Door County
Rooms are good-sized and have a water view. Amenities include a small outdoor pool, indoor Jacuzzi and a patio area prime for sunset watching. No children…
Must-see hotels in The Great Lakes
Whitefish Point Light Station B&B
Upper Peninsula
Stay on the grounds of the Shipwreck Museum and have the foggy place to yourself. The B&B offers five rooms in the old Coast Guard crew quarters on-site.
Northern Minnesota
If you want a little rustic luxury, try the venerable Douglas Lodge, operated by Itasca State Park. The facility also has cabins and two good dining rooms.
Ohio
The six comfy rooms have super-soft linens and private baths. Breakfasts are organic. It's walking distance to the main business district.
Upper Peninsula
Snowmobilers, in particular, love this tidy mom-and-pop motel, with 16 rooms and free wi-fi; located 2 miles southeast of Munising.
Northern Minnesota
The 27 pine-log cabins fringing Crane Lake are a winner for hiking, fishing and relaxing under blue skies.
Gold Coast
The owners renovated this century-old farmhouse into a sunny, French country inn with six themed rooms.
Gold Coast
This former boathouse has 10 rooms on Saugatuck's waterfront. All have private bathrooms and decks.
Indiana Dunes National Park Campground
Indiana
These campsites are modern and close to the beach. Reserve in advance in summertime.
Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
Wicker Park's sole hotel is set in a 1929 art deco former office building. The 69 tower rooms run small but have comfy beds, lots of sunlight and great…
Chicago
Decor in the somewhat dated standard rooms of this now-independent (formerly Starwood) hotel is nothing special, but here are the Tremont’s pros: you’re…
Chicago
Guests young and old check in to this hostel in the heart of Greektown. It's a bit more out of the way and basic than other Chicago hostels; then again,…
Ohio
Set in a historic home, the inn's rooms are spacious and full of character, though a bit fusty in their fireplace, armchair and thick-carpet decor. The…
Chicago
From the 1920s to ‘50s, famous big bands and radio stars played in the penthouse club that used to sit atop this Italianate redbrick building. While the…
Illinois
Yes, it's a chain but this downtown Evanston business hotel couldn't be better located, it's walking distance from key bars and restaurants and a mere…
Chicago Marriott At Medical District/UIC
Chicago
This hotel works best if you're visiting the huge medical center complex nearby. A complimentary bus shuttles you to the various hospitals, the University…
Chicago
The lakefront W has a club-like aesthetic with house music pumping in the background. The hallways sport trippy glowing carpet that leads to your modern…
Chicago
If you’re staffing a trade-show booth at McCormick Place, you can’t beat the short walk to your bed in this attached hotel, where lobby monitors keep…
Minneapolis International Hostel
Minneapolis
Set in a cool old building with antique furniture and wood floors, the location of this hostel beside the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (and smack dab in…
Chicago
This 1890s Victorian home sits smack on the busiest of Boystown streets. Wander through the leafy front garden and you’re transported. Purple silks evoke…
Residence Inn Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile
Chicago
What can we say about a generic extended-stay hotel? Studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites are a bit dated but have all the extras traveling families…
Chicago
Opened in 2018, the St Clair is a Red Roof Inn that's been gussied up with modern furniture and bedding. The 208 rooms remain cramped, but now sport…
Chicago
This hotel tries hard to be trendy with a clubby lobby and cocktail lounge. Rooms come in 'contemporary' style (lime-green accents, modern decor) or …
Chicago
A modern, if modest, B&B located in an old apartment building. You’ll find no frilly ruffles in the five rooms, just clean-lined furnishings and abstract…
La Quinta Chicago – Lake Shore
Chicago
The paint and decor are relatively fresh, but this four-story motel remains a bit scruffy (dimly lit, thin doors). Focus instead on the lakeside location,…
Northern Minnesota
The motel-like rooms are not big or fancy, but they're well-kept and have comfy beds with downy comforters. The friendly owners provide free coffee and…
Chicago
This vintage 1920s building is now a Holiday Inn Express–affiliated property. Tiny room spaces are maximized with modern flair: hanging flat-screen TVs,…
Northern Minnesota
This mid-market Hilton-run chain is one of only a handful of decent lodging options in Hibbing. The rack rates are probably higher than the property…
Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown Chicago
Chicago
The Travelodge's mid-priced competitors in South Loop typically offer better quality with more amenities, but if you're just looking for the lowest rates…
Northern Minnesota
The 12-room, shared-bath Kettle Falls Hotel is located inside Voyageurs National Park and is accessible only by boat; make arrangements with the owners…
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
Chicago
A Magnificent Mile address is the primary drawcard of this 46-story behemoth. The standard, white-and-gray rooms are smaller than what you'd expect at…
Chicago
This basic Best Western attracts for its location near the Field Museum. A recent renovation has brought its rooms into the modern (though nondescript)…
Wisconsin
As the only lodging on Capitol Sq, the Park Hotel does big business. The rooms are decent-sized and comfy, though a bit staid with their muted colors. No…
Ohio
Long-time islanders own this 1876 Victorian home. It's a vintage, four-room B&B: metal-frame beds with quilts, rocking chairs, sturdy antique decor,…
Chicago
This old-world hotel offers cozy rooms with vintage mahogany furniture and earth-toned wallpaper and carpeting. It’s popular with wedding parties; you’ll…
Gold Coast
This humble, 15-room property is on the other side of US 31 (away from the water), moderately priced and near the state park beach. It's a classic mom-and…
Wisconsin
Tidy, bare-bones Bay Motel is a mile from Lambeau Field. It's a classic mom-and-pop that's attached to a diner frequented by locals. Rooms are decorated…
Door County
It holds nearly 500 well-appointed campsites (with utilities and picnic tables), which are scattered throughout the park. Many of the more attractive…
Illinois
This 33-room motel is a no-frills option 1.5 miles east of town, with countryside views and a horseshoe pitch.
Ohio
Ashley's Island House is a 12-room B&B where naval officers stayed in the late 1800s. Hardwood floors, sturdy antiques and bright-colored quilts give the…
