IL Chicago North Shore Embassy Suites Deerfield

Price paid: $49
Regular rate for specific room type: $189.

Tripadvisor reviews have been discussed many times on the board. I've noted that in many cases, different prices create different expectations and views. At $49, this property is a tremendous bargain. At $189 ($169-189 does appear to be common pricing during weekdays in the Summer), there's no way that this property - an Embassy Suites behind a suburban office park (although restaurants and local sights are not far and this property offers a shuttle) - can justify the price, as $189 can go pretty far on a non-busy day for a hotel in the downtown area. This Embassy Suites property does discount rates on the weekends, and occasionally appears for $70. As someone who is primarily interested in a deal, it's saying something that I'd consider paying $70 regular rate.

However, at $189 this property could be absolutely, positively, not a speck of dust, 100% perfect and $189 is still too much.

Given the area - offices and major corporations nearby (Kraft is not far, for example, and there are a bunch of others - this particular Embassy Suites property appears to draw a primary audience of business travelers. The high regular rates of this property and many others in the area during the week during the Summer may be due in part to the expected business travelers (as personally, I have to imagine $189 per night for an ES in the suburbs is not going to be an "impulse buy" for many, and it's too bad that rates run this high during the week, as this likely turns away travelers who are looking for a downtown alternative), while weekend rates at this property and others nearby are often considerably less expensive.

The atrium of this property varies a bit from most ES properties, as there is a pair of waterfalls, a nice koi pond and a small river running through the center of the area. Understandably, this may not be of interest for some people, but personally, I found it one of the nicest aspects of this property, and being able to sit in a little gazebo above the water and read a book with the sound of running water in the background was wonderfully relaxing.

The room was a 1king exec, which is slightly bigger than most rooms at this property and goes for $10 more per night. Very large living area w/faucet, couch, chair and sizable table. The rooms look out into the atrium (as they commonly do at ES.) Nice bathroom, with microwave and refrigerator next to the bathroom door. Large bedroom area, with comfy bed. Both bedroom and living room have 30-32in HDTV's. The room - aside from a couple of minor, slight dings in the corners - was spotless. Decor seems to be a little geared towards business travelers, with darker, richer colors.

No views, really; there's a lot of trees and the views aren't terrible, but there's really nothing of great interest.

There is a Gino's East Pizza location in the atrium, although I wouldn't go in expecting the quality of the original location. Still, given that there is nothing else right there, it does present an alternative to going out and having to drive somewhere. Personally, I'd recommend going somewhere and grabbing something before arriving for check-n, and then throwing it in the refrigerator in the room. The seating for the nightly reception and morning breakfast (both of which are the same as other ES's) is on the other half of the atrium area. It's very nice to be able to eat breakfast and have nightly snacks right near the koi pond (which is quite well-maintained.)

The pool and fitness area are behind the reception area. The pool is pretty small.

Service was very nice; there was a brief mention of PRICELINE at check-in, but didn't seem to be in a negative way. I'm actually a little upset though, as after the check-in person said PRICELINE, I should have asked if I could upgrade to a suite (as a joke.) Check-in was quick, but largely because there were very few people there. Judging by the amount of people I saw in the evening and morning, the property was maybe 15% +/- full.

Overall, for $45-50 I'd stay here again gladly and at $70 I'd still consider it. $99-129 (maybe $149-179 if there's an event or convention nearby) is a far more reasonable full price for this property. And again, that's not because this isn't a great property, it's just that there is - in my opinion - a price that can't be justified for a suburban ES, no matter how nice it is.

As of 7/23/10, the only other "known" 3.5* in the Deerfield zone is the Marriott suites, and the only "known" 4* in Deerfield is the Hyatt. While things may change over time, as of 7/10, 3.5* Deerfield is a rather "foolproof" bid.

Pictures will be posted soon.

3.5* Chicago North Shore (Deerfield) Embassy Suites

Last-minute/unexpected anniversary stay (as thought a car wouldn't be able to be borrowed), and was a tad skeptical anything would be accepted.

Prices for this area in many instances are actually rather interesting. While there are certainly exceptions/variations all the time due to higher traffic, hotels in this area appear to use fairly standard pricing, which may vary by season. Most properties in this area are much more expensive during the week (possibly in part due to the fact that the area sees a lot of business travel) and cheaper (often substantially so) during the weekend. The "common" weekend and weekday rates are normally the same at many properties.

However, on HOTWIRE, there are a number of listings that often come up with the same rate, whether more expensive weekday or less expensive weekend. Definitely variations in this regard, as well, but I do see a number of listings often appear with the same exact price on HOTWIRE, despite a more expensive regular rate - so while the regular rate may be quite expensive, there is a chance that the discounted rate may be significantly less. While I like this area as a downtown alternative (as I've noted often), if someone looked only at the regular rates during the week, I think most people would almost certainly look elsewhere. At PRICELINE or HOTWIRE rates, this area is a terrific alternative.

Bid 4* Deerfield to $57 and 4* North Shore to $50 (as wasn't interested in going too much higher for the possible Renaissance; not a bad hotel, just not what I felt like.)

