Hotel Burnham, A Kimpton Hotel
The Loop
The proprietors brag the Burnham has the highest guest return ra...
From dramatic views and rose-petal bubble baths to hostel bunks and homestays, you’ll find amenities at every level in Chicago. Finding something at a reasonable rate? That’s more difficult. Chicago is the Midwest’s biggest city and convention central, so demand is high year-round, and it gets near impossible to find value on summer weekends (June through August), when the festival season and tourism peak. If you’re willing to be flexible with your dates, you’ll have a better chance of finding a place to stay that won’t break the bank. Consolidators and online room bookers are another way to go if cost cutting is your primary objective.
More than 30,000 hotel rooms blanket the city, most in high-rise buildings. With so many choices, picking a place can be daunting. It helps to decide on a neighborhood first. If you’re going to tromp up and down the Mag Mile and binge on shopping, the Gold Coast or slightly more moderately priced Near North are the places to lay your head. If you’re interested in snoozing amid the architecture and museums of the Loop and South Loop, there are plenty of options in those central neighborhoods, almost all of which are located near El stations for easy transportation to anywhere in the city. These core areas have the greatest concentration of hotels, and generally speaking, the farther south you go, the lower the prices.
Less central, but more personal, are area bed-and-breakfasts. A few old townhomes – in Wicker Park, Lake View and Andersonville – have been turned into great places to stay. There are even a couple in the Gold Coast. Pluses such as free internet, quieter surrounds and some free parking give B&Bs more bang for the midrange buck. Check out Bed & Breakfast Chicago, which represents 18 local guesthouses. Most do have minimum stay requirements.
Vacation rentals in local apartments are also a good deal in Chicago, especially for traveling families.
Using search engines, you’re likely to find the most affordable chain options close to Chicago’s airports. Even though these are connected by reliable public transportation, it’s worth it to put down a little extra to spare the long commute.
The Loop
The proprietors brag the Burnham has the highest guest return ra...
The Loop
Holidaying hipsters and business travelers flock to the Wit in e...
Gold Coast
Built in 1927, the Knickerbocker Hotel has a notorious history...
Near North & Navy Pier
Lobby chairs appear to be carved out of tree trunks and river ro...
The Loop
Another Loop architectural gem, this one was built in 1894...
Gold Coast
Service is taken seriously here...
Gold Coast
Just think of all the shopping you can do without leaving the bu...
Near North & Navy Pier
Constructed in 2005, this Sheraton- affiliated hotel has more so...
Near North & Navy Pier
Think seven-story motel...
Gold Coast
The Sofitel looks a little like some state-of-the-art Mac comput...
Near North & Navy Pier
Yet another riverfront chain hotel...
The Loop
The Hard Rock tries hard to let you know it’s hip – DJs work the...
Near North & Navy Pier
You and 15 of your closest friends could sack out on the floor f...
Near North & Navy Pier
Want every inch of your suite covered in rose petals, with candl...
Near North & Navy Pier
The Donald opened his glassy Chicago handiwork, which rose to be...
Near North & Navy Pier
Opened in 2009 in the Near North, the 225-room, 12-story Felix i...
Near North & Navy Pier
The over-the-top Peninsula is the premier lodging in town...
Gold Coast
A pile of blueberries, a hyacinth bush, sea glass or a cable kni...
Near North & Navy Pier
It’s hard to imagine that this property was a bare-bones budget ...
Near West Side & Pilsen
The Marriott is gussied up after a 2009 renovation that upgraded...
Near North & Navy Pier
Can a hotel have multiple personality disorder? It would explain...
Near North & Navy Pier
From this riverfront location you can stroll along the esplanade...
The Loop
Millennium Park here you come...
Near North & Navy Pier
Cooked-to-order eggs, and pancakes, and waffles, and, and… An en...
The Loop
Chicago legend Potter Palmer set many worldwide hotelier records...
The Loop
With more than 2019 rooms and five restaurants and bars, the con...
South Loop & Near South Side
Ask for a corner room on an upper floor (there are 12) in the no...
Near North & Navy Pier
A small heated rooftop pool and sundeck help elevate this midran...
Subscribe now and receive a 20% discount on your next guidebook purchase
© 2013 Lonely Planet. All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission.