Priceline Hotel: 4* Chicago (NMA-River North) Sheraton Towers

[difs]

Just won this hotel for 3/20 through 3/23 for my daughter and myself at $79 a night. Seems to get very good reviews both on these boards and Trip Advisor.

Hope this is helpful - Diane

[AaronJB]

Thank you for reporting your win. :)

I can't say the Sheraton is my favorite hotel, but it is fine for Priceline rates and in a really, really terrific location. Please consider heading around the corner to the Fox and Obel Market and Cafe (sort of like the Chicago version of NYC's Dean and Deluca) on Illinois and McClurg. Great cafe and lovely market. You can also get "to go" orders, which is a whole lot cheaper than the Sheraton's room service. If you want cheap(er) snacks, there's a giant Dominicks grocery a couple of blocks away and a Walgreens across the street. Hopefully you'll get a room with a view, as a good portion of the rooms do have some sort of nice view.

[difs]

Aaron - great advice and so appreciated! I'm taking my daughter for a little sightseeing (she's 15) so location is a good thing, even if the Sheraton's not the ultimate. Any other thoughts on what she might like besides shopping, shopping and more shopping? I'm into eating, so Fox and Obel sounds heavenly.

Diane

[thereuare]

difs,

Congratulations on your win.

Can you please also follow-up your previous Hotwire South Beach thread with whatever you ended up doing for that stay.

Thanks.

[AaronJB]

Fox and Obel is a good choice for breakfast, as well, since it opens fairly early (7?) Their prices are a liiittle bit higher than the average restaurant, but when you take into account the quality of ingredients, the prices actually seem very reasonable.

http://www.fox-obel.com/cafe/cafe.asp

Fox & Obel Menu.

I'd highly recommend Lincoln Park Zoo, which is a bit of a trip from the Sheraton, but free and worthwhile. If your daughter is into shopping, then you're a couple of blocks from Michigan Ave. I'm personally not much of a fan of Michigan Ave; it lacks variety and I often feel like I could find things cheaper elsewhere. However, if you are looking to browse through Nordstroms, Bloomingdales, high-end cosmetics stores and loads of other high-end clothing stores, you could spend much of a day there.

One suggestion, and I'd go to the concierge with this, is to see if they can get you into an appointment at the Bliss Spa at the W Lakeshore (also a Starwood property, and really no more than a 3-4 minute walk from the Sheraton. You can see the W from the Sheraton. Those staying at the W Lakeshore do get VIP status (priority booking and discounts on products.) While no guarantees, since you are also staying at a Starwood property, maybe they could work out something similar.

Navy Pier is only about a 4-5 minute walk East of your hotel. I do not recommend spending much time at all at Navy Pier; it's a total tourist trap (if you look on Wikipedia under tourist trap, Navy Pier is actually there), but there are some great views, and if you are looking for an early morning stroll, you may want to pick up some breakfast and stroll over to Navy Pier, take a few pics from the end of the Pier and go on with your day.

Not sure what kind of music your daughter likes, but Reckless Records is an extensive used music store in the Lakeview neighborhood, which is a bit of a trip - but not bad by "L" train. They have an incredible selection of varied genres and you can often find rare recordings. There are also a lot of thrift-style/alternative stores around there.

An option is to take the train up there, have a meal at the famed Ann Sather and then stop at Reckless and walk throughout Lincoln Park (which is a very nice neighborhood) to the Zoo and then back to Michigan Ave. Not something I'd recommend on a bitterly cold day, but if it's a decent day, that is a really nice walk.

Not only is the Sheraton a good location in terms of convenience, it is a more upscale area that also manages to be not *quite* as busy as right on Michigan Ave, especially in Winter when few people are going through that area to head to Navy Pier.

If weather is particularly bad, there is a 21-screen movie theatre and giant bowling alley directly across the street.

If you are going primarily for shopping, I'd gear a day towards Michigan Ave shopping. I'd make another day a combination of State St. shopping, the Sears Tower and the Art Institute. I'd make another day maybe part the Reckless Records/Belmont/Lincoln Park area and maybe the Zoo, another day maybe a museum or two and the final day a little more Michigan Ave. before departing.

[AaronJB]

To be more specific about the Sheraton, it's not that I thought it was a particularly terrible hotel, it was just wholly and completely average. It has a very pretty lobby, but the room seemed a tad sparse and hall/pipe noise in the room seemed well above average. Tub wouldn't drain and when I told them about it at checkout, the person just shrugged.

One warning, and this is not something you should worry about because there are so many food options near the hotel anyway - do not eat in the hotel. Their restaurants recently (this was a few months back, but still...) did not pass a health inspection.

[difs]

Omigosh, did not pass health inspection? Egad. Now I'm feeling a little worried about this place. I certainly won't use the glasses in the bathroom :)

I love all your suggestions. I've printed everything out and will bring with me. One of my clients, the Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao, is there so I know we will have at least one fabulous meal :) Diane