Hotels in Chicago traditionally rely on a robust convention trade and tourism market. During the week, Chicago's busy convention market, individual business travelers, and a small minority of tourists fill the city's hotels to capacity. The last few years have seen a building boom, mostly in the high-end market, bringing international players such as the Peninsula and Sofitel into the Midwestern market--wonderful hotels, but not the kind that cater to families. Thankfully, you'll find plenty of kid-friendly lodgings in the hot River North neighborhood. Budget lodgings, unfortunately, are becoming harder to find anywhere near downtown.
Because Chicago's hospitality industry caters first and foremost to the business traveler, the hotels tend to empty out by Friday. (Keep in mind, though, that rooms are sometimes available at rock-bottom rates during conventions if a hotel is unable to book to capacity.) Many hotels are sometimes willing to reduce prices on the weekends to push up their occupancy rates. And, many hotels known as "business hotels" have made efforts to add family-friendly amenities to entice families to stay the weekend. Still, the hotel industry has been so strong in Chicago in recent years that you won't find reservation agents as willing or able to wheel and deal as they once were. You never know, however, when some huge convention will gobble up all the desirable rooms in the city even on the weekends, so you're wise to book a room well in advance whenever you plan to visit. To find out if an upcoming convention coincides with the dates you plan to visit Chicago, contact the Chicago Convention & Visitors Bureau (tel. 312/567-8500; www.choosechicago.com--click on "Convention Calendar").
If the city has a slow season, it's the depth of winter, when outsiders tend to shy away from the cold and the threat of being snowed in at O'Hare. Serious bargain hunters might choose to visit then. The Convention & Visitors Bureau usually offers a special promotion, "Winter Delights," from January to March. Call tel. 877/244-2246 for a brochure, or check out www.877chicago.com. The brochure includes discounts on many of Chicago's leading hotels and restaurants.
If you'd like to watch your pennies but the idea of sightseeing in a heavy down coat doesn't appeal to you, another option is to stay in a less-expensive hotel during the week and move into swell digs for the weekend finale.
A Note About Prices:--The rates given are per night for double-occupancy rooms and do not include taxes. Prices are always subject to availability, vary seasonally and are often less than the published rack rates. (The lower rates tend to be offered Jan-Mar and on nonholiday weekends.)
Reserve in Advance--Whatever hotel or hotels you choose, regardless of season, making reservations well in advance will help ensure that you get the best rate available. While toll-free phone numbers have been provided for the hotels reviewed, you might find better rates by calling the hotel's reservations office directly. Most hotels have check-in times somewhere between 3 and 6pm; if you are going to be delayed, call ahead and reconfirm your reservation to prevent cancellation.
Reservation Services--You can check on the latest rates and availability, as well as book a room, by calling the Illinois Reservation Service (tel. 800/491-1800). The 24-hour service is free. Another reservation service is Hot Rooms (tel. 800/468-3500 or 773/468-7666; www.hotrooms.com), which offers discounts at selected downtown hotels. The 24-hour service is free, but if you cancel a reservation after it has been booked, you're assessed a $25 fee. For a copy of the annual Illinois Hotel-Motel Directory, which also provides information about weekend packages, call the Illinois Bureau of Tourism at tel. 800/2CONNECT, www.enjoyillinois.com.
Bed and Breakfast Reservations--A centralized reservations service called Bed & Breakfast/Chicago Inc., P.O. Box 14088, Chicago, IL 60614 (tel. 800/375-7084 or 773/394-2000; fax 773/394-2002; www.chicago-bed-breakfast.com), lists more than 70 accommodations in Chicago. If you're of an adventurous bent, you'll find options ranging from high-rise and loft apartments to guest rooms carved from a former private club on the 40th floor of a Loop office building. Most lie within 3 miles of downtown (many are located in the Gold Coast, Old Town, and Lincoln Park) and will run you $135 to $300 for apartments, and as low as $85 for guest rooms in private homes. Note: Most B&Bs require a minimum stay of 2 or 3 nights; also, many have restrictions on children. Some accept only children over age 10, for example, while others will not accept kids of any age. It's always wise to ask if children are welcome when making reservations.
Accessibility--Most hotels are prepared to accommodate travelers with physical disabilities, but you should always inquire when you make reservations to make sure that the hotel can meet your particular needs. Older properties, in particular, might not have been able to adapt their structures to meet current requirements or might have limited numbers of specially equipped rooms.
The Best Hotel Bets
You won't find them a bargain, but several years of expansion and new construction for Chicago hotels means the city offers a wide variety, from hip boutique hotels to huge facilities for convention-goers, and thankfully, a nice crop of family-friendly hotels. (The downside: Room rates keep rising, making budget lodgings harder to find). The recent Chicago debuts of the luxury Peninsula, Le Méridien, and Sofitel chains prove that the city's building boom shows no signs of slowing.
