Chicago - Hotel Suggestion for Long-ish ORD Overnight

I'm planning to fly into ORD around 4pm. Had figured I'd stay downtown either at the Park Hyatt or the Intercontinental.

Plan is to fly out the next day 10:45am in NH F.

It's a Monday morning. In Winter. So I'm starting to think, 'gee do I want to be dealing with morning traffic, even leaving the City, to catch my a.m. flight?'

And was considering staying closer to the airport instead. And so I was thinking about O'Hare airport properties...

Hilton, attached to the airport (Hilton Diamond)

Intercontinetal (Royal Ambassador)

Hyatt Regency O'Hare (Hyatt Diamond, but property looks kinda 'meh' and some concerns about noise)

Marriott O'Hare (Marriott Gold from free offer)

I've only ever stayed at the Westin as my ORD airport hotel but figure it's worth trying something else out.

Hilton has the unique selling proposition of being attached to the airport. And at least as a Diamond there's some breakfast benefit and internet. But otherwise strikes me as pretty uninspiring.

What's the best choice, do y'all think, considering I'll be around ORD from 4pm arrival until a not-too-early a.m. departure (but early enough that I don't want to mess with traffic and won't be able to hang out in the morning and really enjoy a downtown property like the Park Hyatt).

Let's further assume that while rate matters, I'll stay where I want to stay and can either pay with cash or with points depending. Good deal matters but not primary consideration, want suggestions of what will be most enjoyable overall.

Appreciate any feedback!

Thanks,
Gary

I agree that while your departure flight is not super early it is not late enough to make me want to stay downtown. I like the Hilton at the airport as the rooms are nice now that they have renovated them (a couple of years ago I think?) and the bar is "ok" but is more like a bar area in Ohare than a nicer hotel bar area and the restaurant service is not that great although I found the food to be decent. My new favorite is the Doubletree Rosemont. The hotel is not very old and the rooms are still relatively new. The thing I like best is there is a nice restaurant attached to the hotel call Gibsons Steakhouse and they have a nice bar are, good wine list and pretty good food. I am not a steak person but I like the environment better there than other hotel restaurants/bars. The Embassy Suites is right across the parking lot so that is also an option but I am not really a big ES person.

I prefer to save a bit on the hotel and have a nice dinner/drinks.

With the morning flight in mind, I'd choose one of the Allergy-Friendly rooms at the O'Hare Hilton - they have some pleasant amenities (hardwood floors, organic bath products etc) that make them a little unique as compared to "just another airport hotel room":

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/hotelpromo.jhtml?ctyhocn=CHIOHHH&promo=CHIOHHH_Service_allergyfriendly

It's the same as staying at the LHR Sofitel - nothing beats the convenience of checking out and walking to your departure check-in desk :)

Intercontinental O'Hare is a gorgeous hotel where you will be treated very well as a Royal Ambassador. I had a lovely suite in October. I've also stayed at a couple of the area Hyatts and the O'Hare Hilton. With RA status, I strongly prefer the IC.

My top choices for ORD-area hotels when I have fly into ORD late evening, then back out the next early morning and don't want to head all the way home for only 3-4 hours:
* Hilton ORD (my favorite for the convenience factor)
* Hilton Rosemont (previously a Sofitel, then the Rosemont Hotel (IIRC) and then re-opened earlier this year under the Hilton brand)
* Doubletree ORD (as mentioned above, has the added benefit of Gibsons (one of my favorites) downstairs -- this is also walkable from the Hilton Rosemont)
* Sheraton Gateway Suites

In all cases you can always hop the Blue Line into the city (and back) for dinner or an evening on the town.

FWIW, the consensus on the MR forum seems to be that the Renaissance Suites ORD is better than the other Marriott airport properties,

FWIW, the consensus on the MR forum seems to be that the Renaissance Suites ORD is better than the other Marriott airport properties,

I second that. I like Renaissance Suites so much that I frequently sleep there before early morning flights out of ORD rather than driving to the airport in the morning. It is also very convenient to Cumberland Blue Line stop for easy access to the city. I find taking blue line is sometimes quicker than waiting for the free hotel shuttle. They have great park-sleep-fly rates, too.

Hey, why not the Holiday Inn Elk Grove Village?

:p:p

Hey, why not the Holiday Inn Elk Grove Village?

:p:p

Or there are some really fun hotels just a little bit south down Mannheim road. They even come with "companionship" if you don't mind paying a service charge. :D

Actually, since you're RA, I'd go with the Intercontinental. Great property.

IIRC, the Holiday Inn on Cumberland is the hotel that OJ checked into after his red-eye flight from LAX on that fateful 1994 night :)

You've probably done the stay already but if I were you, I'd go w/ Hilton or IC.

Cheers.