Hilton HHonors - Which ES in downtown Chicago?

Which ES would you recommend for a stay with 2 teenagers? One is on the lakeshore and the other ES looks as if it's just undergone a complete renovation. We'd like to be able to park the car and either walk or bus to most destinations.

Which ES would you recommend for a stay with 2 teenagers? One is on the lakeshore and the other ES looks as if it's just undergone a complete renovation. We'd like to be able to park the car and either walk or bus to most destinations.

I think either one will put you within walking distance of Mag Mile (Michigan Ave, shopping). Lakeshore puts you closer to Navy Pier and the Art Museum. The other one puts you closer to Hard Rock Cafe and ESPN Zone. In both cases you can't really walk to Field Museum or Shedd Aquariam. But short cab ride.

I recall the one near Lakeshore is relatively new, and looks very nice from the outside (never stayed there). The other one I has very small parking ramp entrance, so be careful driving in and out of it depending on the vehicle you have. Both have abundance of restaurants nearby.

Hope this is somewhat helpful.

There is also a Doubletree Suites downtown just around the corner from Water Tower Place, very convenient location. Just a couple of blocks from Michigan Ave.

Stayed there in the summer of 2002. It was a brand new, sparkling hotel at the time. Traditional ES atrium lobby. Parking is expensive and unavoidable. Easy walking distance to Navy Pier.

There is also a Doubletree Suites downtown just around the corner from Water Tower Place, very convenient location. Just a couple of blocks from Michigan Ave.

I just came from that Doubletree. In fact, I work there. We can accommodate you well. Both of those Embassy Suites properties are nice too. The "Lakefront" one is very close to Navy Pier, has a big movie theatre attached to it. For quick reference:

Embassy Suites State Street -- close to south end of Magnificent Mile shopping
Doubletree Guest Suites -- close to north end of Magnificent Mile shopping
Embassy Suites Lakefront -- close to Navy Pier

They're all about equal quality. Free breakfast at the ES's, free cookies at the DT (though it's free continental breakfast for Diamonds and Golds here too.)

Don't let names fool you, the ES Lakefront is NOT on the lake. Some rooms can probably see the lake but you'll be many blocks from the lake.

Depending on how much walking you like to do you can easily walk to all areas from any of the ES hotels. There is also a free trolly system.

You might consider either the HGI downtown or the Homewood Suites downtown. They're a block away from each other on Grand. The HS is a little bit small in some rooms, but they're suites, too. Fold-out couch. And you can get two double beds. The HGI is terrific -- great property with a terrific location. Both of them have a great location -- walking distance to all the main attractions and the shopping, not to mention in a superb restaurant location.

There is also a Doubletree Suites downtown just around the corner from Water Tower Place, very convenient location. Just a couple of blocks from Michigan Ave.

I do not recommend the DT, despite its great location. We had a very poor experience in January, which I detailed in a previous thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362246


Later the situation got stranger. I received a polite pm here at Flyertalk from someone from "front office" asking if they could have the hotel manager contact me about my experience. I said yes.

No letter or email ever came from the hotel manager.

In terms of location, either ES is fine for walking and getting around via bus. Neither one is actually on Michigan Avenue, so there is some walking of a few blocks involved regardless of your choice. Assume that parking will be expensive at either one.

However, I tried the ES Downtown recently and was disappointed. Reading about the "top-to-lobby renovation" had me expecting a little more I guess. It made me question what the hotel was like prior to the redo? I'll just say that it's not overly impressive, just seemed like a standard ES to me. I'm not sure about the Lakefront property.

I usually stay at the Homewood Suites or the HGI, which are also in the same area, but a couple blocks closer to Michigan Ave. Both are "newer" properties (i.e., clean).

With the teens, not sure what you are looking for in terms of amenities? A pool? All of them have one.