Accommodations
(Note: I hope to add details on the following hotels soon, but for now, I wanted you to at least have this list, along with links to each hotel’s website. All hotels listed here have garnered the most consistently positive reviews across several sources. None of them have paid to be listed.)
Choosing a Neighborhood: For the easiest access to Chicago fun, you’ll want a hotel in one of these three neighborhoods: Near North, River North, or the Loop.
NEAR NORTH (Magnificent Mile, Gold Coast)
This lively, upscale area surrounding Michigan Avenue is a very popular choice for a fun, convenient neighborhood in which to base you Chicago getaway. You’ll find high-end shopping, dining, and a high concentration of hotels; plus easy access to downtown attractions like theatre, cultural tours, Millenium Park, and the Grant Park Music Festival. Rates will tend to be higher here. The adjacent Gold Coast is a quieter, elegant residential neighborhood.
Recommended Near North Accommodations
Splurge 5 Star Luxury
Four Seasons
Park Hyatt
Lovely 4 Star Favorites
Conrad
Omni Chicago Hotel (an all suites hotel),
Sofitel Water Tower
Sutton Place
Value Reliable 3 star Properties
Hotel Indigo Downtown Gold Coast
Courtyard Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile.
RIVER NORTH
Revitalized former warehouse area just west of the Mag Mile/Near North, River North is now home to art galleries, antiques, boutiques, and trendy restaurants. This area is reasonably close to both Near North/Mag Mile and to the theatre district and downtown attractions.
Recommended River North Accommodations
Lovely 4 Star Favorites
Amalfi Hotel Chicago
Westin River North
Value Reliable 3 Star Properties
Comfort Inn & Suites Downtown nicer than you might expect
Best Western River North very, very basic; however it is the only area hotel with free on-site parking
Embassy Suites warning — full of families and convention guests.
THE LOOP
Chicago’s city center. Great location for value, as hotels tend to be older and less expensive; access to public transportation; and convenient for business and most leisure attractions, including theatre district, Symphony Center, the Art Institute, Millennium Park, and the summer-long free music festival at Grant Park. Easy access to the Mag Mile on foot, by cab, or public transportation. The main disadvantage is that the Loop tends to be a little dead at night.
Recommended Loop Accommodations
Lovely Four-Star Favorites
Hotel Burnham (a Kimpton boutique luxury hotel and historic architectural landmark)
Hotel Monaco (also a Kimpton hotel)
Renaissance Chicago
Value Reliable 3-Star Properties
Hampton Majestic (not your typical Hampton)
The Silversmith Hotel (formerly Crowne Plaza) right in the theatre district; ask for a quiet room away from the El.
A Loop Hotel Worth Mentioning: While I’m not usually a fan of huge impersonal convention hotels, the Hilton Chicago, in the South Loop, is a 5-star, AAA 5-diamond convention-oriented hotel with over 1500 rooms. Reviews are consistently good; you can often score really good rates; plus they actually have some rooms with two double beds and 2 bathrooms — a real boon when we are trying to get out the door!
FOR MORE INFO
Consult any of the popular online travel booking sites like Expedia, Orbitz, Hotels.com (my current favorite, because you can often change or cancel reservations with no penalty), or Kayak (another favorite). I always love TripAdvisor for unbiased traveler’s reviews. Then there is the Chicago Convention and Visitor’s Bureau website ChooseChicago.com. Finally, if you are attending a convention at McCormick Place, and need to search for nearby accommodations, click here for a link to the McCormick section of the Convention Center Hotels Guide.
