Hotwire Hotel: 4* Chicago (Magnificent Mile North - Water Tower) Public Chicago

[WWSteph]

3 Ladies wanting to find a Suite near Mag Mile for 3/19-3/21. Each would like our own bed although willing to share if that's not possible. 

We would like to visit Navy Pier, John Hancock Building, Water Tower Place, Mag Mile, Millenium Park, and see a show either on Broadway or any other nice theater.

We would like to be close to either of these. Looking into using the Chicago DoubleDecker/Trolley Tour company to get around to the hot spots. 

Not really sure whether the unknown hotel bids are the best for this trip. I have used them twice before with BetterBidding.com's help and it was a success each time.

Would it be better to use the actual price hotels for this specific request? I have tried searching with this amenity option and nothing shows up. Would appreciate anyone's help.

 

3* and Up preferred.  

[thereuare]

Welcome (officially) to BetterBidding!

I have used them twice before with BetterBidding.com's help and it was a success each time.

We're glad to hear you successfully used the board in the past, but it's disappointing that this is your first post. Please begin to share your wins with the board so that others can benefit from the information, just as you are hoping to benefit by those who have posted before you.

As far as your Chicago stay, unless otherwise noted all PRICELINE / HOTWIRE reservations are for 'standard' rooms... you can't specifically purchase a suite thru either service. Furthermore, PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, after that it's at the discretion of the hotel, and you could receive a room with only one bed. While you can call the hotel you win and request a room with two beds, the hotel may not be able, or willing, to honor your request. HOTWIRE would still be an option as they allow you to search for up to quad occupancy and ensures sleeping accommodations for everyone you include in your search, but the second 'bed' could be a pullout sofabed, rollaway brought into the room, etc.

Based upon the above let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed, as well as your target budget (per nite before fees/taxes) for this stay and we'll take it from there.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

[WWSteph]

Welcome (officially) to BetterBidding!

We're glad to hear you successfully used the board in the past, but it's disappointing that this is your first post. Please begin to share your wins with the board so that others can benefit from the information, just as you are hoping to benefit by those who have posted before you.

 

I have posted all my wins under the username TL12. I have since changed my username due to the change in email address and forgetting my password. I no longer have the access to prove this. 

 

I would like to use Hotwire since I have had success with them over Priceline. I will use the 4 occupancy option instead of only stating 3 people so that I'm guaranteed another full size bed. Although I realize this will up the price for the adding adult. 

 

Our price range preferrably to be under $130 per night. The cheaper the better as always :) Although would there be any way to see if the hotel I'm possibly going to bid on would have Suite options so that after I win the room I can call and ask for an upgrade? 

 

Cheap parking nearby would be great also. I tend to find Parking Garages are cheaper than hotels fees. Thanks so much :)

[AaronJB]

It really becomes a matter of evaluating the suite options (of which there aren't tons in the city) and looking into what you may be able to get on PRICELINE or HOTWIRE. 

 

Some thoughts:

 

1. Please reconsider Navy Pier. It's a tourist trap in the busier periods of the year and during the Winter (including March), there's just not going to be that much going on there (a mostly empty tourist trap.) As someone local to the area, it's a really disappointing use of the space. It's not without its positives (a beautiful stained glass museum in the middle of the pier that feels entirely randomly placed, nice views, a nice IMAX theater, but you can get nice views elsewhere along the lake), but other than that, it's a lot of touristy things (souvenir stands, a slick McDonalds, etc), all expensive for what you get. They are talking about a revamp of it in a year or two and hopefully they'll significantly rethink the space.

 

2. There's a Groupon for the Hancock (http://www.groupon.com/deals/john-hancock-observatory-1)

 

3. If you're going to be spending much of your time North of the river, I'd suggest staying North of the river. There's just not that much going on at night in parts of the Loop area, there's more in the way of restaurants and activity North of the river.

