chigago hotel stress

[aladams2]

We decided to vacation in Chicago this summer. So I started to look at hotels. First, we thought to stay on the out skirts of downtown and just drive back and forth or take public transportation. But reading up on that we would still have to pay for parking for both and not sure if the kids would manage riding that long to and from our destination. So I started looking into staying downtown so we would be closer to all of our activities. The prices for the downtown hotels are ridiculous!!! For 4 people it's $200 a night pretty much at any of the hotels!!! I don't even spend that at Disney!! We are planning to go there next year and all that keeps going though my mind is I could be staying there cheaper!! Where do you stay when in Chicago? We are planning on 5 nights, 6 days.

 

[redbirdgrad]

Look at Travelzoo or do hotwire - should be plenty of deals this summer.

 

[BCV2003]

Check the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel. They are a great location just off of Michigan Avenue and I've gotten them for $89 a night booking directly with them. I know their offers change frequently but its worth a try.

They also have a pool that your kids might like to use.

 

[bdrjh]

We live about a 3 hour drive from Chicago, and we usually spend some time there every year. The best bet is to stay in a hotel in a suburb (Schaumburg or Arlington Heights) and take the train in to town. Once you are at the train station, buses will get you wherever you want to go. Plus, riding the train is always a highlight for my kids. In Schaumburg, there is an Embassy Suites and Springhill Suites that usually have some good summer specials.

 

[daughtersrus]

What attractions are you planning on seeing? I'm assuming that you're driving so have you thought about staying in one of the suburbs and taking the train into the city? You could get some good deals on hotels in La Grange, Downers Grove, Naperville areas that are close to the Burlington Northern Train. You would still have to pay to park at the train station but that is pretty minimal. I think that it's about $3.00 a day to park in the garage in Downers Grove and it's free after 3:00pm. Once you get to Union Station, you could take public transportation around the city. The hotels in the suburbs don't charge for parking.

 

[FINFAN]

We like the Sheraton Towers by Navy pier, but the rooms are not all that large,but 4 will fit fine, the indoor pool is on the 7th floor...there is an Embassy Suites across the street from the Sheraton that appears quite nice. You are further north in that location than the museum campus, but it no biggie to get to it by car or cab, bus or even trolley ( whiich is fun to be on) I agree with the HGI, there is also a Courtyard by Marriott there that is pretty nice.
I know Loews hotels in Orlando are running special, maybe it is a nationwide sale? check into them for the Hard Rock Chicago...that location is really nice, central. Not sure if they have a pool tho.
HOTELS.COM may have something, but just make sure on cancellation policies for any place you book thru, usually thru the hotel direct you get until 6 pm check in day, no penalty which is nice and no pre-pay condition.

 

[akcire]

What attractions are you planning on seeing? I'm assuming that you're driving so have you thought about staying in one of the suburbs and taking the train into the city? You could get some good deals on hotels in La Grange, Downers Grove, Naperville areas that are close to the Burlington Northern Train. You would still have to pay to park at the train station but that is pretty minimal. I think that it's about $3.00 a day to park in the garage in Downers Grove and it's free after 3:00pm. Once you get to Union Station, you could take public transportation around the city. The hotels in the suburbs don't charge for parking.

The only problem with this plan is that daily rate parking in the suburbs at the Metra station is very hard to get. If you do it on a weekend day, no problem--you can have a hundred spaces. If however you wanted to get a week day daily spot at one of the train stations you should be in the parking lot no later than 7:00 am. Many people who do not have monthly parking, use the daily spots to commute to work.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Oh man, use PRICELINE! Betterbidding.com will give you tips. We got the Renaissance Hotel for $80/night or something. On the site, people post recent "wins", location, dates, and price. Hotwire gives you a rough idea of prices, and betterbidding site can help you even figure out what hotel you are looking at..... But I think Priceline is cheaper? Tip: on Priceline site, look for SPECIALS. I used it last week for Philly maybe could have done even better using a special.

You pick the zones, and the # of stars. I think I looked in the "loop" area. I was there twice last year, with DD. We did NOT rent a car, the hotels charge a fortune for parking. We took the train, El, from the airport to the hotels. Used only trains and buses to get around. Hopstop.com will give detailed instructions on how to use the public transportation.

