Hotwire Hotel: Mag mile river north

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Planning our annual Chicago trip. Always use this site and been VERY happy! Can get the Acme for $207 a night but want to check other options here. Staying 10/1-10/5.
Def want mag mile riv north, staying close to $200 4-5 star.

The 4.5 stars are
$195 95% Hot.wire recommended

Amenities
Boutique hotel
Smoke-free rooms
Fitness center
Restaurant(s)
Business center
Internet access

4.5 $209 85% Hot.wire reccomended

Amenities
Pet friendly
Indoor pool(s)
Smoke-free rooms
Fitness center
Pool(s)
Restaurant(s)
Business center
Internet access
Accessibility
Accessible for visually impaired

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The 4 star options are:

$189 80% reccomended

Amenities

Boutique hotel

Fitness center

Restaurant(s)

Business center

Internet access

Or

$195 95% reccomended Free breakfast

Free Internet

Pet friendly

Fitness center

Business center

Spa services

Accessibility

Accessible path of travel

In-room accessibility

[AaronJB]

I believe there are more amenities then what you have posted above as HOT.WIRE has a new interface that does not show the complete set of amenities unless you click thru a few extra links.

 

If you repeat your search using our Bidding.Helper.com tool... use the HOTWIRE EASY VIEW tab and then click the GREEN BUTTON next to this listing, do you see more amenities then what you have listed above?

 

Thank you for using the board's HOT.WIRE or PRICE.LINE links to start your purchases and searches.

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Thanks! So listed in same order

195 4.5*Magnificent Mile Area - River North

FULL AMENITIES: Boutique hotel, Smoke-free rooms, Fitness center, Restaurant(s), Business center, Internet access

$209 4.5*

FULL AMENITIES: Pet friendly, Indoor pool(s), Smoke-free rooms, Fitness center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business center, Internet access, Accessible for visually impaired, Accessible for hearing impaired, Accessible path of travel, In-room accessibility, Accessible bathroom, Accessible parking, Roll-in shower

$189 4*

FULL AMENITIES: Boutique hotel, Fitness center, Restaurant(s), Business center, Internet access

$195 4*

FULL AMENITIES: Free breakfast, Free Internet, Pet friendly, Fitness center, Business center, Internet access, Spa services, Accessible path of travel, In-room accessibility, Accessible bathroom, Roll-in shower

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While checking out the link you gave I saw the PRICELINE EXPRESS. Don't know anything about this but did see, this for 4* for $156?!?
North Michigan Ave - River North Area Rated 8.0 out of 10 (or higher)
Pets Allowed
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Free Internet

[AaronJB]

This tends to be a fairly busy period, unfortunately.

 

4.5* - likely Palomar

4.5* ($209 w/pool) - likely Intercontinental

 

4* - these amenities are fairly common so there's always the chance it could surprise as something else, but the W Lakeshore has been reported to the board with this amenity set, so that'd be my guess.

4* - Kinzie has been seen with this amenity set before.

 

Honestly, if offered these options, I'd go with the potential Kinzie as the first choice. Great reviews, great location, breakfast and evening reception. The second choice would be the potential Palomar, which also has a great location in River North.

 

The Intercontinental is a nice hotel with a fascinating history and Michigan Ave location, but the Palomar and Kinzie would be a better value for less money. The Palomar and Kinzie would be a better value and offer a better location than the W.

 

I see what appears to be the Swiss for $175 (you may see a slightly different price), but again, my focus would go back to either the Palomar or Kinzie for not much more, especially the Kinzie with breakfast on every floor.

 

Please let me know if you have any city questions - I'm quite 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.