 

4. I'm not seeing any suite hotels downtown on HOTWIRE - on the regular rate side, I'm seeing the Homewood Suites and other suite properties for $170 and up. I think you could likely PRICELINE two rooms at a 4* for around that price or slightly/moderately less, you could get a room on HOTWIRE with 3 people (although I'd indicate 3 adults and 1 child just to indicate 4), which should result in bedding (may be 2 beds, 1 + rollaway or 1 + sofabed) for the entire party. In comparison to the 3* Homewood for $170, you could get a 5* on HOTWIRE for about $30 more. Overall, you have a lot of different options - I'd rather recommend going with something else besides paying full price for one of the suite hotels (the Homewood is nice, it's not nearly $200 nice.) The Residence is also $170, as well - but both of those hotels at $170 would be 1 bed - 2 beds is a more expensive upgrade.

 

Plus, if you go with HOTWIRE, you can take $20 off the total using the WINTER20 coupon.

 

Edited to add: didn't see your prior post before this post - with a $130 budget, I'd suggest looking for a room on HOTWIRE with 3 adults/1 child and there are quite a few appealing options. There are no guarantees with upgrades on discount reservations. The hotel could definitely say no.

 

5. I'd rather suggest the Art Institute (which can be paired with Millennium Park) than Navy Pier or Lincoln Park Zoo (which is a great zoo and free.)

 

Also, parking's not going to be cheap downtown. There are a number of city lots that are going to be around $25-30 + city tax (such as the Millennium Park/Grant Park lots and Navy Pier.)

 

I see what appears to be the Marriott Suites Deerfield on HOTWIRE for $57. That would mean driving to the nearest train station and taking the train downtown and back each day, but free parking and less than half the cost of a hotel downtown.

 

Let us know your thoughts on the above and we would be happy to offer further suggestions. Also, please let me know if you have any local questions.

 

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

[WWSteph]

2. There's a Groupon for the Hancock (http://www.groupon.com/deals/john-hancock-observatory-1)

 

3. If you're going to be spending much of your time North of the river, I'd suggest staying North of the river. There's just not that much going on at night in parts of the Loop area, there's more in the way of restaurants and activity North of the river.

 

Plus, if you go with HOTWIRE, you can take $20 off the total using the WINTER20 coupon.

 

Also, parking's not going to be cheap downtown. There are a number of city lots that are going to be around $25-30 + city tax (such as the Millennium Park/Grant Park lots and Navy Pier.)

 

Let us know your thoughts on the above and we would be happy to offer further suggestions. Also, please let me know if you have any local questions.

 

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

 

Thanks so much for the heads up on the Groupon as well as the Hotwire coupon. Those are right up our alleys. Two of us ladies are very frugal so this will be used ;)

 

We are going to shop mainly. They want to be near the Mag Mile, although I know staying near this is usually outrageous. I've stayed in Theater District and had a nice time. I don't want to be in an area that is noisy to where I can't get a good night's rest.

 

I understand parking is $25-$30 per day in the parking garages but to me that's a deal compared to the $50 daily fee at hotels. We will not be driving once we get to the hotel. I plan on taking Taxi's the whole time because the train scares me. We have never taken a subway/train to get around before except for the one time I did on my senior trip which I just followed those with me. One of the ladies hasn't ever been in a Taxi before which is crazy! We will be like fish out of water on a train/subway. I'm pretty good with taxi's from my previous trips to Chicago.

 

I know about Navy Pier and how a waste of space the inside is. I just want to go mainly for the Ferris Wheel. It's one of those stops on our trolley tour so it's convenient to get to. Plus, they give you a coupon booklet as well. Been on this tour 2x's and loved it! 3 day pass for $39.

 

So what I see you're saying is that if I request a room for 3 adults and 1 child that I am more likely to end up with only 1 full size bed and a roll a way or sofa bed?

 

I prefer 2 full size beds hands down.

