Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* Chicago (Magnificent Mile-Streeterville) Amalfi

[Bannda]

3 1/2* Magnificent Mile-Streeterville for 8/18/11 thru 8/21/11

$133 per night

Complimentary Breakfast, Fitness Center, Business Center, Laundry Facilities, High Speed Internet

100% Recommended

Possible Amalfi?

Also, Venere.com has the Hotel Burnham for the same dates at $143 per night.

Any advice on which location would be better? I don't have everything planned out yet but plans include Architectural River Cruise, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Willis Tower, John Hancock building.

Also, my husband plans to go to a Cubs game while I shop in Lincoln Park area. So it appears I'll need to use the Brown Line and he'll be using the Red Line. Hotel Burnham appears to be convenient to both. Is that correct?

Thank you! I have been using the HOTWIRE links provided like crazy. :))

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Yes, best guess for the 3.5* property would be the Amalfi. As far as which of your options is better, i'll let AaronJB comment as he knows this area best and i'm sure he'll reply once he sees this thread.

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

[Bannda]

Thanks, thereuare. I'll wait on AaronJB's reply before I make a decision.

[AaronJB]

The Burnham is a very nice property (and quite historic), but I'd really rather suggest the Amalfi. Just on the other side of the river in the River North area, the Amalfi's not a bad walk to the State St shopping in the Loop or Michigan Ave. Additionally, the other benefit of the location is that the River North area has a wide variety of terrific restaurant options - everything from casual to quite upscale. The Amalfi also offers free breakfast.

A few various thoughts:

1. I wouldn't recommend Navy Pier - the rides are expensive, the restaurants are eh and it's generally a tourist trap. The Lincoln Park Zoo is a much better option - in my opinion - to spend an afternoon. Additionally, the Old Town neighborhood (Second City theater, great little stores like the Spice House, which is a great herb/spice store) is nearby, as is the Peggy Notabert Nature Center (admission - the main exhibit is a great live butterfly exhibit.)

2. I'd use the Red Line both to get to Lincoln Park and to the Cub's game, although it depends on where you need to go and what you are looking for in terms of shopping. There's quite a bit to see around Belmont/Broadway and up/down Clark and Broadway in that area. If it's a nice enough day and you're up for a serious walk, you could "L" up to Belmont and walk all the way back through the Lincoln Park Zoo to the Michigan Ave. area, but that is a long walk and I wouldn't recommend it on a hot day. I'd be happy to list the route though, if you would like. I'd recommend going early to the Cubs game to beat the crowds that will be using the Red Line closer to the game start time. The neighborhood around the Wrigley has a lot going on, so waiting 45 minutes before game time isn't too bad - Slugger's Bar right by Wrigley actually has batting cages.

3. If you stay at the Amalfi, I'd walk the short distance N/NW to the subway (Red Line) stop at State/Grand.

4. It's easy to get to the Architectural Cruise from the Amalfi. I'd go early in the day with the River Cruise to avoid the heat. Both the Architectural Cruise and the Wendella Boat tours both leave from the Michigan Ave. bridge.

5. The Air/Water Show is going on on these dates. The show is 8/20 & 8/21 at North Ave beach, but on the day before, the planes often do practice runs over the Gold Coast area (a neighborhood a couple of minutes walk North of the North tip of the NMA area) and possibly a bit around the area nearby. The main show is free.

Additionally, the Green City Organic Farmers Market (which is quite popular - http://www.greencitymarket.org/index.asp) is right by the LP zoo, and is Wed/Sat.

Edited to add: in terms of the route discussed above, it would be:

1. Red Line to Belmont "L" stop. Walk East on Belmont to Broadway.

2. South on Broadway to Clark.

3. Continue South on Clark to Fullerton.

4. East on Fullerton to Stockton. If you look North, there is a glassy, architecturally neat looking building. That is the Notabert.

5. If you walk South on Stockton briefly, you'll see the North gate of the zoo. Walk South in the zoo towards the Farm in the Zoo, which is the South end of the Zoo. Once you get to that point, walk West through the park briefly to Clark St. Head South on Clark to North Ave.

5a (side trip). If you walk West on North ave a few blocks, you'll get to Wells. Old Town is mainly a few blocks North and 5-6 blocks South on Wells from that point.

6. At the point of Clark/North, head further South on Clark until you get to Clark/Division. There is a Red Line stop at that point. Take that a couple of stops South to State/Grand.

Please let me know any questions you may have.

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

[Bannda]

Just booked the Amalfi for 8/18/11-8/21/11. :) I'm thrilled!!!!!!!! Of course, I used the HOTWIRE link provided by this site.

AaronJB, thank you so much for your input! I really appreciate your invaluable advice! I plan to take advantage of many of the things you mentioned in your reply. Now I just have to study some maps and transit schedules. :)

On the shopping- I was thinking of hitting some boutiques around Armitage & Halsted.

