Chicago Cheap Hotels in Chicago

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Chicago attracts large numbers of visitors with its theaters, restaurants and good shopping centers. Chicago hotels come in all shapes and sizes and there are a good number all around the city.

When to visit based on price

You’ll find your best rates between January and March during winter months.

Key attractions

Chicago is famous as the town of Gangsters for a reason, because it’s history is full of organized crime. So what better to do when visiting than by taking a Chicago Gangster Tour? You will visit Mount Carmel Cemetery where you will visit Al Capone’s final resting place and the Biograph Theater where the infamous John Dillinger was gunned down.
Make a stop at today’s tallest building, the Willis Tower in downtown Chicago. And during the day or especially at night, view the Buckingham Fountain and it’s spectacular light show. You’ll never forget the beauty of this fountain, with its four horses.
While at the very top of the Willis Tower, test your nerves of steel by stepping out on its Skydeck Chicago. This is a clear glass ledge, totally enclosed, but with a glass floor also. Might be advisable to do this before lunch.
Combine fun and one of Chicago’s premier attractions visiting Navy Pier. This lakefront fifty acres of fun features rides, restaurants, museums, gardens and so much more. Especially popular is the 150-foot Ferris wheel that operates all year long.

Having fun

There are two excellent museums in Chicago, the Field Museum and the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. Another great place to visit if you’re interested in fine art is the Art History Museum that houses the biggest collection of Impressionist artwork in the United States.
If by chance you are visiting during the summer, for sure check out he free Outdoor Summer Concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
If your thirst for experiencing the old days of prohibition, then find your way to the old “mob” hangout, and oldest “speakeasy” in Chicago. We’re talking about the “Green Door Tavern” on New Orleans Street. This is an excellent opportunity for you to try one of their prohibition-style drinks and possibly some lunch or dinner. It’s still a very popular hangout, so keep an eye out for Machine Gun Kelly and his gang of thugs.

Shopping

You’re in Chicago and looking for the best shopping area. Hands down you should head to the Magnificent Mile Shopping District. This strip in downtown Chicago is chock full of history, lying between The Michigan Ave Bridge and Oak Street.
Here you will find yourself entertained with days of shopping in brand name boutiques, mega malls, luxury outlets and retail stores lining the street.
There are three-mega mall that you shouldn’t miss on your quest for packages. The Shops of North Bridge, 900 North MichiganShops and the Water Tower Place should be your target.

Nearby

A truly awesome experience is a day trip to “Starved Rock” where you get to walk some forty plus nature paths overlooking one of Mother Nature’s canyons.
Why not take a trip to Milwaukee, which is only about an hour and a half drive. Visit the home of the Harley-Davidson Museum; sip a beer on the tour of the Pabst Mansion.
You can also take a drive to Lake Geneva Wisconsin, a very popular resort town where you can hang on the beach or maybe take a cruise on a paddleboat on the lake.
Another interesting way to spend a day is to visit Amish Country in Indiana; only a couple hours drive away. Some very interesting shopping with homemade pies, quilt shops, jams, etc. It’s a great experience for young children and quite the education for adults too.
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Our recommendations in Chicago

