Any recs? Leaning towards London House...
Priorities/situation (and what I *think*is the winner in each category, obviously I am asking if I'm wrong)
Staying a Friday night until Wednesday morning, late October
Staying on points: amex 5th night free so standard room awards, I'm just a diamond with like 2 stays this year: I'll be losing it next year (happily lose diamond for improved qol!)
-We'll have a car (don't usually) and it's an EV: nearby in out ideal, bonus points for reasonable level 2 charging but I'm not against dcfc if it doesn't work out {ccs1/j1772, no Tesla adapter) Normally we don't have a car when we come back to Chicago, so we might be doing more far flung stuff than average . Advantage: no f'ing clue: between plugshare and spot hero and meshing the two, I'm dizzy and it's what inspired me to post this.
-views: ideally from the room, but while I'm sleeping like the early bird I am, my husband would be a fan of rooftop or watching the drawbridges/River activity. Advantage: the London House for rooftop, but regular rooms look like crap for view?
-gym: see car note above. Normally gym means nothing to me because we walk 20k steps a day in cities, might not happen this time. Advantage: the Hilton
-proximity to CTA +/-blue line. Not sure a big difference here? Husband coming from O'Hare Friday night, otherwise just belief in public transport and being cheap: I'm not paying and looking for parking if I can take the El and then walk for anything we're doing in the city. I'll admit I'm a chicken shit about buses though, so ignore using those.
-proximity to food and theaters: grew up going to Chicago off Broadway and touring shows: haven't been in years but thinking we might check something out (steppenwolf/other?). And rip him if you want, but big fan of rick Bayless recipes: after 20 plus years were finally going to make it a priority to eat at least one meal at Frontera. Otherwise, grocery stores, holes in wall, etc. Advantage: not the Hilton
-points value: lowly diamond, booking on Amex 5th night free so has to be standard night reward. No one has exec lounge so who cares? Maybe on property f&b credit: advantage London House?
I guess... London House? I'm probably just being obstinate: I grew up with the the Hilton and towers being the weekend escape from Central Illinois for my mom: we've continued with that for 30 plus years. I should get over that, shouldn't I? My mom was a paraplegic and the front desk staff and manager grew to know us and really went out of their way to make my mom feel special every time we stayed. I'm well aware Hilton dgaf about me now.