Old Town sounds fascinating as well. We may need to add Second City Theater into the mix.

Thanks so much for your time! I may have a few questions as I continue to plan this trip.

I'm very happy with this!!!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you received the hotel you were hoping for and at a great rate!

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

Enjoy your stay and have a great time in the city.

[AaronJB]

Happy to help! :)

A few more odds/ends:

1. The newer Rick Bayless restaurant Xoco is a few blocks North of your hotel (http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/xoco.html) and is a good way to sample food from Bayless in a more casual setting, especially if Frontera nearby is jammed. There's a lot of pizza nearby, although I really don't particularly like Uno's, which is fine pizza, but the place is tiny and cramped - some people like that vibe, but I don't and I don't think it's worth the often huge lines during the busier periods. In terms of the more popular pizza places, I like Giordano's or Lou Malnati's. I'd also recommend going another route and trying pizza at a place like Quartino's (http://www.quartinochicago.com/menus.html), which is a short walk from your hotel on 626 N State.

2. In terms of the Willis Tower and the Hancock, I think you may want to consider choosing between one or the other; if you don't have any interest in going out on the ledge at the Willis Tower (http://www.the-skydeck.com/the-tower/facts-about-the-ledge), then you could go to the Hancock. You could also go to the Signature Room at the Hancock on the 95th. Overall, I'd recommend going to one or the other, but not both.

3. This is a more detailed look at the nearby Red Line station: http://www.chicago-l.org/stations/grand-state.html If you head North to Lincoln Park/Wrigley, there is actually a point where the subway heads above-ground and continues above ground.

4. The Art Institute is highly recommended - I also like the Shedd Aquarium, but it's a bit out of the way and usually jammed if school is still in session.

5. I'd definitely take a look at these coupons from the city: http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/supp..._Discounts.html In terms of the Hancock, there is a $5 coupon: http://www.chicagoofficeoftourism.org/chic...s5.html#hancock

6. Old Town is a nice little area - it's a great stop-off, with some great little stores and Second City. If you don't go to Second City, Old Town is something that can be tied in with the Zoo & Lincoln Park

7. In terms of going to the area around the intersection of Armitage and Halsted, you could take the Red Line North to Fullerton, walk East to Halsted and South to Armitage and Halstead. From that point, you could walk East on Armitage to Clark. Across the street is Lincoln Park. Cross the street and head into the park and you will get to the South end of the Zoo. If you wanted, you could walk around the Zoo, then come back to the South point of the Zoo and head back to Clark. Head South on Clark to North Ave and from there you can either head slightly West to the Old Town area primarily on Wells or continue South on Clark to Clark/Division and take the Red Line a couple of stops South to Grand/State and your hotel is right there.

If the temps are like they are this week, then I would definitely be careful and not do a longer walk - you could head back to the "L" after heading to Lincoln Park. If you were to be at Lincoln Park Zoo or Old Town, for example, and did not feel like walking back, you could grab a cab and tell them to take you to Clark/Division, which would be a very quick cab ride.

Clark/Division is in the Gold Coast neighborhood, which is a neighborhood just a few minutes walk North of North Michigan Ave. Once you get back to that point, you're pretty much back downtown.

I do think that it's an excellent idea to head up to the boutique stores in Lincoln Park - everyone heads to Michigan Ave, and I think Lincoln Park really does have a wide variety of shopping - everything from trendy thrift stores to higher-end boutiques. These stores are more spread out, but if it's a nice day, one can do a really good longer walk throughout Lincoln Park.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

[Bannda]

AaronJB,

What a wealth of information!!! This is very helpful! I'm taking all of this info (printed out, of course) into consideration as I develop our itinerary. There is so much I want to do and so little time.

I do have a question for you. I've decided to book a Wrigley Field tour for the morning of August 19. If we do the 8:30 tour, which finishes at 10:00, does this give us time to head to the Lincoln Park Zoo before the game at 1:20? Only my DH is going to the game. I plan to head out on my shopping journey after that. I don't want to try to pack too much into too little time. The other option is to do the 9:30 Wrigley Field Tour, grab a bite to eat and then go our separate ways.

I'm definitely concerned about daytime temperatures as Chicago's has been higher than ours this past week! (Birmingham, AL). So, please, put in an order for some cooler temps that week. :)

I'd like to add that we will actually be flying into Midway on August 15. DH has a business conference in Warrenville Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening. We'll be staying in Geneva during this time. We'll return our rental car to Midway on Thursday morning, then take a cab into the city. If you have any info on Geneva, I'd love to know. From my research, it appears to me a charming town.

Thank you again for your time!!! If you don't mind, I'll report my itinerary back here once I get it all together.