Hotwire Hotel: Need help ID 4.5* Magnificent Mile Area - River North area Hotel

[Gahlot]

4.5*   Magnificent Mile Area - River North area Hotel

$135.00  

95% recommend

Travel Date: May 20-May 27

 

Amenities:

 

Free Internet
    Pet friendly
    Boutique hotel
    Fitness center
    Restaurant(s)
    Business center
    Internet access
    Spa services
    Accessible for visually impaired
    Accessible for hearing impaired
    Accessible path of travel
    In-room accessibility
    Accessible bathroom
    Accessible parking
    Roll-in shower

 

Which hotel could it be?

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

Would likely be the James. Very good option in terms of hotel/location, but also, the cheapest 4+* hotel for these dates North of the River on Hot.wire.

 

Please keep us updated on what you decide and let us know if you have additional 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.

[Gahlot]

Thanks AaronJB !!

 

Saw your comment a moment back and now the same deal is going out for $155. Missed the deal i guess !

[AaronJB]

What would be your desired max budget per night for this stay?

 

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.

[Gahlot]

4* or better

$1000 - $1100

I really want to be as near to city center as possible. So, being right on Magnificient Mile is top priority. Max 1 block away from Magnificient Mile.

[thereuare]

How about this 4.5* Mag Mile-River North (confirm your dates on the landing page) hotel on PRICELINE EXPRESS for $127/nite with Indoor or Outdoor Pool, Pets Allowed, Restaurant, Business Center, Fitness Center... best guess for this one would be the Omni Chicago Hotel.

Does this suit your needs for this trip?

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.

[AaronJB]

Longish list of thoughts.

 

1. The Omni would be a great choice no matter what your plans are. Well-reviewed hotel, great location, larger rooms, easy walk to subway.

 

2. You mention wanting to be on Mag Mile (in other words, the Michigan Ave area.) Michigan Ave has gotten a little more diversified in recent years, but it's still largely shopping and basically a lot of things you can get elsewhere for cheaper. It is enjoyable to window shop, but there's so much else to Chicago.

 

3. It is a good idea to stay North of the river from the standpoint of there is more going on at night, but if you're staying for several days, there's so much more to see elsewhere in the city. Usually I would say to not focus on being so close to Michigan Ave, but the Omni's a very nice property and that's a good deal.

 

Let me know if you have any city questions - I'm very familiar with the area.

 

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.

[Gahlot]

1. Why close to Mag Mile? - So that we can walk out of hotel and can find plenty of options for food, grocery etc. Within 1 mile distance to most of the places we want to visit, so that we don't need to take uber/taxi for every place.

 

2. Places we want to do:

Chicago Architecture Foundation
The Art Institute
Millennium Park
Park Grill
Michigan Avenue Bridge
The Magnificent Mile
Hancock Observatory [May be not go for 360 but go for lunch/dinner at 95. What do you suggest?]
Oak Street Beach
Third Coast
The Gold Coast
Field Museum of Natural History
Buckingham Fountain
Lake Michigan or Chicago River cruise/Shoreline Sightseeing
Navy Pier/Chicago Children’s Museum
Charlie’s Ale House
Wrigley Field
Blue Chicago
B.L.U.E.S.

Lincoln Park Zoo
North Avenue Beach

 

Since we are in Chicago for close to 7 days, what else do you suggest?

 

3. I haven't looked at best time to visit touristy location to avoid crowd. Any suggestion in that direction would be awesome. Is it worth buying any travel card which give discount over visting multiple locations?

 

4. Awesome food suggestion?

 

5. Priceline 4* hotel starts from $140/Night. Should I wait?

 

6. Hotwire 4* hotel starts from $155/Night. Should I wait?

 

Thanks for you suggestions! Appreciate it.

 

[thereuare]

How about this 4.5* Mag Mile-River North (confirm your dates on the landing page) hotel on PRICELINE EXPRESS for $127/nite with Indoor or Outdoor Pool, Pets Allowed, Restaurant, Business Center, Fitness Center... best guess for this one would be the Omni Chicago Hotel.

1. The Omni would be a great choice no matter what your plans are. Well-reviewed hotel, great location, larger rooms, easy walk to subway.

Why not the PRICELINE EXPRESS offer for the guessed Omni... AaronJB mentions that it would be a great location and a highly reviewed property.

Why wait and what more would you be looking for if not this one?

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.

