Hotwire Hotel: Chicago

[loucor]

This is my first post so I'll try to include enough info to get some assistance. I'm looking to travel to Chicago from 5/27 to 6/1. We would like to stay in a decent, safe hotel in the 'touristy' area - the Loop, Magnificent Mile, etc. I am traveling with my teenage son so want to be sure that we get 2 beds. Doesn't seem like I can do that with Priceline or with most Hotwire hotels. Should I instead list 3 people as traveling to assure 2 beds?? Any other strategies that will help me not have to sleep with my son?

Thanks for the help.

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

PRICELINE only guarantees one bed/double occupancy - two beds can be requested once the reservation is made, but the hotel has the right to say no or charge more.

HOTWIRE allows you to search for the amount of people in the room and that - if you are searching for more than 2 - ensures some form of bedding for the party. That is commonly two beds, but can be 1 + sofabed or other combination.

What would be your desired budget per night for this stay?

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

[loucor]

I would like to be around $100 but could stretch up to $150 if I had too. Seems like lots of the hotels in these areas have mostly one bed so I'm anxious about booking and not being able to get 2 beds.

[AaronJB]

Unfortunately, rates are on the high side for these dates, which start to get into the busy late Spring/early Summer period.

When I search for 2 adults and 2 children for these dates, I'm seeing a 4* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area w/boutique, smoke-free, fitness, restaurant, business, internet for $146. That is the least expensive option for these dates when searching for 2a/2c for these dates.

This amenity set has been previously seen with the Felix, Sax and Palomar. If I click "see details" to go to the detail page and scroll down, there is a 4.5/5 tripadvisor rating showing (the TA logo and there should be 4.5/5 circles shaded.) While you should still expect any of the three to be possible, that would suggest the Palomar.

There are possibilities in the suburbs for less ($65-75), but would require a car and then getting to the nearest train station and taking the train in.

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.

[loucor]

I've found a hotel in the Mag Mile now on Hotwire for $136 with the following listing:

4-star Hotel in Magnificent Mile Area - Streeterville

Boutique Hotel

Smoke Free Rooms

Fitness Center

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

High-Speed Internet Access

We will only have 2 people but if I put in 3 people on the search to guarantee 2 beds, the price is $147.

My goal is to get a 3* or better in Mag Mile or N. Michigan Ave for as close to $100 as possible with 2 beds. Ideas on what hotel this is and whether to grab it or hold out. I've tried bidding Priceline up to $100 with no luck for 3*.

[thereuare]

The Hotel Felix, Hotel Palomar and Hotel Sax have all been seen with this amenity set, so any of these are likely. However, the very high reviews from previous guests shown by HOTWIRE make me suspect that the Palomar is the most probable of the three and that would be my best guess for this one.

Assuming i'm right on the Palomar, this property retails for $229/nite for these dates so it would seem to be a pretty good deal and the reviews are great (and they also have a nightly wine reception)... so i wouldn't question the quality at all, i think it would be a great stay, however, it comes down to your budget and how much you're willing to spend.

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.

[loucor]

Just wanted to followup. I was able to book the Millenium Knickerbocker for only $119/night through their website so I jumped on it. I found a pretty good rate on Hotels.com and then checked the hotel's website and found the better deal. The rate is refundable so on the off chance that I find a better hotel for a better rate, I can still switch - but I don't think that's likely.

I appreciate this site so much and have told my friends about it too. Thanks for all the advice - I will use your links in the future to start my travel plans.

[thereuare]

Glad to see you found something that works well for both your plans and budget.

Thank you for closing this thread with your decision and let us know if there are any changes or if we can be of further help.

Have a great trip.

[loucor]

Need help to identify 3* hotel in Mag Mile - River North Area for 5/27 - 6/1 for $114 for 1 adult and 2 children. Only amenities listed are Fitness Center, Business Center and High-Speed Internet Access. 3.5 rating on TripAdvisor.

Great price - just would like to make sure it's safe for me and the kids!

[thereuare]

Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread...

The amenities above match previous reports for multiple properties, with the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, Holiday Inn Inn Express Hotel Cass, Hilton Garden Inn, and the Inn of Chicago all having been seen with this amenity set. Of these i think the Holiday Inn Express Hotel Cass or the Inn of Chicago are more likely than the other two, but you should at least be prepared for any of these.

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.

[AaronJB]

The downtown area is generally safe, although you have to keep aware of what's going on around you similar to any major city. At night, parts of the Loop area (South of the river) can be quiet/very quiet and you may want to consider a cab back if you stay in this area and are out later at night.

The Inn of Chicago and Holiday Inn Express Cass are older properties, although both have seen surface renovations since being taken over in recent years (the Cass was a former budget property and the Inn was a former Best Western.) Both are well-located right off Michigan Ave, but rooms are on the smaller side. The Cass would be the preferable result, offering breakfast and a slightly more convenient location. For cheap snacks, there's a Trader Joe's right by the Cass (and within easy walking distance of the Inn of Chicago.) There is a 3.5/5 tripadvisor rating, leading me to believe it's one of those two properties.

What appears to be one of the Kimpton boutiques (Allegro, Burnham, Monaco) in the Loop (although one of the three Kimptons in the Loop isn't particularly convenient from a tourist perspective, one is reasonable and the other is well-located - all three get excellent reviews, though) is showing for $145.

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

[loucor]

Would like help identifying a 4* hotel in the Loop - Theater District listed for $96 for 2 adults and 2 children. Amenities listed are:

Indoor pool(s)

Fitness Center

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

High-Speed Internet Access

Spa Services

Accessible for the blind

Accessible for the deaf

Accessible path of travel

In-room accessibility

Accessible bathroom

Handicapped parking

Roll in Shower

I still have a room at the Knickerbocker reserved for $119 and I like the location of it but this is a substantial savings and closer to my target budget so I may jump on it if it's not too far off the beaten path. Thanks for the help!!

[AaronJB]

HOTWIRE has changed the amount of amenities it shows recently so this listing hasn't been confirmed, but I'd guess this is likely the Palmer.

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

[loucor]

I've never traveled to Chicago before. For those who are familiar with the areas, which would be the better choice - the Knickerbocker or the Palmer?

[AaronJB]

Palmer = closer to museums, some shopping options on State St. Cons = will likely be fairly quiet at night, a trek to Michigan Ave.

Knickerbocker = right off the top end of Michigan Ave; a number of restaurant options nearby and nightlife in the Gold Coast. A ways from museums.

It really depends on what your plans are. If you are going to be out later/late at night, it would not be a bad idea to cab back to the Palmer instead of walking.

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