Best source for cheap hotel room?

I have a meeting in Chicago in October. 4 days, Thu to Saturday.

Called for hotel rooms and am shocked that the cheapest in dowtown Chicago is $400 or so!!! With taxes, and parking, its $500.

I have stayed in Chicago a bunch, and its usually $250 or so for a single if you book out a month or two. This is on somewhat shorter notice.

Any thoughts on those sites like priceline/etc? I checked hotels.com/etc and the rates are no better than when calling the hotel... which is $400 or so.

Any tricks to this? Is it cheaper to wait until the last minute here, do prices then drop?

Any online coupons?

Anything?

Any help appreciated.

Bo

 

The whole travel market is ****ed up in my opinion. Last night I checked an airline fare and this morning it's $100 (about 30%) higher than it was less than 24 hours ago, and this is on a route with LOTS of flights and many airlines serving it, for seats more than 30 days out.

As for hotel rooms, I always thought you can do better by calling the property directly, but I guess that doesn't work any more either. I've also found those experience ratings can be very misleading. I recently stayed in a hotel in a city in NC that got very high ratings, but if I had actually seen the room ahead of time I never would have stayed in it.

If you have an AmEx Platinum card you might try their travel service. I always at least check with them first, as they sometimes have better rates with certain hotels than you might find on line. Good luck.

 

This is a nice hotel in the west loop :

https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/reservation/book?qAAR=6CBARC&qAdlt=1&qBrs=6c.hi.ex.rs.ic.cp.in.sb.cw.cv&qChld=0&qCiD=01&qCiMy=092014&qCoD=04&qCoMy=092014&qDest=733+West+Madison+Chicago+Illinois+United+States&qFRA=1&qGRM=0&qHtlC=chish&qPSt=0&qRRSrt=rt&qRef=df&qRms=1&qRpn=1&qRpp=10&qRtP=6CBARC&qSHp=1&qSlH=chish&qSmP=3&qSrt=sBR&qWch=0&srb_u=1&method=redirect&icdv=99502222&icdv=99502222


It's 1.5m from the gold coast area.

 

Here's what I do for rental cars on priceline.

Go through the normal rate checking side for your size, dates, etc. Make note of the rate and then start over on the name your own price side and input yout bid at 40% off the rates you just saw. Usually they ask you to bump up a few dollars, but pretty much works every time for me.

I've never tried using it on hotels though. Check the published rates and brands for your prefered star level of property and if you are comfortable randomly getting booked in any of them throw out some bids on the name your own price tool.

 

I watched the other day a TV feature on like Marriot or one of hte bigger brands. One of the points they made in their "new" corporate business philosophy was they would rather let rooms go unbooked at their published higher rates than let random or loyal customers know they can come in late at bargin a better deal.

 

We're going the same weekend. Staying at Drake. I think we're at ~ $285 with lakeside view.

 

+1 for calling directly, but check online first to get an idea.

Lately, hotels have been using variable pricing based on local events. For example, the last time I went to Louisiana, for work, every hotel within 50 miles of New Orleans had jacked up their prices due to the annual Jazz Festival.

Also, online listing sites are using dynamic pricing based on individual data that's been collected (cookies, shopping, social media, etc.).

 

Because I post on Ferrari chat my rate goes up...? The Ferrari tax has now reached a whole new level

 

Yep, perceived ability to pay [more].

How Web Sites Vary Prices Based on Your Information (and What You Can Do About It)

 

How? Cheapest I saw the drake at was $385.

Any tips appreciated.

 

Hotel rooms in Chicago can be let at $70 per day but the number of stars and personal preferences is your decision.
Hotels by Hilton - Hotel Reservations, Deals, and Room Rates