Hotwire Hotel: Need help for chicago hotels

[sugar]

Hi! I am new to this so I can use some help

I am looking to book a hotel in the chicago area for thursday 3/5 - sunday 3/8

I am not familiar with chicago so I do not know what my best option would be (either stay downtown for a little more, or stay near the airport and take the blue line downtown)

So far I have found a 3* downtown (in Magnificent Mile Area - Streeterville ) for $54/night with fitness/business/internet/breakfast - and 120+ reviews and 3 1/2 star rating - but I cannot seem to find a hotel that matches on tripadvisor...

or a 3.5-star hotel in O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD South )- for $68 with suite/shuttle/breakfast/fitness/pool/restaurant/business/internet - 40+ reviews at 3 1/2 stars - again can't seem to figure out what hotel

I looked at regular hotels and the best western downtown offers free parking and it runs around $100 - also sounded pretty good

ideally I would like free parking and free breakfast for under $100

thanks in advance!

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site. :)

I think there's a level where it does not pay to stay in the suburbs and this season generally is at that level. If you stay around O'Hare, it will take an hour or so on the train to get from the airport area downtown. That doesn't count getting from your hotel to the train or waiting at the station. Plus, while the weather has improved a bit recently, it still isn't anything resembling warm.

There is a 3* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area downtown on HOTWIRE for $54 (which would appear to be the Holiday Inn Express Mag Mile) and, better yet, a 3.5* in the NMA/Gold Coast/Water Tower area with the amenities: Boutique, Restaurant, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Golf, Tennis, Spa for $78, which would likely be the Indigo.

If you are driving, you can find parking in various lots that, while still expensive, is likely more reasonable than the hotels.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE link to start your purchase, and let us know how it goes and if you have any questions.

[solavino21]

Don't bother taking the Blue Line in, it will take at least an hour each way and is definitely not worth commuting in to stay at the airport. That said, there are two areas that I'd recommend, The Loop and Mag Mile. I would not worry about breakfast - there is a chain called Corner Bakery where you can get a great breakfast for about $5, and they are now practically on every corner. I would not pay more than $75 a night in this market and at that time of the year.

I hope this helps. You'll definitely want to be easily accessible to shopping / restaurants, etc. The Blue Line is definitely the best way to get to the airport to get to and from your flight, but that's about all it's good for!!

[sugar]

I looked up the holiday inn and it does not show free breakfast...but I cannot find another other hotel that it could be in the mag mile area....I am thinking of just taking this hotel, since it is the cheapest and downtown...I am still looking into it though

[sugar]

Thanks, I wasn't really even thinking about the weather! That is such a good point - it seems like more of a hassle. Thanks for the tip on the restaurant, I will be sure to check it out

as for shopping and restaurants don't most places close pretty early downtown?

[AaronJB]

Are you looking at the Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express? Two different downtown properties. The HOTWIRE listing I mentioned is very possibly the latter.

[sugar]

Sorry! I see it now, I couldn't find it when I searched before because it is listed under "hotel cass"

Thank you.

[sugar]

Thanks for all the tips - my friend didn't want to take the chance of having only one bed so I booked direct from the hotel to ensure 2 double beds and it included parking and breakfast in the package for about $130 so it worked out okay. It was the Fairfield Inn & Suites downtown.

[AaronJB]

Thank you for closing out the thread.