Chicago hotels: Mag Mile or Art Inst.?
Dec 29th, 2001, 04:34 PM
#21
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While in Chicago, I have always enjoyed staying at these two hotels:
The Drake Hotel
The Drake is a deluxe, landmark, lakefront hotel on the Magnificent Mile. The Drake is one of the legendary Chicago hotels. The large, well appointed guest rooms overlook the beautiful scenery of Lake Michigan, and offer an enchanting view of this fast paced city. The Drake welcomes its guests with an enticing location and wonderful facilities. Here you will enjoy a high standard of hospitality and personal attention from the staff, dedicated to make your stay a memorable experience. The hotel is minutes to fine dining, shopping, and entertainment.
The Palmer House Hilton
...a full size bed only. This room is perfect for single occupancy, extremely cozy for a couple. This room is for the budget-minded traveler that desires all of the luxury of one of Chicago's most historic hotels, the Palmer House Hilton. The Palmer House Hilton is an elegant hotel offering all of the modern conveniences while maintaining its traditional elegance. The Palmer House is ideally located in the heart of Chicago within walking distance from Chicago's Theater District, museums, summer festivals, shopping, and restaurants. The hotel features four on site restaurants and lounges, enclosed shopping arcade, fitness center complete with steam room, sauna, indoor pool and virtual reality golf with pro shop. There is never a lack of things to do!
I hope that these suggestions are helpful.
Happy Trails,
Paul
The Drake Hotel
The Drake is a deluxe, landmark, lakefront hotel on the Magnificent Mile. The Drake is one of the legendary Chicago hotels. The large, well appointed guest rooms overlook the beautiful scenery of Lake Michigan, and offer an enchanting view of this fast paced city. The Drake welcomes its guests with an enticing location and wonderful facilities. Here you will enjoy a high standard of hospitality and personal attention from the staff, dedicated to make your stay a memorable experience. The hotel is minutes to fine dining, shopping, and entertainment.
The Palmer House Hilton
...a full size bed only. This room is perfect for single occupancy, extremely cozy for a couple. This room is for the budget-minded traveler that desires all of the luxury of one of Chicago's most historic hotels, the Palmer House Hilton. The Palmer House Hilton is an elegant hotel offering all of the modern conveniences while maintaining its traditional elegance. The Palmer House is ideally located in the heart of Chicago within walking distance from Chicago's Theater District, museums, summer festivals, shopping, and restaurants. The hotel features four on site restaurants and lounges, enclosed shopping arcade, fitness center complete with steam room, sauna, indoor pool and virtual reality golf with pro shop. There is never a lack of things to do!
I hope that these suggestions are helpful.
Happy Trails,
Paul
Dec 30th, 2001, 08:00 AM
#22
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HI, I got married downtown July 2000. It was wonderful but I guarantee you will be lucky to get a room for under $180/night in the downtown area during the summer, especially if it is anywhere near the Taste of Chicago(end of June). We got married the first week in July and prices were outrageous. We had our reception at the Clarion Executive Plaza, 39th floor, overlooking the Chicago River. It was amazing! Although I would not recommend this hotel for your guests this summer as Wacker Dr. is being renovated and that area is a mess!! As for which area to have your guests stay, there is tons to do no matter which local! On mag mile check out the Marriot. Near Art Inst. check out the Hilton Towers. City center check out Holiday Inn, City Center or Embassy Suites. If your friends/family are familiar with Chicago, we blocked off rooms on the North Side of town, Lincoln Park, at the Days Inn for 90 bucks a night. So our friends that couldnt afford the big city stayed there and took the CTA(L)- train downtown. As for rehearsal dinners we also had ours in the Lincoln Park area. Anyhow, best of luck with all the planning (You will be glad when it is over). One more note: make sure you allow plenty of time to get where you need to go. You don't get anywhere quick in Chicago during the summer.....festivals galore!
