher. Of the two wins that were successful for less, one of them is for a longer stay and only has one of your expensive nites (and two inexpensive nites which brings teh average cost down) and the other win has neither of the expensive nites you have. (search 10/14-10/17, the same dates as one of the wins you're refering to, and youll see rates just over $100 for 4* hotels)

While HOTWIRE rates for your dates are higher, that doesn't necessarily make them a 'bad deal'... as checking the Westin and Sheraton hotels for your dates shows rates at $300+ for each, so $199 for a 4* hotel may still be a 'deal', in relative terms.

What is your maximum budget for this stay? Do you have a back-up reseration anyplace?

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

[clarkeo]

That makes complete sense. I do not mind paying $199 but I feel like I have time to wait for a better deal if one comes about. I have looked and it does not look like there are any major events so I thought I would have some time. I would think it would make a difference the closer I get if they have rooms available.

It seems like Mag. Mile is the place to be. We do not want to rent a car but be able to walk most of the places or at least take a cab every once in a while.

Is the Loop to far to walk?

I looked today at what would be the best guessfor..

4* Magnificacent Mile

$199

Boutique

nonsmoking

Fitness Center

Restaurant

Business

High Speed Access

[AaronJB]

To give you a sense of the geography:

In terms of HOTWIRE, there is the Mag Mile/Streeterville zone, which is the South half of the North Michigan Ave. shopping area. There's also the NMA/Water Tower/Gold Coast area, which is the North half of the NMA shopping area. It is probably a 20-25 minute walk from the South end of the Mag Mile/Streeterville zone to the North end of the NMA/WT/GC zone.

The Loop is South of the river. It is next to the Mag Mile/Streeterville zone. To walk from the South end of the Loop to the North end of the NMA/Water Tower/Gold Coast area is about a 45-50 minute walk.

There's absolutely no need for a car in Chicago, no matter of which of the three downtown zones you stay in.

The 4* you mention looks like a possible match for the Hotel Sax.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE link to start your purchase.

[thereuare]

I have looked and it does not look like there are any major events so I thought I would have some time.

...if you check rates for your dates individually (one nite at a time) you'll see that the first nite is relatively inexpensive while the latter two nites rates jump much higher... checking the Westin and Sheraton hotels for your dates shows rates at $300+ for each...

These hotel direct rates indicate that something is happening in the city to drive up demand (and prices).

I found the following:

Society for Neuroscience - Neuroscience 2009

10/17/2009 - 10/21/2009

official website

30000 Attendees

McCormick Place North; McCormick Place South

Which is a pretty big conference and explains the hotel pricing (re-inforced by the first nite of your stay being inexpensive and the last two nites being much more expensive).

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