Hotwire Hotel: Hotel ID and other suggestions 8/12-8/14

[abooth]

My family and I are planning a trip to Six Flags, with one or 2 nights in downtown chicago the night before.

My kids ages are 17 and 22. This our first trip to Chicago. We're driving from Minnesota.

I would like some help finding a hotel in the downtown area that will allow us to walk to places like Millennium Park.

Aug 12 and 13 we will stay in downtown.

Aug 14 we will stay near Six Flags. (suggestions for that too, if you have them)

I started with Priceline, but noticed they don't gaurantee a room for 4.

Hotwire, however, seems to allow that option.

So, with hotwire, I chose 1 room, 4 adults. I get these results:

4-star

Chicago Loop - Millenium Park - Grant Park area hotel (6.6 - 7.5 mi from city center)

$159

Boutique

Fitness Center

Restaurants

Business Center

High Speed Internet

4-star

Magnificent Mile Area - Streeterville area hotel (6.1 - 7.5 mi from city center)

$185

Smoke Free Rooms

Fitness Center

Restaurants

Business Center

High Speed Internet

3.5-star

Magnificent Mile Area - Streeterville area hotel (6.1 - 7.5 mi from city center)

$147

Boutique

Smoke Free Rooms

Fitness Center

Restaurants

Business Center

High Speed Internet

---------------

Also, can someone suggest a place to stay near six flags?

Other things we plan to do while there:

hot Dougs on the way into town

Millenium park

Architectural boat tour (which one?)

Skydeck

Deep dish pizza (where?)

Six Flags on Sunday

Other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

First time poster.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

My best guess for each is as follows, although i'll add that at the moment i'm only seeing the 3.5* Streeterville property when searching HOTWIRE for 4adults.

4* Loop

Hotel Alegro or Hotel Burnham

4* Mag Mile - Streeterville

Hard Rock, Sheraton, or Westin River North

3.5* Mag Mile - Streeterville

Hotel 71

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

I'm sure AaronJB will comment further on aspects of your stay, but i'll add the Hancock Observatory (or better a drink (if they'll let your 17 year old sit and have a soda) at the bar in the Signature Room... if not then lunch there).

You can also search for boat tours (with reviews) as well as get ideas for other things to do in Chicago HERE.

For help with the Six Flags area please start a NEW TOPIC.

Let us know what you decide and/or how it goes or if we can be of further help. If the other hotels (no longer appearing) return let us know and we'll try to have a second look at those to confirm/have greater confidence in my guesses above.

[AaronJB]

A few thoughts:

If you are driving in from Minnesota and want to stay reasonably near Six Flags, I recommend Chicago's North Burbs (Deerfield and Northbrook, primarily, in terms of hotels.) This is a very nice area with a few nice sights (Ravinia Music Festival and Chicago Botanic Gardens), as well as quite a bit in the way of restaurants and shopping. The three "known" (there could always be a change at any time) 3.5* properties on PRICELINE in the Deerfield zone are all suites - Marriott Deerfield Suites, Hyatt (which are junior suites) and Embassy Suites, so that may be an option of interest. Six Flags is a bit of a trek further North, but Deerfield is very nice and has some very good hotel options.

The Vernon Hills area is somewhat further North of Deerfield and closer to Six Flags, but does not have any higher-end properties available on PRICELINE or HOTWIRE - the highest level is 3*. In terms of shopping, Vernon Hills is mall central, and Gurnee Mills near Six Flags is a giant discount mall. I'll also recommend Long Grove, which is a beautiful historic town just SW of Vernon Hills. (longgroveonline.com)

Not sure how you are driving in/driving back, but if you are coming in/out on i-94, at the highway 50 exit in Wisconsin just north of the Illinois border a bit, there's the Brat Stop (bratstop.com), which has terrific brats - and a Premium Outlet mall, which has Coach, Sony, and a number of other brands (Nike, etc.) The famed Mars Cheese Castle is also nearby, as is a Jelly Bean Warehouse Tour. (http://www.marscheese.com/, http://www.jellybelly.com/visit_jelly_bell...use_index.aspx)

Additionally, Six Flags is fun, but I'd also highly recommend the Wisconsin Dells, which is on the way between Minneapolis and Chicago. The Dells is sort of like if Six Flags ate a town. Tons of attractions scattered throughout the resort town, including giant miniature golf (one place is 90 holes), tons of waterparks, arcades, sights (Deer petting zoo), goofy stuff (upside down White House) and tours (including the land/sea vehicle tours - the Ducks.)

One downtown suggestion that would be more expensive but provide something of a bonus is the Fairmont via Expedia for these dates - on Expedia I'm seeing the Fairmont for $191 non-refundable w/2 doubles, but it says "free valet parking". If you're driving into the city, city parking will cost you $25, while hotel parking is around $35-55 (although commonly around $45 per night.) Additionally, there is also an offer for a free $25 Mastercard Gift Card sent after your stay if you book, but I would read the fine print with that offer. The Fairmont is next to Millennium Park and a couple of blocks South of the Michigan Ave. bridge.

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