coming for Saturday to Monday in mid-July. our friends are staying at the ambassador east but it's a little out of our price range. Is there anything in that area that's around $150 a night? thanks!

The Ambassador East is a little off the beaten path. You might try www.kayak.com and search for hotels in your price range. www.tripadvisor.com will also have reviews of the hotels you are considering. Priceline has worked well for us in the past in Chicago, but there are pros/cons with that.

http://www.bbchicago.com

I happened to be looking for something similar and came across this place in the Economist.

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn at the corner of State and Grand. We got a deal, pay for 2 nights get the 3rd night free. It was a very nice well located hotel.

We recently stayed at the old Pick-Congress for less than a $100. Was pleasantly surprised. It has been redone. It is a little further south but the buses run right past it.,

Have you tried Priceline.com? We had a great deal on the Wyndham.

Author: CJBROWN
I posted this after my trip in 2007, but, it may help:
Date: 05/15/2007, 01:22 pm
just passing on info about the ALLERTON HOTEL, we're just back from Chicago, & thought it was just fine. Yes the check in is on the 3rd floor, & you do take another elevator to rooms, but, no big deal. Great, great location! 701 Michigan Ave North, (the entrance is actually around the corner, Michigan & Chicago intersection, I think.) We walked to theaters (Cadillac Palace for The Color Purple, & saw Wicked, also, don't remember the name of the theatre, but both near Randolph & State Streets. We had a standard room with 2 double beds, which I thought were very comfortable, at least mine was for sure! The room itself was a little small, but, we had our own beds, a coffee maker, closet, & the bathroom was a decent size. Last year (2006) in New York City, we stayed at LeParker Meridian, on West 57th street, great location near Carnegie Hall & Central park, & although the bathroom had a bigger vanity, the rest of the bathroom was smaller, & there was almost nothing for closet space. (yes, I realize that I'm comparing NYC to Chicago). We got the Allerton Hotel for $138.00 per night, & their standard room rate was $279.00 per night. I'd stay there again, we were in the heart of Michigan Ave. (no complimentary breakfast, but, that isn't a big concern w/us, we're happy w/coffee & grab a muffin somewhere to go!)
** CALL THE HOTEL DIRECT, AND ASK FOR VERY LOWEST RATE *** (SORRY, I don't have the hotel direct # with me, but, I'm sure you could find it!) GOOD LUCK

I like the Tremont:

http://www.cheaprooms.com/tremonthotel/

Great location just off Michigan Avenue.

I just got an email from quikbook, with great rates for Chicago, on sale through Friday. Not sure if they will help you but certainly take a look

Most of the sales are for dates earlier than July, but there are still numerous deals in your price range if you use the discount brokers or follow some of the call direct information people here have used.

I always do better bidding on priceline for 2 nights like that and pick an exact area and star level, but you would probably be better off, just taking one of these rec's or doing a search here for "Chicago hotel" to give you further choices.

The deals and prices for July might not be the ones you can get by calling direct in February, IMHO.

But quikbook, which is cancellable, is also an excellent option if you want to know the name of the hotel and all the logistics before you purchase the final deal.

The Cass Hotel is right downtown -- it used to be a dump -- but it's been redone as a Holiday Inn (I think), and looks very nice now. Also, try quikbook.com. Good luck!

We were happy at Homewood Suites.

Chicago is a great town for priceline.com. It has been my experience that you can get a 4 star in River North or Michigan Ave for ~$100.