Hotwire Hotel: 4.5* Chicago (Magnificent Mile Area - River North) InterContinental Chicago

[patch4269]

Hi

 

I have lurked on these boards for years and have used the content here to book tons of reservations ( FYI, I do use the PRICELINE/HOTWIRE link provided).

 

I generally wait for someone to get a room in the city/area and hotel class i like and I then follow their strategy to the letter - it has never failed me.

 

When in Chicago, I love staying at the Hotel Intercontinental - i do the $20 trick at front desk and usually get a very nice suite with a view for under $125 a night.

 

I really do NOT like the Palmer House or the Conrad Hilton, and love hotels like the intercontinental and Drake much better. 

 

HOWEVER, I am having serious issues getting anything in my USUAL price range (read:cheap) for my dates: 5/30 to 6/4. 

 

I think the Cubbies are on a homestand and there are some big conferences going on (American Association of Oncology) and , of course, the kids are out of school.

 

i am actually thinking (as i will have a car and $50 a day valet parking adds up at the downtown hotels) of staying at the ....gulp.... Holiday Inn Express at O'Hare and driving in everyday to do things. (Shedd acquarium, Zoo, Planatarium).

 

 

Any suggestions appreciated.

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Betterbidding. :)

Sharing prior wins (as separate posts) would be greatly appreciated, as wins, even if past or a duplicate of someone else's win, still helps other users.

 

Given the rates that I'm seeing on HOTWIRE, you're unfortunately looking at sky-high rates. I'm guessing a 4* in the NMA area for these dates very well may take North of $300 a night.

 

The outlying areas are seeing spillover traffic from the high rates downtown, but personally, I'd rather recommend the North suburbs than the ORD area. The North Burbs at least offer some sights (Chicago Botanic Garden, which is in the burbs), shopping and a number of great restaurants. Additionally, the Metra trains head downtown from a number of the suburbs - those are more expensive than the CTA trains from the airport, but much more comfortable and a nicer overall ride if you're going to have to spend time on the train each day. Additionally, the hotels in the North burbs offer free parking, with the exception of Evanston hotels.

 

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

[patch4269]

Due to the time i usually come, i have my pick of hotels.  Now, price - even on HOTWIRE /PRICELINE - is an issue.    An because I am staying 5 days $55 for parking is also an issue. 

 

Any specific suggestion?

[thereuare]

I would also sign up for alerts at RateDrop so that if there are any rate drops (whether it be HOTWIRE, PRICELINE EXPRESS, or named hotels that you are interested in) you'll quickly be made aware of them.

Is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option? How much would you be willing to pay in order to stay Downtown?

thankforusing (and it would be appreciated if you started to share your wins with the board, maybe you could help another user just as you have been helped by those who have posted before you ;) )

[AaronJB]

Due to the time i usually come, i have my pick of hotels.  Now, price - even on HOTWIRE /PRICELINE - is an issue.    An because I am staying 5 days $55 for parking is also an issue. 

 

Any specific suggestion?

 

Would you rather go for ORD or the North suburbs? In terms of the North Suburbs, Skokie is closer to the city, but a bit of a trek to transit. Further North (Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield) are further away from the city, but many of these hotels are closer to transit stations.

 

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

[patch4269]

ORD seems best for 5/30 to 6/1.

Then I may try mag mile for 6/1 to 6/4.

Great idea!!!!

[thereuare]

ORD seems best for 5/30 to 6/1.

Then I may try mag mile for 6/1 to 6/4.

Are you splitting as per above as this is what works best for your plans OR due to rates that you're seeing in the area for one set of dates?

For 6/1-6/4 HOTWIRE has 'one room left' for a 3* hotel in the Downtown-Millennium Park-Grant Park zone for $148/nite (Smoke Free, Free Internet, Hi-Speed Internet, Laundry)... i'm not sure which hotel this may be, but after this one, the next cheapest 'downtown' hotel is $279/nite in the Mag Mile North-Water Tower zone.

For these same dates PRICELINE EXPRESS's least expensive 'downtown' hotel is a 3* for $232/nite, a 3.5* for $272/nite, and then a 4.5* for $297/nite.

Before splitting you want to make sure that you have good options for each leg of the split. Given the rates above would you be willing to pay this for the second half of your stay?

Your thoughts?

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

[patch4269]

I appreciate the info this site has given me. 

I like to stay at 4 star and above hotels at $150 to $180 in mag mile area.  This is what I am shooting for, however, this may not be happening on these travel days.

