Posted in April about room rates and where to stay. Did not pursue the info because i was not sure we were coming. Now we are!
First time to Chicago. DVD, you seem to have the answers. Would like to stay in the best place for the least amount of money. Two adults.
I have been reading the comments about Priceline. Should I try it or be conservative and book online?
Thanks in advance
July 3 thru July 7
Rates might be in the high side due to:
90th Annual Lions Clubs International Convention
United Center
Delegates: 15,000
This deal might work for you - hotels.travelzoo.com/chicago-hotels/303819
July 3 thru July 7
%26lt;%26lt;Posted in April about room rates and where to stay. Did not pursue the info because i was not sure we were coming. Now we are!
First time to Chicago. DVD, you seem to have the answers. Would like to stay in the best place for the least amount of money. Two adults.
I have been reading the comments about Priceline. Should I try it or be conservative and book online?
Thanks in advance
%26gt;%26gt;
It depends on your budget max. Hotwire (another deep discount service somewhat similar to Priceline) has what appears to be the James for $139 and that would be a really good deal for that hotel, which is a sleek, hip hotel in a great location. Otherwise, Hotwire isn%26#39;t showing a whole lot else for these dates. If this is the James, the regular rate is about $200.
If the James isn%26#39;t of interest or you would like to try for cheaper, I%26#39;d definitely consider Priceline, which would likely be able to get you a 4* in either of the downtown areas for around $100 or slightly less, but as is the situation with Priceline, you do not know what 4* (if you bid for 4*) hotel you are going to get. At least with Hotwire, a guess can be made based upon the information showing. Both services are non-refundable.
In terms of booking a 4* regular rate, you%26#39;re looking at around $150-160ish. The Drake, for example, is $159. The Burnham is on sale @ hotels.com for $139. The Burnham is a lovely, historic hotel in the Loop area of downtown. It%26#39;s a really nice, unique hotel but the only issue is that 1) don%26#39;t expect much nightlife in the Loop and 2:) there is construction going on the next block over; likely an issue during the day, but if you%26#39;ll be out and about, it won%26#39;t be a concern. That is a terrific rate for the Burnham and while the Loop is pretty quiet at night, it%26#39;s not far to Michigan Ave. and the Loop location does put you closer to museums than you would be on Michigan Ave.
So, it does depend on your budget, but you do have some nice options. If the James is of interest, you can possibly get that cheaper on Hotwire. The Burnham is a great rate if you%26#39;re going to be out during the day and don%26#39;t mind the Loop. Priceline may be able to swing a 4* in the $75-100 range, but you can%26#39;t guarantee which hotel in the area you bid you%26#39;ll get.
This is sort of an ';overview'; of possibilities. Let me know your thoughts, budget max per night and then I%26#39;d be happy to offer more specific suggestions on how to proceed.
Thanks for the post.
100-150 including taxes is where i would like to be but I want to enjoy Chicago. We do not stay in the room except to sleep and dress for the day, happy hour and then off for the evening.
I am a first class guy who likes deals.
%26lt;%26lt;Thanks for the post.
100-150 including taxes is where i would like to be but I want to enjoy Chicago. We do not stay in the room except to sleep and dress for the day, happy hour and then off for the evening.
I am a first class guy who likes deals%26gt;%26gt;
$100-150 is definitely doable, although $100 or less will only be doable via bidding on Priceline.
The Drake and Burnham are both very historic hotels, with the Drake being a grand, enormous hotel and the Burnham being a more boutique, smaller property. The Drake is at the far North end of the Michigan Ave. shopping area. The Burnham is in the middle of the Loop.
In terms of the Burnham, it%26#39;s a very cool experience because the hotel building was formerly the Reliance Building, completed in 1895 by famed architect Daniel Burnham and considered by many to be one of the first skyscrapers. However, unlike a lot of historical properties, the nice aspect of the Burnham is that much of the classic architecture of the building was restored or recreated. From the website, ';At the urging of the partners who own the building, along with the City of Chicago Planning and Development Department, complete renovation and restoration work began. The result -- portions of the interior replicated from the original building. Renovation included meticulously reconstructing the mosaic floor, multi-colored marble ceiling and walls, and ornamental metal elevator grills, stairways and archways to resemble the lobby as it once existed. ';
The Burnham also offers an hour-long wine reception in the evening.
What is possibly (not guaranteed, but looks to be it) the James (a 4* in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area on Hotwire with Restaurant, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Laundry, Spa) for $139 is a sleek renovation of an older property, making it a W-like, trendy, chic boutique hotel. The James is in a great location a block off Michigan Ave.
In terms of Priceline, I would start bidding for a 4* in the River North/North Michigan Ave. area @ $75 a night. If that%26#39;s not accepted, then bid $80 24 hours later. Keep in mind, there%26#39;s no guarantee with which 4* you%26#39;ll get.
