The Bars Will Be Filled With Tourists on NYE

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Dec 28, 2005 12:41PM

In a press release that's pretty much an advertisement for Hotwire, Chicago has been named the top destination spot for New Years Eve. Based on Hotwire's top 10 hotel bookings for New Year's, this was the second year that Chicago topped the list.

When Chicagoist thinks of NYE destinations we think NYC, Times Square, Dick Clark (Regis Philbin?), the big countdown and ball drop. While New York is still on the top 10 list, Hotwire says that people are more interested in getting away to somewhere warm, like Orlando, which ranked #2 or Phoenix, which ranked #3. But that doesn't account for the freezing weather here.

Hotwire says that people also are looking for places where you can get a 4-star hotel for under $100/night. We didn't think that really applied to Chicago either, but Hotwire is saying that you can get a 4-star hotel on Michigan Ave. for under $54/night by using their site. Not sure where Hotwire is getting their numbers, because Chicagoist just visited Hotwire, did a search for a hotel (checking in December 30, checking out Jan 2, 1 adult) and three 4-star hotels came up in the "downtown area." Their price/night? $142, $167, $169.