The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop

The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop

4-star hotel

8.6 Fabulous

Starting From

$178

Hyatt Regency Chicago

Hyatt Regency Chicago

4-star hotel

N/A

Starting From

$227

The Whitehall Hotel

The Whitehall Hotel

4-star hotel

N/A

Starting From

$119

Best Western Grant Park Hotel

Best Western Grant Park Hotel

2.5-star hotel

N/A

Starting From

$124

The Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown

The Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown

4-star hotel

8.5 Very Good

Starting From

$204

Gale Chicago

Gale Chicago

4-star hotel

N/A

Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk

Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk

4-star hotel

8.4 Very Good

Starting From

$252

Warwick Allerton - Chicago

Warwick Allerton - Chicago

4-star hotel

7.6 Good

Starting From

$135

Club Quarters Hotel, Central Loop, Chicago

Club Quarters Hotel, Central Loop, Chicago

4-star hotel

8.5 Very Good

Starting From

$153

Hotel Saint Clair- Magnificent Mile

Hotel Saint Clair- Magnificent Mile

4-star hotel

7.5 Good

Starting From

$132

Pendry Chicago

Pendry Chicago

4.5-star hotel

8.4 Very Good

Starting From

$251

Hotel Felix River North/Magnificent Mile

Hotel Felix River North/Magnificent Mile

4-star hotel

7.8 Good

Starting From

$209

Congress Plaza Hotel

Congress Plaza Hotel

3.5-star hotel

N/A

Starting From

$144

Inn of Chicago

Inn of Chicago

3-star hotel

6.8 Good

Hilton Chicago

Hilton Chicago

4-star hotel

N/A

Starting From

$176

Palmer House a Hilton Hotel

Palmer House a Hilton Hotel

4-star hotel

N/A

Starting From

$211

Hot money saving suggestions for your 2017 Chicago vacation

The “windy city” Chicago can be a mega monster eater of cash if you don’t pay attention to your vacation budget. On the other hand, there are many ways to totally enjoy that vacation and stay within budget. We will provide you with the “hot tips” but it’s in your “ball park” to use them, and profit from them.
If you’ve done any research you know that renting a car, driving in heavy Chicago traffic, never finding parking spots, and paying large parking fees can and will eat you alive. Take a taxi, bus, rail, rent a bike or walk a tour. Forget about the car rental.
If your smart you will bring a backpack that you can stuff with waters and snacks to have while out and about. This will be key so you don’t drop in to a restaurant whenever your hunger pains get the better of you. You can still carry it when biking about the city, on your back of course. If you do decide to rent a bike for a day or more, don’t forget to ask for a lock in case you want to explore somewhere on foot.
If the biking interests you, then check out the blue “Divvy Bike” stations throughout the city. It’s only $7 for a 24hr pass.


As far as eating smart, if your hotel doesn’t offer free breakfast, try hitting a coffee shop for breakfast instead of fancy restaurant. Even eating at Starbucks will be cheaper than in the hotel restaurant.
Money tip: Bring cash instead of paying ATM fees. Just be smart and use the hotel safe for some of it.
As far as choosing your hotel for vacation, besides looking for a deal, you should try to choose one in the vicinity of the attractions you plan to visit if possible. If traveling with the kids, maybe choose something near the museums, Navy Pier and such. Adults want to check downtown near the shops, restaurants and of course nightlife.
Something I always try to do is bring a really good bottle or two of favorite wine with me, anywhere I travel. Even if the restaurant charges a “corkage fee”, its way cheaper than the cost of a great bottle of wine from the restaurant wine cellar.
Hot Wine Travel Tip- shop and buy one of the bubble wrap sealing wine bottle holders ahead of your trip.
Both young and old will enjoy spending time on Navy Pier, riding its iconic 90 foot Ferris wheel, great restaurants and even scenic boat tours. If you like old stained glass, there’s a free stained glass museum on the pier.
Lincoln Park Zoo is another great place to visit, check out the animals, and best of all, it’s free.
You can check out a ton of popular attractions and still save bucks by purchasing a Chicago CitiPass for only $98. Check out the Skydeck Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry and much more with it.
If there are museums on your “must see” list, check out their free or discount days and hours. Many including the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium and others offer specific days of free entry.
Now for my suggestions for saving money on lunches and yes, even dinners if you are brave. Chicago is well known for two food groups, their Chicago Dogs and Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. You can keep to a great lunch budget on hot dogs, and pizza, great for lunch dinner, and leftover for breakfast too.
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Tips for a great Chicago Family Vacation

Chicago is one of the great cities in the U.S. and also the busiest to visit. It seems like every day the streets are crowded, no matter what time of year. If you choose the fair weather of spring through fall, those who have hibernated all winter head to the beaches and attractions in hordes. Visiting as a family with children, you will just have to deal with this a plan you day accordingly, like getting up early and jumping ahead in line.
An exciting way to start your visit of the “Windy City” is by providing the family with an overall view of the city. The best way to do this is from the Skydeck of Willis Tower, at 1,353 feet in the air, 103 stories high! Get your first family vacation with Chicago in background, from the 4.3-foot clear glass balcony. If you are in luck and the skies are clear, you can usually see 3-4 states from there.


