Hotwire Hotel: 4* Chicago (Loop) Palmer House

[slater195]

We're thinking about heading back to Chicago next weekend to take my mom on a re-creation of a disastrous trip she took my sister and I on as kids for Mother's Day (hopefully this time it will go better). I've read on this site there are conventions in town, and it appears there is also a Cubs game, plus it's Mother's Day weekend, so I know it's not going to be cheap to stay downtown, which is where I would prefer. My first searched turned up mostly $250+, which we might have to just splurge for.

However, I'm open to the idea of taking some kind of transportation into the city and staying somewhere further and cheaper, if it's not too hard to do (we are driving up but want to park the car once we get to town). Any ideas where would be best? Airport? A northern suburb? I'm clueless beyond the Mag Mile and that general vicinity.

Details:

Staying 5/7, one night, three adults, amenities don't matter

[AaronJB]

To offer a pros/cons:

In terms of downtown, HOTWIRE 4* rates when searching for 3 adults is generally around $250. However, if you search on Expedia, the well-reviewed 4* Affinia is $207 for this date (although unfortunately, for a room w/1 bed; a room w/2 is not listed. Unfortunately, for 3 people, a 4* regular rate or HOTWIRE listing is going to run over $200. Additionally, parking downtown at city lots is around $25, or at the hotel is generally $40-55. However, you're right downtown - no trip to get into the city.

In terms of suburbia, I tend to recommend the North Burbs, which are very nice and offer a few sights (the primary one being the Chicago Botanic Gardens, which - despite the name, are actually in a burb.) In terms of PRICELINE, I think the Deerfield zone at the 3.5* level is a pretty good bet. The burbs (generally, with few exceptions) offer free parking. Many airport hotels do not.

If you're just looking for a reasonable, nice place and don't mind trying to work out bedding with the hotel (two beds is definitely not guaranteed), you may want to consider PRICELINE, as you may have more luck asking for two beds with a suburban property than a hotel downtown, especially a hotel downtown on a busy set of dates. My guess is that a 3.5* in the Deerfield zone (for example) for these dates may take between $42-50.

If you stayed in the Deerfield area, you would have to take the Metra train (metrarail.com), which comes every two hours during Saturday and Sunday (although there are is an extra train early in the morning and in the evening.) You would buy a weekend pass, which is $7, and takes care of the round trip on the Metra train. It can not be used on the CTA. The trip is about 40-45 min, but the Metra trains are nicer than the CTA trains.

So, the 'burbs would offer a substantial savings (cheaper hotel + free parking), but would require time and effort and train fare to get downtown.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

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

[slater195]

Thanks so much for the thorough reply. Now let me throw a couple dumb questions at ya: what is the Deerfield area called on Hotwire, if I were looking there? We're all old enough now that we want to make sure we have a bed, so I don't think I'll go the Priceline route, even though I'm sure it would be easier to get two beds out there. I just want it guaranteed.

And another question: since the CTA trains run infrequently, and we'd be saving a boatload, is taking a cab back to a north burbs hotel a viable option? (or is it just way too far to consider?)

[AaronJB]

The Deerfield area is part of the Northbrook zone on HOTWIRE.

On PRICELINE this zone is separated into "North Shore" (Northbrook, Glenview) and "Deerfield" (Deerfield).

The Northbrook area on HOTWIRE contains the suburbs of Glenview, Northbrook and Deerfield.

The Metra trains (which run every two hours on the weekends, although there's one extra in the morning/evening; they run more frequently during the week) are sort of like Amtrak trains meant for short distances - they are two levels, have bathrooms, conductors and bench seats - if you are a larger party and the train is empty, you should be able to flip one of the benches over so that the entire party can sit together. Taking a cab would be really expensive, and not something I'd recommend. The Metra train goes downtown to Union Station, which is a nice place to wait as stations go (sort of Chicago's version of Grand Central; Amtrak trains also go from there to all across the country.) In terms of getting to the station, you would drive from the hotel to the nearest station.

As always, please post any questions.

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

[slater195]

After looking at a variety of sites and options, I stumbled across lastminutetravel.com and used the method listed on this website to ID hotels. Found rooms still available at the Palmer House, which wasn't exactly where I wanted to stay, but it's close enough to the shopping and restaurants, and it looks nice enough, and it was definitely less expensive than the stuff in River North. And much closer than having to take the train to the north burbs, which was an option, but not our first choice if a reasonable option could be found. Went back to HOTWIRE through the BB links, and what I thought was probably the same hotel was listed for $11 cheaper. So I snagged it.

Details:

May 7

1 night

Palmer House Hotel

$142

Amenities

Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s)

Business Center High-Speed Internet Access

Thanks for your help yet again!

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

Very nice deal for this historic Loop property!

If you are going to see a Cubs game, there is a Red Line stop at Monroe, right by the hotel, and then you would take that North to Addison.

Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's HOTWIRE link.

Enjoy your stay.

Additionally, this is a reply to another Palmer House thread about nearby options, as well as some brief sightseeing discussion:

This isn't a local place (it's a mini-chain that extends across a few states), but I like Flat Top Grill from a value perspective. There is a location about a block or so away from your hotel. The concept is a "make your own stir fry". You select from a range of ingredients, including sauces, and the ingredients are prepared and brought to your table. I wouldn't say that the food is high-end certainly, but I would certainly say that it is a few steps above average fast food. For $14.99 at dinner (I think it's $9.99 at lunch), you can go back as many times as you want. Best food? No. Good food and value? In my experience, yes. Additionally, the concept is fun - you can try a different combination of things each time.

If you sign up for their email program on their website, they email you birthday coupons and other offers.

Miller's Pub is right by the Palmer and a very good old-fashioned pub/restaurant. Nearby the Palmer on Adams is the Berghoff, which is a legendary Chicago restaurant/institution that's more than 100 years old. Heaven on Seven is nearby, as well, although the famed Chicago cajun restaurant is only open for breakfast/lunch at this location.

Lastly, although a chain, Corner Bakery is a good option located at the corner of Monroe and Wabash right near the hotel.

As noted above, I would suggest avoiding Navy Pier, which is a tourist trap and not an optimal use of great space. I'd far rather suggest Lincoln Park Zoo, which is a great zoo (and free.) Additionally, LP Zoo can be combined with visits to the nearby Old Town neighborhood, the Chicago Historical Society, the Lincoln Park neighborhood and there's also the Peggy Notabert Nature Center (whose core exhibit is a live butterfly exhibit, there is an admission cost) nearby. Old Town offers the famed Second City Theater, as well as some neat restaurants and shops, including one of my favorite stores, the Spice House.

Do note that this area can get quiet later in the evening. The area to the North of the river is more open in the evening.