Aug 14, 2018, 11:30 am
Last edit by: SkiAdcock
Hat tip to dcchi: "Whenever we do staycations in downtown Chicago, we use the ParkWhiz app to find parking. Normally pretty substantial savings off of hotel parking rates and even minor savings (and sometimes more) off of garage posted rates. If you're willing to walk one or a few blocks, this works well."
Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Chicago, IL
May 4, 2019, 8:56 am
#1111
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: PHL
Programs: Marriott LTT, Amtrak Select, Hertz 5*, AA Gold, IHG Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,312
I'd take the Westin Mag Mile 10 times out of 10 over the Marriott. Westin has been renovated in the last few years and added a club lounge. High quality. Nice rooms. Doesn't feel like a Marriott factory (when I was there last, admittedly 3-4 years ago, had an incredibly old dated room).
Both locations good, though the Marriott a bit closer to the Loop and everything down by the Park. Westin closer to the beach.
Both locations good, though the Marriott a bit closer to the Loop and everything down by the Park. Westin closer to the beach.
hands down, Westin Michigan Ave. the Marriott is the cookie cutter, big convention hotel. Its fine, you know what you are going to get. Lounge tends to be a circus for brekkie. Westin, small, quiet, lounge is really nice, much more intimate. Also love location of the Westin.
May 27, 2019, 6:41 pm
#1112
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 368
Chicago Properties with Separate Living Areas on SNA's?
Will be visiting Chicago and looking to book a 2 night stay. I would appreciate any advice from those familiar with Chicago properties. We def need ones that will offer the complimentary breakfast for plat/titanium elites. Have been digging through reviews on TA and am a little overwhelmed as there are many options. I know the SNA are a crap-shoot, but I need to start using them so I would def be trying to redeem them for this stay. Any advice on which properties have separate living rooms (to give a friend private space from me and the SO) if the SNA cleared would be appreciated. So far the best option I see is the JW.
Last edited by xkr0p; May 27, 2019 at 6:46 pm
May 27, 2019, 7:06 pm
#1113
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 687
Will be visiting Chicago and looking to book a 2 night stay. I would appreciate any advice from those familiar with Chicago properties. We def need ones that will offer the complimentary breakfast for plat/titanium elites. Have been digging through reviews on TA and am a little overwhelmed as there are many options. I know the SNA are a crap-shoot, but I need to start using them so I would def be trying to redeem them for this stay. Any advice on which properties have separate living rooms (to give a friend private space from me and the SO) if the SNA cleared would be appreciated. So far the best option I see is the JW.
May 27, 2019, 7:40 pm
#1116
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 368
Yes I am aware. I know sometimesin the properties that have a lounge for breakfast, they don't really enforce this. Not saying it's ethical, but honestly I really can care less any more with Marriott, considering everything they have done recently is unethical to its customers lol. I guess I will try for the JW & Westin due to this. I've had the check in agents give the third guest free breakfast with the voucher type properties before as a courtesy, but thats obviously not the norm.
May 27, 2019, 7:43 pm
#1117
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 368
Just tried to use a SNA at the Westin, the and SNA options are 3 different types of 'deluxe guest rooms'. Really?? The hotel has multiple types of suites, and this is whats offered? What a joke...
May 27, 2019, 7:52 pm
#1118
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
Yes I am aware. I know sometimesin the properties that have a lounge for breakfast, they don't really enforce this. Not saying it's ethical, but honestly I really can care less any more with Marriott, considering everything they have done recently is unethical to its customers lol. I guess I will try for the JW & Westin due to this. I've had the check in agents give the third guest free breakfast with the voucher type properties before as a courtesy, but thats obviously not the norm.
May 27, 2019, 7:57 pm
#1119
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
May 27, 2019, 8:09 pm
#1120
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 368
And its even more wrong to do the endless shady things Marriott has done to their customers... Advertise a price then sneak in an outrageously deceptive and often hidden resort fee. Guarantee certain benefits which we spend a lot of money to achieve, only for properties to be allowed to skirt around them with Marriott doing next to nothing to enforce. Let's not act holier than thou when were dealing with a company that doesn't treat us with that same respect.
May 27, 2019, 8:14 pm
#1121
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
May 27, 2019, 9:55 pm
#1122
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 687
actually the Westin River North checks as you walk in and will hand you a slip with a $ figure for additional guests.
I'm surprised by the SNA options at their hotel however. My suite that I believe I used a suite night award for was very nice.
I'm surprised by the SNA options at their hotel however. My suite that I believe I used a suite night award for was very nice.
May 28, 2019, 7:22 pm
#1125
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 226
And its even more wrong to do the endless shady things Marriott has done to their customers... Advertise a price then sneak in an outrageously deceptive and often hidden resort fee. Guarantee certain benefits which we spend a lot of money to achieve, only for properties to be allowed to skirt around them with Marriott doing next to nothing to enforce. Let's not act holier than thou when were dealing with a company that doesn't treat us with that same respect.
I believe that Marriott has approximately 7,000 hotels world wide. I doubt that very many hotels actually practice the behavior you call out.
I only stay in about 40 different properties per year. In my limited experience, the vast majority of hotels actually do try deliver the corporate stated benefits. I understand that people may get frustrated when they encounter a non compliant property but that still does not justify unethical guest behavior.
If you don’t like hotels with resort fees, don’t stay there. If you find certain hotels don’t provide the benefits that match your expectations, then don’t stay there. I personally detest the way that I am treated at the Sheraton Times Square so I try not to stay there. If you believe that you are spending a lot of money to achieve certain benefits and are unhappy with the way that the benefits are honored, you may want to change where you spend your money.