AaronJB

Yeah, I was seeing that hotel w/laundry when I searched for 3 people, but not 2, so I assumed there were more people. When I search for 2, I see a 4* Mag Mile/Wacker Drive with pool/fitness/business/restaurant for $119, which is likely the Intercontinental. Outstanding location-wise (directly on Michigan Ave.) and although it gets a few mixed reviews, I liked it. The other noteworthy option coming up is a 4* North Michigan Ave/Water Tower/Gold Coast with Suite/Restaurant/Fitness/Pool/Business. $157. That's likely the Omni Suites on Michigan Ave.

Unfortunately, not sure what it is, as while most of the information leads one to believe that it could be either the Swissotel or the Hyatt Downtown, neither has ever showed a laundry icon and I'm not sure either hotel actually has laundry facilities. Additionally, I'm seeing that listing for $222 for those dates now (although you may be seeing something different than me.) How many people are in your party and what is your budget? While I can't figure out what that listing is (maybe a new hotel for Hotwire, maybe a current hotel with a new laundry icon), I'm sure we can figure out something for your party or someone here can offer more help as to what that listing is.

I honestly think the only way to bid for a family of 5 is for 2 rooms. There's just way too much risk bidding for 1. Plus, if you bid for 2.5*, there's a fairly strong likelyhood of getting the Tremont. What is your budget?

Haven't been in it, but certainly a great location a couple of blocks W of Michigan Ave. On a bad set of dates (very busy), if you can get the Cass, it's certainly worthwhile.

As already mentioned, it's impossible to select a hotel near a Metra/CTA station. However, the majority of the downtown hotels are within reasonable walking distance of one. However, you would have less of a trip if you stayed in the Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park zone of Priceline (or the Loop area of Hotwire.) There's a 3 star hotel in the loop on Hotwire for $98 for 7/3-7/5, which is likely the Club Quarters Loop. As for using Priceline, I can't recommend bidding lower than 3* for the loop, as I believe the Hotel Blake may be a 2.5*, and there have been some sharply negative comments written about that hotel in recent months (it's also difficult to recommend 2.5* for River North/North Michigan Ave, due to the Tremont.) I could be wrong, but I would think that a bid in the neighborhood of $60-65 would be a low (but still reasonable) one for a 3* loop hotel for those dates.

There's a subway stop not too far from the Whitehall at Chicago & State. Just take the Red Line subway from there South to Monroe. Palmer is a block or two away. Transitchicago.com for maps/fare info.

If you still want to reconsider the Ramada, the original plan I had is no longer available, but you could do: June 11: Whitehall (a block from Michigan Ave. shopping, great location) - $160, EasyClickTravel June 12: Gold Coast Hotel (not great, but very nice location in Lincoln Park by the Zoo, not *that* far from the Whitehall and just about the only thing available on that day) - $119, Orbitz June 13: Whitehall - $160, EasyClickTravel Avg Price: $146 Much Better Location(s): Priceless. While I know your friend doesn't want to move hotels, I thought I'd try one last time to come up with an alternate plan that would put you in a **much** better location than that Ramada. The Gold Coast hotel isn't great (a hotel to sleep in, essentially), but lovely neighborhood, the Zoo's right across the street and Michigan Ave. shopping is not that far away. At the 4* Whitehall, you're literally a block from shopping and not that far from Navy Pier, etc. Plenty of good transit and dining options near each, as well........ Additionally, you wouldn't have to rely on the Ramada shuttle (or pricey taxi rides) to take you the fairly long distance in & out of the city. I hope you reconsider. :)

Very likely the Sheraton Towers.

Oh well. :)

I'd say it's very likely the Palmer House.

I'm guessing you're probably right on both (one being Seneca and one the Knickerbocker.)

I think you should start trying now, but if you don't get anything, you may want to space out your bidding a *little bit* instead of re-attempting every 24 hours.

While Hotwire is offering prices over $100 for a bunch of different hotels (including what appear to be the Palmer House and the Chicago Hilton, but those are in the Loop area), prices don't look *too bad*. While no guarantees, I would be surprised if you didn't get anything for under $100, but I definitely think you will likely need to come quite a bit closer to $100 (probably somewhere around in the $80-85 range and maybe a few dollars higher.)

Thanks! Hopefully the original poster will see this before one or more of these hotel deals on these sites are gone. Three different hotels probably isn't optimal, but you can't get much closer than these three. Plus, if they end up not being fond of one, there's a different one the next night. And, I'd rather stay at three different hotels downtown than that Ramada.

While it's not an optimal suggestion, one suggestion is staying in Evanston. It's a very nice college town (Northwestern) on the North border of Chicago. There's three hotels there (The Orrington, as well as a Hilton Garden and a Best Western) and there's both a Metra (metrarail.com) and CTA "L" (transitchicago.com) station right nearby, allowing you two different ways to get downtown or back (and both do head to different places downtown. The Best Suggestion: On 6/11, EasyClickTravel has what is very likely the Palmer House (4.5*, Loop area, $189.71), one of the service's off-the-record listings. Hotwire.com doesn't really have anything for the 12th, but has what *appears* to be the poorly reviewed Tremont for $125, the nice W Lakeshore for $263 or the fine Radisson for $284 for the night of the 13th. 877chicago.com has the Travelodge Downtown for $135 for 6/12-6/13. That's not very far (only a few blocks South) from the Palmer House. A basic hotel, but not far from the Palmer and still downtown within reasonable walking distance of the museums. Finally, for the night of June 13th, EasyClickTravel also offers what is very likely the Hilton Towers Chicago for $189.71. The Hilton is an off-the-record 4.5* in the Loop area. The Hilton is only a few blocks South of the Travelodge. So, kind of a complicated plan, but it would at least have you be downtown and in the same general area (Palmer first night, Travelodge 2nd, Hilton 3rd). The three hotels are within a few blocks of each other. Just trying to think up some better options than the Ramada.

Good deal :) Hotel is in a great location and has quite a bit of history.

Wow, fantastic deal! Lowest price on the Marriott website per room per night for those dates is $239.

What dates are you looking at?

I agree on the Hyatt (and there's a group of other Hotwire and Priceline ratings in downtown Chicago that I find questionable or at least rather questionable.) I'm glad the *possible* Palmer option was also available and hope that works out for you :)

Yeah, unfortunately it does not look like the Swiss, especially now that I see the customer comments. Another option not too far away from where the Hyatt/Swiss are would be what appears to be the Palmer House, showing up on Hotwire on your dates as 3.5*, Loop, Fitness/Business/Pool/Restaurant, $96.

What day(s) are you looking at? Sometimes you can sort-of guess, given the retail price shown on the detail page (or if there is a tripadvisor.com rating on the detail page), but that's still no guarantee.

Likely the Chicago Hilton & Towers on South Michigan Ave.

That hotel would likely be the Chicago Hilton/Towers on South Michigan Ave.

Enjoy your stay at the hotel! :) If you need any snacks or other travel essentials (as the hotel doesn't have a gift shop), the CVS a couple of blocks down the street at the corner of State and Division is the best option.

Hotwire is showing what appears to be the Sheraton (3.5*, Mag Mile/Wacker Drive; Pool/Restaurant/Fitness/Business) for $222 for 5/3-5/6. Do you have to be at the Sheraton? (for a convention, etc.) EasyClickTravel has what appears to be the W Lakeshore for $189 ("Off the Record", *****, River North/Mag Mile, $189.71) - that's only a few blocks away from where the Sheraton is. Given the prices, I don't think that bids in the neighborhood of $85 will be accepted for a 4*. What's your max in terms of hotel per night? Hopefully we can help find you a place for these nights.