Hotwire Hotel: Chicago Hotel Needed 7/27-7/29

[jasonp75il]

I am visiting downtown Chicago for the weekend of July 27th & 28th. I have already placed a bid up to $100 for a 3-4* hotel in Loop-Mag. Mile area with no success thus far on Priceline. I was able to locate a hotel on Hotwire for $134 a night located in Mag. Mile-Streeterville area. Any guesses on what hotel this might be based on the description below?

Hotel Amenities

Fitness Center

Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply.Restaurant(s)

Property offers at least one restaurant on the premises; hours and days of operation may vary. Business Center

Guests have access to business equipment and services; an additional charge may apply.Laundry Facilities

<amenity names only please... not descriptions> High-speed Internet Access

Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply.Spa Services

Guests have access to a spa facility or spa services; an extra charge typically applies.

Thanks for your help!!

[jasonp75il]

Sorry I forgot to add the hotel for $134 on Hotwire is listed as a 4 Star hotel. Any help is appreciated!!

[AaronJB]

Looks like the James.

[jasonp75il]

Thanks AaronJB, I think your probably right. I read in a previous post that you stayed there. How was it? Worth the price you think?

[AaronJB]

$134 (especially with hotel prices in Chicago being what they are) is a great price for it. It's W-like but more subtle, and really well-located a block or so from Michigan Ave. A lot of restaurant choices (Uno's/Due's, Big Bowl, etc. etc.) right there, as well. I definitely don't see anything else of note (better for the same price, cheaper or a little more, in other words) on HOTWIRE for these dates.

[jasonp75il]

I am looking for a Hotel to stay at the weekend of July 27th & 28th in downtown Chicago. Listed on Hotwire is a hotel for $99 a night in the Loop area. Not much given in terms of amenities. The hotel has a Fitness Center, High Speed Internet, and Resteraunt. Is this the Club Quarters by chance? I have stayed there before and was not impressed although at this price it might be tough to pass up for a summer weekend in Chicago. Any guesses as to what Hotel this likely is? Your help is appreciated.

[AaronJB]

The 4* in the Loop with those amenities for 7/27-29 looks as if it is the W City Center. The CQ is a 3*.

[jasonp75il]

Thanks for the quick reply AaronJB. The reviews on the W are pretty awful, any thoughts on whether its worth the $99 price. Sounds like the rooms/beds are really small.

[thereuare]

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

Is what is believed to be the James still offered for your dates?

Please remember to use our HOTWIRE link for your searches and purchases.

Thanks.

[AaronJB]

The W is just a block or two away from the Club Quarters, so if you've stayed there, you know the area.

Here's what I wrote when discussing the W with someone else considering it on Hotwire:

The W City Center is probably Chicago's biggest "love it or hate it" hotel. If you look up reviews, you'll see positive reviews next to negative or very negative reviews. The hotel has a very dark style, both in terms of lighting and color, which people either find relaxing or irritating. The rooms are on the smaller side (I'm guessing the upgraded rooms are quite a bit bigger, but Hotwire/Priceline users probably get the smaller rooms), as the hotel was previously an older property (the Midland) that was renovated by the W chain. However, rooms do include a DVD player and the W Bed, which is my favorite of the hotel chain beds. The room certainly wasn't big, but it wasn't to the point where I thought it was cramped.

The hotel lobby ("The Living Room") turns into something of a nightclub at night, with music going - the works. It's quite a scene. The area around the hotel is more of a business district. During the day, it's not a far walk to the Art Institute, Millennium Park, State St. Shopping and the Sears Tower (the Sears Tower is the next block over.) Michigan Ave. shopping and the Museum Campus are further out, but still walkable on a nice day. However, the problem around the area is at night: when the business day is over and the workers head home, this area gets quite quiet.

I personally thought the service was friendly - a check-in clerk that talked to us as if they were talking to us, not reading from a script, for example and staff that stopped to say good morning - and the room service was above average for hotel room service.

My only issue with the W was that the corners of the room behind things seemed to be a little dusty, which irritated my allergies. Otherwise, I liked it - it was a pretty wild change from the usual business-style hotel and I like the W bed more than the Westin Heavenly Bed.

However, I can see where people wouldn't like this hotel. It's dark, both in terms of lighting and color, and people are either going to find that relaxing or annoying. The whole "scene" of the lobby I found amusing, as the lobby certainly changes at night. I'm not hip, trendy, chic or anything like that, but I still felt welcome at the W.

But, again - as you can see from the reviews, a lot of people dislike it. I paid $130 - the highest I've paid for a Chicago hotel via HW or PL.

[jasonp75il]

Sorry, forgot about my post awhile ago. Anyway, it appears the James has skyrockted up in price. Last time I checked it was the best deal in the Mag. Mile area but was now going for around $165 a night.