My condo was flooded and need to stay in a hotel in downtown Chicago for at least a month. I am assuming the insurance will pay for everything (probably up to $200 a night). It will be for 2 adults and 1 three year-old. I am currently gold for hilton, platinum for prior club, gold for starwood. What is the best option if we can only stay at 1 hotel? ( it will be difficult to switch hotel with lots of luggage )

Thanks a lot!

Negotiate direct with hotel to get a rate your insurance will cover. If staying a month hotel mgt may be willing to give you a special rate.

Choose something like Homewood or Embassy Suites for the space

I'm sorry to hear about that.
First of all, many hotels will give you a special rate for a month long stay... just ask. But rule out stay base promos like Marriott.
Then again, if you were staying in a Marriott with a lounge, you could do that Plat challenge and have lounge access... free meals all month!

Hilton is giving double points, so that's an option. and you should get lounge access with hilton. Plus hilton is having the 50% off sale. which could give you a nice hilton for a good price. I would seriously consider doing this in a hotel with a lounge.

Also, you could really rack up priority club points. Go to this thread and follow instructions for putting in each promo code (then start entering them in by newest post first). You'll knock em all out and could rack up a ton of points. If you stay at an IC hotel, upgrade to Ambassador.

Normally, I'd say SPG or Hyatt... for a long term loyalty program... but hyatt doesnt even have a promo out right now! If that changes, you have another option (in which case make sure you do a Diamond challenge).

Right, a lot of places may have kitchens, or at least kitchens in their sweet. A lot of hotels have apartment buildings but they give like 1/3 points or elite credit. So if you can find a hotel with a kitchen... that might seem like a must. Then again, lounge access is nice ;-)

Thanks for the replies. I am currently staying at Conrad Chicago for the 1st night. Hilton is definitely nice option with the 50% off promo. However, the price is so good that no suites availability till 12/31.

I have never stayed at Marriott. Since they are not running any 50% off, I guess they should have suite availability. Anyone would like to talk more about the Marriott's Platinum challenge and Lounge benefits? Greatly appreciate all the inputs.

Be sure to investigate "length of stay" rules for each rewards program. I could be wrong, but I recall reading some threads re:stays in excess of something like 29 continuous days not receiving points.

It's as simple as calling Marriott and asking for to do the Taste of Platinum Challenge. Durring this time you'll have all the Platinum benefits - including lounge access.

That sounds like a big assumption. Is there a limit? Are restaurant meals covered? Groceries? Do you need a kitchenette, or are you actually going to be reimbursed for restaurant meals?

Your insurance agent should be able to tell you what you can do, and what others have done in similar circumstances.

Without that information, you could be out of pocket for a lot if you guess too high. Or you might also be leaving a lot on the table if you guess too low.

The insurance wont cover anything other than hotel stays. it is my understanding that the insurance will pay after my regular monthly rent $$ (around 2500) being used first. No matter how much the insurance covers, there will be definitely extra out-of-pocket dollars for the additional restaurants, parking, tips and etc.

I did talk to my insurance agent and they are okay with any lodging expenses as long as it is necessary and reasonable.

Call the property directly during business hours and speak with the sales manager. Ask what they can do for you. Given that your insurance only reimburses stay costs, focus on things which won't be covered such as food, laundry, internet and the like.

I would also focus on properties which have real suites (in other words a second room as opposed to a couch in a corner) and even a small kitchenette. With a baby, you may want to stay up later than the kid and restaurants get tiresome after a while. Doesn't have to be gourmet kitchen, but something functional.

Thanks for valuable inputs. I will stay at Conrad tonight since no suites availability anywhere that I would like to spend the night. Just booked 4 nights at TheWit which is also a Hilton group AAA 4-Diamond hotel but with suite available. Hopefully I can figure something out in the next few days.

It goes against the point earning urge, but with a kid and for an extended time, I would shy away from a regular hotel room. It will get old after a week or so. Better to look into extended stay or a true suite hotel as mentioned above. the extra living room is worth the point tradeoff if you have family. another alternative would be look into VRBO for a month long lease of a condo or townhome...if VRBO and similar sites are lacking inventory, check out corporate housing apartments....they may be more expensive but will offer a furnished apartment with all the comforts of home for short term leasing.
VRBO would be my first choice as you can explain your situation to the owner of the property, and this time of year demand is not high, they would likely give you a deal on a months rental.

Thanks for mentioning VRBO and will definitely looking into that. I totally agree with you that hotel won't be an viable option for such an extended stay. Thanks,

A number of years ago, we had a fire at our house. The insurance paid for a hotel until they could find a house for us to rent while our house was being rebuilt. The insurance also paid for ALL meals and incidental costs while we were in the hotel. Philosophy being that we would be eating at home, which is significantly cheaper, rather than eating in a restaurant. The only thing they would not pay for is phone costs. Of course this was a homeowner policy not a renter policy.

Also, I assume you are actually renting the condo and will not need to pay rent or any fees while the condo is being refurbished. You might look at your rental agreement, you might have a claim against the condo owner for additional meals etc. Just check it out. Also make sure you read your renter policy to see what is covered as far as incidental costs. The agent may, or may not, be telling you the entire story.

Thanks a lot and I will look at my policy.