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Thank you so much, will check these all out. What do you think of Acme? We know location etc.. As we stayed at the James a few years ago and walked by it a lot. One of my top things is wanting a gym no the Acme seems pretty small

[AaronJB]

Vs the Acme, I wouldn't even think twice before picking the Kinzie with breakfast for around the same price. The Acme does get very good reviews but ultimately is a renovated former/older Comfort Suites and is currently rated a 3* on Expedia. If you get the Acme for $207, it's regular rate. The potential 4* Kinzie for $196 on HOTWIRE is showing a $270 regular rate on Expedia, plus breakfast on every floor and evening reception.

 

The Kinzie with breakfast and evening reception is a better value and personally, I'd much prefer to be in River North than on Michigan Ave. Michigan Ave has gotten better over the years in terms of diversifying what's there, but ultimately I still think Michigan Ave is ultimately the opportunity to buy things you can get elsewhere for cheaper and probably with less sales tax on top of it. It's just not a great use of time. I've repeatedly voiced my dislike of Navy Pier (the Zoo's awesome and free, plus when you're at the Zoo, Old Town's right nearby and so is the Lincoln Park neighborhood.) Navy Pier is in the process of renovating at the moment and while not much is done, hopefully the rethinking/modernization of the Pier will lead to a better use of the space.

 

It's fine to window shop on/near Michigan Ave (especially in Eataly, which I find chaotic but ultimately delightful), but Chicago to me is more about exploring the restaurant scene in the city (and I think the food scene in the city is both improving and expanding), exploring the neighborhoods, seeing museums and more. Michigan Ave is famed but ultimately I still think there's better ways to spend the time in the city.

 

It may be a week or two after, but the hope is that Fall colors are beginning to show at this point. There's some absolutely gorgeous spots in the Fall in the city, as well as outside the city (the massive Chicago Botanic Garden; chicagobotanic.org, in the burbs.)

 

Lastly, the 4* Express you mention in the River North-NMA area above is most likely the MileNorth. Note that there is a $7 per day fee (which is showing on the total if you click on the listing), but this is an appealing option, as well for $160 (I'm seeing it for $153 as after I click on the listing the price drops a tiny bit + the fee). I like the value that the Kinzie offers, but at almost $40 less, you can then take that savings and look for breakfast elsewhere.

 

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.

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Thank you for all the great info. I understand what you are saying about Michigan and totally agree about navy pier, never have any desire to go there. But being from Colorado, walking around and just being on Michigan is what we love. I am checking out the milenorth, seems like good location. Is the $7 service going to cover the wifi charge everyone on tripadvisor complAins about do u think? Also we LOVED the Ivy last trip. Do you ever see anyone getting that on either site? M

[AaronJB]

The MileNorth website states that internet is included with the hotel fee.

 

I do see the Ivy occasionally while searching for various dates, although less often than I did when it first opened.

 

Keep in mind if you split your stay you definitely may see different hotel options, but then it becomes likely having to switch hotels.

 

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.

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So you are really thinking that would be the milenorth? I have never used Priceline so just a little nervous

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And what would you guess for the Priceline express 4.5* same area for $231

Guaranteed Amenities:

Indoor or Outdoor Pool

Pets Allowed

Restaurant

Fitness Center

Business Center

Check In: Thu Oct 1, 2015

[AaronJB]

There is always a risk when you use PRICELINE or HOTWIRE. In terms of what has been reported to the board, changes can happen at any time in terms of star rating or amenities.

 

That said, in the case of the potential MileNorth (4* on PRICELINE EXPRESS mentioned above), that hotel has been seen with that amenity set and it is the only hotel that I'm aware of in the city that charges a "fee" like this and beyond that, it's $6.95 per day (you see a total of $27.80 as an "additional mandatory fee" in the start of the checkout process for this listing.) There is always the risk that it could be something else, but given the information, the MileNorth would be my guess in this case.

 

For the 4.5* PRICELINE EXPRESS, the Omni and Intercontinental have been seen with this information previously - I'd guess the Intercontinental would be more likely, but either would be a possibility. Still, I think you have better, cheaper options available (potential Kinzie, potential Palomar, potential MileNorth) 

 

Please keep us updated with 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.