AaronJB

The usual amenities - Restaurant/Fitness/Business

Friend from Ireland booked (4 days in Chicago - 2 at Hotel 71, 2 at Sofitel - I think they'll both be great for a visitor) & told me about it, sharing w/board.

Sofitel is now at $177 for these nights.

Friend from Ireland booked this and told me about it, so I thought I'd share w/the board.

Amenities:

High Speed Internet, Botique, Fitness, Business

He decided to split his time between two hotels (there wasn't a particularly great deal across all 4 nights), the other hotel will be noted in a different thread.

The Omni is a nice older hotel in a pleasant area. If you're looking for a bite to eat during your stay, walk 4 or so blocks South on state from the hotel and there's a Corner Bakery on the East side of the street. I'm also a fan of Chipotle, which makes great burritos - that's 3 blocks or so South of you. If you walk 2 blocks South to Division, then a couple of blocks West to Dearborn, Edwardo's Pizza (an underrated Chicago pizza) is about 1/2 block North on Dearborn.

Oak St. Beach is a few blocks East. There's a CVS pharmacy just a couple blocks South if you need snacks/etc. There's also a Jewel Grocery if you go 2 blocks South to Division and then 3 blocks or so West on Division. The little Old Town area is just NW of here (Zanies Comedy Club, etc.) There's also a subway stop nearby and a few bus routes running nearby that head downtown.

Good luck in getting the Intercontinental - I enjoyed my stay there.

If you're the same person who got the Hyatt and posted on the "other" message board, I can't believe the response you got, it was downright mean. I help people plan their visit to Chicago all the time (some from this board, many from tripadvisor, anyone reading this is always welcome to email me at dvdmovie1 AT aol.com) and I make a lot of *suggestions* what they should do, and analyze their options for them. I wouldn't be upset if they did something I didn't suggest.

Sorry if this is taking this thread off-topic or is otherwise problematic (I LOVE this site and often try to help when I can), but I had to say something about what I saw on TOBB.

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your stay at the Hyatt and your trip to Chicago.

It could either be the Westin River North or the Hyatt. Given that the Westin has undergone no renovations that I know of as of late and I believe some have occured in recent years at the Hyatt, I'm guessing it is the Hyatt Downtown.

The Amalfi has not turned up on HW. There have apparently been some very rare sightings of it on Priceline.

I'd recommend looking for a hotel in Evanston. Great city (shops, terrific restaurants) and easy access to different types of public transit into the downtown area.

The EasyClickTravel hotel is likely Embassy Suites, as I can't see what else it could be.

POSSIBLE, NOT CONFIRMED:

Additions -

Sutton Place - 4.5 to 4

Whitehall - 4 to 3.5

Swissotel - 4.5 to 4

Maybe you could park in one of the Grant Park/Millenium Park lots downtown - I've heard those are pretty reasonable.

Here is a list of what I see that *appears* to have been downgraded. Moderators feel free to alter/change this thread as need be. Specific examples for the downgrades are given in some cases.

CONFIRMED:

W City Center - From 4.5 to 4.

POSSIBLE, BUT NOT YET CONFIRMED:

Sheraton - From 4 to 3.5

Essex Inn - 3 to 2

Tremont - 3 to 2.5

Allegro: 4 to 3.5

Intercontinental - 4.5 to 4 (see 5/14-5/20, likely hotel mentions the "incredible pool" in cust. reviews)

Either Hilton Chicago or Palmer House: Both have the same amenities - now both seem to be turning up in the same search, one with 4 and one with 3.5. My guess is the Palmer is the 4* one.

Wyndham: Seeing what appears to be this hotel for 5/26-5/27 coming up as 3.5 instead of 4.

Westin River North - 4.5 to 4 - I see a hotel with the same amenities for 5/28-5/29. Cust. review mentions the beds, so I'm guessing its the Westin.

STILL COMING UP AS 4.5 (so far):

Le Parker Meridian

Sofitel

Drake (seeing it 6/28-29, for example)

Either Monaco or Burnham or both (both have the same amenities)

It's probable, as a bunch of Chicago hotels (see also W City Center) were recently downgraded to, in my humble opinion, more accurate ratings.

Yes, I believe that is the Sheraton, which seems to have been one of the Chicago hotels on hotwire recently downgraded in rating (from 4 to 3.5)

I believe there are two opaque hotels on ECT in Chicago that discuss the "W Experience". :)

Someone emailed me looking for help for this particular weekend - a VERY BUSY one in Chicago hotel-wise, it seems - and she ended up with the W City Center for $113.

Amenities: Restaurant(s), Fitness Center, High-Speed Internet Access

This hotel has, in fact, been downgraded from 4.5 to 4*

I will post this in a different thread as well, but I helped a friend book this property this week and the W City Center has in fact gone down to 4 star.

If you want, call the Westin on the day of your trip and see if they'll upgrade you to a river view room for $40, which seems to be the hotel's going rate for an upgrade. I got a room there for $69, then paid 40 and got a river/city view room on the 17th floor. Unbelievable view.

I see, for your date, what appears to be these hotels on HOTWIRE:

Swissotel: $135 (4.5/Mag Mile - Wacker Restaurant(s), Pool(s), Fitness Center, Spa Services, Tennis Nearby)

Hyatt - $97 - (4/Mag Mile/Wacker Restaurant(s), Fitness Center, Business Center)

Sofitel - $249 (Gold Coast/NMA/Water Tower -4.5 Restaurant(s), Fitness Center, Business Center)

I don't see the Hotel 71 or Burnham on your dates, but I'd recommend the Intercontinental. If you're at all a swimmer, you'll be in heaven in their historic, utterly beautiful pool.

If you need groceries/snacks during your stay, there are two great grocery stores just down the street. Go North on Columbus a block, over one block East on Illinois and you'll see a grocery store on one side of the street and on the other side of the street is Fox and Obel's, a really beautiful little market/grocery store. There's also a Walgreens just about across the street of both.

Could also be the Monaco and the Burnham, only not showing their Botique amenity.

Parking is terrible everywhere - expect to pay between $25-35. The only hotel I can think of that offers free parking downtown - and I may not even be remembering correctly - is the Best Western River North.

If you don't want that, there seems to be some pretty decent deals on your dates.

Boutique Hotel, Restaurant(s), Fitness Center, Business Center - Loop - 85 - this *appears* to be the Allegro.

Restaurant(s), Fitness Center, Business Center - Water Tower/Gold Coast - 166 - this appears to be the Sofitel.

I see what appears to be the Hyatt downtown on Hotwire for these dates for $61 and what looks to be either the Westin River North or Intercontinental for $86 a night.

If you bid 4* for River North, you would possibly get the Westin, Renaissance or House of Blues, none of which would be too terribly far away from the CQ. All of them would not be cheap in June, but bidding on this area at 4* is not too risky, as these three possible hotels are generally very well-liked.

If I could do it, I would. Would make a good book, I think.

I see what appears to be the Swiss for 3/18-3/20 for $169 a night on HOTWIRE. Otherwise, the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza deal suggested by the moderator would be good. If you stay outside the city, I always recommend people stay in Evanston, which is a town just North of the city that has more than 1 transit option (both CTA and Metra trains) to get downtown. There's a Hilton, a BW and the older, elegant Orrington hotel in Evanston.