Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* Chicago (Mag Mile-Streeterville) Doubletree Mag Mile

[LindaS]

I am new to this site and was wondering if you could help me get a hotel room for my husband attending a meeting at the Chicago Marriott this week. 2/26 thru 3/1. The Marriott is at 540 N Michigan Avenue. My daughter is going to meet him there. We need a room with 2 beds in it. I was hoping for at least a 4* around a $100 or slightly more. Is this possible. Any advice would be appreciated. If possible walking distance to the Marriott. Thanks Linda

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site. The best choice for this situation would be HOTWIRE. Let me see what I can find - be back shortly.

[LindaS]

Thanks Aaron, geographically the Intercontinental looks good-- any advice would be appreciated. L

[AaronJB]

Well, after looking for these dates, my thoughts would be:

1. If you want to guarantee 2 beds, you have to search for 3 in a room (2 adults, 1 child) on HOTWIRE. The results when searching for 2/1 on these dates show a 4* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area for $108 that would appear to be a potential match for the Sheraton (4* smoke-free, fitness, pool, internet, business, restaurant.) I'm not a big fan of the Sheraton, and I'd rather recommend the 3.5* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville for $78 with the amenities: fitness, business, restaurant, internet, pool. That would likely be the Doubletree, which is an easy walk to the Marriott and cheaper - the extra money can go towards something else.

My other recommendation would be the Homewood Suites Downtown via Orbitz.com; that's $99 on Orbitz.com (use coupon code FABSAVE10 for an extra 10% off per night.) While that's a 3*, that's a great 3* property that offers free breakfast. This would also be less than a block from the Marriott. This would be a king/sofabed suite, and I really think this is one of the nicest 3*'s in the city.

On the higher end, the Avenue ($103) and Dana (on sale for $123) would be 4*'s within walking distance I'd recommend (and that you should be able to use the FABSAVE10 coupon code on.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE or Orbitz.com links to start your purchase, and let us know if you have any questions at all.

[LindaS]

Aaron, I am ready to book this and I found on hotwire, a 3.5* for 74 is that what you were referring to as a 3.5* for $78. Thinking it was probably the Doubletree?

Thanks Linda

[AaronJB]

Yes; you may see it (3.5* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville with the amenities: fitness, business, restaurant, internet, pool.) for a slightly different price than I do.

[LindaS]

It is giving me an error code of error #405. Do you know what this is?

[AaronJB]

We couldn't process your request.

We're sorry, but the itinerary you selected is no longer available. Your card has not been charged. We apologize for the inconvenience.

You may retry your search by modifying your date, neighborhood or select another hotel within a different star category and we will search all other hotels to find the best available hot-RateSM.

Note that this price is not guaranteed until the purchase is complete. Hotwire Customer Care Associates will not be able to assist you with this problem. Error #405

______________________-

Does it say the above?

[AaronJB]

I ask because that is what apparently popped up for the same error number for another poster.

[LindaS]

this is what is popping up. We are calling Amex now.

[LindaS]

I ask because that is what apparently popped up for the same error number for another poster.

America PRICELINE EXPRESS says the charge went through to hotwire. Now what???

[AaronJB]

I'd call HOTWIRE ASAP.

[LindaS]

I'd call HOTWIRE ASAP.

We are calling them now.

[LindaS]

They said the hotel was not available and there inventory is only updated once per day. I would like to put in a bid for a 4.5 star hotel in the area of the Marriott. What do I pick? and is this only available on Priceline and not hotwire? Thanks What would be a good bid?

[thereuare]

Are you refering to the Marriott Mag Mile at 540 North Michigan Avenue?

Also, there are no 4.5* hotels in the Chicago region... are you looking for a 4* rated hotel? What exactly is it that you're looking for from this stay? What is you maximum bid?

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

[LindaS]

Are you refering to the Marriott Mag Mile at 540 North Michigan Avenue?

Also, there are no 4.5* hotels in the Chicago region... are you looking for a 4* rated hotel? What exactly is it that you're looking for from this stay? What is you maximum bid?

