Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* Chicago (The Loop) Silversmith Hotel

[mrotis]

Hi:

We're looking to book something for 4/5-8 in Chicago and are focusing on museums, Shedd, eating, etc. Could anyone help with suggestions for best area to stay? Ideally, we'd be looking for:

- value

- 4* (or maybe 3.5*)

- pool

- cheap or free parking

- wi-fi (free if possible)

We started on the assumption that the Mueeum/McCormick area would be best but after reading comments, it seems maybe not. So now I am torn and looking at Chicago Loop/Millenium Park which has a 4* for $76 - what might be the match for that? Palmer?

Thanks.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please start by clicking each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, then reply to this thread and we'll have a look at the offer above.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... and your searches too!

Thanks.

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

A brief overview of the areas of/around downtown (using HOTWIRE zones; PRICELINE is set up differently in terms of zone; if you plan to bid, please ask)

1. North Michigan Ave/Water Tower/Gold Coast: The top half of the Michigan Ave shopping area, and also includes the restaurant/nightlife-heavy Gold Coast area. One can walk to the Lincoln Park Zoo and Old Town area, although it's a bit of a trek North.

2. Mag Mile/Streeterville: Bottom half of the Michigan Ave shopping area + very restaurant and nightlife-heavy River North area. Near the river, centrally located.

3. Loop: Some shopping on State St, business district, nearer to the museums but still at least a mild-to-moderate walk from most areas.

4. Museum Campus-McCormick Place. This zone can be anywhere from the far South end of the Loop area (fine) to the McCormick Place area (not fine; not near anything and not near downtown). I would not recommend risking this area.

There is no cheap/free parking in the city, really. Hotel parking at most hotels is $45 to as much as $65. City garages are around $25 + high tax. there is also no way to guarantee free wifi (which most hotels at the 3.5/4* level do not offer.)

Please provide the amenities showing with the 4* Loop listing.

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

[mrotis]

Thanks. I started from the HOTWIRE link and found these, unfortunately higher now than a few hours ago. Goals are value, pool, not too far from museums...

4* - Museum Campus/McCormick

$83

Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-Speed Internet Access

4* - Magnificent Mile/Streeterville

$83

NO Pool - Smoke Free Rooms, Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center, Laundry Facilities (self-service), High-Speed Internet Access, Spa

3* - Museum Campus/McCormick

$69

Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), High-Speed Internet Access, Tennis Nearby

[AaronJB]

Best guess(es) for each:

4* Mag Mile - possible match for the Hyatt.

4* Museum - possible match for the Hilton Towers (good) or possible match for the Hyatt McCormick Place (NOT optimal from a location standpoint.)

3* Museum - my guess would be the Essex Inn.

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

Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[mrotis]

Updates - how about matches for these? Wondering if the 4* museum is still possibly Hyatt if not listed as one of the hotels... Looks like Hilton charges for fitness center/pool. And if not listing a pool, I assume we won't get one?

4* Museum - $81

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

Our 4-star hotels include:

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

Omni Hotels & Resorts

Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts

Kimpton Hotels

Sofitel Hotels

3* Museum - $66

High-Speed Internet Access, Fitness Center

Our 3-star hotels include:

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

Radisson Hotels & Resorts

Four Points by Sheraton

Embassy Suites Hotels

Holiday Inn Express Hotels

and other brand-name and independent hotels

3.5* - Mag Mile - $94

Amenities:

Boutique Hotel, Restaurant(s), Smoke Free Rooms, High-Speed Internet Access

Our 3.5-star hotels include:

Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

DoubleTree by Hilton

Radisson Hotels & Resorts

and other brand-name and independent hotels

[AaronJB]

The 4* is a possible match for the Hilton or Hyatt. The chains listed are examples; the Hyatt and Hilton have been reported with this amenity set in this zone previously and would be possibilities.

The 3* Museum has not yet been ID'd/reported to the board. This zone is definitely a bit of a risk, as it's a fairly large zone and while I would be okay with ending up in the very North end of this zone, I would not want to end up towards the South end of this zone. You're just not really convenient to anything, especially with places like the Hyatt McCormick or South Loop Hotel. Even the Hilton towards the North end of this zone isn't centrally located in terms of the downtown as a whole, but would be workable. I'd really recommend considering the Loop, Mag Mile or NMA areas on HOTWIRE.

Are you seeing additional amenities if you scroll over "see all" on the 3.5* mag mile listing?

If a pool is not listed in the amenity set, the hotel is not guaranteed to have one. Listings do not show all amenities, so there are listings that may not list a pool but still have one.

The complete list of HOTWIRE hotels (with the amenities associated with each) can be found on this list: Hotwire Hotel List.

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

[mrotis]

Thanks so much for the assistance. We're abandoning the Museum Campus area due to overwhelming comments on risk of being to far south. So we're shooting for Chicago Loop/Millenium Park/Grant... (or possibly Mag Mile..) NMA seems too far north. And we've pretty much given up on the pool idea too...

So given that - any matches on the following?

3.5* Loop - $72

Business Center, High-Speed Internet Access, Smoke Free Rooms, Laundry Facilities

3.5* Mag Mile - $94

Restaurant(s), High-Speed Internet Access, Boutique Hotel, Business Center

4* Mag Mile - $92

Restaurant(s), High-Speed Internet Access, Boutique Hotel, Business Center

[AaronJB]

3.5* Loop = possible match for the Silversmith.

3.5* Mag Mile - if you click "See details", then click 'see all" on the next page, do you see additional amenities beyond the ones noted above?

4* Mag Mile - not seeing this listing when searching. How many people are you searching for?

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

[mrotis]

Thanks everyone. Went ahead with the 3.5* Loop and did get the Silversmith as I suspected, for $72 (2 adults, 2 kids). I'm happy with that - looks like good reviews.

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Really nice result for the Silversmith, which is a fine location in the Loop.

In terms of something *right* by the hotel;

Flat Top Grill is very close by at 30 S Wabash is a good value place for families - it's a "Make Your Own Stir Fry" place where, if you choose to, you can keep going back and making different plates. Please let us know if you have any city questions at all.

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

Enjoy your stay.