We had a conference at the nearby Marriott and thankfully could not get a room there, since it would have been $3-400 a night there. We found Homewood Suites, which is literaly next door. From our room, we could look into the rooms at the Marriott.

Boy are we glad we found this place. We paid $189 a night for 7 nights. If you stay 7 nights, it is considered "extended stay" and it is cheaper-probably cheaper total than if you stay 4-5 nights. Their pricing is a tad bit confusing because most room types have different rates on different nights, so just make sure you know what you average room rate is before thinking you got a great deal for all nights.

Location: It is one block off Mag Mile, and across street from Nordstrom, PF Changs, Pizzeria Uno, Bloomingdales, ESPNzone etc. GREAT location within walking distance of anything on Michigan Ave. or the Loop. In the room they have menus from various eateries that will deliver. Rannallis is great for pretty basic italian fare and salads. They are fast and only charge $2.50 delivery.

Public areas: The staff is very friendly. You take elevator to floor 6 for lobby, shop, and dining room.....

Almost the best part is the breakfast, which is probably the best complimentary brekfasts I have had a hotel ever. Scrambled eggs, breakfast meat, panckaes, french toast or fresh waffles, cereal, donuts, bread bagels fruit, yogurt, juice hot drinks. It got a little monotonous after 7 days, but the higher end-hotels don't even have this nice a breakfast for $$. NOR do the ritzey places have a buffett dinner. It is Mon-Thursday and is basic, but they have themes. Spagetti and meatballs, hamburger, pizza, Philly Cheese steak, chinese, etc. Usually some steamed veggies, small salad bar, hot entree and usually some kind of vegetarian option like mac/cheese, potatoes. Beer and Wine and soft drinks. Cake and pudding for dessert. Very passable, especially if you think that yo are saving $40 on dinner or more. We ate there 2 night out of 7. You can take the food to-go up to your room as well.

Room: we had a corner room. All the "_04" rooms are on the southeast corner which affords a view from the Hancock Tower to the Trump Tower and Wrigley Building in the middle. We loved it. You walk in and it has an almost full kitchen (no oven) with fridge, 2-burner cooktop, microwave, sink, dishwasher and dishes for about 4 people. Then there is a living area with dining table/desk, two dining chairs, an easy chair, couch, coffee table and tv. The bedroom has a confy king bed with pelty of pillows and clean duvet cover, tv and standard bathroom. You can close the bedroom door and the couch folds out. You have to go thru the bedroom to get to the bathroom. The dcor is urban, with warm colors and some ncie bw photos of Chicago architecture.

There is free wireless and ethernet cable internet in the room, which worked great. They also have a business center on floor 6 with printers, and conference table etc, so you can print out boarding pass etc. All the expensive hotel charge $10 a dayand that is if you can get it to work properly.

Overall, we were REALLY pleased with the quality AND value. These days you are lucky to get one of thsoe in a hotel, but to get both-wow, that says a lot. It makes you wonder how Hilton is able to do it, and makes you wonder how much profit these swankier palces make on just a simple room and no extras at all and still charge twice as much.

We will be back to this place and will look for more of these Homewood Suites elsewhere.