Hotwire Hotel: 4* Chicago (Magnificent Mile-Streeterville) Hyatt Regency

[Niklynn]

I am a single mom wanting to take my two kids to Chicago this summer for a few days. In order to do so, I need to get a good price on a hotel, and I want to be within walking distance to museums, shopping, Navy Pier, etc. After looking at hotel prices online, I am thinking that that the only way to do this within my budget is to use Priceline or Hotwire. However, I need some guidance and advice, so anyone willing to provide input, please do!!! :)

Thanks

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site. :)

What is your max budget per night?

[Niklynn]

Thank you for the welcome. :)

I was hoping to be near 100 dollars per night.

[thereuare]

First thing to note is that PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy. There is a chance that you could get a room with only one bed... not sure if this would be an issue for you.

If that is not acceptable then HOTWIRE is an option as it allows you to search for up to quad occupancy. If you search HOTWIRE does anything come up within your stated budget in the zones you prefer?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[Niklynn]

First, thanks for the heads up about Priceline only guaranteeing for a double room. We would definitely need two beds, as my kids are 10 and 13. No way they'd want to all crowd into one bed with mom! :) However, when I search Hotwire, I find nothing even close to 100 dollars in the Mag Mile area. Am I being unrealistic? Please help. Thanks!

[thereuare]

For these particulare dates rates look high, so the city is probably busy and many hotels have high occupancy (and therefore high hotel rates too)... which means $100 is probably not going to be enough for these dates.

Are you travel dates flexible at all or perhaps staying in the suburbs and commuting the city would be acceptable?

[Niklynn]

My travel dates are somewhat flexible. I can move forward or backward by a couple of days, or even move back into July if I have to, this was just my preferred week. I don't really want to move to the 'burbs as I'd prefer to be close with easy access since it will be just me and the kids. What are your feelings about Priceline and the two beds deal? Would it be too risky to accept a room and request a two beds?

[thereuare]

If you scan the Priceline Forum you'll see a few wins for dates in July with sub-$100 wins (some as low as $59/nite). I would focus on those dates and see if any of them work for you... no guarantees that you'll be able to duplicate those bids, but that would be a good start.

As well, look at the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins to see if there are any three day stretches of low priced wins.

From there i would do a HOTWIRE search for those dates and see how the prices for 1adult/2children compare to what you think you can get the hotels for via PRICELINE... then based upon the cost difference you can decide if it's worth the risk or not.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[AaronJB]

I'd strongly recommend moving into July, as while it's unfortunately not the preferred weekend, you will find much better prices if you can do 6/28-7/1. If you can go 6/30-7/3, even better.

You should have no problem getting a 4* in the Michigan Ave. area for under $100 (not tons under $100, but at least a little under $100) on either of these sets of dates.

[Niklynn]

Thanks so much for this great info. I'll do a bit more investigating, and let you know how it all turns out. :)

[Niklynn]

4* Mag Mile-which hotel

4* Mag Mile, Fitness center, business center, spa, WiFi, restaurant 3.5/5 on trip advisor out of 400+ reviews. Do you think this is the Hard Rock?

This stay is for June 4-June 7 and it's showing for 95.00.

[thereuare]

Since your dates may be changing often, keep all posts for this trip in this thread...

The HOTWIRE hotel above is a match for the Hyatt Regency so that would be our best guess.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know if you go for it or if we can be of further help.

[Niklynn]

4* Mag Mile, Fitness center, business center, spa, WiFi, restaurant 3.5/5 on trip advisor out of 400+ reviews

This did end up being the Hyatt Regency. I got this for 92.00 per night for June 3-7th.

From what I can tell, this seems like it will be a good location. I hope it is in walking distance to most things we want to do.

Thanks for all the help! :)

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to hear you plans were flexible and we were able to help make this trip work within your budget.

Thank you for sharing your results with the board (and hopefully using our HOTWIRE link)

Have a great trip!

[Niklynn]

I did use your HOTWIRE link! :) However, I have one additional question for you. In my quest for information on using Priceline or Hotwire, you were nice enough to let me know that Hotwire might be a better option for me, because Priceline would not guarantee anything other than double occupancy. Therefore, I did use Hotwire because I didn't want to get stuck with all 3 of us trying to cram into one bed. Unfortunately, this morning when I called the Hyatt Chicago to confirm reservations, they told me it was for a King room. I told them it needed to be 2 doubles for 3 people, and they said that Hotwire had submitted it as a King and therefore Hyatt would note my REQUEST for a double, but they would not guarantee it. This was the sole reason I used Hotwire, when I may have been able to submit a lower bid on Priceline, but didn't want to risk only one bed. Did I do something wrong?

[thereuare]

Thank you for using our HOTWIRE link.

When you made your purchase on HOTWIRE, did you put the occupancy as 1adult/2children? (you can probably check by going to HOTWIRE and clicking the MY ACCOUNT link on the top right corner of their home page)

[Niklynn]

Yes, I did. I actually called the Hotwire number after talking to Hyatt. Hyatt had blamed it on Hotwire saying "Hotwire sent it over as a King room, and we can't change it." Hotwire said that it was listed as 3 people. She even called Hyatt while I was on hold. When she came back on she said that Hyatt would not agree to guarantee a room with 2 beds, but that it would "probably" be okay since I'm checking in mid-week. I just don't understand what the purpose of using Hotwire and entering the number of people is, if it is not going to matter ultimately. I think I may have gotten a better price using Priceline, yet I used Hotwire to avoid this situation.