 

I will stay River North, Theater District, or the Loop. Doesn't matter to me. Price range although is a major factor. I normally get a $90 or less per night stay when I went through HotWire previous times. I won the DoubleTree Hilton, River North I believe, and Crowne Plaza/Theater District. Was very pleased with both. We had double beds both times when bidding for 4 adults. Parked at a parking garage with DoubleTree and paid the outrageous price for parking at Crowne Plaza.

 

Hope this helps some :)
 

[AaronJB]

In terms of PRICELINE bidding, you may get two beds (the hotel may say no problem and not think twice about it), but the hotel could also say no - it depends on the hotel, day and even who you talk to.

 

Given that, Hot.wire is a better option as you can indicate more than 2 people, which should result in bedding for the entire party. Indicating three should be fine, but indicating 3 + 1 child (even if there isn't a child) may help chances.

 

PRICELINE EXPRESS would also be an option as some of the listings may note "bed choice", but I'm not seeing a hotel with bed choice with 2 beds listed when searching for these dates.

 

When I search 3 adults on Hot.wire:

 

4.5* Mag Mile-RN $110 Restaurant, Pool, Indoor Pool, Fitness, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Blind Accessible, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Handicapped Parking, Roll-in Shower, Pet Friendly

-- Likely Intercontinental

 

4.5* Downtown-MP-GP $105 Restaurant, Fitness, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Blind Accessible, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Handicapped Parking, Roll-in Shower, Pet Friendly.

--- Likely Blackstone Renaissance

 

4* Mag Mile N-Water Tower $101 Boutique, Restaurant, Fitness, Smoke Free, Free Internet, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Golf, Tennis, Spa, Blind Accessible, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Handicapped Parking, Roll-in Shower, Pet Friendly.

-- Likely MileNorth

 

I'm also seeing a 4* in the Mag Mile-RN area for $124 w/Boutique, Restaurant, Pool, Indoor Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Laundry, Spa, Pet Friendly.
-- This would be a possible match for the W Lakeshore, which was redone last year.

 

When searching for 3 adults/1 child on Hot.wire:

 

Seeing the potential MileNorth for $101, the potential Intercontinental for $116 and the potential W for $124.

 

Again, the prices you see may vary. Please let us know if you have any questions before booking and let me know if you have any city questions.

 

I do think the potential MileNorth (4* Mag Mile N-WT, Boutique, Restaurant, Fitness, Smoke Free, Free Internet, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Golf, Tennis, Spa, Blind Accessible, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Handicapped Parking, Roll-in Shower, Pet Friendly) is a particularly good option.

 

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

 

 

[WWSteph]

All of those sound wonderful! I have always heard wonderful things about the W hotels. Would love to stay in one sometime. One question I have is which would be the best option to get

2 Queen size beds versus the double beds because one of us will have to share a bed and a Queen will be needed. Thanks again for all the help. I will be bidding soon.

[AaronJB]

There is no way to guarantee a particular bed type via the discount services. You have to call the hotel after booking to try to work out room assignment. The *potential* underlying hotels mentioned above all list doubles as the two bed room option.

 

Thank you for keeping us updated on what you decide and let us know if you have any questions before booking.

 

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases..

[WWSteph]

Ok here goes, while searching for 3 adults 1 child

 

Mag Mile North 4* $94 Boutique, Smoke free, fitness, restaurant, business center, internet. Accessibility visual, hearing, and path of travel.

Says Hotels such as: Westin, Omni Hotels, Intercontinental, Novotel. Says the last one booked was Millennium Knickerbocker.

 

Mag Mile River North 4.5* $116 Pet Friendly, Indoor Pools, Smoke free rooms, fitness center, pools, restaurant, business center, internet access. Accessibility for visual impaired.

Hotels such as: The Luxury collection hotels and resorts, Sofitel, Le Meridien, Intercontinental. Didn't say what the last one booked was....

