Priceline Hotel: 4* Chicago (Millenium Park - The Loop - Grant Park) Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel

Am wondering what the average rate I am looking at for Saturday April 28th-Tuesday May 1st.

Would like to maybe go $110 a night at most if possible. Am attending the WWE event Sunday April 29th.

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Which downtown zone(s) are you willing to accept?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (and please click each of these previous links before replying)

Thanks.

The two zones: Millenium Park-The Loop-Grant Park and Michigan Ave-River North. Would go with 3 star as the lowest.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases. (and please click each of these previous links before replying)

What do you me by 2x?

What do you me by 2x?

The administrator has twice requested of you to click the afformentioned links.

My apologies, I used the top right and left corner links. Hope that was ok.

Right now there is only one PRICELINE report in the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins (under Tools just above) for your dates, but things are added regularly. It will be well worth your time to keep an eye on it. I'll give you a hint - $83!

An easy way to get an idea of rates is to just check HOTWIRE for your dates (link above in left corner). And when you are bidding, it is always a good idea to check some other sources also. There are a bunch of links on the Support Page. Knowing your "next best option" keeps you from over-bidding.

Romelle

The early Spring period in Chicago is generally fairly busy and can be expensive - the period now is generally the least expensive of the year. Whether due to this being a ways in advance or a slower stretch, rates don't look too bad on these dates. There is an $83 win, but it is not during your entire stay, but overlaps with part (4/27-29.)

Still, I think you're likely looking at similar rates for your dates. I'd start at $65 for a 4* in either zone and work higher by $5's.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

Would like to maybe go $110 a night...

The two zones: Millenium Park-The Loop-Grant Park and Michigan Ave-River North. Would go with 3 star as the lowest.

You can likely get a 4* hotel within your $110 budget... did you want to try for a 4* hotel up to $110 OR is your goal the least expensive 3* or better?

Also, the NMA zone is usually considered a bit more lively with restaurants, nightlife, etc all nearby... the Loop zone has the Aquarium, museums, etc. Both are adjacent to each other and the Loop is certain do-able, but the NMA is usually slightly more preferred... did you want to bid on both zones at the onset hoping for the least expensive in either, OR did you only want to start with one zone if one works better for your plans than the other?

Let us know the above and well advise according, or if you've already started bidding with the advice above, let us know how it went.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Good luck.

I was going to ask about what would be the best strategy, bidding on a 3* first in one zone and adding he 2nd zone? I won't mind paying $110 a night if the hotel is decent and conveniently located. I will want to explore the city. Also I will be attending the WWE Extreme Rules pay per view event at Allstate on Sun April 29th. As well would like to take in the White Sox/Red Sox game Sunday afternoon.

So any advice for a first timer would be great. I have been reading some of the helpful hints and the winning bids to somewhat get a feel for this.

Thanks in advance.

Give AaronJB a day to reply to this thread (which i'm sure he will continue to do once he sees it) as he knows the area best and can advise which zone(s) are best relative to your plans.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Usually, I recommend (or at least suggest giving priority) to the NMA-River North zone, which has more going on at night (compared to the Loop, which can be quiet/very quiet at night.)

However, you will have to take public transit out to Allstate Arena (I'm guessing you're not driving?) and the hotels in the MP/Loop/Grant Park zone would put you closer to a Blue Line train to head out that way and then back. While you can get to a Red Line train pretty easily from most hotels in the NMA area, the majority of hotels in the Loop area are closer to a Red Line station, which you would need to take to see the White Sox. I think you would be okay with either of the two main zones, but the Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park zone would be more convenient to get the Blue Line and back on the night of the 29th. I'd primarily recommend the 3.5* or 4* level in the MP/Loop/Grant Park zone.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

Ok now i started to bid at $70 for 3.5* to start with, was denied and when I put both zones in to rebid, Priceline still would not let me rebid with $75 saying it was a duplicate bid. Also the 4* was shaded in with a checkmark now but I had only checked the 3.5*. Must I wait 24 hours to rebid? Thanks.

Exactly which zone(s) did you include on the first bid attempt?

Exactly which zone(s) did you include when you tried to place the second bid? Did you try bidding 3.5* on the second bid attempt too OR did you only try to bid 4* for the second bid attempt?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

My first bid I bid on the MP-Loop-GP zone for 3.5*

When I didn't get that bid I changed it to $75 but it would not let me bid again although I changed my bid. It then showed 3.5* and 4* checked off and shaded so I could not uncheck either. So I added the Michigan Ave zone, but when I bid $75 it said I could not bid because I needed to change my dates or star hotel or zones.

