Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* Chicago (Loop) Club Quarters Loop

[katodisc]

My wife and I are planning a trip to Chicago (June 1 - June 4) and have never been there before. We're driving up, but plan to park the car while we're there.

That said, which zone (NMA or Loop) is the best for public transportation and the typical tourist stuff (Second City, Art Institute, Navy Pier, etc.).

I haven't started bidding on this trip yet but am planning to use PRICELINE 4*, unless you think the 3.5* are OK. We're not particularly picky about the hotels, just want to be in a good location.

By the way, I've used this board quite a bit in the past year and love it!

[thereuare]

The NMA is likely the better of the two zones for your needs... it has more nightlife, restaurants, etc whereas the Loop gets a bit quiet at nite after business hours. Both are fairly close to each other and you could walk from one to the other (or a short/inexpensive cab ride) so the Loop does usually work out fine if rates are significantly cheaper there or you're having trouble landing a hotel in the NMA zone, but generally speaking the NMA-River North is preferred over the Loop.

What is your budget per nite for this trip?

[katodisc]

Thanks for your great reply. I think about $120 a night is reasonable.

When I first found out about the trip, I made a refundable reservation with the Hampton Inn Majestic for about $110 a night for May 31-June 2. But we then had to shift our trip to June 1 - June 3, and that Thursday night stay was going to cost $228. :)

Once again, thanks for your help, and I think this board is a wonderful service.

[AaronJB]

In terms of Chicago during a busy/busier Summer period and driving, there are two possibilities:

1. Stay downtown (and if you do plan to be out at night, preferably in the NMA area, as the Loop area can be quite quiet at night.)

This option is certainly more convenient, but more expensive, both in terms of a hotel and in terms of parking. Hotel parking is generally $30-50, although there are other options for around $20-25.

2. Stay in the suburbs.

Somewhat-to-much (depending on time of year and location) cheaper in terms of hotel and parking. There are also some really very nice 'burbs. However, you are looking at about a 35-45 minute trip (depending on location) via Metra (which are really nice - they look somewhat like Amtrak trains and provide a more comfortable trip than the CTA "L" trains.)

Overall, it's best to stay downtown if possible, but the suburbs are not a bad option - the negative is the ride in and out of the city - if one is looking to save.

There is a 35,000 person convention starting on the 4th, and that is the problem with the last night of this stay.

_____________________

When I look for 2 adults for 6/1-3 on HOTWIRE, there is a 4* in the NMA-Water Tower-Gold Coast area with fitness, business, internet and restaurant icons for $99 (although the price you see may vary slightly.) When I click continue to go to the detail page, there is a 4.5/5 tripadvisor rating showing. The amenity set would match the Drake, Knickerbocker, Allerton or Westin Michigan Ave, although none of those currently have a 4.5/5 tripadvisor rating, so either the tripadvisor rating is not up-to-date or this is a new/unreported listing. Either way, the 4.5/5 rating is a comfort.

For 6/3-4, there is a 3* in the Mag Mile area for $74 (likely the Inn of Chicago) or a 3.5* in the Loop for $79 (likely the Club Quarters.)

When you look on HOTWIRE for 6/1-4, the lowest 4* is $139 per night. While the above would force a move at one point, it would at least have 3 nights at a 4*.

Please ask if you do have any questions, and thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[katodisc]

I am trying to get a hotel in the loop for 5/31-6/4. When I enter those paramenters I get two 3.5* hotels in the loop area:

One has a 75% recommended rating and the other has a 90% recommended rating, and both are $69/night.

Any guess which these are? Looking at it, I'm guessing the 75% rating is Club Quarters on Wacker, and the 90% is Club Quarteres on West Adams.

If that is the case, which would should I take? It actually seems like the one on Wacker is better positioned for what we want to do (first-time tourist stuff).

Thanks for any help you can give.

[yellowdog]

Please list the amenties HOTWIRE associates with the hotels you're looking at and we'll have a look at this.

Yellowdog.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[katodisc]

When I enter "233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Il" (Sears Tower) as my address, I get the 3.5* Loop Area Hotel with the 90% Recommended rating, within 0.0-0.7 from my destination address. I don't get the other 3.5* hotel to show up at all in the results. As for amenities, the hotel has a fitness center and wireless.

When I enter "50 N. Wacker, Chicago, Il" as the destination, I get the 3.5* Loop Area Hotel with the 75% Recommended rating to po up. It is 0.0-0.7 from the address I entered. I don't get the 3.5* with the 90% Recommended rating. As for amenities, it has a fitness center and wireless as well.

If these are truly available, please let me know which would would be the best for a first-time tourist. I know some people say NMA-River North is better for night life, but my wife and I like to be back at the hotel by 9, anyway.

Thanks

[katodisc]

Had to pull the trigger on this one - the 3.5* Chicago Loop Area hotel with the 75% Recommended rating went away, and the 3.5* Chicago Loop Area hotel with 90% Recommended rating was just too good to pass up.

I used the HOTWIRE link.

What I got: 3.5* Chicago Loop Area hotel = Club Quarters 111 West Adams St.

5/31-6/4

$69/Night

This is an excellent price for this week! I have been trying for a few weeks on PRICELINE, and even bid $81 for 3.5* in the loop and still couldn't get anything. Went up to $87 for 4* and couldn't get anything, so I took a look at HOTWIRE.

In this case, HOTWIRE was cheaper than PRICELINE! :)

I had a Hampton Inn Theater District reservation for 5/31-6/3, for $101/night, but when we tried to add another night, they wanted $228 for just the Thursday night stay, so I started looking around.

Thanks

[katodisc]

Not sure how this happened, but Hotwire beat Priceline for my trip. I had bid up to $81 for a 3.5* loop hotel from 5/31-6/4, but couldn't get anything. Then went to Hotwire and got a 3.5* hotel from 5/31-6/4 for $69/Night. How can this be?

Anyway, copied over my post on the Hotwire forum to let others know. By the way, this board is great!

Had to pull the trigger on this one - the 3.5* Chicago Loop Area hotel with the 75% Recommended rating went away, and the 3.5* Chicago Loop Area hotel with 90% Recommended rating was just too good to pass up.

I used the HOTWIRE link.

What I got: 3.5* Chicago Loop Area hotel = Club Quarters 111 West Adams St.

5/31-6/4

$69/Night

This is an excellent price for this week! I have been trying for a few weeks on Priceline, and even bid $81 for 3.5* in the loop and still couldn't get anything. Went up to $87 for 4* and couldn't get anything, so I took a look at Hotwire.

In this case, Hotwire was cheaper than Priceline! :)

I had a Hampton Inn Theater District reservation for 5/31-6/3, for $101/night, but when we tried to add another night, they wanted $228 for just the Thursday night stay, so I started looking around.

Thanks

[AaronJB]

Congratulations on your success! :)

Anytime one can get a nice hotel for $69 in the middle of the busy Spring period, that's certainly a good deal. My only concern is that this area is a little inconvenient for tourism (although the Art Institute and the Sears Tower are an easy walk from here), although given the low price of the room, it's enough of a savings to make it worthwhile. My only suggestion would be to take cabs back to the hotel if you are out after dark (and in terms of restaurants, many restaurants/stores do close in the evening in this area - it's primarily a business district and once work hours end, many places do close). There are a number of subway stations nearby to get around, but again, if you're out later in the evening, I'd cab back.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board and using the site's HOTWIRE link.

Enjoy your stay.