 

Searching for 4 adults lists the following

 

Mag Mile North 4* $94 same exact hotel as when I searched for 3 adults 1 child.

 

Mag Mile RN 4.5* $111 Pet Friendly, Indoor and outdoor pools, smoke free, restaurant, fitness and business centers, internet access, and accessibility for the visually impaired. <<<sounds exactly like the one above but $5 less for an extra person?! crazy huh!

 

That's all I have for right now......again my best option is for hotels with queen size beds so to find this out I've been researching the rooms of the hotels you say they could be. Most of them said double beds and not the exact size unless you get a KING bed and that's it. I'll take my chances just wondering if the 4 adults are a better option to insure the queen size versus double beds which as I understand would be considered FULL size beds.

 

Thanks again!

[WWSteph]

Does anyone have any ideas on which hotels these are? Thanks 

 

[AaronJB]

Please use our Bidding.Helper tool - use the HOTWIRE EASY VIEW tab and then click the GREEN BUTTON next to the listing and please provide the full list of amenities including all accessible amenities.

 

Here's a sampling of what I'm seeing (you may see slightly different rates.)

 

3 adults:

 

1. $90 4* Mag Mile N/WT Boutique, Restaurant, Fitness, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Blind Accessible, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Handicapped Parking, Roll-in Shower

--- Likely the Allerton. You're almost certainly not getting two queen beds here.

 

2. $99 4* Mag Mile N/WT Boutique, Restaurant, Fitness, Smoke Free, Free Internet, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Golf, Tennis, Spa, Blind Accessible, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Handicapped Parking, Roll-in Shower, Pet Friendly

--- MileNorth is likely. Again, this is a good option.

 

3. $110 4* Mag Mile N-WT Boutique, Restaurant, Fitness, Smoke Free, Free Internet, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Golf, Tennis, Blind Accessible, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Wheelchair Accessible, Handicapped Parking, Roll-in Shower, Pet Friendly 

--- Possibly the Public

 

4. $113. 4.5* Mag Mile-RN Restaurant, Pool, Indoor Pool, Fitness, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Blind Accessible, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Handicapped Parking, Roll-in Shower, Pet Friendly

--- Likely Intercontinental

 

5* $120 4* Mag Mile-RN Boutique, Restaurant, Pool, Indoor Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Laundry, Spa, Pet Friendly. 

--- Likely W Lakeshore

 

6. $108 4.5* MP-Loop-GP Restaurant, Fitness, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Blind Accessible, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Handicapped Parking, Roll-in Shower, Pet Friendly. 

--- Likely Blackstone Renaissance

 

3 adults/1 child:

 

Not seeing the potential W Lakeshore or Blackstone Renaissance noted above. Seeing the potential Allerton, MileNorth, Public, Intercontinental.

 

Otherwise, the other options start to get too expensive.

 

Please keep us updated on what you decide and let us know if you have any questions before booking. 

 

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases..

 

[WWSteph]

Sharing my Win from the Link provided.....

 

WON the PUBLIC Chicago (secretly hoped for the MileNorth)

 

MAG MILE NORTH / WATER TOWER

3 adults 1 child

$120 per night

free internet, pet friendly, smoke free rooms, golf nearby, tennis nearby, business center, fitness center, restaurant, boutique hotel

Accessibility was for visually impaired, hearing impaired, wheelchair accessible, accessible bathroom, accessible path of travel, In-Room accessibility, accessible parking, Roll In Showers

 

Nearby attractions include the Hancock Tower, International Museum of Surgical Science, Millennium Park and Art Institute of Chicago

 

90% LOVE IT so let's hope for a very successful trip! Thanks again to my special friends at Betterbidding.com I'm sure to have a wonderful time as I am always pleased with this site!

 

If there's anything else I need to cover please let me know :) 

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

 

While unfortunately not the MileNorth (which has a slightly different amenity set, including spa as an amenity), this is a nice win for this property, which I stayed at last year.