Here is my strategy:

- Skokie/Evanston/O’Hare.  As we are spending a significant amount of money and have a car, I think I will reserve a suite in the Skokie/Evanston/O’Hare area at a hotel both close to mass transit and that does not charge for parking (some of the larger hotels around O’Hare charge $25 to $30 a day.)   This reservation will be fully refundable (not thru PL or HW) but thru PRICELINE EXPRESS.  Also a good breakfast – especially if cooked to order – can save us $35 per day.  I have found an Embassy Suites – Rosemont for $123/night.

 

- I will then keep any eye on rates and use Rate.Drop.com to see if something comes available in the days preceding our trip.  I may even re-book the same hotel I have thru Price.Line or Hot.Wire if that can save $$$$.

 

- As recommended, I will break up the trip 5/30 thru 6/2  &  6/2 thru 6/4 (one hotel change won’t kill us ) to get a better deal and to stay in different areas.  I can pay a little more ($50 per night for the room plus $50 a day for parking) if it gets me to the mag mile/water tower area on those days, but not more than this.

I truly hate the burbs – especially when I could be in a killer city (no pun intended) - but I do not want to spend $480 to $580 a night (room plus parking plus tax) when I do not spend much time in my room or hotel except for sleeping/showering.  

 

I am hoping that rooms will become available as I get closer to my travel days. 

 

I guess I will be betterbidding’s data point on this issue.

[thereuare]

This reservation will be fully refundable (not thru PL or HW) but thru PRICELINE EXPRESS.

Not sure if this was a typo, but to clarify, PRICELINE EXPRESS deals are non-refundable... perhaps you meant PRICELINE 'retail' (where the hotel names are shown before purchase)?

You can also use our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com to search near almost any address in the world, and the interface makes it easy to see look for hotels near mass transit stops and also determine how much more/less it would cost to go up/down in star rating or to say closer/further from a mass transit point.

I'm sure AaronJB will be able to add further comments once he sees this thread.

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

[AaronJB]

My thoughts.

 

* The suburbs aren't optimal, but Evanston is a college town with some nightlife and excellent restaurants/shopping. Skokie has some shopping of its own, as well as restaurants in Skokie and nearby Glenview. 

 

* The issue with Skokie is that public transit is not right there. You are driving either to Evanston (Metra/CTA) or Skokie Swift (CTA) station. The hotels at Evanston haven't been seen as wins in a while, but the benefit of Evanston hotels is that they are RIGHT by both CTA *and* Metra. The issue is that, given the way Evanston is, hotels will charge for parking (although certainly not as much as downtown.)

 

* The suburbs further North (Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield) are going to have cheaper hotels, free parking and, in many cases, are close/reasonably close to Metra stations.

 

* The Metra trains from the 'burbs are about a 40-45 (maybe a tad less if you get a PRICELINE EXPRESS train in the morning or evening) each way and stop at the larger Union or Ogilvie Transit Centers in the West Loop. The Metra trains are larger and more comfortable than CTA trains with two levels, bathrooms and conductors.  CTA out to ORD is around 50-60 minutes.

 

* Some hotels at ORD may charge for parking.

 

On HOTWIRE:

 

For 5/30--6/4, I'm seeing what appears to be the Doubletree North Shore on HOTWIRE for $121 (the price you see may differ slightly.) This is in Skokie, across of the Old Orchard Mall (which is a nice outdoor mall that has a lot of the same sort of shopping you'd find downtown.)

 

For 5/30-6/4, I'm seeing what appears to be the Wyndham Glenview Suites for $80.

 

For 6/2-4 only, I'm seeing what appears to be the Deerfield Suites for $62, then for 5/30-6/2 only, I'm seeing the Doubletree North Shore for $93.

 

If any of these are of interest, let us know and we would be happy to point out the specific listings.

 

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

 

For 6/1-4, I'm seeing a 3* on HOTWIRE in the Lincoln Park area (which would definitely put you close to downtown, much closer than the burbs) for $153 with breakfast, smoke-free and laundry. There is a 4.5/5 on tripadvisor showing on the detail page. This listing has not yet been ID'd/reported to the board, but I'd guess this may be the Willows.

 

for 5/30-6/1, I'm seeing a 3.5* in the Evanston-Skokie area on HOTWIRE for $101 (again, likely the Doubletree and a 3.5* in Northbrook (different than the Northbrook hotels above) for $50.

 

 

__________________________

 

If you took the potential Willows for 6/1-4 and the 3.5* Northbrook for $50 for 5/30-6/1, that's a $112.50 per night average.

 

If the 3* in Lincoln Park area for $153 a night for 6/1-4 is of any interest, I'd take it reasonably soon, as these date/s look significantly busy.

