Chicago trip

[Lars624]

Hi-I hope some of you Chicago area Disers could give me some advice. My friends and I are planning our 2nd annual Christmas shopping trip to Chicago for the weekend of November 22nd and I was hoping to get some suggestions for good restaurants we could make reservations for & any evening entertainment ideas. Last year we stayed at the Millenium Knickerbocker Hotel & it was very nice but the rooms were tiny. I joked that we were given Tom Thumb's hotel room, so this year we're checking a few other hotels, any suggestions? We were looking at the Embassy Suites & the Marriot.
Thanks in advance for any ideas you can give me.

 

[Minnie824]

Well, I have a few restaurant suggestions - not sure what you're looking for. You could go to Riva's or Bubba Gump Shrimp at Navy Pier - both very good. Also, the Weber Grill is now open in Chicago - formerly only in the suburbs and is excellent! This is also near Michigan Ave. Obviously there are tons more restaurants, but these were just a few that came to mind. Have a great time!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Though I have lived in Chicago all my life, since I am not traveling to it, I really don't know what hotels and that are good. Even for entertainment, I am usually at a loss. Here are two links that I know I have given to people coming to Chicago in the past, with them saying they were helpful. Also a link to a picture thread I made back in June when DIS'er, helenabear, came to town.

There are several DIS'ers from Chicago/IL who will jump in on this one and give you great tips.

http://www.chicago.il.org/

http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/index.html

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=217882

 

[Kirby]

Bumping this up for you. I know that there are more Chicago DISers out there.

 

[Figment2]

You will find a lot of the downtown hotels have small rooms. I've stayed at a couple of them (Drake and what used to be the Sheraton). As far as evening entertainment check out the Broadway Chicago website for what plays will be in town:

http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/shows.html

As far as restaurants a lot depends on your budget. I love Bubba Gumps and have to admit Navy Pier is a great place to visit. Some of the restaurants can get a bit pricey (such as the Weber Grill Restaurant but it is excellent). I'm not sure how long the Titanic exhibit will be here. I'd do a search on Chicago IL and check out the city's website. I haven't seen the dates yet but that weekend may be the Chicago Lights Festival on North Michigan Avenue. Disney always does a parade and Mickey turns on the lights. It's great (even when it is close to zero outside). Be warned though. One million people show up for the parade and the fireworks.

Cyn

 

[NancyIL]

I'm not a Chicago DISer, but I spent last weekend there as a tourist! I really don't know my restaurants or nighttime entertainment - but I can help a bit with hotels. Go to www.biddingfortravel.com if you'd like some very helpful info on getting a bargain-priced hotel from Priceline. Though you won't know what hotel you get until after your bid has been accepted, you'll almost always get a nice hotel when you bid for only 3 or 4-star hotels in the downtown area.

 

[Doctor P]

I have stayed at a lot of the downtown Chicago hotels. If you are doing a shopping trip, you might consider the Westin Michigan Avenue. We stayed there last weekend for $115.00 Internet rate. It was quite a nice room and you can't beat the location (across from the John Hancock building and one block from Water Tower Place). On State Street, the Palmer House Hilton is quite nice and quite reasonable. It is across the street from the flagship store of Carson Pirie Scott. In recent years, I have also stayed at the Hyatt Regency Chicago several times (quite nice), the Best Western on Ohio (I think) which was OK, the Congress Plaza Hotel (quite cheap, and also quite worn for the most part), Lenox Suites (good rates, but very small and worn rooms), the Omni Chicago (very, very nice), the Chicago Hilton and Towers (very, very nice), and the Palmer House Hilton (again, very nice). Hope this helps.

 

[December99]

I was not impressed with the Congress hotel - I thought the rooms were very small for the price. They just felt icky for some reason - although they were clean.

My boss has gotten on Priceline and gotten bids for major dates and two of them Saturdays - $60 for the Chicago Hilton and Towers and another Saturday she got Club Rooms which seem to be very nice.

Other than that - I did like the Westin but I think so far my favorite rooms have been a tie between the Chicago Hilton and Towers and Hyatt Towers - I believe those are on Wacker and not at a bad location. Not far from the Hancock (I don't know what street it was because we saw it from the Hancock at night but it was close to Navy Pier - there was a Holiday Inn that I would imagine would be nice also.

Good luck

 

[Lars624]

Thanks so much for all the help everyone, I really appreciate everything!.

 

[NancyIL]

Hey, Chris and Mike...we were in Chicago last Friday night, and almost stayed at the Westin Michigan Ave.! We had a free Friday from Starwood, and stayed at the W Lakeshore (formerly the Days Inn Lakeshore Drive). It's a great location for doing things at Navy Pier - but I imagine it would be rather chilly in late November.