12th - 15th June Accommodation

Hi all,

I am arriving in Chicago for three nights from London 12th June. We are looking for something central with good access to attractions and nightlife. My wife is pregnant so I think we would like to go central rather than commute in an out - easier for trips back for %26#39;naps%26#39;.

We will not have a car with us for our time in Chicago so parking not an issue.

We like staying in good quality but doesn%26#39;t have to be too flashy! I checked out the Swiss option but it doesn%26#39;t seem to be available at this time.

The 12th seems to be pretty expensive - I guess a convention on or something. Maybe it would make sense to stay at the airport that night - happy to take any thoughts?!

On complication seems to be that I can%26#39;t use Priceline from the UK so please bear that in mind if possible.

Many thanks for any help, I guess should have booked earlier.........

12th - 15th June Accommodation

Parts of June this year are unfortunately pretty expensive. I%26#39;m surprised that you cannot use Priceline in the UK, as I really thought that that was one of the international locations that could.

What would be your max budget per night for hotel? I%26#39;d be happy to help look for possibilities.

12th - 15th June Accommodation

This is what%26#39;s causing the problems:

Jun 11-13

NeoCon庐 World鈥檚 Trade Fair 2007

The Merchandise Mart

Delegates: 58,000

www.merchandisemart.com/neocon/

Plus, there%26#39;s a volleyball convention the day you%26#39;re leaving, so people coming for that the night before.

Aha, looking at $200 a night really - is that at all doable do you think?

I can probably figure out a way to get under $200 average, but as of right now, it would probably mean switching hotels (1 night in 1 hotel, 2 nights in another.) Let me take a look around and I%26#39;ll be back in a little while with some options.

Thanks a lot - getting late here in Scotland so will check tomorrow, Much appreciated.

Can you use Hotwire? They%26#39;re showing availability within your budget.

Unfortunately, I see a limited amount of options for $200 and under.

Hotwire (a discount service similar to priceline) has a 3* in the Magnificent Mile/Streeterville area with the amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Business, Laundry and hi-speed internet for $109 (you may see a slightly different price) for 6/13-15.

That is likely the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza. While that is not the most centrally located hotel in downtown (it%26#39;s in the West part of the Loop area, along the river), it is downtown (better than having to come in from the airport) and within about a 15-20 minute walk to the Michigan Ave. shopping area and the Art Institute. It would not be too far a walk (probably about 5-10 minutes) to the nightlife in the River North area.

Hotwire is a non-refundable/non-changable discount service where you are presented with a set of listings that show amenities, star rating, price and possible area the hotel could be within. You are not told the name of the hotel until after purchase and, at that time, the reservation is not refundable or changable.

The real problem is what to do about the first night.

You have an assortment of options, but all are pretty pricey. The nicest option would be the Omni Suites on Michigan Ave, which is $379 for a suite. If you took that, your total for rooms across three nights would be $597 + tax. The Omni is $379 on expedia, but for $389 you get a $25 breakfast voucher.

If you do get the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza for the last two nights via Hotwire, it is available for a non-refundable rate of $305 for the first night via the hotel website, although I%26#39;d really stay somewhere else if possible, as while the Holiday Inn is a terrific deal for $109 a night (especially during a busy time), $305 is pretty outrageous.

Orbitz.com has the Sheraton for $259. I%26#39;m not a fan of that hotel, but it is in a great location near Michigan Ave. and Navy Pier. I just think it%26#39;s a very average hotel, in terms of room, service and other aspects. But, it is the cheapest 3*/4* I%26#39;m seeing for the first night. If you were able to get the Sheraton for $259 for night 1 and the Holiday Inn for $109 for nights 2/3, then you%26#39;d have an average of $157 a night. Not bad.

There is also a 4* Hotwire hotel in the Museum Campus/McCormick Place/Soldier Field area for the last two nights with the amenities fitness/business/pool/restaurant/internet. $140. That may be a match for the Chicago Hilton and Towers, which is in the South Loop area. If this is the Hilton, it is not centrally located; it%26#39;s close to museums, but there%26#39;s really not much right around it and that area can be pretty quiet at night.

Just throwing out ideas, let me know what you think.

Thanks a lot for this - really useful. I think I%26#39;m drifting towards the Sheraton for the first night and then Holiday Inn for the next two. The hassle factor of switching hotels is slightly putting me off but that seems the best choice cost wise certainly. Really appreciate this, thanks a lot.

Sorry that there weren%26#39;t too many options for these dates, but at least you%26#39;ll be downtown all 3 days instead of out by the airport for the first night and the average per night will come out to less than your max.

If you do decide to take the Sheraton, definitely walk over to Fox and Obel (about a block East, on Illinois and McClurg) Cafe and Market (fox-obel.com for menu) Fox and Obel is a very nice, upscale market that also has a great cafe that serves breakfast/lunch/dinner. So you can grab a meal there and buy some treats in the market area to take back to the hotel on the way out.

Brilliant - thanks a lot for the help