Chicago Hotel Tips by TRimer

Yes, an international hostel in the heart of Lincoln Park. While I have not stayed at the hostel, I have been inside as my husband rents a parking space in back of the building. I have also met the manager (when we signed the contract for the space) and he is very nice and accommodating.

From what I have heard on this site and others, it is not the cleanest of places to stay- particularly the bathroom comes up a lot. And the clientele is definately 18-25 year olds. I would not recommend this place to someone with a family or who has any germ aversions.

A bed in a 6-bed dorm room is $24, a room with no bath is $55 for one or two persons, $70 for three persons, $85 for four persons, rooms with half private bath are $5 more, and rooms with full private bath are $15 more. These prices include tax. A credit card is required to make reservations, but International visitors without a credit card can make other arrangements (send email to the manager, Louis, at arlingtonhouse @earthlink.net). Payment upon arrival is required. Contrary to the website, a Rucksacker AAIH, IYHF or ISIC Card is not required for staying in a dorm room.

Unique Qualities: This is a hostel, not a hotel. If you are looking for nice amenities and privacy, then this is not the place for you. If you are looking for an inexpensive place to sleep (you should be out enjoying the city anyway) in a good neighborhood, then this is the place. The key is the neighborhood. There are tons of restaurants and bars within stumbling distance. The Lincoln Park Zoo and Lake Michigan (the beach) are 2 blocks away. The EL is close as are buses to Michigan Avenue shopping and the museum campus.

The hostel offers 24-hour access, a friendly atmosphere and an international staff. Accommodations include shared dormitory-style rooms with up to seven beds per room (I have heard that some have 20 or so though) or private rooms (which I understand are hard to get). Some of the rooms have air conditioning and some only fans. Phone cards, linen rental, safe box rental and complimentary coffee are available. Includes access to a small kitchen and laundry facilities. Linens are provided (even though the website mentions linen rental) but the towels are small, so you may want to bring your own towel.

On the forums, there has been much debate over which hostel - the one downtown or Arlington House - to stay at. While the facilities of the HI Hostel may be newer, the area of town is not great at night or during the weekends. The Arlington House's best feature is its location.

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: (773) 929-5380
Address: 616 W. Arlington Place
Directions: This is one block North of Fullerton and 2 blocks West of Clark. You can take the El (Red or Brown lines) and get off at Fullerton. You can also take the Bus from downtown (22, 36 or 151) and get off at Roslyn.
Website: www.arlingtonhouse.com

The Hotel Monaco offers a unique mix of sophistication and fun. It is not a cookie-cutter type of hotel. The rooms are decorated in bright colors- purples and yellows. it is more like the experience you get staying in a European hotel. I have spent some quality time in the lobby and it is quite cozy- love the fireplace!

They offer unique services such as when they turn down your room for the night, don't be surprised to find a few Tootsie Rolls or Smarties on your pillow, or even a lucky lottery ticket.

One of the pluses/minuses is the location. The hotel is located on Wabash near the river and Wacker Drive. It is not as bustling as being on Michigan Avenue and is on a part of the Mag Mile that has fewer people and dining choices during the evening hours.

Unique Qualities: Small, pet friendly boutique hotel. If you're feeling lonely, the staff will provide you with a complimentary pet goldfish to keep you company during your stay.

The restaurant at the hotel is the South Water Cafe. It has wonderful breakfasts and scrumpious dinners.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: (312) 960-8500
Address: 225 North Wabash
Directions: Just across the river from the Mag Mile and the Loop business district. It is on the Northeast side of the loop so it is only a few blocks from the Theatre district.
Website: http://www.monaco-chicago.com/

The Palmer House is the longest continuously operating hotel in North America. The first hotel was built on the same site in 1871 and destroyed 13 days later in the Chicago Fire. Two more Palmer Houses have been built on this site.

The guest list has included such distinguished figures as Rudyard Kipling, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Buffalo Bill and Mark Twain.

Unique Qualities: The breathtaking lobby ceiling features 21 individual oil paintings of figures from Greek mythology. It was immortalized as a symbol of urban opulence in the classic musical "Showboat."

Up in the 1,640 guest rooms and 83 suites, the decor is more updated and subdued. All have the new Suite Dreams beds with luxury linens. The hotel's vintage charm remains, however, in the bathrooms' deep tubs.

Among the high-tech gadgets is Palmer House Golf, a full-swing virtual golf course. There is a fitness room, pool and the rooms have high-speed Internet access for a fee.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: (312) 726-7500
Address: 17 E Monroe St. (& Wabash)
Directions: Around the block from Marshall Fields. Near the Art Institute and Grant Park. Close to the EL and buses.
Website: http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CHIPHHH

The Drake has an elegance that's impossible to duplicate today. From the wainscoting in the wide hallways to the mail chutes and classic elevator doors on each floor, there are vintage delights everywhere, especially in the ornate lobby. This is one of the best places in Chicago to get married (which I did this past November). I love that some of the elevators have benches in them. We were married in the Gold Coast Ballroom with its marble columns, mirrors, chandeliers and views of Lake Michigan/LSD.

We stayed in the Presidential Suite- where dignitaries and movie stars and Princess Diana have stayed. The place is palatial. In addition to a living room with 2 fire places, a separate dining room, mable foyer, there is a kitchen, separate powder room and very large bedroom. The views are spectacular! We woke up looking out over Lake Michigan.