Any questions, please ask.
DVD1
Would just forgo Priceline and go with the Burnahm? I am a fan of old properties and by your description feel this may be my best bet,
Although, I have stayed at Boutique Hotels such as the Soffitel in Washington, DC and thought they were great. So maybe try for the James or The Burnham?
%26lt;%26lt;DVD1
Would just forgo Priceline and go with the Burnahm? I am a fan of old properties and by your description feel this may be my best bet,
Although, I have stayed at Boutique Hotels such as the Soffitel in Washington, DC and thought they were great. So maybe try for the James or The Burnham?%26gt;%26gt;
Both are very different hotels in different locations, but both are good choices.
The James is comparable to the hip W chain and is a very enjoyable, trendy newer (it opened last Summer) hotel in a great location off Michigan Ave. $139 is a great price, although it is not refundable and, while it looks like the James on Hotwire, one can never guarantee 100% what Hotwire is showing.
If you do enjoy historic properties, the Burnham (currently rated #3 Chicago hotel by tripadvisor users) is a treat, as the architectural details have been preserved very well both inside and out, and the building%26#39;s status as one of the first skyscrapers is quite impressive. A few blocks South of the Burnham is the Palmer House (currently undergoing renovation), one of the oldest continually operating hotels the in the US, which offers an incredibly beautiful lobby area. While I%26#39;d recommend staying at the Burnham, I%26#39;d recommend peeking in at the huge, classic lobby of the Palmer.
Here is the Frommers review of the Burnham, which offers a good overview:
frommers.com/destinations/chicago/H24326.html
But, the reservation about the Burnham is the construction going on in the next block that will be going on during the day; I also just noticed that some recent reviews have also said that there has been nearby street construction at night , others have not complained. I don%26#39;t know the details of the street construction mentioned, but the project that is taking place the next block North is pretty major. You may want to call the hotel to see the status of what%26#39;s going on nearby.
I have emailed the Burnham asking them to provide current details on the construction and hopefully they will respond soon (they have been good about answering questions in the past.)
Keep in mind that the Loop does have minimal nightlife, but it is an easy cab ride to the North Michigan Ave. area. The Loop is closer to the museums (the Art Institute is a few blocks away) and the State St. shopping area is right there (Macy%26#39;s - the former Marshall Fields flagship store - is across the street.) The major downtown theatres are nearby if you were interested in seeing a play.
Plus, free wine reception at night at the Burnham/
My thought is this regarding the Burnham if you are interested in staying there:
The Burnham rate of $139 @ hotels.com is a 30% off holiday sale. If you went to book through the hotel website, it is showing a $199 rate for these dates.
Call Kimpton hotels and have them match the hotels.com rate (and make sure it is refundable and what the cancel terms are) and with that, at least you will be able to cancel if need be and you will get a late check-out (as well as Kimpton guest loyalty credit - if you are not a member of the In Touch program, you can sign up for free @ http://www.kimptonhotels.com/loyalty.aspx)
While you are on the phone with the reservation agent, you can have them mark your preferences down as a high floor and facing East. While you will be out during the day while the construction is going on across the street, having a room facing East will at least mean you%26#39;ll be facing away from the construction project - which is the next block North - and will have less chance of noise if you do happen to be around when it starts up.)
From the Kimpton website:
Kimpton Hotels will match any rate you find for our hotel on other travel websites. Plus, we will provide you with the following benefit for booking directly with us:
Late check-out privileges until 2PM based upon availability
Kimpton InTouch guest loyalty credit for Kimpton InTouch members
Simply tell us the website address when you call and we will match the site%26#39;s rate on the spot.
It%26#39;s that easy!
If you find a better rate than what you found on our website, please call us:
Toll Free: 877-536-0508
Or Outside of North America at 480-624-8990
_________________________________________
Otherwise, there%26#39;s not much at about $150 or under, aside from the Drake @ $159 non-refundable via Hotels.com. The main choices are really the James, Burnham or taking your chances on Priceline in an attempt to get a hotel at or under $100.
Once again, the Burnham offers a good, detailed response to a question.
Here is the response:
Thank you for your inquiry about the Hotel Burnham. Unfortunately, the
Chicago Transit Authority is working on an 8 million dollar project that
will allow tourist and local%26#39;s to access an Express Train to and from
O%26#39;Hare and Midway Airports. Some of the pitfalls with the project are
noise, and overnight working. Please keep in mind this project is funded
by the Federal Government. Ground breaking and soil digging will be
completed in October 2007. However, the work that is being performed
overnight between the hours of 10pm and 3am can cause some discomfort if
you are a light sleeper.
P.S. In the Spring of 2008, we will all be very excited to Welcome our
new neighbors to Washington and State Street.
