kelleek

I agree with paytonc. It is not going to be worth it to take a 45 minute train ride in and out everyday. Your experience will not be the same. For your time and cost in transit, you should really just pay the extra and stay downtown.

The Four Points seems to have more deals than the other properities. I know it is not the greatest of hotels, but it is very new and clean and in a great location. I would stay there in a heartbeat, vs. going to the 'burbs.

runningshoes

I need to organize a business meeting for about 15 people from Europe in early October. Would the recommendations noted in the thread be the same for a combination of;

- Decent meeting rooms and service
- Proximity to key d/t attractions (shopping, river tour, etc) and entertainment (a good steakhouse and blues/jazz club)

Thanks in advance for the help.

ldsant

Stay away from Westin River North- they gauge business travellers with their phone calls/HSIA, etc. and service is sorely lacking imo. The Westin Michigan Avenue is the perfect location imo - close to everything and Chicago really is a walking city (especially in the fall). They have conference rooms and small meeting rooms as well. Their Director of Operations (Mr. Brown) does try hard and seems to care about customer service.

Sam P. Goodman

Have to agree that Westin Michigan Ave has some nice meeting facilities. I was there for a meeting of about 100 in the fall and the meeting rooms we had were on the top floor with windows on three sides and views up and down Michigan Avenue. Refreshing compared to the windowless (and often underground) meeting rooms at many hotels. Of course, you may not want the distraction of a nice view...

The lobby was recently modernized (ultra). The room I had was not a recent remodel as it was in the older, more traditional Westin hotel room motif, not the new streamlined one. I had some questionable service issues with housekeeping and was close to a noisy elevator, but was very satisfied with management's response to my concerns.

This was my first visit to Chicago and I was able to walk to everything I wanted to see so location is also a plus.

runningshoes

Thanks to both of you guys for the response - Michigan Ave it is!

bigjim

My preference location-wise and hotel-wise, it Westin River North. I haven't found that one Westin gouges you worse than the other.

The Westin Michigan Avenue is just your typical big convention hotel, but everybody's got an opinion...

Hope that you have a good trip.

beachfan

Great thread, thanks to all the contributors.

When I checked rates, I came up with a $100 difference per night between Westin River North and Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers.

The price of the River North is right at the edge of what's acceptible. If I successfully got a suite upgrade at the Sheraton (I'm platinum), how big a difference is there?

As an example, in Boston, the Westin Copley Place is an overall better hotel than the Sheraton, but the suites I get upgraded to at the Sheraton have such stupendous views that it's an easy choice once $$ are factored in.

Thanks again!

TooMuchTravel73

The only two SPG's I've stayed at in chi-town is the Westin Ohare and Westin Michagan Avenue. (I'm at Westin O'hare about Monthly), Love the hotel and the people there are very friendly (Katrina and Margaret are two great front desk people, and Sakai is perhaps the best waiter at a SPG property I've ever had); Though admittedly when greeted by name, and favorite beverage, its hard to complain about the service. As an FYI the Presential suite on 12 is an amazing room; Governers suite ok, but not as nice. Anything on 12 has high ceilings; though I've never had a complaint about any room I've stayed in at the property.

Rom Sac

I just stayed here, and while the location itself is terrific, the hotel seems a bit run down. Maybe this is common for 4Points (I don't tend to stay at them) but the hallways reminded me of a depressing college dormitory.

I also stayed at the new Westin in Itasca, which is described as being on the periphery of O'Hare. While I'm sure this is technically true, it's quite a slog. It took about 30 minutes to get to O'Hare and cost $25 (using the hotel's fixed-price deal with a local cab company). The room was fine, but the cheap flourescent lights were somewhat jarring at a Westin.

twain45

I found the Westin River North to be quite good. We often have meetings at the ABA headquarters next door so the location and rates are great. But if you need to be in that area, I would also suggest a non-*wood property, the House of Blues hotel. They recently renovated their rooms and its basically next door to the WRN. Nice rooms, good service. I prefer *Wood, but we've had to stay there for business trips and they do a nice job with small meetings (of 20-50 people). Nice bowling alley attached too!

paytonc

The HOB Hotel is now called the Hotel Sax, and it's part of the Marina City ("corncob towers") complex. The sign says SAX in giant letters -- kind of easy to misread from a distance. I like Bin 36 (the wine bar off the lobby), but the rooms have no views.

Another independent nearby is the Amalfi Hotel, which began its life as a base for overnighting UAL crews but was sold off during Chapter 11. It's above Keefer's, reputedly one of the better steakhouses (but being mostly vegetarian, I wouldn't know).

Marriott is building two properties just north of the Westin.

Buster CT1K

Any more recent reviews of the W Lakeshore please? I will be staying there next weekend. Probably will be making most of my travel between there and a couple of tennis clubs on Fullerton St (playing in an indoor tennis tournament), as well as North Halsted for the Market Days street fair.

brae

had a recent stay at the Westin Chicago River North. Found the staff to be very friendly and the location was excellent, lots of good restaurants very close to the hotel

Mahalo

Anyone with a recent stay at the Sheraton Suites Elks Grove Village? Comments?

curl

It has been a little while since we stayed there, but I really liked W Lakeshore. Also have stayed (regretfully) at W City Center..... not so good. seriously postage-stamp sized rooms. my butt hit the wall when i walked by the foot of the bed.

If you can get a lakeside view at Lakeshore (higher floor to avoid noise from traffic on the drive), that is best.