Need someone familiar with DT Chicago hotels!!!

[jgates]

Conference at Hyatt Regency at 151 E Wacker Dr Chicago, IL 4/9 to 4/12/03. The rates there are astronomical of course. I haven't been informed of a group discount rate yet.

Anyone have any suggestions? I see places like the Fairfield Inn & Suites are close but they are still running $170 per nite. Plus I haven't found parking fees yet!

2 people - 2 beds so priceline isn't really going to work. I have never dealt with Orbitz so I'm not really comfy there.

Any suggestions?

I belong to most hotel card programs also.

If someone has an Entertainment book (haven't purchased a new one yet), if you see a discount for somewhere DT Chicago - LMK - I can always call and check and then buy the book.

 

[Doctor P]

The first thing I would do is check the Hyatt itself. In my experience, you can often beat the convention rate at the convention hotel. For example, I have a meeting coming up in Cleveland where the convention rate was $149 and I was able to drop the rate to $86 with some creative searching of hotel (not Priceline or unaffiliated websites, either).

Given that you are hitting a weekend (I know the 11th is a Friday), you have an even better chance of getting a good rate. I'm not finding good rates yet, but it is worth digging. Parking can be astronomical, though, so you need to watch it. Parking can be as much as $45 per night at downtown hotels, and anything under $20 is a bargain.

Some hotels to try include the Palmer House Hilton and the Chicago Renaissance.

 

[NancyIL]

Even though Priceline doesn't guarantee that you'll get a room with 2 beds, I've never had a problem getting that...so far. Go to www.biddingfortravel.com for more Priceline help.

Are you a Disney Club member? Remember that your DC card serves as an Entertainment card for hotel discount purposes- except in Orlando (Swan and Dolphin are exceptions) and Anaheim. If you go to www.entertainment.com and preview any book - you'll be able to see the nationwide hotels that participate.

By the way - the Hyatt Regency where your conference takes place is included! Give 1-800-HILTONS a call and see if that rate is available for your dates.

 

[December99]

Go to www.877chicago.com and they post rates on hotels and any deals that are going on also.

Also try hotels.com - I've found some great rates in the past couple of weeks at various places in the US.

Also - just my opinion - the rates are good but I would stay away from the Congress hotel and the Essexx Inn. I have not heard many good things about the Essexx Inn and we stayed at the Congress once and it is a very old hotel and just gave me the willies I guess - I was waiting for something to jump out of somewhere in the room - I just didn't feel like it was "clean" although it was. Just my opinion - those rates at those two places tend to be below $80. The location isn't the greatest either as it's across from Grant Park area and not near alot of the things but you definitely can walk up to North Michigan Ave (it's a long walk though unless you walk fast).

 

[Jeafl]

I have used Expedia and Orbitz and have had wonderful luck, I wouldn't be nervous at all. They are not a bidding sites, you know up front exactly what you are getting. It can't hurt to check it out.

As a side note, everytime I think of the Hyatt it reminds me of when my parents' car was stolen from right out in front of it! They came out of the hotel just in time to see their car whiz by with someone else driving! They eventually recovered it minus 4 tires, the stereo and my mother's DOGGIE BAG with her leftover dinner in it! I crack up everytime I think of the thieves eating her leftover Chicken Vesuvio!

 

[jgates]

Thanks guys!

I will go visit entertainment.com later tonite and print the rest out and check later.

Turns out parking might not be bad because we may take the Amtrak from a town about 1/2 hour from here. It goes into Union Station and the 2 gals I work with that did this for a meeting last year said cabs were easy to get to take you right to your hotel. (My co-worker will be about 7 mos pregnant at the time so we are thinking the stress of driving in DT chicago traffic would be best left for another time - along with traffic backups and gas fumes!)

 

[Dan Murphy]

Great tips here, jgates. I have none, even though I live here, as I never travel to here, LOL. Cabs are a great way to go in DT Chicago, driving is not. Enjoy!!!!