#hotelallegro

[djleefarmer]

My office for the day. #hotelallegro #soundofauthority #cafemoca

[fivestarandfrugal-blog]

Memorial Day Weekend Warriors???

I have long been a Memorial Day Weekend Warrior.  It is the one holiday weekend every year that I don't mind traveling on.  Now, mind you, I always travel to the same place and use the same means of transportation.  Chicago over Memorial Day is a great place to kick back, enjoy the sites, and not be too bothered by the glut of tourism.  

That may be changing this year.  The last few years, hotel rates have been through the floor in Chicago and the city has underwent some tough time getting people into their hotel rooms.  This year, the Memorial Day weekend rates are looking pretty salty.  If you are going to book something, you better start looking now.  Last year, I stayed at Hotel Allegro with Justin and had a pretty good stay.   Allegro is your run of the mill average 4 star hotel.  Nothing too fancy, nothing too inane.  I would call it a business class 4 star.  The year before that was Hotel Palomar for its initial opening.  This was a fantastic stay in their Mosaic Suite.  Year before that was one of my old favorites, Palmer House Hilton.  The Palmer House is the oldest continuously operating hotel in the United States.  The next time you are in Chicago, check in on it and at least take in the lobby.  It is quite impressive.

Now, looking at those same rates this year... WOW!  The cheapest of the 3 is Palmer House at $179 a night with NO extras!  Palmer House is notorious for nickel and diming you and the rooms are super small.  My walk in closet is bigger than their bathrooms.  I might as well sell a kidney this year to finance a Memorial Day getaway.  All hope is not lost though as I have turned to corporate travel discounts through my employer to see if I can find something more reasonable.  This is a good last ditch alternative as usually you will get a nice room at a good hotel at a nice price.  Now, mind you, corporate rates usually do not include any of the goodies I have written about before.  So, it is a take it or leave it kind of thing. 

We are staying at the Ritz Carlton, A Four Seasons Hotel-Chicago, this weekend for Valentine's Day and depending on the stay may rebook for Memorial Day.  They have a great corporate rate and the hotel is pretty centrally located.  The only downside is losing those wonderful perks.  The backup is Sofitel Chicago who also has a great rate, but the perks are just so-so. I will report back and see where my frugality takes me.