tlf18

hi folks.
i've already searched "Chicago hotel" and gotten some great tips and recommendations.

but, as always, other people had different needs and since there's always a request for more info about location/pricerange, etc, i figured i'd start my own thread to narrow down all the choices.

going to be in chicago Sun.Oct.8 and need a room for that night. would like to be in/near Mag.Mile, Mich.Ave, Loop area. we'll already have rental from the weekend wedding we attend near Champaign(even if we wont need it much once we get to the city). so we'll need parking.

it seems you cant stay downtown for less than $200. that's okay, but if i'm spending $200 (or more) i'd like it to be pretty nice.

i've done various searches thru many of the usual travel sites. seems there's very little middle ground between the cheap/crappy places and the glamorous ritzy places.

any recommendations?

since we'll really only be there for just over 24 hours, we hope to catch a few quick touristy things like the art museums, maybe the archictectural boat tour, etc.

thanks in advance, and i'll go back to searching this great forums cuz i'm sure this has been discussed before.

tlf18

damn, the more i search, the more i think i might need a 2nd mortgage just to spend one Sunday night in the heart of downtown chicago.

JJ5

Do a search here on the search function for Chicago hotel. It is probably too late to get a deal and I think that is the Marthon weekend. Maybe I am wrong.

But regardless, got to Hotwire.com and see if you can get your area for that price. It might be impossible this late, but that and Priceline are always worth a try. Rack rate is going to be much past $200 per at this date.

Other threads will give you full information and links to using the discount brokers- some were just posted in the last few weeks.

tlf18

thanks. yea, i've searched the forums already and found some helpful links.

i think the marathon is a different weekend, not sure.

that monday is columbus day, so that might put a damper on finding a cheap sunday rate.

jlm_mi

The marathon isn't until 10/22, but there a couple of conferences going on on the 8th with 10,000-15,000 participants, so that will affect hotels some.

hotwire does show some occupancy within your price range for that date. Check www.betterbidding.com to help determine what they might be.

http://www.eleisurelink.com/danay/SP...rm_Chicago.asp

has the Chicago Hilton and Towers for $179 that night and the Hotel 71 for $205 (both before taxes)

The location of the Hotel 71 is better, but the Hilton and Towers is perfectly nice if you want to save the $26.

www.hotrooms.com has the Sutton Place hotel for $199 and the Tremont for $189

For future reference - you can definitely stay downtown for well under $200, often under or around $100, if you plan the timing right. Sometimes you have to stay on a busy weekend and bite the bullet on hotel cost, but Chicago can still be a reasonably affordable city to visit sometimes.

JJ5

Yes, correct. I live near and still do it a couple of times a year. I have gotten $300 per night rooms for $69 and $79 on Priceline, but I (and others say their experience is different)have never had much luck within a less than 4 or 5 week timespan.

Priceline is my favorite, and then hotwire if Priceline fails. But I have never paid those out of here prices, not even on weekends.

My mind has blocked out Marathon dates on purpose. It was wishful thinking to have it over sooner, then maybe we could have my DIL's hospital recouperation part done before Thanksgiving. LOL!

FainaAgain

I don't know how much this hotel will be on your particular date, but I had Comfort Inn through Quikbook for WELL under $200!

Of course, it's not Hilton, but all basics are covered, free local calls, free internet if you bring your laptop, buffet breakfast and coffee all day.

The location on 15 E Ohio (btwn State @ Wabash) seemed to be perfect. Lot of pedestrians, an older woman alone in the dark, felt very safe.

The first thing I've done - there is a food store across the street - Jewel?? went to the customer service counter for a buss pass $12 for 72 hours of unlimited bus/EL rides. For 24 hrs I think it's $5.

This hotel was 2 or 3 blocks away from Michigan, walking or bus to the Loop.

Not sure if parking is included in the room cost, but there is a garage next door. Plenty of restaurants.

tlf18

thank you all so much for the feed back.

i've found the Ambassador East (Gold Coast area) for $159.

(found that rate on hotwire, but it turned out to be the same directly from the hotel).

tlf18

okay folks. so i drove home from work, and then called the Ambassador East back to book the $159 room, and i was quoted $129! booked it.

thanks again.