Great Lakes - Help request Chicagoians click here

I have a non bike request for you Chicago people.

A good friend of mine is turning 50 next spring and for some reason loves your city. I would like to put them in a nice hotel that is with in walking distance to all the stuff your city is known for. They would also like a nice pool.

So if you could help me pick a nice place with a pool and within walking distance to everything I would be much obliged. Any other suggestions would also be welcome.

Thanks in advance.

is there a price range in mind...or a price cap?

Off the top of my head, and for the budget unrestrained, you've got the Palmer House, Hilton, Drake, The W, and the Wit.

If you are not filthy rich, there are other options, however the walk to "everything" may be considerably longer.:)

I like the Stouffer Renaissance Chicago Hotel on Wacker. Hotel 71 is meh. Palmer House if they like things in a more traditional, stodgy style.

is there a price range in mind...or a price cap?



Not really but I don't want to blow a bunch of cash just for a name. I do want something nice and realize it wont be cheap.

http://www.peninsula.com/Chicago/en/default.aspx

I've stayed at the Peninsula Beijing and it was superb. I've attended events at the Chicago location, again it's first class.

Can't think of a better location.

Michael

I live in River North (which is generally walking distance to all the stuff Chicago is *known* for) and it's also quite touristy and there's close to a bazillion hotels.

Look around River North/Streeterville/Goldcoast and read some reviews. The Felix looks nice, and so does the James (I've heard some good and some average about the James). Then you have the usual suspects, Westin, W, Palmer, etc, just depends on price.

I would say stay South of Oak St, West of LaSalle, North of the River there will be plenty to walk to.

This is what a quick google came up with, most of these hotels are within a stones throw . . .

http://www.expedia.com/Hotels?action=hotelPackageWizard@searchHotelOnly&packageType=HOTEL_ONLY&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_inpPackageType=HOTEL_ONLY&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_hotelSearchRegionControl_hotelRegion TypeControl_inpRegionType=CITY&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_hotelSearchRegionControl_cityControl _inpCity=&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_hotelSearchRegionControl_cityControl _inpCityRegionId=800025&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_roomInputWidget_hotelRoomCountInput= 1&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_roomInputWidget_adultCountInput=2&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_roomInputWidget_childCountInput=0&isAdditionOptionExist=0

Hard Rock Hotel in the old Carbon and Carbide building on Michigan Ave.

Park Hyatt Chicago

What kind of activities will these people want to see/do. The clubs/night life are not really in the same places as the museums/aquarium/symphony type stuff.

Hotel Marshal- I think they still allow hot plates.

Kenal0

What kind of activities will these people want to see/do. The clubs/night life are not really in the same places as the museums/aquarium/symphony type stuff.


Good question, they are definatly more the museums/aquarium/symphony type of people.

Thanks for all the ideas.

Good question, they are definatly more the museums/aquarium/symphony type of people.

Thanks for all the ideas.

In that case, consider "W", Palmer House, Congress Hotel, Hilton. The Congress and the Hilton are on Mighigan Avenue across from Millinenium Park with rooms overlooking Lake Michigan. The Congress is older and not as up to date looking as the others, a lot of people don't like it because it shows it's age a little more than the other old hotles, but it is an interesting hotel. The Hilton on Michigan is where the closing scenes of the film Fugitive were shot. The Congress, Hilton and Palmer are all within a few blocks of Symphony Hall and the Art Institute and a short cab ride to the Field Museum, Aquraium and the Planetarium. W is probably 6 blocks west of Michigan Avenue, still within walking distance of the Art Institute and Symphony Hall, but much closer to the Opera House.