Is anyone familiar with this hotel? Is it a good location for a weekend getaway, in terms of safety andlocation? Can we walk from there, or take city transporation?

If this is NOT a good choice, can you suggest another hotel that is reasonable, ie in the $150 a night range, if thats even possible???

Thanks in advance!

This is a "Best Western" so do expect the Ritz, but it is in a great location . It is in a very safe/busy area where you can walk to almost everything. You are also on three major bus routes and close to the EL.
Enjoy the city.

Ellen,

We stayed there 2 years ago. The location is great. You can walk the River North area day and night with no problem. The El is close and convienient.

That said, the worst service I have ever had in any hotel. To start with, the desk people were indifferent. You'd have thought they worked for the Post Office. Basically, they ingnored us when we came in the very small reception area. Personal conversations were more important than registering guests.

We got to the room, it was FREEZING! I kid you not. It was also supposed to be a smoking room, but it was not. They sent a Bellman to move us to another room. He asked how we liked the hotel so far. I told him to this point, I was less than impressed.

We get to the new room, it is FREEZING!!
Finally get that squared away.

Had problems with the maid service. I left them notes and nothing happened. Turns out none of them spoke any English and didn't bother to take the note to someone who did.

I wrote Best Western a letter when we returned home and got the standard "sorry" reply. In addition, I never received my FF miles.

I would never stay there again, but I can't recommend another hotel in the area. It is a great area. Be sure to eat at one of Rick Bayless's restaurant just a 3 or 4 block walk down Clark Street.

We love Chicago. If you find another hotel in the area, please post it on this site.

Dick

In the $150 and under price range, you can do MUCH better than BWRN. Try www.quikbook.com, punch in your dates and price range and see what comes up. You will get some truly nice hotel options. A few weeks will give you problems--like the week after Thanksgiving when there's a HUGE convention in town taking all the hotel rooms--but for most dates you will have lots of choices, most of them much better than the BWRN.

I agree with quikbook.com. I've seen these hotels in the area of $100-120. They are all nicer than the best western.


Le Meriden
The Talbott
Swissotel

I agree with the above posters about quikbook.com. I have gotten great rates through them. There are actually two Rick Bayless' restaurants. There is Topolobampo (upscale Mexican restaurant - very good) then there is a casual and more reasonable restaurant Frontera Grill. They are both very good. Frontera however does not take reservations and people start lining up pretty early to get in. If you can go early or don't mind the wait, it is worth it. Have fun!

You might also try Hotrooms.com. They are listing several hotels under $150.

Check out biddingfortravel.com and see how low some great properties have sold rooms for on priceline in Chicago. It looks like $60 per night will certainly get you a 3* hotel and $100 or so will get a 4*.

Good Luck,

Kevin

Thank you all for the great replies. I should have been more specific though....this two night getaway is a gift I'm purchasing for some friends, so I don't know if priceline etc. would work??? I need to purchase some sort of gift certificate to present them with, unless you know of a newer and different way??

I will try quickbook etc. to find other names to check.

Thank you in advance for any and all replies.

You are certainly a very generous friend!

The BW River North would not be my choice for the situation you described. It's in a car-oriented part of the city, and on a busy street to boot. The one time I ate there (many years ago) the food was awful.

I would contact a small hotel like the Whitehall directly and talk about your gift certificate situation. It's in a much prettier setting, close to the center of everything but on a quiet street.