Priceline Hotel: 4* Chicago (NMA-River North) Sheraton Towers

[pmuppet]

My dates are 4/17-4/21 (4 nights) in the North Michigan Area of Chicago. Hotwire has a four star property for $87 with the following amenities. Can you help me ID the property?

fitness center, restaurant, high speed internet, and business center.

[AaronJB]

As noted on the site's HOTWIRE listings for Illinois, this could be a few different possibilities: the Allerton, Westin Michigan Ave, Drake or Millennium Knickerbocker. Since all four show with the same amenities when they appear, there's no way of knowing for sure which is showing. While the Drake, Westin (and, at least to some degree) the renovated Knickerbocker are fine possibilities, I'm not so keen on the Allerton (which isn't that much more than this price regular rate for these dates.)

Personally, I'd rather recommend the 4* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area with the amenities: fitness, business, restaurant, internet for a few dollars more, as that's likely either the Hard Rock or Westin (with the Sheraton as a slight possibility.) While I'm not too crazy about the Sheraton, the possibility of the Sheraton, Hard Rock or especially the terrific Westin would - I feel - be a better risk/reward than the 4* NMA.

Please ask if you have any questions before booking, and it would be greatly appreciated if you could use the site's HOTWIRE link.

[pmuppet]

Thanks for the feedback. This is my 1st time visiting Chicago, and I targeted the NMA area because I want to be closest to the restaurants/bars. I hear that is the place to be, but I am definitely open to the Mag Mile/Streeterville area if their bars and restaurants are just as good and plentiful.

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks again, you guys have an AWESOME website!

As noted on the site's HOTWIRE listings for Illinois, this could be a few different possibilities: the Allerton, Westin Michigan Ave, Drake or Millennium Knickerbocker. Since all four show with the same amenities when they appear, there's no way of knowing for sure which is showing. While the Drake, Westin (and, at least to some degree) the renovated Knickerbocker are fine possibilities, I'm not so keen on the Allerton (which isn't that much more than this price regular rate for these dates.)

Personally, I'd rather recommend the 4* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area with the amenities: fitness, business, restaurant, internet for a few dollars more, as that's likely either the Hard Rock or Westin (with the Sheraton as a slight possibility.) While I'm not too crazy about the Sheraton, the possibility of the Sheraton, Hard Rock or especially the terrific Westin would - I feel - be a better risk/reward than the 4* NMA.

Please ask if you have any questions before booking, and it would be greatly appreciated if you could use the site's HOTWIRE link.

[AaronJB]

Essentially, the NMA/Water Tower/Gold Coast area on HOTWIRE is the top half of the Michigan Ave. area, and the Mag Mile/Streeterville area is the bottom half of the Michigan Ave. shopping area.

If you're looking for bars/restaurants, personally, I'd rather recommend the Mag Mile/Streeterville area, as at least there you're near the restaurants and nightlife of both the Michigan Ave. area and the River North area. The River North area is just to the West of Michigan Ave. and to the North of the River. The House of Blues is in the River North area, for example, as is the Hard Rock Cafe (not necessarily recommending those places, just giving an idea of the size/geography of the RN area.

Hotels in the NMA/Gold Coast/Water Tower area would be near the nightlife of the Gold Coast, but personally, I think the River North area offers a better nightlife area and a great variety of restaurants. Plus, more centrally located downtown.

Please ask if you have any questions.

[pmuppet]

Location desired was NMA arriving 4/17-4/21. With four zones not having four star hotels, I had 5 bids. Hotwire had unidentified hotel priced at $85, so I knew if bid in $5 increments, I would be able to get a room for max $85/night. I started at $60 and was offered a counter at $77/night.

I declined. Since my stay was only a day away, I decided to stick to my original plan of increasing my bid by $5/night. I won @$70/night. Hotel was Sheraton. I would have preferred W, Sofitel, or Westin, but hey, for $70/night you won't catch me complaining. The best hotel that comes close to what I paid was the Holiday Inn by the airport. Thanks for the great site. You saved me a lot of money!

[yellowdog]

Thank you for sharing your win with the board :)

Great to see that you found the board useful.

Please use the site's HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links to start future purchases.

Yellowdog.

[AaronJB]

I'd highly recommend Fox and Obel Cafe and Market (fox-obel.com), which is only a block East on Illinois and McClurg.

[pmuppet]

Thanks for the tips. This is our 1st time in Chicago, so we welcome any and all recommendations!

I'd highly recommend Fox and Obel Cafe and Market (fox-obel.com), which is only a block East on Illinois and McClurg.

[AaronJB]

A few notes:

* Navy Pier is definitely not something I'd recommend devoting any time to, but if you want to head over there for the views early in the morning, it's a very easy walk from your hotel - just a few minutes East. That's about the only way I'd recommend NP though.

* The Lincoln Park Zoo is terrific and free. Fantastic way to spend an afternoon, and you can combine it with nearby sights (Old Town, the Chicago Historical Society, the Notabert Nature Center.)

* The Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium are next to each other, so visiting both can be combined into one trip. The Oceanarium is closed in the Shedd, but I believe ticket prices are discounted to reflect that.

* There is a Dominicks Grocery store about one block West of your hotel. It is directly across of the front entrance of the Embassy Suites. Great place for snacks instead of the hotel.

* Fox and Obel, which I mentioned above, is a great choice for breakfast if you don't want to walk too far from your hotel.