I need some hotel suggestions!What is the best area to stay if you want to visit Chicago for a long weekend to shop, dine and go out at night. Just a couple of girlfriends looking for a fun weekend. We want a nice hotel (in the middle of it all), but not too expensive. Thanks.

Any hotel in the loop or North Michigan area would be well located. What do you consider "too expensive" and when are you coming? There are several large events and conventions that are expecting upwards of 30,000 people. It will help people make specific suggestions.

There are tons of threads on exactly this. Do a search on Chicago hotel and you'll get them to come up.

www.metromix.com for plotting.

Priceline and Hotwire have designated areas LOOP, N. Michigan Ave. Water Tower Area, etc. You can bid for single rooms for two. www.betterbidding.com

For this kind of weekend stay near the Chicago River. That way you are between Michigan Ave. to Water Tower, LOOP designations, IMHO. Right in the middle. Superb.

Some excellent choices are also huge like Hyatt, Omni, Intercontinental etc.and most have access to River walk area too. (If you look at any Chicago area hotel map online you will see exactly what I mean.)

There are 100's of hotels in Chicago of all different sizes as well. You do NOT have to spend a lot of money regardless of competition if you do it FAR AHEAD OF time. If you are booking for this summer, you better do it right now.

I have gotten rooms on Priceline for $69 when my marathon weekend neighbor in the same room next door was paying $469- so it's all about timing, IMHO- more than anything else. Boutique hotels, quite the same.

Also check Quikbook.com! Last year, we went during spring break/St. Paddy's/March Madness, and I was still able to get a corner room at the Westin Michigan Ave. (great location!) for about $200/per night.

Thanks for all the suggestions. We are going at the end of April and don't want to sepend more than $150-$200 a night. Definitely want to be close to shopping, dining and nightlife.

How's the House of Blues?

It's fine, in both quality and location. Your timing is too short to get a great deal, but you can still get some average deals that time of year.

Other good ones that may have a weekend special are Hotel Allegro, Hotel Burnham- these have a nice complementary wine bar in the late afternoon/evening and are LOOP smallish and great for women, IMHO.