Chicago
Where to Stay
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Chicago |
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Hotels in Chicago
She was right. The Ambassador East is on the Gold Coast, a ritzy Chicago neighborhood of old mansions and upscale apartment buildings all with beautiful gardens, large shady trees and all sorts of plants and bushes that look like they get a lot of care. A block to the east is the shores of Lake Michigan and the famous Oak Street Beach. Three blocks north is Lincoln Park and North Avenue Beach. Three blocks south and west are more cafes, bars, clubs and restaurants than any one person needs in a week's stay. Everything else is reachable by subway or bus.
My room had a big double bed. A couch that I never sat in. A chair that I never sat in. A desk I used once in an entire week, and big windows that overlooked a bunch of other buildings that were not supposed to be open by Chicago law, but not knowing Chicago law I open it. I was also unable to close it so when I told the desk they informed me that opening it was illegal and that as long as I did not do it again they would not turn me in. I also had a television that I never used and an internet connection which I did. I booked it on my own booking site so I could get the 11 cent comission, and also it was the cheapest rates I could find. They also upgraded me to a suite for the price of a normal room and then when I wanted to extend my stay so I could see the Mets play the Cubs they gave me the same price. I would definitely stay there again and probably for that reason I will never stay in another Chicago hotel. Below are descriptions and links to the Ambassador East and other recommended hotels in Chicago. The Ambassador East has been rennovated and renamed Public. |
Suggested Hotels in Chicago |
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| You can find more hotels in Chicago and search by category, location, customer ratings and reviews by going to Booking.com's Chicago Hotel Page |
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Like many travelers I used Tripadvisor's reviews to narrow down my choice of hotels. I wanted to be within walking distance of as many places as possible. A friend recommended the Ambassador East Hotel. I read the reviews. Some people liked it and others not so much. "In need of a facelift", "a bit rundown" and stuff like that. 
The hotel itself is was built in the twenties and is something of a Chicago landmark. The lobby is featured in the Alfred Hitchcock film, "North by Northwest." Everyone you have ever heard of has stayed here or hung out at the famous bar restaurant The Pump Room just off the lobby. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy
Davis Jr, Cary Grant, JFK, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Cary Grant, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, David
Bowie, Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, John Steinbeck, Robert Redford, Phil Collins, Gertrude Lawrence, Michael J. Fox, John Belushi, Dennis Miller, Eddie Murphy, Mel Brooks, Olivia Newton-John, Mick Jagger, philosopher Max Weisman and many others.
PUBLIC Chicago (formerly Ambassador East): Located in Chicago’s Gold Coast, this modern 4-star hotel is a 10-minute walk from the shopping and nightlife on Michigan Avenue. It features an on-site restaurant, bar, and coffee shop. A 42-inch LCD flat-screen TV and iPod docking station are included
in each contemporary and neutrally colored guest room at PUBLIC Chicago. A minibar and laptop safe are also provided. American favorites are served at the Pump Room Restaurant. The Pump Room Bar offers cocktails, Spanish- and Asian-style food, and music recreating the atmosphere of the 30’s and 40’s. Guests can work out in the PUBLIC’s on-site gym or explore the city with free bicycle rentals. The Library and The Living Room provide opportunities to socialize. Lincoln Park is less than a 10-minute walk from Chicago
PUBLIC. Navy Pier is 2 miles from the hotel and the Museum of Contemporary Art is a 10-minute bus ride away. 
The Talbott Hotel: Located on Chicago’s Gold Coast, this 4-star hotel is a 5-minute walk from shopping on the Magnificent Mile. It was built in 1927 and its rooms feature 42-inch flat screen TVs. Free Wi-Fi access and an iPod docking station are also included in every room at the Talbot
Hotel. Their marble bathrooms are stocked with Frette bath linens and premium bath amenities. Bice Ristorante is the hotel’s on-site restaurant. It serves Italian cuisine and offers 24-hour room service. Guests at the Talbott receive free access to the Equinox Fitness Club, which includes a pool and a spa and is only a 4-minute walk from the hotel. Both the Historic Water Tower and the Museum of Contemporary Art are less than a 10-minute walk away. 
Ritz Carlton Chicago (A Four Seasons Hotel): This 5-star, smoke-free hotel is located on top of Chicago's Water Tower Place. The hotel offers a full-service spa, indoor swimming pool and guest accommodations with free Wi-Fi.
Ritz Carlton Chicago (A Four Seasons Hotel) features a 37-inch flat-screen TV and DVD player in every room. Thick bathrobes and slippers are also included in each room. Rooms offer views of the city or Lake Michigan. Guests can use the modern fitness center or the 24-hour business center at the Chicago Ritz Carlton. The hotel also features 24-hour concierge services and a casual Cafe restaurant. The Magnificent Mill shopping area and Navy Pier entertainment area are only minutes from the Ritz Carlton in Chicago.
The Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art is within walking distance of the hotel. 
Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago: Featuring an on-site spa and rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, this 92-story landmark of stainless steel and glass stands proudly next to the Chicago River with spacious views of the city skyline.
The luxurious rooms of the 5-star Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago offer limestone bathrooms with a deep-soaking bathtub and in-mirror TV. Free Wi-Fi is included and most rooms feature fully equipped kitchens. Sixteen, on the 16th floor, serves a modern American menu and owns an extensive wine cellar. Guests can also enjoy dining at Rebar, a sophisticated lounge and sushi bar, or a seasonal outdoor terrace. The Spa at Trump offers a selection of relaxing individual and couples treatments. A
health club and large indoor pool are also located on-site. The Chicago Trump Hotel & Tower is a 10-minute walk from Millennium Park and just across the river from the Theater District. 
Sofitel Chicago Water Tower: Surrounded by stunning views of Lake Michigan and the downtown Chicago skyline, this unique architectural 4-star hotel offers delicious on-site dining options, modern in-room amenities and easy access to popular sites. Enjoy a restful night's sleep on
the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower's signature SoBed beds before starting the day with an energizing workout in the 24-hour fitness center. Take advantage of wireless internet access or relax and enjoy an in-room movie with flat-screen TVs. Discover a variety of delicious international cuisine at the Chicago Water Tower Sofitel's on-site restaurant, Cafe des Architectes. Sample unique cocktails at the on-site Cafe des Architectes Bar or Le Bar, or enjoy the hotel's 24-hour room service. Experience the luxury shops
of the Magnificent Mile, the stunning views from the Hancock Center and masterpieces at the Museum of Contemporary Art, all situated within walking distance of the Water Tower Sofitel Chicago. 
Congress Plaza Hotel: This downtown 3-star Chicago hotel, next to Grant Park, is 2 blocks from The Art Institute of Chicago. It offers Lake Michigan and Buckingham Fountain views, on-site dining and comfortable rooms. Originally built in
1893, the Congress Plaza Hotel combines historic charm with modern amenities, including a 24-hour gym. Every room features a flat-screen cable TV with pay-per-view movies and in-room safes. The warm colored rooms have a coffee maker and are decorated with black furniture. Room service is available. There are 2 on-site restaurants that serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The hotel also features an on-site lounge with flat-screen TVs. Congress Plaza Hotel is 2 blocks from Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a subway
station. It is within 1 mile of Willis Tower, Shedd Aquarium, and Field Museum. 
Embassy Suites Chicago - Downtown: Located in the River North district, this downtown 3-star Chicago hotel is 1 mile from Navy Pier. The all-suite hotel features an Italian restaurant, indoor pool and suites with 2 flat-screen TVs. Styled
in warm colors and dark wood furniture, the modern suites offer a private bedroom with a spacious living room. A small refrigerator, microwave and an iPod docking station are provided. Osteria Via Stato features a traditional 3-course Italian meal. Embassy Suites Chicago–Downtown offers a daily continental breakfast and a nightly manager’s reception with free snacks and beverages. Guests at Chicago Embassy Suites can workout in the well-equipped gym or visit the gift shop. A concierge desk and a business center
are available. The Magnificent Mile shopping area is just 3 blocks from this hotel and the Water Tower Place is a 15-minute walk away. Soldier Field and Shedd Aquarium are 3 miles away. 
Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago-Downtown: This all-suite 3-star hotel is located in downtown Chicago, 2 blocks from the shops and restaurants of the Magnificent Mile. It features a breakfast buffet and dinner buffet during
the weekdays. A flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi are included in each suite at Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago-Downtown. The kitchenette has a 2-burner stove and full-size refrigerator. Grocery shopping services are offered. An indoor pool is available at this Chicago hotel. The gym boasts a flat-screen TV and views of the city. A gift shop is also open to guests. Millennium Park and the Chicago Symphony are a 20-minute walk from the Chicago Downtown Homewood Suites. Navy Pier is less than 1 mile away. 
Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown: Just one block from Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, this 2-star hotel offers free internet and modern rooms with cable LCD TVs. Navy Pier and Oak Street Beach are just 10 minutes’ walk away.
Guest rooms at Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago feature bright décor and pillow-top mattresses. Each has a lighted work desk with free high-speed wired internet. Free coffee is available in the Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago’s stylish lobby. Continental buffet breakfast is offered each morning, and many area restaurants are steps from the hotel. The John Hancock Observatory is just 5 minutes’ walk away. Millennium Park and The Art Institute of Chicago are one mile from the Chicago Fairfield Inn & Suites.
House of Two Urns: This Chicago bed and breakfast is located in Wicker Park and near The Loop. A daily hot breakfast is offered at the property and free Wi-Fi is available in every room. At this completely non-smoking House of Two Urns, guest rooms include satellite TV. A DVD player is also provided
in each room. The House of Two Urns features free off-street parking. The property also includes on-site laundry facilities and a kitchen. The hotel offers free passes to the local fitness center. The O’Hare International Airport is a short drive from the Two Urns House. Millennium Park is located near the property.