[AaronJB]

Various thoughts:

 

1. Navy Pier is renovating but there hasn't been that much done yet. It's still very, very touristy (there are souvenir stands that crowd the main area, I've often wished that these could be replaced with food carts from local restaurants) and as someone local, it's disappointing that it doesn't make better use of the space. You have plenty of time, so you could stroll down there, then take the lakefront beach path up to Oak Street Beach, then use the underpass there to walk under and be at the top end of Michigan Ave.

 

2. Millennium Park's most well-known aspect is the bean, a large metallic orb that is reflective. I actually think the fountains (large towers with video walls and fountains) are a neater piece. If you wander back into the park, there is a lovely garden, rock climbing walls and other elements. Still, there's not enough here to really spend that much time. I think it's something that can be combined with when you visit the Art Institute next door.

 

3. The Michigan Ave. bridge is nothing too remarkable. One minor suggestion - the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza has a little bar area (the Cityscape bar) off to the side of the check in. That little bar area has a tremendous view of the river and the bridges along the river. It is a little bit of an effort to get to this property, which is on the 15th floor of the building, but if you want to get a great (over)view of the river, that's an option.

 

4. North Avenue Beach is nice, but I don't think visiting both Oak Street and North Avenue Beaches are necessary. Rather than North Avenue beach, spend that time in nearby Old Town or at the Chicago Historical Society. The Peggy Notabert Nature Center is also about a block North of the top end of the Zoo - that is a more family-friendly museum, but it does have a beautiful live butterfly exhibit.

 

5. The Gold Coast is a smallish neighborhood with a lot of nightlife and a fair amount of restaurants. There is a fantastic Farmers Market that closes the street on Dearborn between Clark and State on Saturday mornings, but not sure when that starts for the year. Of architectural interest is the Charnley Persky House (http://www.sah.org/about-sah/charnley-persky-house), an early Frank Lloyd Wright work. The River North area has more in the way of nightlife and restaurants.

 

6. Combine the Zoo w/the nearby Chicago Historical Society Museum and Old Town neighborhood.

 

7.  You can take a nice walk along the lakefront and to the Field, passing by Buckingham along the way. Once you pick a hotel I'd be happy to detail the walk.

 

8. It's a bit of an effort to get there, but since you're in Chicago for long enough, you could make your way South of the city to the Museum of Science and Industry.

 

9. The Shedd Aquarium is right next to the Field. It's gotten expensive, but if you are interested it's right there.  If you do go to the Shedd, I'd go early and on a weekday. It's just not as enjoyable when it's crowded.

 

10. Wrigley is more about the experience - you could take a tour.

 

11. Personally, I'd take a river/lake cruise first thing in the morning if it's going to be hot out. 

 

I'll go into more specific detail/recommendations and offer directions when you have a hotel set and add a few more thoughts (combining things, etc) later.

 

If you do see the the potential Omni for $127, I wouldn't wait on that.

 

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.

[thereuare]

I'll add that you can search Viator for things to do in the area as well.

[Gahlot]

thereuare, There is no $127/night hotel available since yesterday. I am searching on Priceline & Hotwire. I did do search this morning just to be sure. Am i missing something? [i wish I could take a screenshot of my search and attach to this thread for clarity]

 

AaronJB, Thanks a lot for providing insiders insight! These would be very helpful bud!

[thereuare]

It is THIS ONE (confirm your dates on the landing page)... but the price has since gone up a little to $140.

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.

[AaronJB]

Even for $13 more, still worth it. Larger rooms, great location.

 

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.

[Gahlot]

Got busy with life and could not communicate earlier.

 

Thanks guys for providing all the suggestions. I am looking into these suggestions. Might book the hotel today (if price, location fits my criteria ) and will use your PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links.

[AaronJB]

Thank you for keeping us updated - please let us know if you have additional 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.

[Gahlot]

Guys, I did not find the deal on hotwire or priceline that matches my criteria and which is within my budget. Some nice deals were available when I started the thread but are gone now !

 

Had to book directly from hotel website. Got Hyatt Regency chicago for $119 per night. Thanks everyone for providing help and support.

 

Will come to this platform again for my next travel booking. Must thanks everyone for providing insight and great tips. Thanks again !

[thereuare]

Thank you for closing this thread with your decision.

When PRICELINE / HOTWIRE don't work out for a given stay, it would be appreciated if you used our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

Enjoy your stay.