Best Chicago Hotel ?
 

I am interested in staying in a great hotel in Chicago during a convention in April. The Peninsula is sold out, however, both the Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton are available each at $229 per night. Given they are the same price, which would you pick? Or, should I consider another hotel?

Thanks

The Ritz-Carlton in Chicago IS a Four Seasons Hotel. (I know, it's confusing....something to do with licensing of the name a long time ago.)
So service and amenities will be equal. Your choice should probably be based on whether one has a better location for your convention.

Thanks Lindsey, that is good to know. Actually the convention is at the Convention center and there will be a massive shuttle bus service, so the location decison becomes more which is better for restaurants, sights and shops.

The sofitel is very nice... I think the rooms are much nicer than both the FS and the ritz in chicago :)
Though I do love the location of the FS

Depending on when you're going, if it's during the winter I would definitely do the 4 Seasons since it's right in Water Tower Place. That way you can even walk around late at night if it's too cold out. The rooms aren't huge but it's a lovely hotel.

The original poster specified April, so winter will be past (though Chicago still can be quite cool in April).

The Ritz Carlton was purchased by the Four Seasons around 10 years ago as I recall, and part of their deal was that FS is allowed to leave the RC name in place. But staff and policies etc are FS.
Location is a wash as they're barely a long block apart. Both have inconvenient lobbies which require an elevator ride and a bit of hiking.
The bathrooms in the RC are all the old style RC standard gray/white marble with shower/tub combination and they're somewhat small. Standard rooms are also on the smaller side at 370 sq ft, but furnishings are nice. Unless they've done some extensive refurbishing I've found the furniture and carpets to be a little worn lately.
The FS standard rooms are the same size as the RC standard rooms, but the bathrooms are a little nicer, and I like the colors better (brighter and fresher IMO). Unfortunately the standard rooms have not been reurbished in awhile (the suites were recently redone).
Between the 2, I like the FS much better. The suites at the FS in particular are much nicer. The last RC suite I had was quite a disppointment and I don't find the hotel as welcoming (very subjective) as the FS.
The Peninsula is currently much better than either the FS or RC.

Also the FS is not in Water Tower Place. That's the RC.
FS is in the 900 N. Michigan building, which houses a large shopping center with more upscale type stores vs. Water Tower Place.

Thanks for all the replies. I think I give the Four Seasons a try.

In case you have not made your decision yet, just wanted to chime in on The Four Seasons. We just stayed there over the weekend before Thanksgiving. It was beautiful. The lobby is on floor 7, but it is very elegant with cystal chandeliers and hand woven carpets, etc. Very large and very pretty. We ate dinner at the Ritz Carlton one night at the Dining Room which was fantastic. But the lobby at the Ritz we found to be kind of strange. No crystal chandeliers, but a huge water fountain in the middle. But the overall feel was just sort of weird, not cozy or welcoming. So I would recommend the FS.

By sheer luck, we did get a junior suite on a corner so we had 4 large windows facing the north and the west. The room was absolutely gorgeous - big chandelier over a dining table in the corner, couch, chairs, etc. A king bed in the main room and a second bedroom with 2 twin beds pushed together and a second large bath.

Not sure what the standard size rooms looked like. We got the suite because our room was not available for over an hour after we checked in, so they upgraded us.

The location of both hotels in excellent. Have fun while you are there!

I,too ,was in Chicago the weekend before Thanksgiving.Gosh, what a beautiful city.I agree with the previous poster..the FS did seem to be awesome. We stayed at the Le Meridien..also great..had the most awesome bed.If I were going back,Id probably stay at the FS,Peninsula, or the Le Meridien again.

Gopack & Blair, thanks for the detailed feedback, that is most helpful! The FS sounds like my kind of place.

We have stayed at the Hotel Burnham three times,,, a smaller hotel, but fantastic,, it is still very convenient to most things in the city, the staff, the rooms, everything has never been less than impressive. Price is about the same as what you are looking at and you will get very personal service,,, at least, we always have.