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

I am looking for a 4* *or a 3.5* within walking distance of 540 N Michigan Avenue with at least 2 double beds. Around between 80-120$ On hotwire I am looking at the 3.5* for 74 and the 4* for 105 in the Magnificent Mile Streeterville Area. I was told that the3.5 is probably the Doubletree do you have a best guess on what the 105 is? Linda

[AaronJB]

I'm currently working on a response that goes over many of the options. Be back shortly. :)

[LindaS]

I am looking for a 4* *or a 3.5* within walking distance of 540 N Michigan Avenue with at least 2 double beds. Around between 80-120$ On hotwire I am looking at the 3.5* for 74 and the 4* for 105 in the Magnificent Mile Streeterville Area. I was told that the3.5 is probably the Doubletree do you have a best guess on what the 105 is? Linda

[AaronJB]

My thoughts:

1. If you were to bid on PRICELINE for a 4* in the River North/North Michigan Ave. area, you may be accepted at a hotel near the Marriott (such as the Sheraton or Intercontinental), but there are also hotels that may accept your bid that are on the North end of the North Michigan Ave. area (such as the Drake and Millennium Knickerbocker.) While it is still quite easy to get from these hotels to the Marriott, it's a little bit more of a walk versus some other hotels. If you want to start a bid for a 4* in the River North/North Michigan Ave. area, I would recommend $80 as a starting price.

If you want to attempt a lowball bet, I would bid $65 for a 4* in the Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park area. While there's always the chance another hotel could come up, the intent with this is to see if the Hyatt Regency will - as they often do - accept a very low bid. If the Hyatt was to accept, that would be an easy walk from the Marriott.

2. I'm still seeing the 3.5* Mag Mile/Streeterville that was discussed earlier in this thread. I'm not recommending trying again to get it, I'm just saying it's a bit odd. While it still seems rare, it seems to me that this problem with HOTWIRE (a listing no longer being available when one attempts to purchase) has happened more lately.

3. If you want to pay more for a regular rate property, as I mentioned earlier in the thread, the sale price on the new Dana Hotel and Spa on Orbitz.com ($123, but you can use the coupon code FABSAVE10 for 10% off each night) is a good deal, and that hotel offers free breakfast, according to the hotel website.

4. If you do want a 4.5* hotel, there are two on HOTWIRE, but only if you search for 2 people, which means that, if you purchase them, you will have to work out two beds with the hotel and 2 beds will not be guaranteed. One is a 4.5* in the North Michigan Ave/Water Tower/Gold Coast with the amenities: Restaurant, Fitness, Business, Internet. This is a possible match for the Sofitel. There is a 4.5* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area with the amenities: Restaurant, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Laundry, Spa, which would be a possible match for the James.

Both of these are over your budget at about $150 per night. The James would be closer to the Marriott, but the Sofitel would be the more upscale of the two. The James is a very nice boutique property, but it's more accurately a 4*, while the Sofitel is more at the 4.5* level.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE, PRICELINE or Orbitz.com links - and please let us know if you have any questions.

[LindaS]

What would be the starting bid for the James?

[AaronJB]

The James has never been reported as a win on PRICELINE.

Additionally, keep in mind that PRICELINE is about getting a hotel cheap, it's not about getting a specific hotel. You are only bidding on a star rating and an area - you have to be willing to accept whichever hotel at that star rating PRICELINE gives you if your offer is accepted by a participating hotel.

[LindaS]

Dear Aaron, I did Hotwire and tried the 3.5* for 74 and won! It is the Doubletree. I used the HOTWIRE link from your site. :) Thank you so much for all of your help. My husband will be estatic. He was booked at the Marriott for 175 a night (group rate) and taxes were not included.

Linda

[AaronJB]

That's fantastic! Congrats on a great deal for a very nice property. $100+ per night savings on hotel is fantastic - especially since how much time is spent in the hotel in Chicago anyways, really? :)

Additionally, while no guarantees, some rooms at this property do have pretty nice views of the surrounding area.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE link, as well.

One major recommendation I would make is Fox and Obel Cafe and Market, which is only a few blocks away on the corner of Illinois and McClurg. That's a terrific place for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks. The menu is at fox-obel.com.

[LindaS]

Do you have any places you recommend for dinner for my husband and daughter? She is 18. They fish, steak, asian, greek and mexican. Italian is a problem as she is allergic to wheat.

[thereuare]

AaronJB can certainly answer better than i can, but if they like mexican you have two of the "celebrity chef" Rick Bayless' restaurants: Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. I was there a good 10 years ago, long before many (including myself) knew who Rick Bayless was, and it was a 'happening' and trendy restaurant at that tiime... not sure of their current reputation, but might be something to look into on the basis of the celebrity owner (also, it wasn't really Mexican as most americans would think, but much more eccelctic)