Hotwire Hotel: 4 * and 3* Magnificent Mile North - Water Tower

[keepmix]

Hello - can someone help me to identify Magnificent Mile North Water Tower  August 1 - August 4/14

 

$171 4*

FULL AMENITIES: Smoke Free Rooms, Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center, Self service laundry, Internet access, Accessible for the blind, Accessible for the deaf, Accessible path of travel, In-room accessibility, Accessible bathroom, Handicapped parking, Roll-in shower

 

also

 

$169 3*

FULL AMENITIES: Free Parking, Free Internet, Indoor pool(s), Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Self service laundry

 

thank you!

[AaronJB]

My guess for the 4* would be the Allerton. I'm not seeing a 3* when searching for this zone for these dates. If you are still seeing a 3*, how many people are you searching for?

 

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[keepmix]

Thanks for your reply. I am looking for 2 people.

I apologize - the 3* is Magnificent Mile North - River North

[AaronJB]

The 3* has not yet been ID'd/reported to the board, but I'm guessing it may be the Best Western River North.

 

These date/s are unfortunately on the expensive side due to the Lollapalooza Festival in Grant Park. Are you driving in or flying in?

 

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[keepmix]

we are driving in for the weekend. It is a holiday in Canada on the monday so we were going to stay the saturday and sunday night. We have never been to Chicago  - do you recommend another area that may be better?

[AaronJB]

The option that I suggest when downtown is expensive is the suburbs, which have some pros and cons.

 

Unfortunately, given the festival crowds, for downtown you are looking at around $160-170 on HOTWIRE, plus probably around $30-35 + tax city parking or $50-60 +/- at most hotels per night (unless you take the HOTWIRE listing with free parking, which I believe is probably the Best Western.)

 

OR:

 

I often recommend the North Suburbs, which are quite nice and have a variety of restaurants, as well as a few big sights (especially the Chicago Botanic Gardens, which are in a burb - chicagobotanic.org.) The other sight in the North burbs is the Ravinia Music Festival (ravinia.org), which is the oldest outdoor music festival in the US and attracts some big names throughout the Summer.

 

There are some reasonably nice beaches in the North burbs, as well, although some charge (and one is semi-famous for being in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off.")

 

If you stayed in the suburbs, you are looking at around $60-70 for a 4* on HOTWIRE (there is a 4* in the Northbrook zone on HOTWIRE for $68, you may see a slightly different price) plus free parking. The problem is that it is about a 35-40 minute ride downtown on the Metra trains (the Metra trains are nicer than the CTA trains - they have two levels, conductors and bathrooms.) The Metra trains do run until about midnight. The suburban hotels have free parking.

 

If you were to try and bid, you could get a lower rate for downtown (although given the demand for these dates, still likely expensive and probably a hotel with parking charge) or the burbs. You could likely get a 3.5-4* in the burbs for the mid-to-high $50's.

 

Overall, the suburbs would be about $100 less per night (more if you stayed at a hotel with a parking charge downtown, which is all but about two, unfortunately.) The problem is driving to a nearby train station (not far) and then having to train downtown and back. However, the Metra trains are at least a comfortable ride and you can plan your day on the trip downtown.

 

Let me know your thoughts and I would be happy to offer further suggestions.

 

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