Hotwire Hotel: 4* Chicago (NMA-Water Tower-Gold Coast) Sutton Place

[NancyR]

Hi there!

My sister and I will be heading to Chicago from 07/19 - 07/23 for some shopping, touristy things and just some fun. Close enough to drive but opting to fly so we won't have to hassle with parking, traffic, etc. so we'll be staying downtown. I've looked at two areas mostly -- Mag Mile and NMA/Water Tower/Gold Coast.

In the NMA/WT/GC zone I'm wondering about:

4*, $116.12/night with the following amenities:

fitness facilities

restaurant

business center

high speed access

3.5*, $117/night and amenities:

boutique

fitness facilities

restaurant

business center

high speed access

golf nearby

In the Mag Mile-Streeterville zone:

4*, $105/night super savings and:

boutique

smoke-free rooms

fitness facilities

restaurant

business center

high speed access

3.5*, $134/night and:

boutique

smoke-free rooms

fitness

restaurant

business center

high speed access

Sorry if I've overwhelmed you with you info/choices, just want to make sure we have a great trip! The $134 per night in the Mag Mile zone is a little more than I'd care to spend per night (prefer <$120) BUT smoke-free rooms hold a GREAT appeal for us both. I tend to prefer a more modern atmosphere, my sister doesn't really have a preference.

Any insight? Any good restaurants no trip to the Windy City should be without?

Thanks a ton for your help!!

[thereuare]

Best guess or comments is next to each:

4* NMA - This isn't an 'opaque' property, if you click the CONTINUE button next to the price you'll see that this is the Millennium Knickerbocker

3.5* NMA - best guess is the Whitehall downgraded to the 3.5* level

4* MagMile - best guess is Hotel Felix or Hotel Sax... i'd slightly favor this one being the Felix

3.5* MagMile - i'm not seeing this property on a current HOTWIRE search for your dates.

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

Let us know what you decide and how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[NancyR]

Thanks for your comments! I'm curious, though, about your search on Mag Mile and the 3.5*....I just searched again and it's still showing. Maybe I should have mentioned that we're looking for just one room?? Does that make a difference in your search?

Any personal opinion on Hotel Felix? I've never heard of it, but it's been about 12 years since I've been in downtown Chicago so that doesn't really mean much. :)

Thanks again for your help.

[AaronJB]

The Felix is a revamp of a pre-existing budget property into a boutique hotel. The main issue is that rooms are small. Otherwise, it's a fine location.

Are you searching for 2 people?

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

[NancyR]

Yep, I'm searching for 2 people, but one room. We don't really care if it's one bed or two...she's just my sister, not a big deal. LOL!

I thought I had been using these links here to search, but when I tried it a little bit ago, I got the strangest screen -- I could still choose MagMile as a zone to search, but the NMA,etc. was nowhere to be found! How confusing! Am I doing something wrong or not looking in the right place? Sorry, don't mean to sound dense but I couldn't believe it wasn't even a choice.

[AaronJB]

I am seeing the 3.5*, which is a possible match for Hotel 71.

I actually like the Knickerbocker deal via HOTWIRE. However, this is an odd instance - the HOTWIRE $116 and change rate for the Knickerbocker is a regular rate listing offered via Hotels.com. However, when I go to Hotels.com for these dates, the cheapest price is $175. Possibly a price mistake? It does have an excellent location at the North end of the NMA shopping area.

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

[thereuare]

Are you having a problem with the zone(s) on HOTWIRE? I just searched and see all the zones (i also check PRICELINE and see the proper zones there too)... are you still having an issue?

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

[NancyR]

Whatever problem I was having with the zones seems to have righted itself (but really, it was weird).

We're going back and forth between the HOTWIRE deal for the Knickerbocker vs. the other possibilities. Who knew trying to decide on great deals could be so intense? LOL! All your input is greatly appreciated!!!!

[NancyR]

Sheesh, just when I thought we'd decided which hotel to pick, I used your link and ran the Hotwire search AGAIN and I'm being offered a new property in NMA/Water Tower/Gold Coast.

dates remain: 7/19 - 7/23

NMA/Water Tower/Gold Coast

4* at $110/night (2 people, 1 bed is fine)

Amenities:

BOUTIQUE

fitness center

restaurant

business center

high-speed access

The "boutique" part is throwing me...I've searched all over the board and either I'm just plain missing or this particular amenity group hasn't been listed. It does NOT say anything about a pool, or non-smoking rooms or golf or tennis nearby. I believe I've seen some conjugation of those amenities sprinkled around the board, but not this one...at least I don't think I have.

Oh, and it also lists 95% recommended by Hotwire reviewers; when I click 'continue' and look below the map on the page, it says "4.5 stars on Trip Advisor."

Any thoughts, please? Any at all??

Thanks again!

[thereuare]

Both the Rafaello and the Sutton Place hotel have been seen with this amenity set, so either of these would be my best guess. The TA info would seem to suggest the Sutton Place is the more likely of the two, but as this information is not shown by HOTWIRE in 'real time' (it's only updated about once a month) either is still possible.

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

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

[AaronJB]

The Sutton place would be a very nice option if this listing was the Sutton. The Sutton's location is not as central; it's in the Gold Coast area, which is a very nice, smaller neighborhood known for its nightlife and variety of restaurants. This is a couple of minutes walk North of the North End of the North Michigan Ave. area. In-between the two areas are the Oak Street boutique stores (Prada, Barneys, etc). If this was the Raffaello, that is a renovated boutique property right behind the Hancock - so, neither of those possibilities would be a negative, I think, especially for $110 during the Summer.

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

[NancyR]

We used your HOTWIRE link and went with the recently listed 4* in the NMA/Water Tower/Gold Coast region and it turned out to be The Sutton Place. I've looked at their website and it looks like it will be a very nice place for us! Ought to be a great time in a great town!

Just to recap:

THE SUTTON PLACE

4* NMA/Water Tower/Gold Coast

July 19-23, 2011

$110/per night

Boutique hotel

fitness center

restaurant

business center

hi-speed internet access

Thanks for ALL of your wonderful help!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you received the hotel you were hoping for and are happy with the results... looks like you're really looking forward to this trip!

Thank you for sharing your results and using the HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your purchase.

Enjoy your stay.