Hotwire Hotel: 4.5* Chicago (Magnificent Mile North - Water Tower) Omni Chicago Hotel

[crito]

Hi guys,

I’m looking to book a hotel in downtown Chicago 3/27 – 3/29.

I’m searching for 2 adults, 1 child. (The ‘child’ is 17.)

Here are the kinds of things I’m looking for. First, leaning modern antique-y. Second, since there are three of us (my two sons and I) I don’t want a small room. Location isn’t too important as long as it’s downtown – I guess I’d rather not be in the west Loop but near the Lake would be okay. A view would be great, but I know that’s unusual.

I poked around at Orbitz and hotel rack prices and found the Fairmont for a reasonable price ($146/night) so I don’t think I’ll go above that price. (Aaron, what do you think of the Fairmont?) The Westin on the river is also reasonable (but most hotels seem very high off the rack that weekend).

 

Here are three 4.5* hotels I’m seeing in my search.

 

Millenium/Grant $107
Pet friendly, Smoke-free rooms, Fitness center, Restaurant(s), Business center, Internet access, Accessible for visually impaired, Accessible for hearing impaired, Accessible path of travel, In-room accessibility, Accessible bathroom, Accessible parking, Roll-in shower

 

River North $111
Pet friendly, Indoor pool(s), Smoke-free rooms, Fitness center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business center, Internet access, Accessible for visually impaired, Accessible for hearing impaired, Accessible path of travel, In-room accessibility, Accessible bathroom, Accessible parking, Roll-in shower

 

Water Tower $133
Pet friendly, Indoor pool(s), Smoke-free rooms, Fitness center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business center, Internet access, Accessible path of travel, In-room accessibility, Accessible bathroom, Roll-in shower

 

I also see a half dozen 4*s, but they’re comparable in price to these so maybe they don’t make sense?

 

So, IDs and any advice would be very much appreciated!

[AaronJB]

The Westin River North is a very nice property, although I think that hotel's real treat is if you can get an upgrade to a river view room on a higher floor, as - personally, I thought the river view room's view up the river was a "classic Chicago" view. 

 

Some various thoughts: *the prices you see may vary slightly. These are options I'm seeing when searching for 2 adults/1 child.

 

4.5* Mag Mile-RN $110 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. 

 

-- Likely Intercontinental. This is a classic Chicago hotel with a fascinating history (http://www.icchicagohotel.com/History) and a terrific location. It has a very historic and quite stunning pool, which was one of the first pools built on a higher floor. Negatives: it's a giant hotel and convention-y. If you get a room facing North, changes are you will look right into the building next door.

 

4.5* Downtown-Loop-GP $106 Restaurant, Fitness, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Blind Accessible, Deaf Accessible, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Handicapped Parking, Roll-in Shower, Pet Friendly.

 

-- Likely Blackstone Renaissance. Classic hotel that was closed for many years before undergoing a massive renovation. Negative: square at the bottom South end of the Loop, not convenient if you're going to be spending a lot of time North of the river. Not a lot right around it.

 

4.5* Mag Mile N-Water Tower $133 Restaurant, Pool, Indoor Pool, Fitness, Smoke Free, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Roll-in Shower, Pet Friendly. 

 

-- Possible match for the Omni. If the Omni, great location. I'd say there is a slight chance this may be the Hyatt on St Clair.

 

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

 

One other highlight:

 

4* Mag Mile-RN $129 Fitness, Complimentary Breakfast, Free Internet, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Spa, Travel Accessible, Room Accessible, Bathroom Accessible, Roll-in Shower, Pet Friendly. This would be a likely match for the Kinzie, which not only gets great reviews, but also offers free breakfast and a terrific location. Not exactly the style you are looking for, but I think when compared to the nearby Intercontinental for $113, this for $129 - to me - seems like a better value from the standpoint of free breakfast and great River North location.

 

And then definitely use the WINTER20 for $20 off the total for whichever listing you decide on.

 

Let me know if you have any questions before booking.

 

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

[crito]

Great, thanks. Hm. And what do you think of the Fairmont for $143?

 

Of these, I think I probably would go for the Omni, for the location and extra room. The Blackstone is also intriguing -- I don't mind the slightly out-of-the-way location since I could always just take a taxi, and they too have big rooms. Oh, and so does the Westin.

 

I'll pull the trigger some time tomorrow or the weekend.

[AaronJB]

The Fairmont is a nice hotel and fairly similar location-wise to the Intercontinental, but I do think the IC is a better value for $30 less. The 4.5* Mag Mile N-Water Tower amenity set has been seen with the Omni previously so that would be the primary guess, but again, I do think there's a slight chance this could be a new amenity set for the Hyatt on St Clair. In terms of regular rate, I'm seeing the Westin RN for $143 regular rate on PRICELINE retail side, and I'd rather that property than the Fairmont. PRICELINE is also showing $159 for river view at the Westin RN (if you do go for River View at that property, I'd call ahead and request a high floor. I also think a $16 difference over a regular rate room is a reasonable amount for that particular upgrade.

 

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

[crito]

Oooh, the Westin river view does sound good. Maybe I'll spring for the extra money.

 

I'll report back by the end of the weekend.

[crito]

Very pleased.

 

The big rooms and very good price made this a pretty clearly better choice for me than the Westin at rack rate. (By the way, for a room with two beds and a river view the Westin would have cost $189, so that wasn't quite so attractive as I thought.) I looked into the Hyatt on St Clair and it's obviously a very nice hotel so I wasn't too worried, but I'm glad I got the Omni. Thanks for the advice! And the link in your signature saved me $20 extra.

 

Breakfast suggestions in the neighborhood?

 

Oh, and I did book using your HOTWIRE link (via the Bidding.Helper).

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you received the hotel you were hoping for and that you're pleased with the outcome.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board... i'll leave it to AaronJB for any city recommendations since he knows this area best.

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

Enjoy your stay.

[AaronJB]

If you are looking for Starbucks, I think the Capital One Cafe (http://www.yelp.com/biz/capital-one-360-caf%C3%A9-chicago-2) is a fantastic alternative nearby. It's a bright, welcoming option with cheaper coffee, snacks and free wifi. It is associated with Capital One, but they don't try to sell/sign people up for things unless they ask.

 

In terms of a bakery, the Hendrickx Bakery (http://www.yelp.com/biz/hendrickx-belgian-bread-crafter-chicago) is a pretty easy walk from your hotel, although it is a tiny place and may be a little crowded.

 

Breakfast options nearby include: Original Pancake House (http://www.yelp.com/biz/original-pancake-house-chicago) and Yolk (http://www.yelp.com/biz/yolk-chicago-8.) A bit further out I like Doughnut Vault (http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-doughnut-vault-chicago, I believe they take cards now, used to be cash only), Wildberry (http://www.yelp.com/biz/wildberry-pancakes-and-cafe-chicago-2) and Xoco (http://www.yelp.com/biz/xoco-chicago.). Meli Cafe (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g35805-d2619412-Reviews-Meli_Cafe-Chicago_Illinois.html) is another option in River North and there's currently a Travelzoo local deal (http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/Chicago/Restaurant/156166/Meli-Cafe.)

 

While not really a breakfast option (although I do believe the lower level has a coffee bar that opens earlier than the rest of the store), Eataly (http://www.yelp.com/biz/eataly-chicago-chicago) is a lot of fun to browse around and that's only a few blocks South of your hotel.

 

Let me know if you have any other city questions.