Most Family Friendly: With cribs, laundry service, and every room a suite, the Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago-Downtown, 600 N. State St. (tel. 800/362-2779; www.embassysuiteschicago.com; $159-$359 king suite; $169-$459 double suite. Kids 17 and under stay free in parent's room. No rollaways, but sofa beds are in every suite; cribs free), is ideal for families looking for a little more space than the typical hotel room provides. The in-room Nintendo, indoor pool, and location near a couple popular kid-friendly venues--ESPN Zone and the Hard Rock Cafe--should keep Junior happy, too.
Best Neighborhood Hotel: Children 12 and under stay free at Best Western Hawthorne Terrace Hotel, 3434 N. Broadway (tel. 888/675-2378; www.bestwestern.com; $159-$179 double; $169 suite. Children 12 and under stay free in parent's room. No rollaways, but sofa beds are in junior suites; cribs free). Small in size, with 59 rooms and junior suites, the rooms offer refrigerators, microwaves, and irons. Parking is a bargain at $16 a day.
Best Views: This isn't an easy call. Peering over the elevated tracks, The Silversmith, 10 S. Wabash Ave. (tel. 800/2CROWNE; www.sixcontinentshotels.com; $149-$249 double; from $289 suite. Kids 16 and under stay free in parent's room. Rollaways $20/night; cribs free. Weekend rates available), in the Loop, offers a distinctly urban vista; see for more details. But consider several other hotels for their mix of lake and city views: Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, The Drake, The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, and Park Hyatt Chicago.
When Hipness Is Important: A hip hotel that's known for romance is using its small size--and sense of whimsy--to cater to kids. Hotel Burnham, 1 W. Washington at State St. (tel. 877/294-9712; www.burnhamhotel.com; $139-$279 double; $239-$429 suite. Kids 17 and under stay free in parent's room. Rollaways and cribs free, but available in suites only) keeps wee ones entertained with special offers for tea at American Girl Place Cafe and deals at the museums and theaters. During holidays, you'll find special activities in the hotel lobby, including decorating gingerbread men at Christmas and hunting for eggs at Easter. Diaper bags, cribs, high chairs, changing tables, and more are available upon request. Rooms are clubby but glamorous, with plush beds, mahogany writing desks, and chaise lounges.
When Price Is No Object: The attention to detail, regal pampering, and well-connected concierges you will find at both the ultra-luxe Ritz-Carlton Chicago, 160 E. Pearson St. (tel. 800/621-6906;; www.fourseasons.com/chicagorc; $375-$455 double; $545-$3,500 suite. Weekend rates from $265. Kids under 18 stay free in parent's room. Rollaways and cribs free), and Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, 120 E. Delaware Place (tel. 800/332-3442;; www.fourseasons.com/chicagofs; cost), make them the hotels of choice for travelers who want to feel like royalty while in town.
When Price Is Your Main Object: Red Roof Inn Chicago Downtown, 162 E. Ontario St. (tel. 800/733-7663; www.redroof.com; $87-$159 double; $99 suite. Kids 17 and under stay free in parent's room. No rollaways; cribs free), offers a fabulous location for a bargain price. But the Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown, 33 W. Illinois St. (tel. 800/HAMPTON; www.hamptoninn.com; $139-$149 double; $159-$239 suite. Rates include buffet breakfast. Kids under 18 stay free in parent's room. Rollaways and cribs free) gets bonus points for being a bargain stay, plus having a pool.
Best Pool: With its dazzling all-tile junior Olympic-size pool constructed in 1929, the Hotel InterContinental Chicago, 505 N. Michigan Ave. (tel. 800/327-0200; www.chicago.interconti.com; $248-$409 double; $500-$3,000 suite. Kids under 18 stay free in parent's room. Rollaways $25/night in historic North tower only; cribs free), takes this award easily.
Best Hotel Restaurant for Kids: Go for Café Atwood, the stylish and funky restaurant fronting State Street at Hotel Burnham, 1 W. Washington (tel. 877/294-9712; www.burnhamhotel.com). Amazingly, this eclectic restaurant welcomes kids and features a special kids' menu.
Tops for Teens: For a theatrical hotel experience, the House of Blues Hotel, 333 N. Dearborn St. (tel. 877/569-3742; www.loewshotels.com; $329-$364 double; $500-$750 suite. Weekend and promotional rates available. Kids 18 and under stay free in parent's room. Rollaways and cribs free), can't be beat, with its riotous mix of colors and playful attitude.
Tops for Toddlers: Homewood Suites, 40 E. Grand Ave. (tel. 800/CALL-HOME; www.homewoodsuites.com; $259 double suite. Kids under 18 stay free in parent's room. Rollaways and cribs free) offers cribs, high chairs, and babysitting services in a great location in River North.
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