Notes on hotels for Pinkfest ...

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This posting is from: annie
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Since Ginger brought up the topic of hotels, I'll continue
with some thoughts and suggestions, mainly for those who are
new to Pinkfest and want some guidance.

We don't really have any "suggested" hotels like we have for
DLV. However, I and some of the others can suggest a number
of options for any price range.

If you have any questions or concerns about hotels, ask and
I'm sure you'll get some answers. :)

My strong suggestion: Book early, check rates often for a
better rate.

You basically have two choices WRT hotels for Pinkfest, those
being:

1. Downtown and River North hotels.

2. Suburban motor hotels or motels.

The advantage to Downtown and River North hotels is, as they
say, "location location location", as they are within a very
easy walk to a number of our activity locations.

The disadvantage is that they typically cost between one arm
and two arms and two legs! You can get decent comfortable
and clean rooms in the River North area for less than $150
per night if you look around, but these will typically be
older hotels with smaller rooms. There are also a few of
the very bottom-dollar places which we've been leery of or
warned about (like from my in-house TAs at work) to stay
away from.

Another disadvantage of the Downtown and River North hotels
is that seldom is parking included at no charge. (One very
notable exception, see below.) If you will have a vehicle,
these will often not be your best choice.

The hotels and motels in the 'burbs offer much lower rates
plus free parking. One in particular (see below) has been
ephemerally popular with our people. Some of our people
who stay in these will drive in, others will drive to a
park-n-ride lot, and a few are within walking distance
to the subway/El.
. . . . . . . . . .

Here are the hotels I've stayed in for Pinkfest over the
years, with some notes on each:

1. Best Western River North (multiple years), Ohio and
LaSalle. This is the only semi-reasonable, semi-decent
hotel in the area that offers free parking, with unlimited
in-out, to guests. Older hotel, older rooms but clean and
comfortable.

Rates do include parking, so in essence you're paying for
it whether you use it or not. Factor that into any price
comparisons.

3 block walk to the State Street subway, 5 block walk to
the Brown Line El.
. . . . .

2. Red Roof Inn (multiple years), Ontario and St. Clair.
Another older semi-well-kept hotel. Rooms comfortable but
spartan and small to very small. (Ginger's room last year
has to be the smallest hotel room I have ever seen!)

Rates are often the lowest for any semi-decent hotel in
the area. Ginger posted a very good rate. No convenient
in-out parking.

6 block walk to the State Street subway.
. . . . .

3. Days Inn Gold Coast. Clark St. w. of Lincoln Park. Yet
another older semi-well-kept hotel. Small but nice room.
Gazillion channels on cable TV.

Rates tend to vary from reasonable to obscene depending on
demand. No convenient in-out parking. On-street parking in
adjacent residential areas is mostly reserved for residents.

6 block walk to the Brown Line. Shuttle driver will take you
almost anyplace within reason.
. . . . .

4. Holiday Inn O'Hare Cumberland (nee Ramada Plaza)(multiple
years), Cumberland and I-90 (Kennedy Expressway). This is
"The OJ Hotel" and is the typical suburban motor hotel. The
rooms are larger and nicer than the older downtown places and
the rates are usually quite a bit less. Of course this has
free parking with in-out.

This is a decent compromise between cost and convenience.

Rates vary from very reasonable to totally out of line
depending on the phase of the moon.

4 block walk to the Blue Line. It looks much closer on a map,
but you can't get there from here. :) Shuttle will take you
to/from the train/bus and O'Hare, but not Midway.
. . . . .

5. Holiday Inn Express Mag Mile (nee Cass Hotel), Wabash
bet. Ontario and Erie. Older hotel recently remodeled with
smallish but very nice rooms. Bathroom was very nice and
almost as large as the bedroom portion. :)

Rates seem to be a bit higher this year than in past years.
No convenient in-out parking.

3 block walk to the State Street subway.
. . . . .

6. Hampton Inn River North, Illinois and Dearborn. This is
the nicest place I've stayed in the River North area. Rooms
are much larger and nicer than RRI/HIE/BestWest.

They say that parking is available. ($$$$ I'm sure!) 2 block
walk to State Street subway.

Rates are higher this year. This would be my first choice
but the rates I've seen so far are more than I want to pay!
. . . . . . . . . .

Other hotels which our people have stayed in and liked:

1. Palmer House. Downtown. $$$$$$$$$$ Need I say more. :)

2. Hilton Gardens Inn, Grand and State. $200-ish per night.

3. Doubletree Inn River North. Nice, semi-decent rates, but
several blocks east of the action.

4. Holiday Inn City Center. Ditto, but not as far.

5. Days Inn Elk Grove Village. This is right next door to
Hunters Dance Club, which some LOVE. Big problem is that
it's nowhere near anything else. Very reasonable. Shuttle
to/from O'Hare and the Blue Line. Shuttle driver has been
known to be bribe-able to drive elsewhere. :)

6. Holiday Inn, West Loop. A bit out of the way and a bit
spendy. $$$$$ Easy walk to the Blue Line.

7. Holiday Inn Mart Plaza. Higher than most in the area.
Very easy access to Brown Line.
. . . . . . . . . .

We've avoided the following for various reasons:

1. Ohio House Motel. Very attractive rates. Looks a bit
seedy. Anybody wanna check it out and report on it? :)

2. Howard Johnson's, north LaSalle. Referred to as "skanky"
by a TA.

3. Travelodge downtown. TAs reported that their agency quit
booking this due to customer complaints.
. . . . . . . . . .

Any questions or concerns about hotels, please ask. :)

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(This posting was entered by annie, an external user of MyDLV.)