HOTEL DEALS
Chicago at a Price That's Right
We've picked reliable, affordable places to stay in a wide variety of Chicago neighborhoods. Here are ten properties worth considering, from retro inns to apartment-style hotels.
Free Wi-Fi? Yes, in all rooms.
Credit Cards Accepted Visa, MC, AmEx, Discover, Diners Club.
Details 640 N. Wabash Ave., 800/799-4030 or 312/787-4030, hotelcass.com, doubles from $117.
Hotel Type Hotel.
Relevant Lifestyle Hip, family-friendly.
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HOTEL INDIGO
'Hood Gold Coast, a wealthy neighborhood of Chicago known for its quaint brownstone residences, the Division Street late-night bar gauntlet, and the so-called Viagra Triangle, an area frequented by older single men. Think high-end steakhouses, piano bars, and dance clubs.
First Impression Where's my daiquiri? Situated on one of the Gold Coast's quieter, tree-lined streets, Hotel Indigo's expansive, coastal-themed lobby is like an oasis in the city.
The Rooms Hardwood floors and deep-sea-blue decorative accents give the rooms a relaxing, beach-house vibe.
Plus When you tire of reclining in the lobby, walk about two blocks west to Lake Michigan and its free beaches. You're also an easy walk from Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, which draws hometown celebrities such as actor Vince Vaughn.
Minus Parking is $36 a day; street parking is virtually nonexistent.
Free Wi-Fi? Yes, in all rooms and public areas.
Credit Cards Accepted Visa, MC, AmEx, Discover, Diners Club.
Details 1244 N. Dearborn Pkwy., 800/972-2494 or 312/787-4980, hotelindigo.com, doubles from $159.
Hotel Type Hotel.
Relevant Lifestyle Family-friendly.
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HOTEL SAX
'Hood River North, half a block from the Chicago River and next to Marina City, a pair of iconic 60-story, corncob-shaped towers that are showpieces of 1960s avant-garde architecture. The area attracts locals with its upscale hangouts, including Bin 36 (a hip wine bar) and Keefer's (a swanky steak house).
First Impression Fresh from its $30 million renovation, the former House of Blues Hotel is now all about modern chic. The lobby's check-in desks look like jewel cases, and the white marble floors and high-end furnishings complete the hotel's transformation. The adjacent Crimson Lounge is an enormous, ornately decorated cocktail bar.
The Rooms High energy and high style: Damask wallpaper and a panoply of red, gold, and royal-purple fabrics on bedspreads and pillows, with occasional, unique flourishes such as faux-snakeskin wing chairs.
Plus The little details, such as padded headboards and 320-count Egyptian cotton sheets.
Minus Fido will cost you. Pets incur a nonrefundable $50 charge.
Free Wi-Fi? Yes. There's also a simple, plug-in cable connection.
Credit Cards Accepted Visa, MC, AmEx, Discover.
Details 333 N. Dearborn St., 877/569-3742, hotelsaxchicago.com, doubles from $189.
Hotel type Hotel.
Relevant Lifestyle Hip.
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ESSEX INN
'Hood South Loop, close to the renowned Art Institute of Chicago and to Millennium Park, with its famous band shell designed by Frank Gehry. Here, skyscrapers preside over wide, landscaped boulevards.
First Impression Urban posh at an affordable price. This 15-floor hotel has a sleek, metal-and-glass lobby and a swimming pool enclosed in a glass atrium—you can see Grant Park while treading water.
The Rooms Standard fare for business hotels.
Plus East-facing rooms have king-of-the-world views.
Minus You may wonder, Is this really Chicago? So many conventions are held in the neighborhood that you're more likely to bump into an out-of-towner than a local.
AFFORDABLE CHICAGO
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