Looking for opinions of Palmer House Hilton.

This is one of the great legendary hotels in Chicago. Beautiful lobby restored to its glory days. Greatest location in the city. I stayed here several times and now live in Chicago area and recommend it to out of towners. Another good bet is the Chicago Hilton and Towers a little south of there. If you want some MUST SEES in Chicago let me know, also good eats you shouldn't miss.

Hmmmm. I disagree with most everything Joy said, except where she lives.
Location is quite poor if you're in town to shop North Michigan Avenue and go to many of the restaurants in that area. Not really easy walking distance to anything we do in the city.
Rooms are tired. Hotel caters to huge conventions and feels quite impersonal. Yes, the lobby is quite beautiful, though.
And the Hilton/Towers? Why?
Chicago has some really great hotels on N. Michigan. I'd never recommend the Hiltons.

If you love restored historic classy hotels you will love the Palmer House. I have found its location ideal for the Shubert Theater, Chicago Symphony, Arts Institute, and some good restaurants (and public transportation, walking, etc.)

Karen

We stayed at the Palmer House last year.
The room was quite large, and did have two small bathrooms. However, it all looked tired. The television was not working properly, but was fixed reasonably promptly.
However, we found the Concierge and Front Desk Staff to be very surly and unco-operative. Admittedly it was just after Sep 11 and everyone was pretty stressed, but still it certainly did not endear the hotel to us.
It was extremely busy while we were there and one night there were three seperate wedding receptions taking place, in various public rooms of the hotel.

I agree with Karen's take on the Palmer House and I find it to be a very nice property with considerable character.

I, too, will agree that the Palmer House is quality hotel. No, it's not as convenient to shopping as the hotels in the North Michigan Avenue area, but it indeed is close to the sites that Karen mentioned.

How does the Palmer House compare to Fairmont Hotel, Sheraton Hotel/Towers, Holiday Inn City Centre, and Hilton Towers ... these are the choices I have for a conference in June at the McCormick Center. I'm currently booked at the Palmer House, but wonder if I should try to change reservation. Any recommendations?

The Fairmont is definitely a better choice from purely 'hotel experience' standpoint. It's farther from McCormick, but if you'll have to take a shuttle anyway it might not matter.
That said, the Fairmont is still a bit of a walk to the main part of N. Michigan, but very doable in June (not in December).
The Sheraton's rooms aren't quite as nice and it's a pretty generic big business hotel, but nice overall. Also a bit of a walk but fine in June.
The Hiltons and Holiday Inn would be next on my list.
I'd rank them in that order simply looking at hotel quality alone. (I've stayed at all the above except Holiday Inn).

BTW, of all the hotels mentioned, Cheryl, I'd choose the Fairmont. The Sheraton is still better than the Hiltons. The Hiltons would be next (PH before Towers).

I'm going to be staying at the Palmer House in two weeks for a conference. Could you recommend a few good restaurants within walking distance that aren't too expensive. (I'm going with a group from my college for a political science conference.) Thanks!

I live in the Loop and it takes 10 minutes to walk to the shops on Michigan from the Palmer House.

Becca: Try Millers Pub (steak); Trattoria 10 (Italian), Berghoffs (German). All good, reasonable and walkable from the Palmer House.

I'll disagree with a previous poster and put both Hiltons at the top of Cheryl's list.

PS: The Hilton Chicago is the closest to McCormick Place.

There is a restaurant in Hotel Burnham, Atwood Cafe very nice. Check out Burnham to have a drink it is worth seeing.

Holiday Inn=poor man's Hilton
Hilton=poor man's Hyatt
Hyatt=poor man's Ritz
Ritz=poor man's Four Season's