I then exited off the site and went back on, tried to bid 3.5* and both zones at $75 and it said duplicate bid and I would have to wait 24 hours.

The first rejection you received is correct since in order to bid again inside of 24 hours you need to change something other than your bid price. Namely:

-check-in date

-check-out date

-lower your star rating

-add another zone

If as you stated you only bid the Loop zone at first and then later added the NMA zone, this bid should have been acceptable since you included an additional zone, but if it was rejected as a duplicate, i can only think that perhaps your first bid included both the Loop and the NMA zones.

Note that when you bid on PRICELINE the star rating you choose is the minimum that you're willing to accept, so when you bid for 3.5* you're also checking 4* and higher rated hotels too. This is why the 4* was pre-selected when you went to re-bid and couldn't be unchecked (because this was already tried on your 3.5* bid)

Before bidding again, let us know your preferences for this stay... are you willing to pay more for a 4* vs. a 3.5* OR is your goal the least expensive 3.5* or better for this trip? Do you have a preference of the NMA zone vs. the Loop zone, and if you do are you willing to pay more that zone vs. the other OR is the goal the least expensive hotel in either at the star rating you designate?

Let us know the above and we'll suggest a step-by-step strategy for you to follow.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

I don't really have a preference in zones. On the Sunday I will be using the Red Line to the White Sox game and then that night the Blue Line to the Allstate Arena. So really either zone is fine.

My goal is the least expensive 3.5* or better. thanks

When bidding the 3.5* level in Chicago you have FIVE 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 3.5* NMA...

Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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 close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* Loop...

Bid $55, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $60, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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 close browser and use this link to re-access PRICELINE

Select 3.5* NMA and Loop...

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

Bid $90, if rejected add re-bid zone...

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

Bid $100, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $105, if rejected add re-bid zone...

Bid $110

Any questions feel free to ask.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Reading the rebidding process and adding zones, so is this right? Bid on 3.5* and if rejected add a zone that does not have 3.5* hotels so then i am technically bidding on the same hotels again in the zone i want?

Bid on 3.5* and if rejected add a zone that does not have 3.5* hotels...

Correct, with one important distinction...

You only want to add hotels that don't have the star rating you're bidding or higher. So for example, if you're bidding 3.5*, you don't want to add a zone that doesn't have 3.5* but does have 4* hotels. This is because the star rating you select is the minimum you're willing to accept, so even if you add a zone that doesn't have 3.5* properties, your 3.5* could be upgraded to a higher rated 4* hotel. Hope the above is clear, but if not feel free to ask any questions, but it's still recommended that you confirm your re-bid zones with the board before bidding just to make sure you have correctly identified them.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Ok is this right: 3.5* Loop rebid zone Skokie which has a highest rating 3*?

rebid zone Hyde Park which has a highest rating 2*

rebid zone Waukegan which has highest rating 3*

rebid zone North Shore which has a highest rating 2.5*

Waukegan and North Shore are in a different region, and North Shore has bidding options at 4* and each level below. You're looking at zones in the Chicago region page, which includes Skokie and Hyde Park. There are additional rebid zones in this region, though - please let us know if you need assistance spotting/confirming them before trying to bid.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

Try this as it will take you directly to the page you want with the correct zones to check...

1) Use the PRICELINE search box on the upper right of this page, enter 'Chicago' and your dates, and click "GO".

2) List each zone that is offered in this region.

3) Next to each zone list the highest star rating offered in the zone. The way to determine the highest star rating offered in the zone is by selecting the first zone i the list, then scrolling down to see the highest star rating selectable (ie- not greyed out). NEXT UNcheck the selected zone, place a checkmark in the next zone, and repeat the process for each zone in the region. Each time you take note of the highest star rating in the zone, make sure that only ONE zone is selected above.

4) post your findings and we'll take it from there

If you don't follow the above just post back and we'll break it down further.

First I want to thank you guys for helping me. Really do appreciate it.

Ok here aren the rebid zones I found that have less than 3.5*

Franklin Area- 1*

Hyde Park- 2*

Lincoln Park- 2.5*

Midway North- 1*

Skokie- 3*

So the stategy is bid Loop 3.5* first if unsuccessful rebid with one of those zones added but keep 3.5* clicked? Then repeat it again and if no luck add NMA-River North and repeat again with those rebid zones?