just beginning to research a trip to Chicago. Will use Priceline for a hotel;North Michigan ave. seems to have the largest selection of hotels, as seen on biddingfortravel web site.Is this the best and most convenient area for seeing the sites thanks

Most visitors to Chicago opt to stay on North Michigan Avenue, it's close to the Mag Mile shopping and the more tourist oriented restaurants. I don't think there's a bad location listed on BFT.

The River North 4 star hotels are also fine, they are a little further away from Michigan Avenue but still in a good area and walkable to Michigan Aveneu. If you bid 3 star River North, you risk getting the Holiday Inn Mart which isn't as good of a location as NMA or the 4* River North.

If you bid 4* for the loop, 3 out of the 4 listed are in a good location for the museum campus and theater district but there aren't as many restaurants in the loop. The W City Center is smack dab in the middle of the business district which isn't very active at night. You would probably have to use a few cabs if you ended up with that one.

2 of the 3 listed boutique loop hotels are good too, located in between the shopping and the museums. But if you end up with the Allegro, you have the same problem as the W City Center although it does put you reasonably close to Greektown and the Randolph St. restaurant corridor.

Chicgal, Kristi, anyone? We still haven't decided which hotel we are going to stay in (a rewards trip, so we're not paying), so I'm going to follow up on the location question. Our options are Renaissance at 1 West Wacker or Marriott at 540 North Michigan Ave. If we stay on W. Wacker, are we far from Michigan Ave (Mag Mile) or is it a hike. Thought it was just a couple of blocks away and both offered river views - what do you think? Are they both comparatively busy, touristy, etc? Thanks!

Since the cost is the same, I think I'd go with the 540 N. Michigan location. The 1 W. Wacker location is fine too, just a few blocks from the start of the Mag Mile but 540 N. Michigan is right in the heart of the tourist area. But I can't comment on the rooms since I've never stayed at either.

The Ren at 1 W. Wacker is closer to State St. shopping and theaters, about 2 blocks from the Marshall Field's on State.

540 N. Michigan is a better location. the at the renassance you are a little more in the buinessness district. but a little closer the grant park. to get to north michigan you will be walking acrross the bridges

IMO the renassainse is a little bit nicer hotel and it is on the river.

I would pick the marriot if you plan on doing serious shopping.

The two hotels are really only about 2.5 blocks apart. I would choose the Renaissance--I think it's a much nicer property (although I haven't stayed in both, I've been in them and have friends who have stayed there). The Mariott is really just a big business hotel--Renaissance is a step up. And, if you can get a river view, that would be a plus.

YMMV,
Racy