Need Help....Visiting Chicago

[TerriP]

I know we have lots of folks here who can help me out....I need Chicago information. There are tons of wonderful web sites that list hotels in Chicago, but I'd really like to hear from people who have stayed in the hotel...not just the hotel's FAQ. Can anyone here refer me to nice/clean/maybe even romantic hotels in "safe" parts of Chicago? I'd like to be close to shopping and good restaurants. My husband and I will celebrate our 5th Anniversary on April 11th and I thought a train ride to Chicago and weekend in the windy city might be nice.

Any thoughts on where we should stay? How about great places to eat (he's a steak man)? Looking at around $200 a night...would go higher only if it REALLY was worth it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Lars624]

Hi Terri!
It's always nice to meet a fellow Michigan Diser!! Where in MI are you from?
I stayed at the Westin on Michigan Avenue in November & I really liked it! It was close to everything! Right across the street was the Watertower Mall, Bloomingdales, Cheesecake Factoryvery yummy , FAO, Border's, American Girl etc.
The hotel was very nice!

 

[December99]

Anywhere on North Michigan Avenue would be a great place to stay - you are close to shopping and awesome restaurants. There is also the Hyatt Regency which is just off of Michigan and also near good restaurants and pretty near shopping and then near the southern part of Michigan there is Chicago Hilton and Towers that are also very nice. But to get up to the shopping area it is quite a walk - although a very nice walk if the weather is nice.

I am not that name familiar with restaurants but there are some - I think two - nice and supposedly very good steak houses in that upper Michigan area.

Check out www.877chicago.com. This links up to the Convention and Visitors Bureau where they have transportation ideas, maps to getting around on bus (the bus system is very good and I use it whenever we go in the city - I prefer it to cabs when I don't want to walk).

I just saw Lars post after I posted - we stayed at the Westin last year and it was a very nice hotel. Very close to everything. The Omni Hotel is another nice hotel as is the Palmer House and the Four Seasons by Sheraton (all hotels that Oprah uses for guests - Omni and Four Seasons). The John Hancock Observatory is also right across the street from the Westin (which is where Cheesecake Factory is located).

 

[DonnaW]

I live in the Chicago suburbs and like to take the train into the city and sometimes stay overnight...kind of like being a tourist in my own town!

The hotels I have stayed at are just *off* of Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile). I like the Radisson Hotel & Suites on Huron...the rooms are quite large there, and it is about two blocks off the Mag Mile (shopping, Water Tower Place, The Disney Store all very close by!) Have stayed at Lenox Suites, an all suite hotel, also nice...close to the Mag Mile. Last November we stayed at the Homewood Suites by Hilton...the room is a two room suite, came with a full breakfast, has an indoor pool and also a good location close by to all the *good* stuff! The first two hotels were around $100 a night and the Homewood Suites was $125 a night...we stayed in November and February...so prices may be a tad higher when you are thinking of going. If you want really, really nice...read expensive!...the Ritz Carlton is right there on Michigan Avenue...just an elevator ride from Water Tower Place! We like to go there and sink our feet into the carpet in the lobby and pretend like we are rich!

Have a good time...Happy Anniversary!!!

 

[Lars624]

I agree with December99 about the Palmer House! The lobby is gorgeous!! It's a little further away from Bloomingdales but there are other things near it.

 

[Doctor P]

Typically, you can get most of the nice hotels in Chicago for under $200 per night (not the Ritz and the Four Seasons). Personally, the most elegant of the main hotels I have stayed in are the Chicago Hilton and Towers and the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The Westin Michigan Avenue is well located and very nice. The Omni Hotel on North Michigan also has a great location and great rooms. Two typically more affordable, very nice options are the Palmer House Hilton and the Renaissance Chicago Hotel.

 

[TerriP]

Thanks for all the ideas! I really appreciate it. I've looked at the Lenox Suites and they seem nice. I think my sister stayed at the Westin and really like it...I've got to verify that with her.

BOY....I'd LOVE to stay at the Ritz! I can't even imagine... Somehow I don't see that happening.

Keep any thoughts you have coming...I really love getting advice from people who have been there!

Laura, I live near St. Johns...north of Lansing. How about you?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Great steak places in Chicago.....

Eli's the Place for Steak

Morton's of Chicago

Chicago Chop House

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Gene & Georgetti

Erie Cafe

Harry Caray's


All great places. Enjoy your visit!!!!

 

[Jeafl]

DonnaW, We like to go up to the Ritz just to use their restrooms--they are incredible! Oprah actually lives in the penthouse above the Ritz. I can't imagine how wonderful her place must be!

We have stayed at the Radisson and the Westin. Both are very nice. We also love The Drake (where Princess Diana always stayed). It might be more expensive though, and it's not quite as close to shopping. It's a gorgeous hotel though.

 

[DonnaW]

LOL about the restrooms at the Ritz! They *are* incredible!!! Someday when I am rich and famous, I will stay in a suite at the Ritz!!!

 

[December99]

Ok...you guys got my curiosity up. When we go in to Chicago this summer I HAVE to go use the Ritz bathrooms.....

 

[onemichelle]

My husband and I went to Chicago last summer for our 10th anniver. and we stayed at the Omni Chicago for $103 a night! We got the rate from hotwire.com. It is sort of like priceline except you get more information before you commit. You don't know the name of the hotel, but they tell you the street address, amenities, etc. They have lots of great deals. Have fun!!

 

[Lars624]

We do girl's weekend in Chicago to go Christmas shopping every year.
Last year we had tea at the Drake & that was really nice!

TerriP-I'm in Brighton.