Hotel Suggestions for Weekend Trip to Chicago

My wife and I are celebrating our 1 year anniversary with a weekend trip to Chicago from July 6-8. I have never been to Chicago-this site is an awesome resource with some very helpful people.

I was looking to get a hotel for $100-150/ nt downtown and close to a train so we can hit up the major attractions. We are going to a WhiteSox game saturday and then the Dave Matthews concert on Sunday at Toyota Park in Bridgeview. (I am assuming we will have to drive/taxi to the concert since it is in the burbs)

I also noticed the Taste of Chicago is going on at that time..is this worth going to?

Thanks for any advice

Hotel Suggestions for Weekend Trip to Chicago

There are some specials on Travelzoo.com...the W City Centre is listed at $159 a night. It%26#39;s a great hotel and it%26#39;s about two blocks from the red line and the state street buses (take the 146 for museum campus). You%26#39;ll be within easy walking distance of the Art Institute and Millenium Park. Michigan Avenue shopping%26#39;s a little farther away, but still easily walkable. It%26#39;s also near the theatre district, if you want to see a show.

You may be able to find some deals for other hotels on Priceline, since it%26#39;s the fourth of july weekend and there%26#39;s not much business travel.

Personally, I find taste of chicago to be aggravating, especially if it%26#39;s hot. But it is a chance to try some interesting food and hear some decent music, if you can stand the crowds. I think Los Lonely Boys and the Black Crowes are going to be playing this year, if that appeals. Check out egov.cityofchicago.org, click on ';things to do'; then ';festivals'; and you can scroll down to the Taste link and you can see exactly what%26#39;s going on.

On the upside, when taste is going on, sometimes it%26#39;s easier to get into the really great chicago restaurants (like Frontera Grill, where you can%26#39;t make a reservation and there%26#39;s usually an hour wait). So I guess I%26#39;d use my time to go for some of those, rather than go to Taste. But you%26#39;ll be nearby (especially if you stay at the W), so you can swing by and see what you think.

Have a great time!

Hotel Suggestions for Weekend Trip to Chicago

As for the W Travelzoo deal, I would recommend checking reviews on this site first. I liked the hotel myself, but I just wanted to recommend doing some research, as it really is a ';love it or hate it'; hotel. If you search for the hotel on tripadvisor, on the page for the hotel there should be a link to ';candid user photos';. Click on that and you%26#39;ll see some pictures I took at the hotel.

Additionally, keep in mind that the area around the W can be very quiet at night.

As for Priceline, I would recommend bidding in either the Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park area (closer to museums, not much nightlife) or the River North/North Michigan Ave area (more shopping, more restaurants, more touristy, less near museums.) only. I would start at your low end ($100 per night) for a 4* in either of these areas and if that is not accepted, then try again 24 hours later. Keep in mind with priceline you do not pick your hotel and it is a non-refundable discount service. The service searches to see if a hotel will accept your price and if one does, you are locked in there.

As for the Taste of Chicago, I think it%26#39;s something I recommend people check out earlier in the day when it%26#39;s not fully crowded yet. Stop by, spend an hour or so, sample a few things and move on. It%26#39;s hot, it%26#39;s crowded and it is not cheap, but it is certainly an experience and fun to check out for a little while.

Thanks much for the insight. I will check out the W and also Priceline.

Any restuarant recommendations? Definitely looking to for some great Chicago Style Pie

rez 7,

Two suggestions:

I stayed at the Talbott Hotel on E. Delaware and really loved it. It%26#39;s not big and fancy, but it was very clean, the room and bed were great, the concierge was pleasant, and the price was $129 a night. It%26#39;s also an easy walk to Michigan Ave as well as State and Rush.

The best pizza I had, by far, was Pizanos. It%26#39;s on State St. I didn%26#39;t try Lou Malnati%26#39;s or Uno, but after Pizanos I didn%26#39;t feel like I needed to. I had ';Mark%26#39;s Special'; deep dish and it was awesome.

Kyle

MSU - Thanks for the tips...i will have to check them out!