Help Me Decide . . . Chicago Hotels
 

I'm planning a trip to Chicago over Easter weekend to visit my brother who lives near Wrigley Field. We would like to stay in an area that's convenient to attractions. We have it narrowed down to The Westin on Michigan Ave. ($109 a night), the Peninsula ($285 a night), or the Allegro ($119 a night). Which would you pick? Is the Peninsula worth the almost $200 extra a night?

Never stayed at the Pennisula but it is one of the best in the city. That is a pretty good price for the Westin on Michigan and it is in a great location.

These three hotels are very different. The Westin is your typical business hotel, while the Allegro is a funky boutique hotel. The Peninsula is very swanky.

None of them are bad choices, it just depends on what you're looking for. The Peninsula is a very nice hotel and $285 is a fair price for a hotel in that league.

Which attractions did you want to be near?

The Allegro is down in the Loop, on Randolph. It is convenient for the theaters in that area, and for State Street shopping and the Sears Tower.

The other two are up on/near north Michigan Avenue. They are much more convenient for Michigan Ave. shopping, Hancock Building, Lincoln Park, etc. The Art Institute is a long walk from both locations. The other museums would be a cab ride from both.

Personally, I prefer the Michigan Ave. location.

The Peninsula is incredible for that price! Plus it's in a great area!

The Peninsula is one of the best hotels I've stayed at anywhere in the world, and that's a great price for it. If you want top of the line, luxury, service and everything else you could imagine, look no further. The bathrooms alone are bigger than some hotel rooms I've gotten at other hotels.

I'll agree with the posters so far. The Allegro is fun -- we stayed there last month for a night -- and has a great restaurant 312 Chicago. It's a "retrofit" of an older property. BUT you want to be on the "Mag Mile". I think your choice boils down to how much you are willing to pay.

As I do think there are sights south of the river, such as the Art Institute, I've been known to recommend staying on the southern part to be able to reach those sights also. I'm not sure where the Peninsula is -- but Le Meredien is on the south end on top of the Nordstrom/Northbridge shopping mall.

Considering that the Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton and Park Hyatt (great hotels but not as enjoyable as the Peninsula IMO) often cost almost TWICE as much as the price you were quoted for the Peninsula, I'd stay at the Pen.
If you don't usually stay in expensive hotels, if nothing else you'll be able to gauge for yourself whether or not you think those types of hotels are worth the $$$, and you won't have to pay as much as usual to find out.