Unique Qualities: For all its historic splendor, the Drake offers all the amenities that guests have come to expect in a premium modern hotel, such as mini-bars, modem lines, bathrobes and complimentary newspapers.

Its 537 rooms are large and luxurious and contain separate seating areas and foyers. One of the complaints is that the rooms are quite small. I would say that the rooms themselves are spacious but the bathrooms are quite small.

There is a fitness center in the hotel- al beit a small one. The hotel has reciprical agreement with Equinox in the Bloomingdales building- so I would recommend heading over there for a good workout. All the rooms are wired for high-speed internet access. The phones are all dual-line, have speaker phones and caller ID.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: (312) 787-2200
Address: 140 E Walton St. (and Michigan Avenue)
Directions: Across from Bloomingdales. A half block from the beach. Down the street from the Mag Mile (shopping)
Website: www.thedrakehotel.com

The spacious gathering rooms of this bed and breakfast Chicago hotel all have fireplaces, eclectic furniture, and Chicago, Illinois memorabilia. Each of the beautiful rooms are named after famous Chicagoans.

The B&B is owned by TV reporter Andy Shaw and his wife Mary.

Unique Qualities: The coach house has apartments which are great for longer stays. They even have laundry facilities at the B&B. Lovebirds should request the Nelson Algren and Simone De Beauvoir Suite, which has a large bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub and a view of the Sears Tower. Two of the coach house apartments can sleep four: two in an upstairs bedroom and two on a bed that folds up against the wall (custom-made for the Shaws, these feature top-quality mattresses, making them much more comfortable than the Murphy beds of old).

The location is key!!!! Two blocks from the lake (beach), the Lincoln Park Zoo, the park. Easy access to downtown.

The room rates include a breakfast buffet of local food including cinnamon buns from Ann Sathers.

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Theme: Bed and Breakfast
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: (773) 248-7091
Address: 607 W. Deming Place
Directions: In Lincoln Park. Two blocks north of Fullerton and two blocks west of Clark. You can take the El (Red and Brown lines) to Fullerton. Also, the Clark Street bus #22 drops you off at Deming and Clark.
Website: www.windycityinn.com

I was very excited for my parents to stay at the Peninsula in Chicago as the original in Hong Kong is one of their all time favorite. I was very disappointed with the rooms and the service. The rooms (at a rate of $450 a night) was not very large. The bathroom and dressing area were large but the room itself was small. My dad made the mistake of using the phone in the room for a long distance call. The long distance surcharge is $7.80 and then there is a per minute charge. We looked on the inroom billing screen to see the bill and noticed that there were 7 calls for $11.60. When my father went to the front desk to talk to them (and the GM) about the charges they fought him on it. There was no way he made 7 consecutive calls to the same number so they finally credited all but 1 of the calls. Really poor customer service as my family will never stay there again and I will not book our company executives there for an upcoming visit.

Since its grand opening in 2001, The Peninsula Chicago has been awarded numerous accolades including the prestigious Mobil Five-Star and the AAA Five-Diamond awards for the last two consecutive years.

Unique Qualities: The Peninsula Chicago has 339 luxurious guestrooms and suites furnished in a magnificent classical style, including the 3,500 sq ft Peninsula Suite with its own private terrace and jacuzzi.

Modeled after the famous Hong Kong landmark, the midwest addition does not disappoint. The hotel's in-room technology is cutting edge: A small silver "command station" by every bed allows guests to control all the lights, curtains, and room temperature without getting out from under the covers. The marble-filled bathrooms have separate shower stalls and tubs, vanities with plenty of room to sit, and another "command station" by the bathtub. Add in the flat-screen TVs and you have a classic hotel that's very much attuned to the present.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$180 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: (312) 337 2888
Address: 108 E Superior Street
Directions: Off of Michigan Avenue (on the Mag Mile), close to Water Tower Place and Bloomingdales.
Website: www.chicago.penisula.com

My mother-in-law and aunt stayed here a fewyears ago for Christmas while they were in town. Joe and I decorated their room to make it seem more like home so I got to check out the digs. Not bad for a Hampton Inn (we have stayed at lots of them all over the country). The rooms were spacious- actually suites. We also had our wedding guests stay here as a less expensive alternative to the Drake.

This is not the place to stay if you want a view. The rooms on the Illinois Street side have more light.

Unique Qualities: The apartment-style suites feature galley kitchens with fridges, microwaves, dishwashers, and cooking utensils. Guests with children will appreciate the indoor pool (the suites have VCRs, for when the little ones need to chill out after a busy day). Children under 18 stay free in parent's room, and there is a complimentary buffet breakfast each morning. They also have laundry machines available.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: (312) 832-0330
Address: 33 W Illinois St.
Directions: @ Dearborn Street in an area called River North. A short block away from Rainforest Cafe, Rock Bottom Brewery and four blocks from Michigan Ave. shopping

When I lived on the Gold Coast, my parents would stay at the Sutton when they came to visit. Definately one of the best attributes of the hotel is the location. It is a block from great shopping (Oak Street and the Mag Mile), from good restaurants (Gibsons, Le Colonial, Carmines) and good bars (Tavern on Rush, Jillys, Rish Street). The rooms were a good size with all the modern conveniences. Back in the early 90s when my parents stayed there they offered CD and DVD players in the rooms.

Unique Qualities: One of the nice things about Sutton Place is access to the Whiskey Bar that otherwise has long waits.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 312.266.2100
Address: 21 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611
Directions: Gold Coast
Website: http://www.chicago.suttonplace.com/