 

You mention above: " I don't want to be in an area that is noisy to where I can't get a good night's rest."

 

This really couldn't be a better option in that case (and I think there may not be a hotel in the city that fits this more perfectly.) The Public is located in the Gold Coast area a few minutes walk North of the Michigan Ave area. The hotel is in a beautiful residential area with historic/high-end apartments/townhomes. The Gold Coast area (which has a lot of restaurants and nightlife) is just down the street a couple of blocks (you can see the stores and restaurants from the corner where the hotel is, but given that it's surrounded by residences, there's not nearly the street traffic there would be in other parts of the city.)

 

This used to be the Ambassador East, which was one of the most historic hotels in the city and was the place to go for visiting celebs (Sinatra, Newman, Hepburn, Redford and many others - it's referenced in the song "Chicago" and there are suites named for celebs who have stayed there. It was also in "North by Northwest". History: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pump_Room,_Chicago

 

A few years ago, the hotel was bought by famed boutique hotel developer Ian Schrager, who made it into the first Public hotel, which is his new boutique chain that's meant to be more affordable (cheaper room service, free wifi) and more "inclusive" than most boutiques. You can read more about it here: http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/ian-schragers-new-hotel-public-chicago

 

I stayed here when it was the Ambassador East. The "core" of the structure remains pretty much the same (although thankfully they fixed the elevators, which were a bit of a problem when I stayed there was the Ambassador East), but visually it was a completely different experience and the rooms had been quite nicely redone in a very comfortable, subtle style. 

 

Had great service (was an anniversary stay and, despite a HOTWIRE reservation, they offered a little upgrade; were also very nice about taking our bags and putting us on a list for a room when one became available - the prior night was busy - and called us when one was ready.) 

 

You'll find that this is a very nice area and there's plenty of restaurant options nearby. Please let me know likes/dislikes and I'd be happy to offer recommendations. Also, while you never know with the weather in March, it's actually a very pleasant walk North of this hotel to Lincoln Park (and then the Old Town area is also nearby, as is Lincoln Park Zoo.)

 

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

 

Enjoy your stay.

[WWSteph]

I would like to know which is the best option for parking? The hotel offers $56 per night with in/out privileges. I seen a parking garage offer nearby for $56 for my entire stay without in/out privileges. 

Would be it cheaper to do the parking garage and take a cab everywhere or pay the $56 at the hotel and drive around town in our own car. I'm unsure of the parking prices in the locations we are wanting to visit. Giordano's, Water Tower Place, Navy Pier, shopping Mag Mile etc. We are not familiar with the train system. Thanks!

 

[AaronJB]

The train system is quite easy - there's a Red Line station a few blocks away from your hotel at Clark and Division (http://www.chicago-l.org/stations/clark-division.html).

 

Basically, the Red Line runs under the downtown area and then North to Evanston and South of the city. If you, for example, were to take the Red Line from Clark/Division Southbound, you could take it to Monroe and very quickly be in the middle of the Loop. Given the size of the city, taxis are not terribly expensive going from one side of downtown to the other.

 

Giordanos (http://giordanos.com/location/gold-coast-magnificent-mile/) is an easy walk from your hotel. The Hancock and Mag Mile are easy walks from your hotel, as is Water Tower. I haven't parked at Navy Pier, but it does have a discounted rate (see below) and if you park there, you could see it after parking.

 

From the Navy Pier website:

 

Save on parking every day at Navy Pier, now extended through March 31, 2015!

$15 Monday - Thursday

$20 Friday - Sunday

No coupon or validation necessary. May not be combined with any other promotion, valet or validation rate. Valid at Navy Pier Garages only, 600 E. Grand Avenue. Published garage rates are valid for a 24-hour period starting from the time stamped on the ticket when the car entered the garage. Cars parked beyond the 24 hours will be subject to additional rates.