jenerationx Posted April 6, 2011 Report Posted April 6, 2011 Amenities:Boutique Hotel Fitness Center Restaurant(s) Business Center High-Speed Internet Access Golf Nearby Tennis Nearby Spa Services Any ideas on which hotel this might be?I'm going to Chicago for the first time and have been aiming for the NMA area because I hear it's the most "tourist friendly/desirable." How would this area compare with the others Hotwire has, specifically:Magnificent Mile Area - StreetervilleWest Loop - Medical DistrictMuseum Campus - McCormick Place - Soldier Field areaChicago LoopAny help appreciated. :)
AaronJB Posted April 6, 2011 Report Posted April 6, 2011 I would not recommend the West Loop/UIC or McCormick Place areas; they are primarily for either visiting UIC (West/UIC) or the convention center (McCormick Place.) Neither are tourist-friendly.The NMA-Water Tower-Gold Coast area is the top half of the NMA shopping area, as well as the nearby Gold Coast neighborhood, which has a number of nightlife/restaurant options.The Mag Mile-Streeterville area is the lower half of the NMA shopping area, as well as the nearby River North (tons of restaurants) and Streeterville neighborhoods.The Loop is closer to museums and has some shopping options along State St. However, much of the area is a business district, and large parts do get quiet/very quiet (depending on area and time of year) at night.The HOTWIRE listing would be a possible match for the Indigo, wihch has been previously seen with this amenity set. While splitting the stay more would not likely be desirable, I will note that there is a 3.5* in the same zone for $115 (the price you see may vary) w/business, restaurant, pool, internet, fitness for 5/8-11 only, which would likely be the Hilton Suites.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
jenerationx Posted April 7, 2011 Author Report Posted April 7, 2011 Thank you! Really helpful info. I conferred w/ my friend and I think we're going to wait and hope the rates go down a bit once we're less than a month away. I don't think splitting is out of the question; we have already split the stay (I posted my Hotwire hotel purchase at the Affinia for 5/4-5/6), so I appreciate the suggestion!I'll continue to start my searches through this site. :)
AaronJB Posted April 7, 2011 Report Posted April 7, 2011 Happy to help! :)Please keep us updated and let us know if you have any other hotel or city questions. Additionally, Chicago is not that vast; switching hotels within the two downtown (NMA or Loop) areas is not a big trek, especially if you're switching within the same zone. The potential Hilton Suites or Hotel Indigo (to use a couple of examples) are a very short walk from the Affinia.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
jenerationx Posted April 7, 2011 Author Report Posted April 7, 2011 The hotel: Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers - Anyone have any experience with this place that they'd care to share?? Never mind, found the "reviews" post. :)I was shocked when I finally had a Priceline bid accepted this morning. Started at $95 and using free rebids, bid up to $120 for area 8 (NMA).Prior to today, I'd bid up to $135 with no luck. As has been discussed in other threads, there seems to be a confluence of events during this particular weekend, so while I would have been thrilled with an under-$100 win, I'm still fairly happy with this.I was given the option to extend my stay at the same rate, but only for as long as the original request, so we probably won't do it. That would take us to 5/10 and we'll be there until 5/11. Which means having to get another hotel anyway. So I'll have to look for a THIRD hotel for 5/8-11. I'm trying to see all this hotel hopping as a positive thing, that it means I'll get to see more of the city, and not just a giant PITA. :)Used the link from this site to book my Priceline trip, will use again for the third leg of the journey.
AaronJB Posted April 8, 2011 Report Posted April 8, 2011 Congrats on your success. :)I'd suggest writing or calling to request a hotel on a high floor at this property; most directions (especially facing N or S) should have at least a nice/partial view of the surrounding area. The property is mainly a conveniention-oriented hotel (similar in nature to the Hyatt on the other side of the river) and is located directly on the river. I do recommend Fox and Obel Market and Cafe (fox-obel.com), which is a couple of blocks away on the corner of Illinois and Mcclurg - it offers a very nice cafe and the market is a lot of fun to browse around. It's sort of like a Chicago version of NYC's Dean and Deluca.This is an easy walk from the Affinia - walk 1/2 block East of the Affinia to Fairbanks, then walk a few minutes South until you get to the river. The Sheraton is just before the river, and there's a Dominicks right before the Sheraton. I'd suggest stopping at the grocery if you need any snacks for the hotel stay. Next to the South (corner of Illinois and Fairbanks) entrance of that Dominicks is a staircase leading upwards; if you take that up to the NBC Tower driveway and then walk a block further West, that's a quick shortcut to get to Michigan ave.Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.Enjoy your stay.
jenerationx Posted April 8, 2011 Author Report Posted April 8, 2011 Thank you for your suggestions -- so super helpful!! Am really glad to hear that we'll be able to get to this hotel from our first hotel easily.
OhioGirl Posted April 8, 2011 Report Posted April 8, 2011 I've been trying to get a room for 5/5 - 5/8, and I bid up to $120 for a 4* in the NMA zone today with no luck. There must not be any availability on the 5th.
jenerationx Posted April 8, 2011 Author Report Posted April 8, 2011 I've been trying to get a room for 5/5 - 5/8, and I bid up to $120 for a 4* in the NMA zone today with no luck. There must not be any availability on the 5th.It's possible. :/ We had to split our stay. For 5/4-5/6, we booked on Hotwire and got an awesome deal. $84/night at the Affinia Chicago. Looks like it's still available on Hotwire for $1 more now. :) But you may not want to split your stay as we did.
AaronJB Posted April 8, 2011 Report Posted April 8, 2011 It's possible. :/ We had to split our stay. For 5/4-5/6, we booked on Hotwire and got an awesome deal. $84/night at the Affinia Chicago. Looks like it's still available on Hotwire for $1 more now. :) But you may not want to split your stay as we did.Ohiogirl, please start a new thread and we would be happy to help with your stay.Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.
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