 

Let us know if you have any questions.

 

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

[patch4269]

OK

 

I talked to a CSR at ES and asked why the insane rates at Downtown chicago hotels.  I thought her answer would be conventions/cubbies/summer vacations.  She indicated that JUNE has all those things,

but actually its all of the WEDDINGS that really drives prices skyward.  Who would have guessed.

 

 

I --- so far ---- have reserved 5/30 to 6/2 at the Embassy Suites O'Hare thru Hotels.com for $119 per night.    We have three people and would like separate sleeping quarters so this and , of course, the ES breakfast

for three will save us money ($35/day).  Also, the parking fee is not as insane at ES as it is in some MM-WT or MM-RN hotels.

 

 

For 6/2 to 6/4, i have reserved the ES - lakefront for $269 a night as we will be going to close by city destinations.    I would love a better rate.  

 

On HW, i signed up for the email alerts on various days/date ranges and have seen some awesome last minute deals  (4.5* MM-RN for $85/nite) three days prior. 

 

I plan to hold these reservations and wait to see if anything better pops up

 

I do need help identifying the following - i think its the JW marriott  (Did not want to start a new thread!!!!)

 

Chicago, IL •  Jun 2 - Jun 4 •  1 room  •  2 adults

Hot Rate Hotel

Chicago Loop - Theater District area

95% recommended

46%

OFF

$544^ǂ$292

per night

• Free Internet
• Pet friendly
• Boutique
• Smoke Free Rooms
• Fitness Center
• Restaurant(s)
• Business Center
• Spa Services

[thereuare]

I --- so far ---- have reserved 5/30 to 6/2 at the Embassy Suites O'Hare thru Hotels.com for $119 per night.

If you didn't, please note form our Support Page that we are an affiliate of Hotels.com, please check for and use the links in our Support Page for your future hotel direct purchases.

 

 

...i signed up for the email alerts on various days/date ranges...

Note that we have our own RateDrop service that will let allow you to set the star rating, zone, dates and price for which you'd like to receive an alert... if the rate drops for a hotel that meets your criteria you'll receive an email (and doesn't waste your time with alerts for star ratings and zones that you have no interest in). This is for HOTWIRE, PRICELINE EXPRESS, as well as 'named' hotels as well (so you can receive an alert for the Embassy Suites the rate drop lower than your current reservation). We also have our Win Alerts which is based upon wins reported to the board.

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

[AaronJB]

Please keep all posts within this thread - thanks.

 

Is the HOTWIRE listing a 4*? If you click on the listing then click on "book now", then click "see all" are there any other amenities, such as accessible amenities?

For 5/30-6/2, I'd recommend the Embassy Suites Deerfield. That's $109 + free parking. Additionally, right down the street from a Metra station, which is a nicer way to get into the city. I've also stayed at (and quite liked) that ES. Please use the site's Hilton.com or Hotels.com links in the Support Page section if this is of interest.

 

The ES Deerfield is also near the Chicago Botanic Gardens (chicagobotanic.org), which is beautiful in the Spring. The Botanic charges parking but no admission fee.

 

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

[patch4269]

Using the data here and going thru the HOTWIRE link,I finally got the hotel I desired. The features were as listed on bb and the indoor pool and 4.5 stars guaranteed it was intercontinental or Conrad -both of which are excellent and in prime locations.

Restaurant, Pool, Indoor Pool, Fitness, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Blind Accessible, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Handicapped Parking, Roll-in Shower, Pet Friendly

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you received one of your favorite hotels in the city and that you're pleased with the results.

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

Enjoy your stay.

[patch4269]

I also took the mods advice and booked the Embassay Suites Deerfield North Shore directly for 2 nights.   

 

At $109/nt, getting a suite and breakfast cooked to order for three people as well as free parking is both perfrect and dirt cheap in comparison to what i will pay on the Mag mile.   .

 

Thanks for all of the assistance.

 

 

[thereuare]

Glad to see you found a nice deal to complete your stay and you're looking forward to your trip.

Thank you for closing this thread with your decision decision for the remaining nites.

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

[AaronJB]

Very good deal and glad you picked that Embassy - I think that's a very nice Embassy Suites property that's just down the road from the Lake Cook Road Metra station. From the hotel website (1.5 miles from Metra train station and complimentary shuttle service within 3-mile radius.)

 

The Botanic Gardens are an easy trip East and please let me know likes/dislikes if you need recommendations nearby (although breakfast is provided at the hotel.)

 

Enjoy your stay and let me know if you have any city questions.