Tried 3.5* Deerfield at $44 - got a counter offer to $54. Tried $47, got a counter offer to $57. Tried $49 and was accepted.

The "known" 3.5*'s in Deerfield are the ES and Marriott Suites Deerfield. If upgraded, the only known 4* is the Hyatt. All three possibilities are nice, although admittedly the breakfast/reception at the ES make it a particularly appealing possibility. In terms of the breakfast. going out to a decent breakfast in the area costs about $10 or so and add in the evening reception and $49 certainly starts to feel more along the lines of around $25.

Regular rate is a steep $179, but that is not uncommon for this area during the week. However, $130 off regular rate is an awfully steep discount of somewhere in the neighborhood of 75%.

Additionally, this is one of the handful of ES properties with a koi pond and waterfall, as well as a more tropical feel: "With nearly 5,000 living, breathing fauna and foliage enveloping the 7-story atrium, you can relax while reading a book on a park bench, alongside the waterfall, or listen to the rolling stream."

This is actually a pretty nice looking Embassy Suites property, and I'm looking forward to the stay. Photo Gallery at the ES website.

Used PRICELINE link.

Priceline's Top 50 Destinations for 4th of July '10

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ch...0-97300009.html

NORWALK, Conn., June 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN) today released its annual survey of the 50 most-popular destinations for the upcoming Independence Day weekend. This year, Chicago's Millennium Park replaces last year's winner, New Orleans, as the most popular July 4th destination among Priceline customers.

The survey is based on more than 30,000 hotel room booking requests made by customers using priceline.com's Name Your Own Price® hotel reservation service. Because the survey is based on credit card-backed booking requests, and not on consumer preference polls or votes, priceline.com believes the annual survey is one of the more accurate predictors of July 4th travel trends.


#1 Chicago, Millennium Park, Loop & Grant Park Area
#2 St. Louis, Downtown
#3 Boston, Harbor Front/Aquarium
#4 Toronto, Downtown South
#5 Chicago, North Michigan Avenue/River North Area
#6 St. Catharines, Niagara Falls
#7 Washington, DC, White House/Downtown
#8 Seattle, Downtown/Pike Place
#9 Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity South
#10 Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity North
#11 San Diego, Downtown & Harbor Island
#12 Boston, Copley Square/Theater District
#13 Buffalo, Amherst
#14 Atlantic City/Cape May
#15 Montreal
#16 San Diego, Coastal Area
#17 New York City, Times Square/Theater District
#18 Monterey
#19 Myrtle Beach South
#20 Virginia Beach
#21 San Francisco, Union Square West/Nob Hill
#22 Las Vegas, Strip North
#23 Niagara Falls
#24 North Niagara Falls
#25 Milwaukee, Downtown
#26 New Orleans, Downtown
#27 San Antonio, Riverwalk Area
#28 New York City, Hell's Kitchen
#29 Austin, Downtown
#30 Philadelphia, Downtown
#31 Washington, DC, Convention Center/Capitol Hill Area
#32 Savannah, Historic Savannah and Riverfront
#33 Newport (RI), Goat Island & Newport Beach
#34 San Diego, Point Loma/Shelter Island/Old Town
#35 Boston, Fenway Park Area
#36 Pittsburgh, Downtown
#37 Chicago, Lincoln Park
#38 San Diego, Mission Valley
#39 Atlanta, Buckhead Area
#40 Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe
#41 Ocean City (MD)
#42 Washington, DC, Georgetown/Foggy Bottom
#43 Key West
#44 Anchorage, South Anchorage/Airport
#45 Victoria (BC)
#46 Anchorage
#47 Vancouver (BC), Downtown
#48 Boston, North Cambridge/Arlington
#49 San Diego, Kearny Mesa/Mission Valley North
#50 New York City, Empire State Building Area

Alternatives: Staying Outside Downtown Chicago

While its optimal to stay within the city of Chicago when visiting the city, there are times when rates are through the roof due to conventions (such as the National Restaurant Association convention.) Additionally, those who are willing to trek a little bit in order to save money may also find the suburbs a worthwhile alternative.

For those who are flying into the city, it's generally best to stay right near the airport, given that it's not always possible to get to suburban properties from the airport - some more isolated properties are not easily accessible by bus and busses often do not run late.

Those staying by O'Hare have a wealth of different properties to choose from, such as the newer Hotel Intercontinental O'hare, which comes complete with art gallery. The CTA Blue Line runs from O'hare to downtown.

Those who are driving in can stay in the suburbs and get the benefit of lower prices and (in most cases) free parking. The latter is an especially nice bonus because hotels charge as much as $50 downtown (and city parking is generally around $20-25 per night.)

A look at some suburban areas closer to the city:

1. Evanston-Skokie-Niles.

Area: this area includes Evanston (a college town - Northwestern), which offers a wide variety of restaurants and shops, as well as easy access to transit (there is a CTA and Metra station.) Evanston is the first city North of the border of Chicago, right along the lake.