[AaronJB]

I've put family and friends up at the Hyatt many times via PRICELINE and occasionally via HOTWIRE. There has never been a problem with 2 beds, even when using Priceline. If this is a horrendously busy date, then there may an issue. Otherwise, the hotel has a zillion rooms and it shouldn't be a problem.

Use the auto check-in machine to see if you see a two doubles room available. If not, ask at the desk.

[thereuare]

I'll add that HOTWIRE does guarantee that the room will accomodate three people since that it is what you searched for (unfortunately the Hyatt is not abiding by their contract at the moment). If you wanted "push to come to shove" i would think that you could call HOTWIRE and either get them to guarantee the two beds (by calling the hotel and getting the hotel to accomodate) or have them cancel the reservation.

Given another scenario, let's say you get a room with only one bed and you get a rollaway delivered to the room... there would be no charge (and if the Hyatt insisted HOTWIRE would refund it to you... at least they have in the past). With PRICELINE you'd be subject to whatever the Hyatt decided to charge.

If you'd like you can call HOTWIRE again (wait for another shift at the hotel) and let them know that you're concerned and you'd like a guarantee from the hotel in regards to the bed type.

[Niklynn]

Thanks for the input, guys. I am pleased with the rate I got at the Hyatt using Hotwire, so hopefully it will work out okay. :) In addition, I know that the Hyatt charges nearly 50 dollars per night in parking fees. Since you are familiar with the area, would you suggest that I use their parking, or is there another, less expensive option nearby? I don't think I'll need in/out service, as we're planning to walk or use trolley. Thanks!

[Suburbanite05]

Thanks for the input, guys. I am pleased with the rate I got at the Hyatt using Hotwire, so hopefully it will work out okay. :) In addition, I know that the Hyatt charges nearly 50 dollars per night in parking fees. Since you are familiar with the area, would you suggest that I use their parking, or is there another, less expensive option nearby? I don't think I'll need in/out service, as we're planning to walk or use trolley. Thanks!

It's been a pleasure reading this thread.

As for parking, not far from the Hyatt are the Millenium Park Garages - Park at the MONROE EAST garage. $20 for 24hours. It's underground parking off Columbus drive next to Millenium Park. Don't get it confused with Millenium Park Garage - $23 for 24hours. Look for the signs on Columbus - if heading north from Columbus/Congress/Buckingham fountain, it's the entrance next to the sidewalk. Had no problems parking there overnight. Take your parking ticket with you. You pay at the machines the day you leave and not at the gates/there's no attendant. No in/out allowed.

http://www.millenniumgarages.com/Source/Rates.aspx

YOu can walk down Columbus to Wacker or along Michigan Ave to Wacker to the Hyatt. Personally, have not walked along Columbus to Wacker, but have done Michigan Ave. It might be a 15 min walk.

Here's some video I shot on our recent stay at the Conrad on Michigan Ave.

Monroe East Parking:

Hyatt Regency, it's location:

Have a nice trip. You are close to shopping on Michigan Ave and not far from the stores on State Street.

[Niklynn]

Suburbanite, THANKS so much for your helpful input. Adding the video was so great! I really appreciate all the help I got from this thread! Everyone has been so kind.

Since you've all been so helpful, I have one more question. Aaron added in a previous post in this thread that I should "use the auto check in" and look for a double room". Does this mean if I use auto check in I can choose my own room from those available? I was hoping to get a room on a high up floor with a great view. My kids would really, really love that. :)

[AaronJB]

The auto check-in machines, in my experience, do give at least a few different options, one of which may be room with two beds. If two beds isn't one of the options, then you can go to the check-in desk to ask. The Hyatt - at least in my experience - has been good about honoring requests. I wouldn't get your hopes up for an upgrade, but I don't see why two beds would be a problem unless - again - it's just an especially high traffic day.

If you do want a view room, you can probably pay a mild upgrade fee.

[Niklynn]

Just wanted to let you all know that we are back from our trip to Chicago and had a FABULOUS time! All of the help provided on this sight was incredibly valuable! We were very happy with our room at the Hyatt Regency--the location was perfect for us. We were close to the Mag Mile in one direction, and close to the Oriental theater in the other direction (we saw Wicked--incredible!). The Hyatt did in fact provide us with 2 beds as requested, and also gave us a room with a beautiful city view! At check in I simply asked if a room with a city view was a possibility as the kids would love it, and he said, "Certainly". We looked out directly over the river and had a perfect view of the Hancock building, Tribune Tower etc. It was lovely. On Wednesday night, we were able to go right out front of the hotel and sit on the edge of one of the planters for a wonderful view of the fireworks. Parking was nearly 50 dollars per night, so I followed the advice given on this thread and used the Monroe Street Garage instead, paying only 73.00 for the 3 nights rather than 150. We enjoyed our stay at the Hyatt very much! Thanks again for the wonderful advice! :)