If experiencing Chicago from the ground is your cup of tea, and maybe the kids need to burn off energy, hit the Chicago Riverwalk. Start your stroll at the Clark Street Bridge and walk along the lake, or rent bikes or roller blades if you want. In nice weather it’s also possible to rent kayaks and the lake is super for cruising with the family.
Combining your vacation with a bit of schooling adventures should excite your children, the moment they walk through the door of the Field Museum. Even adults are amazed when they stand in front of “Sue”, the best-preserved and largest skeleton T-Rex in the world today. There are hours of displays and interactive games for youngsters and oldsters alike.
Visiting Chicago with children almost requires that you visit the Shedd Aquarium, especially in summer just to get out of the heat! The Shedd will amaze boy you and your children, with over 32,000 animals represented, including sea otters, whales and dolphins. Make sure you put this at the beginning of your day, so you don’t feel crowded or rushed at your favorite exhibits.
And then there’s a no-brainer, a day at Navy Pier. From the carnie food, games to exciting rides and mega Ferris wheel, it’s always a good day to visit. Be sure to take the time to visit the Children’s Museum, because it’s one of the best. A bonus for 2017, Cirque Shanghai is performing on the Pier until September.
Especially for families traveling with small children, the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago has some of the best re-productions of famous Chicago attractions, built from Lego’s. Navy Pier, Willis Tower, Wrigley Building and more built from thousands of tiny Lego’s. Your children can take a factory tour, Kingdom Quest Laser Ride, Jungle Expedition and so many other new adventures. Of course, you can take a break and munch out in the LEGO Café, or save a bunch of money, grabbing Chicago Dogs from the cart on the street.
You don’t have to be a baseball fan to enjoy the game, and nothing says baseball more than catching a game in Wrigley Field. Built back in 1914 you will find this stadium untouched like many others, with “luxury suites” and electronic scoreboards. Show the kids a real ballpark, where the scores are updated by hand, but they still serve the best dogs and beers. If you decide to catch a game, get your seat tickets early because they sell out. Also I suggest a day game, without the heavy boozers at night.
If you are lucky enough to visit during the summer months, you need to take the family to the beach, consisting of 29 miles of shoreline with more than 15 miles of beach. Surround yourself with locals, and while mingling, get some ideas on best family restaurants, and possibly best “happy hours” for you two after the kids are asleep?
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Best choices to do with children on your Chicago Vacation

Vacationing in the “Windy City” of Chicago is sometimes challenging, and if you add children to the situation, it can be a nightmare. From the moment you land in either O’Hara or Midway Airport, you vacation budget is under fire. One of the decisions you will have to make is to rent a car or use public transportation. Renting a car in Chicago is an expensive proposition, especially when adding insurance, parking and gas. Add to that the frustration of traffic and getting lost and that vacation can turn bad really quick like. Instead, maybe you should think like a native, and use the public transportation. Right from the airport terminals you can pick up either the train downtown. The “elevated” or “L” can get you all around the city, and to major attractions. Remember that cabs are expensive in the city, and think of it as a great experience for your children using mass transit instead.

One of the top places on your “to do” list should be the Navy Pier, offering great times for not only your kids, but also you and Mom. The first thing your children will get excited about is the 196-foot Ferris wheel that you can’t miss. But it doesn’t stop there because you also have a carousel for the little ones, a swinging seated ride and more. Add to that a Children’s Museum and a 18-hole challenging miniature golf course. When its time for Mom and Dad to take a “time out”, you will be rewarded with entry to the Miller Lite Beer Garden for some calming relaxation.
After hitting some of the shops and maybe restaurants, you can choose to head down to the waterfront cruise line area and board an evening or night dinner cruise. This is super way to experience the Chicago skyline after dark.
For another entirely different experience viewing Chicago, and even something to make your heart skip a beat of two, head to the 360 Chicago Observation Deck, standing over 1000 feet in the air. There’s plenty to keep the kids interest, from viewing over fifty miles in any direction, to the interactive screens identifying all the landmarks below. For the heart challenge, there’s the “360 Chicago Tilt”! You’ll enter a mechanized room that will actually tilt you forward over the side looking straight down as you “white knuckle” the handlebars in front of you. If you want to pass on that and let Dad and the kids get the excitement, grab a glass of Vino at the bar and grab a window seat.
Another fun thing and experience for your children is to take them down to Chinatown. Plan of maybe heading there late morning, walking the shops, and finding a place for lunch. It’s an experience just watching their expressions as they walk with you around one of the grocery stores!
One of our best suggestions for you, especially with younger children, is to book a hotel with indoor pool. Nothing beats swimming away their extra energy on a hotel pool. A great selection is one of the “suite” hotels like the Embassy for that reason, as well as offering excellent included breakfast and Happy Hour. If you can book near the Navy Pier and downtown, you can find lots of child friendly dining options. From McDonalds to the Rainforest Café, for the kiddies, to the Rock Bottom Brewery for you guys.
If you are lucky enough to be there during baseball season, take the family to Wrigley Field for the experience of the old fashion “open-air” ballpark. This ballpark is the 2nd oldest one of its kind in the U.S., and a fun experience for the entire family. And while your there, don’t forget to woof down a Chicago style hot dog, or two with that beer.

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