 

[Nik's Mom]

DH and I took our 2 young sons to Chicago last summer. I second the suggestion to try Travelzoo! We found a great deal on there. We paid $129 a night, including parking, at Hotel Sax. And that was for the July 4th holiday. The hotel was great. Rooms were very clean and staff were helpful. The hotel was in a perfect location for us. We could walk to the subway or Michigan Avenue. There were plenty of places to eat nearby. And if you are a House of Blues fan, it is locationed right outside the hotel.

 

[ceecee]

Try Priceline unless you know exactly where you want to stay and what you want in a hotel. We got a great deal at the Radisson...$119.00 but parking was not included and it was $25.00 extra.

 

[tink_lover]

I have used Travelzoo for some great prices. Last time was $100/night for Sofitel. With a family, that Embassy near the Sheraton is good because there is a separate sleeper/sofa in an area and breakfast is included. The only caution with Priceline is that the room you bid on technically only has to sleep 2 people.

 

[NotUrsula]

10 to 1 you've picked a convention week, or a Taste of Chicago weekend.

Here is something you need to know about Chicago in summertime: it is big convention heaven. Usually as many as 7 of the summer weekends are booked with conventions of at least 30K attendees -- that is almost enough to fill every hotel room in the North Michigan Avenue and Loop area. Convention weeks always mean really jacked rates.

Rates are also jacked all over the city for the two weekends of Taste of Chicago/4th of July, which draws tourists from all over the midwest for the food, free concerts and for the fireworks on the Lakefront. The festival runs from the 26th of June through Independence Day, with most events on the weekends. Even the suburban hotels raise prices on these weekends.

Always look at the Chicago Convention calendar before making summer plans for Chicago. http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago-conventions-trade-shows-conferences.htm#jun2010

Any week that has total downtown convention capacity that exceeds 25K attendees is going to be higher priced. (Note that things like the Auto Show or the RV show or whatever don't really count because a lot of the people who attend are local. What you are looking for here is a real convention, such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which is meeting June 4-8th at McCormick Place, with 35K attendees.)

Assuming that you've chosen a good date, take a look at www.hotrooms.com. That is a Chicago-only hotel consolidator, and they often have very nice deals. Priceline is VERY tricky in Chicago, especially in the Loop, because there are plenty of hotels in that area that are older and have some tiny rooms that will only hold one double bed. (The Palmer House is among them.) If you are doing PL in Chicago with kids, stick to 4 star level in the North Michigan area; all of those hotels are newer and have larger rooms that will accomodate a rollaway bed in a pinch.

 

[deerhart]

staying near either O'Hare or Midway will also lower your costs and not add much drive time back to downtown.

 

[CoP Luv]

staying near either O'Hare or Midway will also lower your costs and not add much drive time back to downtown.

I really depends on when you are travelling to and from the city. If you take public transportation, it is almost an hour to the Loop. If you drive from O'hare, especially with the construction that they just started, well, you're going to be in your car a long time.

If you want to stay a little bit out of the city, try Evanston. There is the 'L' and Metra and plenty of street parking. They have beaches (but aren't free like they are in Chicago) and is great for restaurants.

 

[CathrynRose]

staying near either O'Hare or Midway will also lower your costs and not add much drive time back to downtown.

Midway? I don't recommend staying near Midway.

A PP's suggestion of Downers Grove / Naperville is right on. Even staying in the Oak Brook area - could give you a 5 minute drive to Hinsdale's train station.

My g/f comes up periodically for a get-away, and stays here: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chiok-renaissance-chicago-oak-brook-hotel/ for $50 a night, via Priceline.

Just about any hotel in Oak Brook & Downers Grove is totally safe, and absolutely fine.

I live in DG.

 

[lulu2]

WHAT FUN! We went to Chicago last March for DD6's birthday. It happened to fall on Saint Patrick's day so we enjoyed all the festivities! HELLO, they turn the river green So, I can't remember the name of the hotel, sorry. I do remember it was right across the street from the Harry Carry steakhouse, don't plan on eating there unless you don't want to pay your mortgage this month. The hotel was like 2 hotels in one. All guests check in at the same counter but one side was one hotel and the other side was another hotel. The indoor pool was on the top floor, so very cool to swim at night and see all the lights. Also, it was a suite hotel so we had a little kitchen and a seperate bedroom. I think it was $160 a night with a nice free hot buffet and that included valet parking (although I think this was a promotional deal). I will try and go through my notes to figure out what hotel it was. We walked everywhere. We walked to see Mary Poppins and we walked to Navy Peir. If you have questions let me know. I want to go back and take a ride on one of those double decker busses!

