Use Hotwire. We have always had great hotels at good prices.

When are you planning to visit? As Chicago is a big convention destination, hotel rates reflect supply and demand. There are large meetings with 30,000-60,000 attendees scheduled for Jan 21-24; Feb 21-23; Mar 2-5 and 9-11. Rooms will be at a premium for those dates but otherwise you should be able to stay within your budget.

What/Where is MileNorth?

I second Hotwire, but yes, prices will depend a lot on when you're looking. The least I've paid on Hotwire is $74, for the Hyatt on E. Wacker the first weekend in March. The most I've paid was around $250, for the Westin in River North on a weekend with Cubs and White Sox games, a half marathon, and two U2 concerts.

We tried both Hotwire and Priceline for our last trip, but, it was Labor Day weekend and there didn't seem to be any 'deals'.

We ended up at Club Quarter Suites, right on Michigan and Wacker. It's not a fancy hotel, but, our room had windows on two sides, both overlooking the river. Small room, but big enough.

It was only about $130.00 a night. I hadn't been to Chicago for a few years, I was astonished how cheap this place was.

I agree with JeanH. The Club Quarter is adjacent to The River Hotel. The room was small but big enough to sleep in. Honestly, I think it was one of the cleanest and nicest hotels that I have stayed in in a few years.

You might also want to check GroupOn. I just saw a coupon for The Hard Rock Cafe for $99 per night. It all depends on when you are going.

Thanks for the suggestions! I checked groupon today and the dates for the Hard Rock only go to February, but I'll keep watching. I've never done Hotwire before, but this might be just the trip to try it!

Do you know about betterbidding.com? You can often figure out what hotel you're likely to get on Hotwire before hitting "buy" by matching up the location, stars and amenities. I've only been wrong once (happened to be the most recent time, for my son in DC)

Hi, dsgmi.

Not sure which weekend you're coming in, but I'd recommend looking at...

The Amalfi Hotel (good location, decent rates, very nice service)
Four Points Sheridan (good location)
Holiday Inn Express/Cass Hotel (budget, good location)

Quikbook.com used to be a good site that I used frequently for New York, and they offer, Chicago, too. They have their "secret sales," but also options to book with free cancellation. I don't like the "pay first, then reveal" hotel scenarios.

If you're narrowing down your options, feel free to post them and maybe the locals can weigh in. Hope you have a good time in Chicago!

Snique Away has a discount on The James Hotel for $99 per night. You have not mentioned your travel dates so I am not sure it will work but worth a look.

I second the use of quickbook. Ditto about the prepay aspect.

There are all kinds of good options on the discount brokers to get great rooms downtown in Chicago. You do not have to pay those rack rates for the very same hotels. It's easy.

Some suggestions on the River are terrific. IMHO, that is the best place to be in the midst.

I am going to check out some of the websites suggested above that are newish to me.

Sometimes I get lucky with Travelzoo's hotel section for metro specific areas. When we went we got a deal for The Talbott found via this website.

http://www.travelzoo.com/hotels/chicago/

When we were looking for lodgings in other cities, Travelzoo had some good deals but our experience was that they can sell out really quickly. You need to know what a good value is and be prepared to decide.

Just an update on the plans...weekend decided: DS and his high school marching band are participating in the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade, so that weekend it is. Found Swisshotel for a very good price on bookit.com and chose that because it is a cancellable reservation, just in case. Now, outside of watching the parade, we are planning other activities and dining options. The Purple Pig looks interesting. Any other suggestions?

Swisshotel is a good location as you can walk over to the parade.

Hi.

Keep in mind when you're here for St. Patrick's Day that this city is not always this drunk and obnoxious. Sometimes (see Professional Sports Tournaments: winning), but not always.

Purple Pig is fabulous: they focus on pork, cheese and wine. What's not to love? Enthusiastic employees, as central of a location as you can get, a cozy atmosphere conducive to meeting other people and outside seating with heat lamps.

If you like that type of restaurant you will also love Avec. Go early (no reservations), go often.

As for other things to do, please be more specific about your likes/dislikes. I've lived here 9 years and am still working through my to-do/to-see list.

- Esme
@esmetravels

Esme, I've been to Chicago a few times, but the last was about 8 years ago...hence the info requests. My DH grew up in SW Michigan so went to Chicago regularly; he was last there two years ago but as a middle school trip chaperone. I would like to visit the art museum, but I don't know how that weekend is for crowds. I've been to Field Museum and Science and Industry already. We will be traveling with another couple who also like music,the arts and interesting things to do, but don't want to necessarily break the bank doing it. Can't say that I want to spend my whole weekend shopping. I've heard the river architecture tour is great, but maybe not so much in March! There are mutterings that there may be some jazz thing that the band members are doing on Friday but I don't know for sure yet. I did hear that They Might Be Giants Is playing at the Vic Theater (I don't know if the rest of the group is as enthused, however). It seems I am pretty open to just about anything when I try to narrow it down...

Second the Purple Pig! We also dined at the Italian Village, 71W Munroe St - excellent food!

They Might be Giants at the Vic sounds pretty fun. I can't say the same for jazz.

I am the only person I know who doesn't rave about the boat architecture tour.

Two interesting museums that may not be crowded on weekends: Museum of Surgical Science in Lincoln Park (in an old mansion) and the Oriental Museum (Persia, etc.) in Hyde Park. While you're there you could walk through the University of Chicago campus (stunning) and tour Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House for your dose of architecture.

Favorite one-stop shopping downtown: the 900 North Michigan shops. You pretty much know what you're getting with Bloomingdale's (its anchor store) but the others are quirky high-end but not high-high-end. Lulu's (vintage) will have her new store open by then and Karen Millen is my secret purse source.

One of my favorite things to do in Chicago -- if you'll be here on a Thursday -- is to attend Wait, Wait Don't Tell me Tapings (NPR) in the evening: buy tickets early in advance on line. It's cerebral but not at all prudish and always witty.

None of this will cost you much (well, except the 900 North Michigan shops), and is unique to Chicago.