Places to stay in chicago
Jun 6th, 2010, 05:55 PM
#3
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It is better to stay in the city? Public transportation is excellent.
We stayed at Homewood Suites (a Hilton brand) and loved it. The location is perfect, and we had a separate bedroom and little kitchen. They serve a really good breakfast and some week nights they serve a complimentary supper: http://www.homewoodsuiteschicago.com/index.shtml
This week the AAA and Senior rates are just under $200.
We stayed at Homewood Suites (a Hilton brand) and loved it. The location is perfect, and we had a separate bedroom and little kitchen. They serve a really good breakfast and some week nights they serve a complimentary supper: http://www.homewoodsuiteschicago.com/index.shtml
This week the AAA and Senior rates are just under $200.
Jun 6th, 2010, 06:48 PM
#4
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Check out Hotel Allegro and The Hotel Burnham, run by the Kimpton Group. Both offer complimentary cocktails and apertifs everynight during happy hour. Great Location in the loop area, nearby some excellent restaurants and theater district, within walking distance to Milleniunm Park and shopping on State street. Mag Mile shopping / entertainment is about 15 minute walk or 5 min taxi ride. Close to "L" stations, bus stands, and lots of taxis around! have fun!
Jun 6th, 2010, 07:28 PM
#6
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It really depends on the time of year. I've gotten the Amalfi (this is one of my faves: also has cocktails and hors d'oeuvres as well as Aveda products and nice bedding), Hyatt, Hilton, Omni, and Wyndham for under $100 at various times, including February, April, June and July. A lot depends on whether or not there is a huge convention in town, and whether or not it is a high tourist season.
Check hotwire and travelzoo.
I've also enjoyed stays at the Westin (either one.) For more budget but still very clean and convenient hotels, check out the Fairfield Inn and the Courtyard in the Mag Mile/River North area.
Check hotwire and travelzoo.
I've also enjoyed stays at the Westin (either one.) For more budget but still very clean and convenient hotels, check out the Fairfield Inn and the Courtyard in the Mag Mile/River North area.
Jun 6th, 2010, 07:56 PM
#8
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We will be there the beginning of July and staying through the 4th. Is there some place that I should look to see what the demand for hotel rooms is? In other words, is there a way to tell if there are conventions going on in town?
Thanks to all giving advice...appreciate it!
Thanks to all giving advice...appreciate it!
Jun 7th, 2010, 06:15 AM
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You can get a good idea of hotel rates if you do a quick search on www.kayak.com. Also check Hotwire and see what kind of rates show up for your dates.
All the 4* hotels on Michigan Ave. are nice so I use Priceline if I need a Chicago hotel--over the 4th rates may be higher.
Definitely stay in the city
All the 4* hotels on Michigan Ave. are nice so I use Priceline if I need a Chicago hotel--over the 4th rates may be higher.
Definitely stay in the city
Jun 7th, 2010, 06:25 AM
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As the above post says, the Taste of Chicago will be going on in Grant Park (www.tasteofchicago.us) which will bring the usual amount of holiday tourists into the city.
The convention schedule is light for that period. There will only be a couple thousand people in town through July 3. Over the weekend, there's an Islamic convention in Rosemont with around 10,000 and on July 4, a medium size convention of 5,000 opens at McCormick Place.
Few of the downtown hotels will have rooms blocked and are likely to offer last-minute deals. You may want to book something that you can cancel now and keep shopping as your dates approach.
The convention schedule is light for that period. There will only be a couple thousand people in town through July 3. Over the weekend, there's an Islamic convention in Rosemont with around 10,000 and on July 4, a medium size convention of 5,000 opens at McCormick Place.
Few of the downtown hotels will have rooms blocked and are likely to offer last-minute deals. You may want to book something that you can cancel now and keep shopping as your dates approach.
Jun 8th, 2010, 03:37 AM
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I want to make sure that I stay in the right area. We want to do everything on foot or public transportation. What area, in downtown, is the most convenient? Is it best to stay by the lake? Michigan Ave?
Jun 8th, 2010, 05:56 AM
#18
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JCMCC, please look at a map. The distance between Michigan Avenue and the lake is, at most four blocks. With the exception of the Burnham and Allegro, all of the hotels mentioned thus far are within three blocks of Michigan.
Strictly speaking, North Michigan Avenue is the Mag Mile. Some sites will stretch this a block east or west but hotels on the Mag Mile are The Drake, Westin-Michigan Ave, Four Seasons, Ritz, Park Hyatt, Peninsula, Omni, the Allerton, Marriott, Conrad and Intercontinental.
The area west of Michigan to Franklin is River North and the area east of Michigan to the lake is Streeterville.
South of the river is The Loop. The Allegro is near the NW corner of The Loop. The Burnham is in the middle on State Street across from Macy's/Marshall Field's.
The Loop is closer to Millennium Park, Grant Park, the theatres and museums, however it has a higher concentration of offices and banks, so tends to be more quiet in the evenings than River North or the Mag Mile.
Any of the areas north of the river would be fine. The Loop would be fine also depending on what you plan to do. If you're going to be spending most of your time at the museums or The Taste, you may want to opt for a Loop hotel.
If you were to stay at The Drake which is at the north end of Michigan Avenue and go to the Field Museum at the far south end of The Loop, it's only about 2 miles. You could walk or take the Number 146 bus down Michigan Avenue and back.
For transit info, maps and a trip planner, check www.transitchicago.com. If you're planning to mostly do things around downtown, you'll rely mainly on the Red Line train/subway which runs under State Street and the Number 146 and 151 buses. You also may want to invest in transit passes which allow unlimited rides. A 3-day pass is $14 and can be used on all CTA trains and buses. They're available in most CVS or Walgreens or online.
Strictly speaking, North Michigan Avenue is the Mag Mile. Some sites will stretch this a block east or west but hotels on the Mag Mile are The Drake, Westin-Michigan Ave, Four Seasons, Ritz, Park Hyatt, Peninsula, Omni, the Allerton, Marriott, Conrad and Intercontinental.
The area west of Michigan to Franklin is River North and the area east of Michigan to the lake is Streeterville.
South of the river is The Loop. The Allegro is near the NW corner of The Loop. The Burnham is in the middle on State Street across from Macy's/Marshall Field's.
The Loop is closer to Millennium Park, Grant Park, the theatres and museums, however it has a higher concentration of offices and banks, so tends to be more quiet in the evenings than River North or the Mag Mile.
Any of the areas north of the river would be fine. The Loop would be fine also depending on what you plan to do. If you're going to be spending most of your time at the museums or The Taste, you may want to opt for a Loop hotel.
If you were to stay at The Drake which is at the north end of Michigan Avenue and go to the Field Museum at the far south end of The Loop, it's only about 2 miles. You could walk or take the Number 146 bus down Michigan Avenue and back.
For transit info, maps and a trip planner, check www.transitchicago.com. If you're planning to mostly do things around downtown, you'll rely mainly on the Red Line train/subway which runs under State Street and the Number 146 and 151 buses. You also may want to invest in transit passes which allow unlimited rides. A 3-day pass is $14 and can be used on all CTA trains and buses. They're available in most CVS or Walgreens or online.
Jun 8th, 2010, 12:11 PM
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Another good website for good hotel prices is www.quikbook.com. I use it often. That weekend for Chicago it is showing many properties for $200. (And I am quoted in the Fodors Chicago 2009 recommending the Talbott which is right off Michigan Avenue and is on Quikbook as available for $179 that weekend.)