Dec 30th, 2001, 01:44 PM
#23
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I would plan North Michigan Avenue. Down by the Art Institute is woefully short of restaurants. I would definitely recommend the Talbott. It's right behind Bloomingdales and yet on more like a neighborhood street. Breakfast is included. We have used this hotel for several family occaisions, including my brother's wedding this fall. The other hotel that guests used was the Red Roof Inn. It is rather new and had a rate around $100, an absolute bargain just off North Michigan Avenue. Also, my brother and his wife found that as soon as the word "wedding" was mentioned all bargains disappeared. You might try instead recommending guests book their own rooms, www.quikbook.com is a great hotel discount service that I have used in a number of cities including Chicago. Best wishes.
Dec 30th, 2001, 01:49 PM
#24
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Liz, if your wedding is in River North, there are great places right in that area for a reception, no need to go up to Lincoln Park. Or the restaurants on Randolph Street west of the Loop aren't too far either. We had a wonderful party on the second floor of Blackbird there. It wouldn't hold too large of a party, maybe 40 for dinner and 80 for cocktails, but it is a fun and elegant private party room.
Dec 30th, 2001, 08:05 PM
#25
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Sounds like the Talbott is a definite!
A couple of more questions...sorry for continually adding addendums to this thread...
I just realized that the Blues Festival is on the same weekend as my wedding. (Yeah, should have thought of this long ago.) Should I be worried? I've never actually been to the Blues Festival--just never was in town then--so I'm not sure what to expect.
Chi-town girl mentioned that Wacker would be under construction, which was an excellent point....is this certain to be still going on in early June?
Okay, I'm starting to go into planning-panic mode.
A couple of more questions...sorry for continually adding addendums to this thread...
I just realized that the Blues Festival is on the same weekend as my wedding. (Yeah, should have thought of this long ago.) Should I be worried? I've never actually been to the Blues Festival--just never was in town then--so I'm not sure what to expect.
Chi-town girl mentioned that Wacker would be under construction, which was an excellent point....is this certain to be still going on in early June?
Okay, I'm starting to go into planning-panic mode.
Dec 31st, 2001, 07:37 AM
#26
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The Wacker Drive reconstruction will go on for another year, but it is already completed from Michigan Avenue to Dearborn Street. Clark and Franklin Sts. are currently closed. By June, one would hope that the work will be another two blocks west.
Blues Fest is not one of the larger festivals. I wouldn't worry about it's impact. Some of the streets in Grant Park will be closed. None of the hotels mentioned is close enough to be affected.
If you like the size and style of the Talbott, you might also want to check the Raphael and the Claridge.
Blues Fest is not one of the larger festivals. I wouldn't worry about it's impact. Some of the streets in Grant Park will be closed. None of the hotels mentioned is close enough to be affected.
If you like the size and style of the Talbott, you might also want to check the Raphael and the Claridge.
Dec 31st, 2001, 12:57 PM
#27
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Liz - Your e-mails are prompting many nice memories. My husband and I were married in Chicago, about 14 years ago. We had lived in Chicago, returned to Chicago, but at the time of the wedding we were living on the East Coast, so we also did long-distance planning.
On hotels, I would say pick one, a lower-price range. Those of your guests who can afford a higher rate can find a hotel themselves. (Or you can suggest several to them, but they check rates, etc.) We had our reception at the Allerton, and that's where most of the guests stayed. I think it's called something else now; it's an older hotel (it's the one with the "Tip-Top-Tap" sign on top) right off Michigan Ave. We were married in Lincoln Park.
Many of our guests were from out of town, and really loved the big-city wedding. The banquet rooms at the Allerton are at the top of the building, with excellent views all round. As it happened, the night of our weddings was Venetian night, and guests could look out and see the lit-up boats on the Lake.
One thing my parents did that worked really well (I thought it was totally corny initially) was that they rented a bus to take guests from the hotel to the church. As there's very little parking anywhere in Chicago (especially for 150 or so guests at a wedding), it was the best way for the guests to get there and back.
After we received the replies for those attending the wedding, we sent out a list of restaurants and things to do, which the guests found helpful.