 

[NotUrsula]

Yeah, Midway is in kind of an iffy neighborhood. It's one thing to fly in to the airport and get right on the Orange Line in the daytime, it's another to be walking to and from a car or bus at night.

We've often stayed in Rosemont near O'Hare, but be aware that most of the hotels near O'Hare charge for parking as well; they do it to keep fliers from using their lots to park for trips. We usually stay at the Sheraton Suites O'Hare in that neighborhood; their parking is $15/day if memory serves.

I say that if you can swing North Michigan Avenue or the Loop somehow, do it, even if it is a bit more expensive. It's so much easier on a longer trip to have the hotel near the places you are visiting, especially if you have young kids, and it adds so much to the "city" experience for them if you just park the car and spend your time walking and using public transit.

The exception is normally Science and Industry, which is easier to drive to. We live south of Chicago, so if we drive, we always save MSI for the last day. We check out of our hotel, go straight to the Museum, and head home from there.

 

[aladams2]

Thanks for the responses so far. I don't think Priceline would work for us since we need to make sure we have room for 4 of us to sleep. We were going to be there during graduation and a conferece so we are changing our dates. It is cheaper, but still a little sticker shock. I'm just not use to spending $100 + on one night. I'm a Holiday Inn Express girl with free breakfast and a pool. I know I'm going to be giving up something by staying downtown. I think that is definatly where we want to be. We are going toget the City Pass and do most of the museums, Navy Pier, and maybe some shopping if I can talk the kids into it. I'm sure by bribing them with the American Girl Store it might work. Keep the ideas coming still haven't booked.

 

[budbeerlady]

WHAT FUN! We went to Chicago last March for DD6's birthday. It happened to fall on Saint Patrick's day so we enjoyed all the festivities! HELLO, they turn the river green So, I can't remember the name of the hotel, sorry. I do remember it was right across the street from the Harry Carry steakhouse, don't plan on eating there unless you don't want to pay your mortgage this month. The hotel was like 2 hotels in one. All guests check in at the same counter but one side was one hotel and the other side was another hotel. The indoor pool was on the top floor, so very cool to swim at night and see all the lights. Also, it was a suite hotel so we had a little kitchen and a seperate bedroom. I think it was $160 a night with a nice free hot buffet and that included valet parking (although I think this was a promotional deal). I will try and go through my notes to figure out what hotel it was. We walked everywhere. We walked to see Mary Poppins and we walked to Navy Peir. If you have questions let me know. I want to go back and take a ride on one of those double decker busses!

We stayed the same place I think. I was stunned to see the 2 hotels in one. It was so nice to have the suite so Dd could sleep on the couch since we were with my parent. The breakfast buffet was to die for and we walked up a few blocks to Michigan to watch the Saturday night fireworks from Navy pier.

Found it!!!!! Good thing I save old emails. SpringHill Suites Chicago> Downtown/River> North The pool on the top floor was loved by my Dd. She thought she was so awesome to be able to see that high up from the pool. We would love to stay there again, I think it was only $125 on travelzoo.

Also up 1 block and over 2 was the rainforest cafe. We all went there for dinner after seeing Cirque. It was a very short walk. Otherwise you are very close to Ed Debevics and Hard Rock cafe.

We took the free trolly to Navy pier, the stop was a block over. The is a long walk, especially in the summer so the free trolly is a great perk. I still wish they had them from Shedd/ Museaum campus to other areas.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chinr-springhill-suites-chicago-downtown-river-north/

 

[tamis]

We almost always stay in the Oak Brook/ Downer's Grove area and love it. It's fairly easy to get in and out of the city from this area, and there are plenty of hotels to choose from. Hotwire almost always has great deals in this area, and they allow up to 4 people in a room through their website (we try to book a 3* or higher and have never had a problem!) You can't request a non-smoking room through Hotwire unless the hotel shows that as an option, but you can call the hotel directly after you are booked and request a non-smoking room if you want. Chicago is a great place to vacation with the family. You might want to look into a Chicago city pass if you decide to go. Happy planning!