Best way to get discounts on hotel rooms? Priceline?
 

Looking for two hotel rooms in Chicago late summer and wondering how to get most bang for the buck. We would like to be in the city in a nice hotel, but other than that we are open.

So what I'm wondering is how to get a good deal? Most of the supposed discount website all seem to offer the same prices, which often aren't much different than booking directly through the hotel.

Considered Priceline, but what if there is an emergency and we have to cancel - do we lose our $$? Can we ensure we get double beds or do just get what you get?

Many years ago dh and I would buy an Entertainment Book and they offered half off many hotels. Anyone use this still?

Just wondering what has worked for everyone in getting good deals. Now that our kids are tall teens, sharing beds leads to sleepless nights, which is no way to spend a vacation, so two rooms has become a necessity (nobody wants the sofa bed).

Thanks!

Almost all the cheapest hotel rates require advance booking and pre-paying (without the possibility for a discount if your plans change). That's the way to get the best deals. Buy insurance that allows you to cancel for any reason (this is expensive, so it might erase any savings you find on the hotel).

There are certainly companies like Priceline, Hotwire, Expedia, Hotels.com, Secret Escapes, and Jetsetter that offer actual exclusive deals from time to time, but in busy cities like Chicago, those may be hard to find during the high season.

On Priceline you can get the best deals by "bidding" on a blind hotel (you know the neighborhood and "class" of the hotel but not the actual name). But do this only if you know where you want to stay in the city and don't mind if you end up in a big convention hotel. These hotels tend to be big-name brands, but you have to choose the neighborhood carefully, and bidding is usually not the best way to book a room far in advance.

Entertainment books are usually a bad deal. You can almost always find those prices yourself without paying for the book, which will be full of coupons you won't use.

The one thing you don't mention is your preferred price range. I can offer all the advice in the world, but if you still expect to find a hotel in the Loop for $80 a night, it's not going to happen. It helps to know what you want/need to pay, and then people can make some good recommendations. There are definitely posters here who are very familiar with Chicago. I'm not one of them, so I can't make any specific recommendations.

My best deals have been through Priceline, but as Doug mentioned, you need to do your research and it is not a good option this far in advance. And yes, if you did have a winning bid on Priceline and your plans changed, you would lose your money--no refunds and they charge your credit card as soon as your bid is accepted.

If you think you want to try Priceline, the best thing to do is find and book a cancellable hotel that will work for you if necessary then research hotel zones and prices on www.biddingfortravel.com or www.betterbidding.com. There is also a website, www.bidpricecheck.com that will give you recommended bidding amounts, but you have to pay (about $1.99) for each bid they give you.

Try this hotel:
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwest..._-feed-_-14151

Best Western tend to be less expensive, and this is a charming place in a great location. DD and I had a very large room.

For the deals that I think you are looking for (not just a military, government employeee or AAA discount), your best bet is, as Doug says, to post a hotel request here (and on the Chicago Trip Advisor forum). You will need to state 1) the dates you need accomodations, 2) the number of rooms and number of beds in each room that you need, and 3) your budget. I assume the Chicago Trip Advisor forum is as active as the Washington D.C. forum where there are often recommendations for good, budget-priced hotels that the locals know about.

Priceline only guarantees one bed. If you need two beds, the best you can do is Hotwire (also anonymous until purchased, but much easier to figure out which hotel it will likely be), and input 3 or 4 people, that way there have to be two beds in the room.

For my upcoming trip, I have been going to Choice Hotels through the Amtrak Guest Rewards website. I earn AGR points and Choice points. Choice allows you to cancel up to 24 hours before your reservation with no penalty.
My other favorite is Booking dot com which lets you choose whether you want to pay immediately or when you stay and you do know how many beds and what amenities you have in the room.
The immediate pay is usually $5-8/day less than the pay when you stay rate.

Here is a list of hotels that supposedly still offer an "Entertainment" discount. People tell me that the "deals" aren't that great anymore, nowhere near 50%, or that you can only get a deal a couple of weeks ahead of arrival if the hotel is half-empty.
Call and inquire about rates, if one of them offers a great deal you can buy a national "Entertainment" membership online.

Palmer House Hilton
Avenue Hotel
Hilton Chicago
Days Inn Diversey Parkway

Entertainment also has a deal where you can get 10% off any bookings that you make with hotels.com, so if you're getting two rooms for a few nights you might definitely save enough to more than cover the cost of the E-book which is selling for about $19 right now.
To qualify the bookings must be for stays of $150 or more (total stay) and must be made via a special link that entertainment gives you.

Priceline also has the Express deals section, no bidding and like Hotwire you may be able to figure out which hotel it is from the listed amenities and ratings. As said, you may not have a bed choice.

Sometimes Expedia and Orbitz have reduced prices (and extra coupon codes for stays over a certain number of nights, usually.)

Also don't forget to check the hotels own website for Deals, including Autoclub, etc.

I have done really well using Hotwire and betterbidding.com to help ID hotel. Except in 1 case, I got exactly the hotel I thought I was getting [and wanted].

Yes, you have to spend time researching for past wins, amenities etc to feel confidant to push the button on Hotwire, but it is worth it. The best part of it being Chicago is the great public transit that helps get you around and since you have area you need to be...it could work.

If you are going to be staying for more than a night or 2 - you can try this if you are game. We were staying in a city for 5 nights. I wasn't 100% sure of what I was going to bet. I got 1 nights and it was indeed the hotel I wanted. I immediately went back to get the other 4 nights and lucked out and got the same hotel. You need to be sure the listing is exactly the same and you need to do it right away. You could end up in a different hotel for the other 4 nights -- you roll the dice, you take your chances.

As said, it's a done deal once you buy the deal. No going back, so you need to be able to live with it.