Hotwire Hotel: 4* Star Burnham Hotel?

[samiam69]

I would like to stay at the Kimpton Burnham hotel. When I do a search for a package, it shows as a 4 star with the following features (the icons are: Boutique Hotel, Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access).

HOWEVER, when the results come up for just a hotel, in the four star category, there is NOTHING Listed as being Boutique. Do they not use the Boutique designation when you are simply searching for hotels, or is it more likely the Burnham is not available as an individual product?

Please help.

[AaronJB]

Welcome to Better Bidding :)

When you search for hotels individually (not part of a package) different hotels will come up. When you search for hotels individually, there is only 1 hotel showing per star rating per zone. The Burnham may very well not be the hotel currently showing, and it really hasn't been showing very often in the last several months when searching for just hotel on Hotwire.

Keep in mind that there's construction going on across the street of the Burnham and there may be construction going on nearby at night, as well. It's a very, very nice hotel, but you may want to consider other options if noise is going to be a bother.

If you would provide your dates of travel and budget per night, I would be very happy to suggest other hotels.

[samiam69]

Hi:

Thanks for the offer to help! I want to stay the night of November 11, 2007--this Sunday. I will be out all day on business so the day construction will not bother me. However, do you know if the icon for boutique appears when you do a search for a hotel alone and not a package (for any boutique hotel, does it appear?).

Also, would love your advice on other hotels.

[AaronJB]

The hotel in the 4* Loop slot when you search for this date appears to be the Palmer House for $126; the Burnham isn't showing when you search for hotels only and not a package. Also, and I should have asked this first, do you need to be near a certain location? (Essentially, I'm not going to look for a hotel in the North Michigan Ave. area North of the River if you need to be in the Loop South of the river.

[samiam69]

Hi:

I am happy to be anywhere in the Miracle Mile, Loop, or general downtown area as long as it is near the El. I sort of wanted to stay at the Kimpton because I review elite hotels and would have like to include that one. However, my main priorities are:

* clean, elegant room with luxurious linens

* high speed internet

* fitness center

Anything else is not a big deal.

So, if you see any other hotels in the general downtown chicago area around $100, I'd be game to hear your thoughts!

[AaronJB]

To explain the Palmer House Hilton, it is one of the oldest continually operating hotels in the country (I believe the oldest is the Omni Parker House in Boston, although I could be incorrect on that) and it is a giant (it takes up a square block) convention hotel. The Palmer House contains a magnificent, beautiful old-world lobby area, with gorgeous murals across the ceiling and many lovely architectural touches. The rooms, however, can be a little hit-and-miss (some are very small, although that's what one might expect from a hotel that was originally built in the late 1800's. Additionally, with the traffic, some rooms may exhibit some wear) There are a few train stops within a couple of blocks of the Palmer and the Palmer is a few blocks South of the Burnham.

The Burnham is also an older, historic building with a very, very pretty lobby area (although it understandably doesn't match the scale of the Palmer House's lobby). The difference is that the Burnham is a smaller hotel, and more attention is paid in both the service and the room decor.

Wikipedia's entry for the Palmer House (which also includes a lobby pic): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmer_House

There's a book that's partially about the Palmer - "Chicago's Grand Hotels: The Palmer House Hilton, The Drake, and The Hilton Chicago" by Robert V. Allegrini.

[AaronJB]

Also showing would be what appears to be the Hyatt ($109, a 4* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area), which I wouldn't consider of interest in this case, as I'd think the Palmer would give you more to write about.

[AaronJB]

In terms of package deals, are you looking up hotel+car? If I look up hotel+car, of interest are: The Palmer House, The Hilton Towers, The Drake, the James, the Intercontinental and the Conrad. However, when searching for hotel alone, the only one of these that appears to be showing is the Palmer House.

[samiam69]

Hi!

I don't need a car, just need the hotel. I did a search on car+hotel but again, the Burnham did not come up--although the other Kimpton did.

Hmm...this is mysterious.

[AaronJB]

Well, if you only need a hotel and search for hotel alone, you will not see all of the hotels showing when you search for packages, only a very few.

I would suggest using Priceline (a similar discount service to Hotwire), but if you are looking for a specific level of property, then that wouldn't work, as you could not guarantee which hotel you would get.

[samiam69]

Hi Aaron:

I'm not a big fan of priceline--when you book through it, they always give you the absolute worst rooms and then they never respond to any complaints or requests--their attitude is, you aren't paying for this room so shove it.

Thanks for all your help here!

[AaronJB]

Hmmm, well, I've never had that with Priceline and Chicago hotels, but I guess there's always the first time. If you feel that way about Priceline though, Hotwire is a very similar discount service.

Unfortunately, not seeing a whole lot for these dates in terms of something that would fit what you're looking for. The Hyatt and the Sheraton are also showing on Priceline, but both of those are quite average hotels.

These are the hotels I would recommend in terms of what you are looking for, but they are - as far as I can see - more expensive than what you are looking for: The Westin River North (not the Westin Michigan Ave), the Indigo, the Intercontinental, the Drake, the James, the Sutton Place, the Swissotel, Monaco, Burnham, Talbott.

[thereuare]

How much are you willing to pay for the Burnham?

It's available thru Quickbook for $229/nite for the nite above.