The Blues Festival won't impact your wedding very much. I don't think many people come from out of town to go to it, and it's further south, in Grant Park. You might mention it to your guests, as they might want to attend the Blues Festival (it's great - I've missed being able to attend since I've moved away from Chicago)
On the rehearsal dinner, we took a different approach and had it at an informal place (a favorite deli of ours, which is no longer in business). If that interests you, consider one of Chicago's great pizza places.
Have fun planning!
On hotels, I would say pick one, a lower-price range. Those of your guests who can afford a higher rate can find a hotel themselves. (Or you can suggest several to them, but they check rates, etc.) We had our reception at the Allerton, and that's where most of the guests stayed. I think it's called something else now; it's an older hotel (it's the one with the "Tip-Top-Tap" sign on top) right off Michigan Ave. We were married in Lincoln Park.
Many of our guests were from out of town, and really loved the big-city wedding. The banquet rooms at the Allerton are at the top of the building, with excellent views all round. As it happened, the night of our weddings was Venetian night, and guests could look out and see the lit-up boats on the Lake.
One thing my parents did that worked really well (I thought it was totally corny initially) was that they rented a bus to take guests from the hotel to the church. As there's very little parking anywhere in Chicago (especially for 150 or so guests at a wedding), it was the best way for the guests to get there and back.
After we received the replies for those attending the wedding, we sent out a list of restaurants and things to do, which the guests found helpful.
The Blues Festival won't impact your wedding very much. I don't think many people come from out of town to go to it, and it's further south, in Grant Park. You might mention it to your guests, as they might want to attend the Blues Festival (it's great - I've missed being able to attend since I've moved away from Chicago)
On the rehearsal dinner, we took a different approach and had it at an informal place (a favorite deli of ours, which is no longer in business). If that interests you, consider one of Chicago's great pizza places.
Have fun planning!
Jan 1st, 2002, 05:32 AM
#29
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Liz, where is May Street? will the reception also be at the same art gallery? As far as rehearal dinners, will you have a big group and require a private room? Chicago Tribune had an article that listed what restaurants had rooms for private parties. Go to www.metromix.com. I think it was a great suggestion to give guests a list of restaurants and other things to do. This site would help you with that also. Good luck.
Jan 1st, 2002, 11:37 AM
#30
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Liz,
My husband and I got married last spring in Chicago and have since moved (I miss it so much!) Another reasonably priced hotel on the Mag mile right next to the Allerton is the Radisson. very nice and good views and not quite as pricey. Don't worry about the distance between the art institute and the mag mile, in June most people will be able to walk - a good 15-20 minutes.
The blues festival won't really impact your wedding much, except that traffic around grant park will be pretty bad. But it is a great festival - if your guests have time it will give them something fun to see!
Good luck with everything!
My husband and I got married last spring in Chicago and have since moved (I miss it so much!) Another reasonably priced hotel on the Mag mile right next to the Allerton is the Radisson. very nice and good views and not quite as pricey. Don't worry about the distance between the art institute and the mag mile, in June most people will be able to walk - a good 15-20 minutes.
The blues festival won't really impact your wedding much, except that traffic around grant park will be pretty bad. But it is a great festival - if your guests have time it will give them something fun to see!
Good luck with everything!
Jan 1st, 2002, 02:23 PM
#31
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The info here has been great! I'll be in Chicago this weekend and will definitely post a follow-up on which hotel(s) we decided on.
Anotherchicagogirl, May street is just west of downtown, between Halsted and Racine. We're having both the wedding and reception there. We're going to choose a more "downtown" spot for the rehearsal dinner though, to give guests as much of a complete city of Chicago experience as possible. I'm going to look at the Blues Fest as a big benefit here!
Anotherchicagogirl, May street is just west of downtown, between Halsted and Racine. We're having both the wedding and reception there. We're going to choose a more "downtown" spot for the rehearsal dinner though, to give guests as much of a complete city of Chicago experience as possible. I'm going to look at the Blues Fest as a big benefit here!
