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We have a two night stay here in August- any advice/hotel tip welcome – budget up to £400 a night and like a club lounge!
We have a two night stay here in August- any advice/hotel tip welcome – budget up to £400 a night and like a club lounge!
If you aren’t hooked on chains and a club lounge isn’t an absolute requirement, the Ivy and the Pendry are worth a look.
If you aren’t hooked on chains and a club lounge isn’t an absolute requirement, the Ivy and the Pendry are worth a look.
No _ Im not – thanks for the tip – will look them up now.
If you’re able to, I would recommend spending one of the days just walking round the city, immersing yourself in the culture, vibe, history, architecture, etc. so much to see. It’s a fabulous place, a bit like NYC in size/scale but way more laid back – personally I much prefer it.
And a river cruise is another excellent way to see the city.Definitely do what @Degsy suggests – just spend a day wandering round along the lake front, up to the Bean etc. And another vote also for the Architectural River cruise – lovely way to see the city. It’s a very walkable city, and the buses/L trains/subway are efficient.
I love Chicago!Contact Emyr to see what deals he can get you with free brakfast and room credits and upgrades.
I arrived back Wednesday after being there a week at the Sofitel Mag Mile via Emyr. No lounge though but good hotel in a good location.
To be honest what to see depends on what your interests are but I highly recommend the Art Institute then a wander around Grant and Millenoum Parks.
There are lots of smaller specialist musuems like the Museum of Broadcast Communications and the Museum of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. The Cultiral Centre (free) also has some interesting exhibits and architecture/
If you are then on a Wednesday or Saturday there is usually a raising of the bridges on the river to allow boats to pass thrhough to / from the lake. Check the McCormick Bridgehouse Museum website for details
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
Sonesta have a good presence there having seen the better Kimpton options reflag under Sonesta due to that non-payment debacle of 2020ish. Including the former Kimpton Palomar that has a top floor pool that opens onto a sun deck. Worth looking into a Sonesta status match to score breakfasts.
Don’t be sucked in by the Viceroy’s promise of a pool; it’s one of those pools to be seen in rather than swim in and is often closed for private functions.
I’ve stayed at the IC Michigan Ave and found the rooms small for Chicago upper tier standards. Though still big by New York standards. The building has some nice historical features including an ornate indoor pool of a substantial size.
The Marriott Michigan Ave does have a club lounge but it’s about as generic a hotel as you’re ever likely to see. I’d probably choose the Westin on the river of all the Marriott options – nice club lounge, rooms still seem fresh, perfect location on a bridge to take you south or north as you please, elites can expect a river-view room.
Conrad or WA about the only Hilton options I’d consider; The Drake is faded grandeur (but still worth seeing its public areas), the Doubletree off Michigan Ave with a pool deck is overrun with kids, and Curio London House gets mixed reviews and some inconsistent elite treatment.
Overall I find it a much easier city to hit upon a good hotel than other US cities; the options within a few blocks of Michigan Ave are plentiful.
To add to the tourism options – the Driehaus Museum. I spent ages in there moving along at my own pace. Also worth taking up a perch on the south side of Navy Pier and watching the yachting set take their boats out onto the lake and back in later; as much for the boats as to gasp at the age difference between the men and their guests.
We’re going in September and I have Marriott points to spend.
I’d originally booked The Gwen but
after a bit more research I
switched to Westin on the river as
BWS recommended.I’m there next week for the Blues Festival. Check the what’s on guides for your dates as there’s a festival somewhere in the city almost every weekend in the summer.
There’s a million things to do in chicago but if you want a packed couple of days pick up one of the city passes that gets you reduced/skip the line admission and try and do as much as you can, Willis Tower (get there early), or Hancock Tower (no need to do both). Architecture river cruise, Navy Pier, walk Magnificent Mile for the shopping etc, maybe look at the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s website and pick one of their many walking tours.
That’ll fill 2 days. You really need 10+ to scratch the surface.
Think of NY, but cleaner, brighter, with beaches, and friendlier people. You’ll mostly need to make reservations for dinner in popular places like the Weber grill otherwise you’ll be waiting 2 hours or more.
If you have specific interests in art/musuem/architecture let me know and I’ll add some specifics.
P.S DON’T stay at the Palmer House Hilton however much the public spaces look amazing. The rooms are disgusting and so is the service.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
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