Best Chicago Hotels

Perhaps because so many conventions take place here, the best Chicago hotels skew toward the luxury and mid-range—a fact that can be frustrating to those of us without an expense account. It’s particularly difficult to stay downtown without blowing the bank. You can expect to cough up north of $175 a night downtown, even for bargain-basement chains. And often, to get the best rate you have to pay in full when making the reservation. Take consolation in the fact that you’re likely to get a pretty nice room. Chicago saw a wave of hotel openings between 2008 and 2010, meaning that if you’re willing to fork over at least $200 a night, it’s easy to find a place with good amenities and good service. Hotel rooms get less pricey the farther you get from the Loop and the Magnificent Mile, but you might end up blowing the difference on cabs, anyway. If you’re not planning to spend a lot of time downtown, or you’re willing to take the "L," consider a hotel on the North Side, where the accommodations are a little cheaper. Some of the best places to stay in Chicago are just a bit off the beaten path. Whatever you do, do not be tempted to stay in one of the North Side motels on North Lincoln Avenue between Foster and Devon, a.k.a. Sin Strip. Their rates are rock-bottom for a reason. Make that several reasons: crime, poor location and rooms that haven’t been renovated since the Carter administration.