Hotwire Hotel: New need help w/ Chicago Hotels

[rebeccawayne]

We

[AaronJB]

Welcome to the site.

I think there are a couple of issues in terms of location. The family activities I'd most recommend - Lincoln Park Zoo (and the nearby Peggy Notabert Nature Center) are to the North of the North Michigan Ave. area. However, the Museum Campus is to the South of the Loop area.

Both the museums and the Zoo/Notabert are great choices, but at least the zoo is free (and a great zoo; the nearby Notabert charges a reasonable admission fee.) The Notabert has a beautiful live butterfly exhibit.

If you do go to the museums, I'd go early.

Long story short, you cannot be close to both, since they are at opposite ends. However, it is easy to use public transit to get around.

I tend to recommend the Michigan Ave. area more, as there is more going on in that area at night (more restaurants open, etc.)

While this is a bit more expensive, as an alternate recommendation, the Homewood Suites is $134 on Orbitz for a 1BR suite. However, if you use coupon code deal0hotel, it's an extra 10% off = $120.60. You would get a full kitchen, free breakfast and bedroom/living room area. This is also a really very nice property in an excellent location right off Michigan Ave. A subway station is a couple of blocks away. I thought that the extra space, full kitchen and free breakfast (which is served in a really nice dining area off the lobby) may be a nice bonus. This property also gets excellent (4.5/5) reviews on tripadvisor.com (ranked #3 hotel in Chicago on that service.) *NOTE* if you select this property, be sure to select this choice:

1 Bedroom suite-1 king bed-nonsmoking...Comp hi speed-daily hot brkfst-lite meal m-th...Separate bedroom-living rm-sofabed-full kitchen - nonrefundable

In terms of a high-end property, Orbitz.com also has the Conrad (which is essentially next to the Homewood) for $133.50. Using the deal0hotel coupon code gets 10% off = $120 and change. The Conrad is an excellent, high-end property, but the free breakfast and extra space of the Homewood may have more appeal for a family. The Conrad also gets 4.5/5 on tripadvisor.

In terms of HOTWIRE, the 4* in the Loop is likely the Palmer, the 4* Mag Mile is likely the Hyatt and the 4* NMA is likely the Avenue. If you are just looking for a place to sleep, the Hyatt is a fine, centrally located choice. Both the Hyatt and Palmer are huge, convention-oriented properties; I wouldn't recommend either for full price, but they are fine for a discounted rate for those just seeking a place to sleep. The Hyatt would be the better located of the two. The Avenue is a fine hotel, but I'd rather recommend the Conrad for $12 more.

Please use the site's Orbitz.com or HOTWIRE links to start your purchase.

[AaronJB]

If you have any questions, please ask.

[rebeccawayne]

Thank you very much for your help so far. I am getting a little confused trying to look at the mini maps and tell which area we want to stay in. We are not interested in the zoo, but are very excited about Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, and Taste of Chicago. Do you have any recommendations that would be located in a convenient place for these attractions/events?

[AaronJB]

The Homewood Suites and Conrad would work well for those. The Avenue would be a bit far to the North, then. Essentially, if you are just looking for a place to sleep, I'd go with the Hyatt. The Homewood Suites would be more expensive, but provide free breakfast and more space. The Conrad would be a nicer, more upscale 4* than the Hyatt. All three are right near each other, so one isn't vastly better than the other from a location standpoint.

I'd really recommend against Navy Pier (overpriced tourist trap), but if you do go, Fox and Obel Market and Cafe (fox-obel.com) is a great place to stop on the way there for a snack (corner of Illinois and McClurg, a couple of blocks from NP.)

I'd recommend heading to both Taste (and especially the Shedd) early if you want to avoid the crowds at each.

[thereuare]

I'll also add that if you go to Maps and Hotels.com you'll can pull up any address (or attraction) and see all the hotels located in a nearby radius. By zooming in/out you should be able to see all the activities you'd like to do on one page and see their location in relation to each other as well as the hotels and PRICELINE zones.

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

[rebeccawayne]

Can you request specific ammenities (like a pool) on PRICELINE?

[AaronJB]

No.

Please keep all posts in the same thread. Thanks. :)

[rebeccawayne]

We had decided on Homewood Suites, because we liked the idea of the seperate living room for when our daughter goes to bed early and it has the indoor pool we wanted. Unfortunately the price is no longer available. Any other suggestions?

[thereuare]

What about the other ideas already mentioned in this thread?

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