Help choosing Chicago hotel
 

We will be visiting Chicago for 4 nights at the end of June/early July. I get a great rate through Hilton and Marriott, so I'm looking to stay at one of those two chains. We will have two young boys with us. Here are my current options:

1. Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown
33 West Illinois, Chicago
Rate: $169

2. Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile
10 E. Grand Avenue, Chicago
Rate: $169

3. Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago-Downtown
40 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Rate: $151

4. Conrad
521 N. Rush Street, Chicago
Rate: $150

5. Embassy Suites Chicago - Downtown
600 North State Street, Chicago
Rate: $152

6. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Magnificent Mile
300 E. Ohio Street, Chicago
Rate: $139

Here is the list of Marriotts...all are $166 per night.

1. Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel
1 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60601

2. Residence Inn Chicago Downtown/River North
410 North Dearborn Street Chicago

3. Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown/River North
60 West Illinois Street Chicago

4. Courtyard Chicago Downtown/River North
30 East Hubbard Chicago

5. Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
540 North Michigan Avenue

6. Courtyard Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile
165 East Ontario Street Chicago

Just a bit more info. We won't have a car...just doing public transportation. Looking for a good location that we can walk to local attractions or easily get to a train/subway stop.

If it were just my husband and I, I'd be looking for nice. With kids, I lean towards the suite style hotels with breakfast since it's just easier.

Thanks for your help.

I've stayed at the Hampton Inn and the Embassy Suites. Both meet your criteria, though the ES is more comfortable (2 rooms) with kids. Also check the ES Lakefront. I've stayed at it a couple times and liked its location the best, unless you have a lot of business in the loop.

Remember, the ES also has the evening snacks/drinks, which is also nice before venturing out in the evening. The ES breakfast is 10x better than the Hampton Inn BUT you will have more of a crowd at bkfst.

Although it's been awhile, I've stayed a couple of times at the Homewood Suites and it would fit your needs nicely. Our room had a small kitchen, separate bedroom, a rooftop indoor pool and was only a couple of blocks from Michigan Avenue. The breakfast was good, and they too offered the evening snacks and drinks (mid-week only).

If it was just you and your wife then Conrad, but since you will have couple of kids, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites, Embassy Suites will be your best bet.

Have a wonderful trip to the most beautiful US city! :-)

I'm the wife :)

Thanks for helping me narrow it down. I'll give the hubby final say....

Looking forward to the trip. I've been before, but only for short stays and haven't been able to see much of the city.

Wow! Great rates on all these hotels.

Of all these, I’d choose Homewood Suites on 40 E Grand. You’re close to the subway entrance, the Jewel-Osco grocery store, an easy walk through the Nordstrom mall up to the Michigan Ave. buses and there are lots of dining & coffee options. You’re in the same building as Eataly, too.

Of the Hiltons, #2,3,4,5 are all great locations. Pass on #6-The Doubletree on Ohio Street is a bit out of the way and there’s not much immediately about it, nor is it convenient to CTA (Chicago Transit Authority Buses or Subways). #1: Hampton Inn feels just a little out of the way, and it’s a good block, but the lobby and that street aren’t the most pleasant. I’d check tripadvisor and hotel sites (maybe one has a pool for the kids), but I’d choose either the Hilton Garden Inn (10 E Grand) or the Homewood Suites by Hilton (on 40 E Grand). The Red Line subway is on that block, plus all the Michigan Ave buses and the State St. bus are close.

Of the Radissons, #1 is right along the River and State street, so could be scenic. Pass on #2-again, feels a teeny bit out of the way. #4, 5, 6 are well located too.

You can’t really go wrong with any of them, except The Doubletree on Ohio Street, or the Residence Inn on Dearborn for being a little outside the edge of activity.

Have fun in Chicago!

Actually, now that I envision the Embassy Suites (600 N State), that would be a great hotel, too.

Thanks! I went to tripadvisor to look at photos. I'm going with Homewood. Homewood has the full kitchen instead of just a wet bar type area. And the large atrium of the ES makes me nervous. I just envision one of my kids decided his voice echoes in there and the entire hotel will be awake. With boys you need to prepare yourself for dirt and noise. And sometimes you get sweet angels. :)

That's a great choice. Jewel-Osco and Trader Joes are a block or two away, also, if you want to get snacks/groceries.

Hopefully, you and the family will get to the Green City farmers market (south end of Lincoln Park, at the intersection of Clark and Lincoln) & Lincoln Park Zoo on a Wednesday/Saturday morning.

Hope you have a great trip!

Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago-Downtown
40 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Rate: $151
Larger room and the fabulous breakfast and a "snack" reception for dinner it really is a full meal for dinner! Excellent location as well

We were very pleased with our stay at Homewood Suites on Grand Avenue.

HTtY

Thanks everyone. I made a reservation yesterday for the Homewood Suites.

Now to figure out what to do and where to eat!

There are a ton of good threads on this forum regarding Chicago activities and eats.

Check www.choosechicago.com for what to do, www.chicagoreader.com or www.chicagomag.com for activities and restaurant listings searchable by neighborhood, price or cuisine. For info on theatre, check www.chicagoplays.com, for transit info, a trip planner and how to track trains and buses with a smartphone, www.transitchicago.com.

I was surprised we could buy bus/train passes at the drugstore. I love public transportation!

Not sure if you would find a walking tour that would be good for a family but you might look at what they have with Chicago Greeters. The two of us were supposed to have a private tour (arranged weeks in advance to our choice of neighborhood) but a couple from France didn't realize they had to make advance arrangement and we agreed to let them join us. The service is free, run by volunteers. We ended our day just taking the train out to a stop north of where we were staying and riding the bus along the route that follows the shore. It went past the zoo. Made a big mistake deciding to walk the first day from our hotel to the Art Institute. We had time to kill before it opened. Big mistake. Very long walk.

dfrostnh - we love public transportation too. My boys love riding the T in Boston.

I think we will get a Chicago CityPass Card. Seems like a good deal for what we would plan on doing. Unless I renew our ACM children's museum pass...that may change things. We will also visit Crown fountain...and it'll be nearly impossible to drag the boys away from that. We may do a river or lake cruise of some sort.

And really fun or unique dining options?

Your kids will probably like Ed Debevic's. XOCO (Rick Bayless' place), Wildfire, Carson's, the big four pizza chains (Gino's, Pizzeria Uno, Lou Malnati's, Giordano's), RJ Grunts near the Lincoln Park zoo would all be good family options. XOCO is really good, and you might see Rick Bayless overseeing the operation.