Looking for nice hotel in Chicago downtown.

[Cyclogenesis]

Greetings AFFers!
I'm heading to Chicago over Dec-Jan on a visiting Scientist program to work at Argonne National Lab which is ~30 miles from downtown.. There is a 10 day shut down over Xmas... Looking at a variety of options and one of them is to find a nice hotel in downtown to use as a base to explore the area...

Any recommendations? It will be myself, the wife and the little spoilt 5yo (done more flying in her 5 years than I had done up until a few years ago!)

Looked at the Westin, they have a room on the Club floor with access to the Club lounge... what is the Club lounge? ~160USD/night

Also the Intercontinental has a king exec suite for 162USD... rates seem very reasonable (prob need to pay another $30 odd for the rollaway)

Any advice gratefully received... I've got no real memberships of worth... AAdvantage, and also Priority club (where they have spelt my name wrong on the card!)

 

[superchris]

Cyclogenesis,
Hi ,I was in Chicago this year for the Pittsburgh Conference and it has plenty of nice Hotels.Are you a member of any particular Hotel program?
My suggestion is that you do some Hotel hopping at either SPG or PC properties. ( after joing if you are not currently enrolled)This will help maximise points and allow you to experience different properties.
I stayed at both of the W's when I was there and enjoyed my time.
It will be cold!

 

[Maca44]

It will be cold!

I think that is an understatement, it will be freezing. I would first do some googling and find out what is open at that time of year. It's a beautiful place in August (summer) etc, but never been there in winter.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Yep.. I know... Just hope it snows so I can do the whole white Xmas thing...

Not really a member of anything, but will ensure I get full points benefits!

So what is the deal with hotel club lounges??

SPG hotel websites certainly look well presented and present their rooms and facilities well

 

[Danger]

I thoroughly recommend the Conrad.

 

[Nutcase]

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza and it was fantastic. I booked through Travelocity as a package with a flight from NY so I don't know what the rate was but effectively around USD 100 ish at a guess

Holiday Inn Chicago - Mart Plaza (Chicago, IL) - Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor

Its shares a building with an office tower (like the Sofitel Melbourne) and has the upper floors so the views are spectacular. My room looked on to the river from the top floor.

It has direct access to the train station without having to go outdoors

Its very inexpensive

Always lots of Cabs

Central to everything

 

[drron]

Hotel lounges in the USA are usually pretty pathetic.Even the decent ones usually do not have free wine,beer etc and the snacks are often of limited variety.I have not stayed at the Westin so can not comment.
If you are going to chase hotel status whilst there probably Hilton would be best if you can get a fast track to gold-search here and Flyertalk.On the last 2 occasions we have stayed in Chicago(and for next year)we have stayed in Hilton garden Inns.As gold hhonors you get a full breakfast,the rooms are large and comfortable,everyone gets free internet and most have a guest laundry.Others in the Hilton chain include Hampton inns(careful some are old here)where everyone gets breakfast and free internet.This also applies to Homewood suites and Embassy suites.If you can get an ES for a low price they are good value with free cooked breakfast and an evening managers reception where most have free booze.
If you can get gold status then staying at Hiltons and Conrads you will at least get a free continental breakfast.When still HH gold we stayed at The Drake and scored an upgrade to a large room with lake views which was great.
If you want to stay SPG some plats can get you free gold status(there is a thread here).However gold on SPG often doesnt get you much.HH gold beats SPG gold but SPG plat wallops HH diamond IMHO.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Thanks... So Gold HHonors is one level above entry?
Will do a search for the SPG thread...

Will actually be doing a lot of US travel with the new job next year so keeping an eye out

 

[drron]

Thanks... So Gold HHonors is one level above entry?
Will do a search for the SPG thread...

Will actually be doing a lot of US travel with the new job next year so keeping an eye out

No in Hhonors there is blue(entry),silver,gold and diamond.Gold does have benefits,diamond really doesnt give you much more IMHO.
If you are doing a lot of travelling around the USA Hhonors status is easy to get-hilton brands nearly everywhere,SPG less so.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Anyone stayed at the Embassy Suites Hotels? (Hilton brand) seem like very decent prices for suites (starting from $149US inc tax)

 

[serfty]

No in Hhonors there is blue(entry),silver,gold and diamond.Gold does have benefits,diamond really doesnt give you much more IMHO.
If you are doing a lot of travelling around the USA Hhonors status is easy to get-hilton brands nearly everywhere,SPG less so.

On stays (with main guaranteed Benefits):

• SPG:
  • Gold: 10 stays (4 p.m. late check-out)
  • Platinum: 25 Stays (Upgrade to "Best available Room" at check-in, 4 p.m. late check-out)
• HHonors:
  • Silver: 4 Stays
  • Gold: 16 Stays (Room Upgrade, Cont. Breakfast)
  • Diamond: 28 Stays (Room Upgrade, Cont. Breakfast, Executive Lounge Access)

 

[drron]

Anyone stayed at the Embassy Suites Hotels? (Hilton brand) seem like very decent prices for suites (starting from $149US inc tax)

Have stayed at several.As i said before they are good value usually.A little variable-some are getting quite old.Often but not always not in the top position.One notable exception was the ES on the Falls(Niagara),best position but biased as one of the few hilton hotels i scored a suite upgrade-to a presidential suite no less!
You always get a free full breakfast and the Managers reception in the evening-usually free wine or beer except in states where this is illegal such as New Jersey but there only$1 a glass so good value.These are for all guests not just those with status.
By definition you get a suite-though there are a couple with ordinary rooms as well but now they do spell that out when booking.