The other main city in this zone is Skokie, which is about 15-25 minutes to the West of downtown Evanston, and includes the very nice outdoor Old Orchard Mall, which offers similar stores that North Michigan Ave. offers and a very nice environment. There are also some terrific restaurants located in the area around Skokie, but Skokie is not walkable in the way that Evanston is. Niles also falls within this zone, but the hotels in this zone are primarily in the Evanston/Skokie areas. The Evanston hotels do charge for parking (although less than downtown), but the Skokie hotels offer free parking.)

A summer suggestion for those staying in this area is Homers in nearby Wilmette, an ice cream store that that has existed since the '30's, when Al Capone was rumored to have been a customer. The Ice Cream has been awarded best in Chicago by Chicago Magazine, top 10 in the county by Bon Appetit and Finest in the Nation by American Tasting Institute.

For particularly busy days downtown, the Skokie/Niles/Evanston area can be more expensive than usual due to overflow from downtown. In that case, the next zone below is a good alternative.

2. Northbrook (Hotwire zone), North Shore (Priceline zone), Deerfield (Priceline zone.)

Area: This is a particularly nice area just a bit further North of Evanston/Skokie/Niles and offers a more suburban feel, with some terrific restaurants and a number of attractions, such as:

A. Wagner Farm. This is an actual working farm in the middle of suburbia. There are a few exhibits, as well as a variety of animals. The Glenview Farmers Market also takes place at the farm during the Summer months. Not a big place, but a fun place to stop and browse around. The Farm was originally built in the mid-1800's, and was taken over by the local Park District. Free.

B. Chicago Botanic Garden. While the name is Chicago, this is actually a very large property in the North suburbs. This is an absolutely beautiful and magnificently maintained garden that stretches across 385 acres and is broken up into many different and varied garden areas. This is one of only 10 gardens in the US recognized by the American Association of Museums, and one of the most visited gardens in the US. It does include a cafe and indoor exhibits, so that one can get out of the sun and take a break. There are often garden shows, demonstrations and other special events going on at the garden. It is also open in the winter and has some impressive holiday displays. Free admission, but rather pricey parking. See also: Chicago Botanic Garden wiki

C. Ravinia Music Festival This is a famed outdoor Music Festival (the oldest outdoor music festival in the US) that runs from late Spring into the early Fall. Ravinia attracts a variety of major acts, although they are largely geared towards an older audience (acts such as Duke Ellington, Crosby Stills/Nash, Bob Dylan, Beach Boys, Steve Martin, Moody Blues, Sheryl Crow, Sting, Counting Crows and many others), with some exceptions (Carrie Underwood). There are reasonably priced family concerts during the day and a wide variety of local performers. The main difference with Ravinia versus most other venues is that it actually does allow guests to bring in outside food. During most major concerts, there are reserved seats available in the Pavilion area, and cheaper lawn seats. Parking is a bit of a nightmare if there is a big act, but if the lots are full, there are also park and ride locations nearby.

D. Long Grove is a particularly appealing stop just to the North of this zone. This is a quaint, old-fashioned little town (complete with covered bridge) that offers occasional festivities and popular stops, such as the Long Grove Confectionery Candy Store.

Additional notes: those up for a drive can head North along I-94 to the Premium Outlet Mall, just over the border in Wisconsin. Also just over the border is the famed Mars Cheese Castle. There is also a number of additional suburbs nearby that offer shopping and great restaurants, such as Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Forest and Vernon Hills.

Overall, the Northbrook/North Shore/Deerfield area is a fine choice and rates are often quite reasonable. Two different Metra lines run through this area, although the primary one is the Milwaukee District North Line.

3. Arlington Heights-Elk Grove Village & Schaumburg

Area: This is an area off to the Northwest of the city, and Metra is also the preferred mode of transit into the city from this area. Highlights nearby include the massive Woodfield Mall shopping center (which has an utterly giant Ikea store next to it), Legoland (right by Woodfield) and, in nearby Buffalo Grove, the Factory of the Long Grove Confectionery Candy Company (and tours are available - http://www.longgrove.com/acatalog/Factory_Tours.html.) This area is further from downtown than the 1st and 2nd areas mentioned above, but will work well for those coming in from the NW.

4. Oak Brook/Downers Grove/Naperville/Lisle (PRICELINE and HOTWIRE: Lisle/Naperville are one zone, Downers Grove/Oak Brook another)

Area: This would be the recommended area for those coming in from the South. The beautiful and gigantic outdoor gardens of the nearby Morton Arboretum are a must see and Brookfield Zoo is not far to the East of this area. As with Arlington Heights/Elk Grove Village, this area is a certainly a bit of a journey via Metra downtown, but it does offer a wide variety of hotels - everything from some very nice budget friendly properties to higher end hotels (such as the Westin Yorktown and the beautiful Hyatt at McDonalds Campus, which is located on the very pretty campus of the McDonalds Global HQ.)

Free Chicago Attraction/Entertainment/Shopping Coupons

The City of Chicago used to offer a Guide to Special Values book at visitor's centers - it was never publicized ever, but it offered FANTASTIC coupons on various attractions and other city sights.

The coupon book now appears to have been taken online by the city. There are some very good coupons, such as a 2-for-1 at the Museum of Science and Industry and shopping coupons like 15% off Filene's Basement.

http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/supp..._Discounts.html