Hotel Booking Tips? - Priceline?

[esavvymom]

This is my first time to NC. So I'm searching for the best rate that gives me a decent location. I found a good deal on Priceline.com for a hotel ($180 per night King Suite), which on the map, looks like it's around the corner of the block from The Palmer House. My family is coming with me, so I needed to make sure we had a few things - like room for all of us to sleep! And since I"m not splitting costs, I needed cheap (as much as possible in Chicago).

I've looked at Expedia, Hotels.com, and hotwire (they don't tell you names till you book...I don't think so.), and a few other places. Most places have the same prices. Sheraton isn't bad priced, but they don't say anything about having rollaways. 1-king or 2-doubles wouldn't work.

I was wondering if anyone has had anything bad with using Priceline or not. They have cheaper rates and no booking fees- which amounts to about a $150 savings! Thoughts?? I've never used Priceline before.

 

[niclowther]

I usually use travelocity- there are no booking fees there either. I usually just hunt around. I think I really want to go to NC, but, like you, I'm not sure where to stay.

 

[niclowther]

no wait...I use expedia- I get them all confused.

 

[chefann]

This is my first time to NC. So I'm searching for the best rate that gives me a decent location. I found a good deal on Priceline.com for a hotel ($180 per night King Suite), which on the map, looks like it's around the corner of the block from The Palmer House. My family is coming with me, so I needed to make sure we had a few things - like room for all of us to sleep! And since I"m not splitting costs, I needed cheap (as much as possible in Chicago).

Is that $180 price inclusive of taxes, because it's higher than the rate we usually get through PC? The conference hotels are usually $150-170-ish before taxes per night when we book through the travel service (which will be linked on CC).

 

[niclowther]

Ann, do you book the hotel and flight seperately? Can you book together when you book a conference hotel?

 

[chefann]

Can't book together. The travel service that HO uses is just for hotel. And it's the only way to get the conference rate.

 

[esavvymom]

Is that $180 price inclusive of taxes, because it's higher than the rate we usually get through PC? The conference hotels are usually $150-170-ish before taxes per night when we book through the travel service (which will be linked on CC).

No, that was the room rate for a King Suite. Taxes added another $50.

I had forgotten about Travelocity, and checked there. The rates were similar, and I was able to book without paying for the full reservation. I also got a package that has a few extra's thrown in for the kids for the same price as Expedia's regular room/suite.

I learned that Priceline- they'll charge you the full amount right away! Not so crazy about that- even if the cancellation policy does give a full refund.

But when the conference details are released, I'll check again and try to get a better deal- but at least this way, I have a room reserved in an area to my liking (I hopefully can just walk over to Palmer to catch a shuttle to conference?) that doesn't leave my DH far from his destinations either, and has what we need for my family.

 

[pcsharon1]

I always use expedia and book the room and flight together for an additional discount. You can even book the conference hotel and sometimes (not always but I did find it for Denver when I was considering going) the rate is cheaper through expedia than it is through the company travel source. It wasn't like that the entire time and it wasn't a huge difference but then you get the additional bonus for booking flight and room together. And you can choose your flight times and hotel with expedia.

 

[Chefstover2]

This is the voice of experience...my first year, I booked a hotel that was much cheaper than the conference hotel. It was nice enough, but WAY too far from the conference center to walk and too far from the conference hotels to walk to catch the shuttle. So what we saved on hotels, we made up for in taxis.

I HIGHLY recommend staying in a conference hotel. It's worth it to have the shuttle transporation and saves a ton of headaches. The only downside is getting up and down the elevators at "rush hour".

 

[DebbieJ]

I have stayed at the Hilton 4 times now and will probably stay there again this year. At Leadership we stayed at a hotel we got on Priceline, and I gotta admit--it was kind of nice to be away from the commotion!

 

[esavvymom]

This is the voice of experience...my first year, I booked a hotel that was much cheaper than the conference hotel. It was nice enough, but WAY too far from the conference center to walk and too far from the conference hotels to walk to catch the shuttle. So what we saved on hotels, we made up for in taxis.

I HIGHLY recommend staying in a conference hotel. It's worth it to have the shuttle transporation and saves a ton of headaches. The only downside is getting up and down the elevators at "rush hour".

Well, unless the maps are deceiving, the hotel I have tentatively reserved is just around the corner from Palmer House, on the same block. I do plan on checking the conference hotels once they post though....just in case .

Besides, I'm not sure my DH would appreciate being surrounded by so many Chef-ladies/men! He'd probably kill me if he got caught in 'rush hour' with two boys *lol*.

 

[jj16]

I went to hotels.com and got it for $119/night and I think I'm less than 5 miles from the Convention Center. I earned points on my credit card so I'll use those so that it is free. Just thought I'd share. If it were'nt for the points on my credit card I probably wouldn't be able to go.

 

[chefpenny99]

esavvymom,
From what I've seen so far the Palmer House isn't one of the Conference hotels this year.

 

[pckellyd]

I'm told there is a Days Inn 1/2 mile from the convention center... haven't checked into it yet, but 1/2 mile is less than a 10 minute walk.

 

[DebbieJ]

You don't want anything near McCormick Place people--there is NOTHING around there and it is a little dicey neighborhood. You are better off finding a lower priced hotel that is near one of the conference hotels so you can catch the free PC shuttles. Otherwise, your savings will be eaten up in cab and bus fare.

 

[esavvymom]

Update: I did see that Palmer House was no longer a conference hotel...so I managed to find something at Sheraton after all. Somehow I missed taht they do have roll-aways the first time that I looked. I didn't see any difference in the PC price and what the regular travel sites online are. I got a pretty decent rate with my AAA-discount from Sheraton.

 

[erinyourpclady]

We usually stay at the Hyatt at McCormick Place......it makes it so much easier. Plus we get a military discount that makes it very wallet friendly....