Chicago Hotels - A Brief Guide To Finding The Perfect Hotel

• By: MFoley
• On: 04/Mar/2010
• In: Chicago Travel Tips

Most visitors to Chicago stay in 'The Loop' – Chicago's downtown area. This is the business, financial, shopping, nightlife and tourist hub of the city, so it's also the most popular district with hotels in Chicago.

'The Loop' is the heartbeat of the city, so if you want to stay in the thick of all the action and have all the sights and sounds of this cosmopolitan city on your doorstep, then this is the location for you. 

The Loop is famous for its iconic skyline, fine architecture and a world-class collection of public art in the form of statues and sculptures. This part of the city boasts a number of museums and galleries such as; the Art Institute of Chicago, the Federal Reserve Bank Money Museum, the Chicago Cultural Centre, Harold Washington Library, Spertus Institute (a museum dedicated to Jewish culture) and the Museum of Contemporary Photography to name a few. The city's famous sightseeing walking tour the 'Magnificent Mile' is also located in the Loop.

Top attractions like the Sears Tower and other iconic skyline buildings like 311 S Wacker Dr, the Aon Centre, the Chase Tower and the Daley Centre. The Loop is also home to the city's theatre district with lots of theatres located here. It's also the best place to shop with State Street being the city's shopping mecca. If you need to escape the hustle and bustle at any time – just head over to the beautiful Grant Park and Millennium Park, which overlook Lake Michigan.

If a central location if not important to you and you don't mind using the public transport system to get around, then why not choose to stay in Chicago hotels outside the Loop. Lincoln Park has loads of Chicago hotels and it's located just north of Downtown Chicago. Lincoln Park is the upscale neighbourhood part of the city with trendy shops, restaurants, bars and clubs aplenty. It is home to two of the city's most celebrated theatres; Steppenwolf and Second City and is also where you'll find Lincoln Park Zoo and North Avenue Beach.

In the greater Chicago area, you'll find Chicago hotels in popular destination like Evanston, Lombard, Schaumburg and Naperville to name a few.

Chicago O Hare International Airport can be found 17 miles northwest of Downtown Chicago. It is one of the biggest and busiest airports in the Mid West so most visitors flying to Chicago will touch down here. If you want to be convenient to this airport, then there are plenty of Chicago airport hotels for you to choose from. These hotels are also within easy reach of the Allstate Arena, the Donald E.Convention Centre and downtown Chicago is just a train ride away. You can hop on the CTA Blue Line (the L) which can bring you to 'the Loop' and this service operates 24 hours a day.

Chicago hotels range from 1 star – 5 star. If you're looking for cheap hotels in Chicago then you should go for a lower star rating such as a 1 or a 2 star. These hotels area clean, cheap and cheerful and perfect if you intend to spend little time in your hotel room – after all you are in one of the greatest cities in the world and there's so much to do and see!

For luxury hotels in Chicago, choose a 5 star hotel. Many of the city's prestigious 5 star hotels share a prime location on the city's Magnificent Mile. There's also lots of mid-range hotels located all over the city so there is something to suit every pocket. Generally speaking, the higher the star rating the higher the room price.

If you don't mind using public transport and are willing to stay further away from the city, then you may find a cheaper hotel. Booking well in advance can also save you money. Also, be flexible with your travel dates to avoid big events in the city like a convention/festival, when the downtown hotel room rates may soar.

We hope this guide helps you to find the perfect Chicago hotel for your trip. Visit our CHICAGO HOTELS hotels page now, where you can search and browse an extensive list of handpicked Chicago hotels.

If you have any tips, advice or questions about booking hotels in Chicago, then please do not hesitate to contact us – leave your comment in the box below and we'll get back to you right away!