Hotwire Hotel: 4* Chicago (Loop) Palmer House Hilton

[Nords]

Hello,

I recently got from Hotwire for $74/night the 4* Palmer House Hilton.

Dates (3 night stay) will be April 22 - 25, 2009.

Amenities shown were:

Fitness Centre

Business Centre

Pool(s)

High Speed Internet

Restaurant(s)

I just have to say a couple quick things. I'm new to the board (just formally signed up today), but I've been lurking for weeks now. I love betterbidding.com. I also have to apologize to everyone here that I did not use your HOTWIRE link to book. I plead ignorance though. It wasn't until after I booked and read more of the postings here that I realized that's what I should have done. Also, this booking was completed on March 26, 2009 and I'm just now getting around to posting it. Sorry! From now on, I'm going to use Betterbidding for everything (and tell people about this forum too!) and will always use your PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links.

We can't wait for our trip to Chicago though. I've never been and my wife hasn't been since she was 15 on a school trip (won't tell you how many years ago that was...). The trip is a babymoon for us as she will be 6 1/2 months pregnant. We're flying from Detroit (would have driven, but I'm not going to subject her to a drive that long), after dropping off our 1st child with her grandparents in London, Ontario the night before.

Certainly, any suggestions on things to do would be great. As of now, I told my wife I need to do the field museum and go up one of the towers (likely Hancock after reading this forum and tripadvisor). Then we'll probably just walk the magnificant mile and do a boat tour of some sort (she can sit down for that!).

Question. How receptive has the Palmer House been with room requests? I'd like to request from them a King sized bed. Have they generally granted such requests even though it was a Hotwire booking? Some of the reviews on Tripadvisor have been a bit dodgy (anyone see the recent one about rats!!!!), but for us the hotel is just a place to sleep anyway.

Finally, being Canadian, I note that it looks like the Blackhawks might have a playoff game one of those nights. Is getting tickets a foolish and costly endeaver? In Toronto it would be hopeless (including of course that the leafs suck and haven't make the playoff for like 4 years now). Any hints for trying for tickets?

Thanks everyone here. If it wasn't for this board we probably would have booked a package deal through HOTWIRE or Expedia or something and while there were deals over that time they don't come close to the $74/night at the Palmer.

Thanks again!

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site. :)

Please use the site's HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links for future trips.

While many like the Chicago Architecture Foundation boat tours, I've always been a fan of the Wendella Boat Tours, which leave from the NW corner of the Michigan Ave. bridge.

I'd also highly recommend the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is a great zoo - and free. There is also quite a bit in the vicinity of the zoo, including the Chicago Historical Society and the Old Town area.

Hancock over the Sears Tower.

The Shedd is next to the Field, and those two can be easily combined. I would definitely try to get to the Shedd when it opens - the Shedd first, then the Field.

[thereuare]

Hancock over the Sears Tower.

My one "insider Chicago tip" is lunch at the Signature Room (not sure if that's Sears or Hancock Tower... i think the latter, but i'll let AaronJB confirm).

The food was "ok" but if you order smarly (ie- burger, sandwiches, etc and not some $20 entree) the cost is only slightly more than if you bought tickets to the observation deck and ate lunch elsewhere. This gives you a nice, leisurely, and relaxing lunch with incredible views instead of the quick trip to the observation deck.

Enjoy your stay and congratulations on the upcoming birth of your second child.