Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* Chicago (Magnificent Mile-Streeterville) Wyndham Chicago

[day-o]

I'm new to your website and just registered yesterday. I've been reading the postings and trying to figure out the best way to find a Chicago hotel for 10/26/08 - 11/1/08. I've used Priceline and Hotwire before for San Francisco and Omaha, and always been pleased with the results. But Chicago seems a little bit confusing to me. When I searched Hotwire today for a 4* in Magnificent Mile, No Michigan Avenue, Loop, or Museum Campus I get results that start at $205 and a note that the results for the Loop are not available. But if I go to the home page tab I see a 4* in the Loop for $79 with fitness center, pool, restaurant, business center, and hi-speed internet. I'm guessing this might be for the Palmer House? From that location I can duplicate the same reservation someone else has already made, but I can't get the whole week that I want. What advice can you give me? I would like to go to the theatre and museums when I'm in town, so I'm thinking the Loop might be the best location for me, but would consider other areas.

[AaronJB]

Rates vary by date; while someone may have gotten the Palmer House for $79 on other dates, busier dates will result in higher Hotwire rates. If there are no results in the Loop area, I'm guessing there may be a convention on these dates (as the Loop hotels generally fill first, as they're closer to McCormick Place.)

What is your budget for these dates? Would you be against splitting your stay, given the differences in traffic during your stay?

Edited to add:

Yep:

10/26/2008 -

10/29/2008 GRAPH EXPO

[day-o]

Thanks for your reply. My budget is approximately $125/night. I think splitting the stay between two hotelsl might be the easiest way to handle this. I look forward to hearing your suggestions.

[AaronJB]

I'll do some research and be back in a few minutes.

[AaronJB]

There is a 3.5* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area for 10/28-11/1 for $96 per night with the amenities: fitness, pool, internet, business, restaurant. While this could be a match for either the Doubletree or the Wyndham, the tripadvisor rating on the detail page is a 4/5, which would be a match for the Wyn.

However, the prior days become more difficult in terms of keeping in-budget, as these days seem really busy.

1. Take the 3.5* Mag Mile for $96 for 10/28-11/1. The first two nights are much more expensive; Orbitz has the Hilton Garden Inn for $255.55, but use the coupon code FABSAVE10 for 10% off each night, which makes each night about $230.

$230 for the first two nights and $96 the last 4 nights unfortunately still works out to $140, a little over your max per night.

My thought if you want to attempt to get the price average down further is take the $96 Hotwire price for the last four nights, then try Priceline for the first two. However, given the traffic for the first two nights, it will likely take a high bid ($150+) for acceptance and there may be little or no inventory.

Still, $96 a night for a 3.5* in the Mag Mile area for 10/28-11/1 is a good deal and worth taking. If $230 for the first two nights is acceptable (it's expensive, but options for these dates are limited and prices are through the roof), then the Hilton Garden Inn is at least one of the nicest 3*'s in the city.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could use the site's links to Orbitz.com, HOTWIRE.com and PRICELINE.com to start your booking.

If you have any questions, please ask.

[day-o]

I can easily change my travel dates. What suggestions do you have if my arrival in Chicago is 10/28 or 29 and departure is 11/2 or 3? I would also consider going to $150/night if that would get me a considerably better hotel or location. Thanks again for your time.

[AaronJB]

Let me do a little research, and I'll be back in a few minutes.

[AaronJB]

10/29-11/3 does also have the the 3.5* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area for 10/28-11/1 for $92 per night with the amenities: fitness, pool, internet, business, restaurant. While this could be a match for either the Doubletree or the Wyndham, the tripadvisor rating on the detail page is a 4/5, which would be a match for the Wyn. *if* this is the Wyndham, that is a very nice hotel in a superb location.

The other option of note on Hotwire for these dates is a 4* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area with the amenities: fitness, pool, restaurant, business, internet, tennis and spa for $115. This would be a likely match for the Swissotel, which is a very nice hotel by the river.

Either of these would be very good choices. If either are of interest, it would be greatly appreciated if you could use the site's link to HOTWIRE.

[day-o]

I tried for the Wyndham because of its location and you were correct! I got the Wyndham for $96 for 10/28 - 11/2. Thank you once again for your assistance. I will be using your PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links over and over again. The service you provide is very helpful.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you received the hotel you were expecting and are happy with the results.

Thank you for sharing your outcome with the board and using our HOTWIRE link to begin your purchase.

Enjoy your stay.

PS- as always, nice job researching this Chicago stay AaronJB :)

[AaronJB]

Wyndham's a really nice property - one of the more well-maintained 4*'s I've stayed at in the city. It's also superbly located a block from Michigan Ave - the middle of the Mag Mile shopping area is literally the next block over.

If you want a quick bite to eat, there's a Corner Bakery (cornerbakery.com for menu) on the opposite corner from the hotel. The other benefit of the Wyn is that the standard rooms there feel larger than average, and have very nice bathrooms. The rooms also have a Herman Miller chair that, quite remarkably, costs a thousand dollars in their catalog.

Enjoy your stay, and glad I could help! :)