Where to Stay - Chicago - page 32

BED & BREAKFAST RESERVATIONS A centralized reserva-
tions service called At Home Inn Chicago, P.O. Box 14088,
Chicago, IL 60614 ( & 800/375-7084 or 312/640-1050; fax 312/
640-1012; www.athomeinnchicago.com), lists more than 70 accom-
modations in Chicago. Options range from high-rise and loft apart-
ments to guest rooms carved from a former private club on the 40th
floor of a Loop office building.
A group of local B&B owners has formed the Chicago Bed and
Breakfast Association, with a website that links to various proper-
ties throughout the city: www.chicago-bed-breakfast.com .
1 The Loop
Strictly speaking, “downtown” in Chicago means the Loop—the cen-
tral business district, a 6- by 8-block rectangle enveloped by elevated
tracks on all four sides. Within these confines are the city's financial
institutions, trading markets, and municipal government buildings,
making for a lot of hustle and bustle Monday through Friday.
EXPENSIVE
Fairmont Hotel The Fairmont ranks right up there with the
city's most luxurious hotels, offering an array of deluxe amenities and
services and regularly hosting high-level politicians and high-profile
fundraisers. The only downside is the hotel's location; although it's
only a short walk from bustling Millennium Park, the Art Institute,
and Michigan Avenue, it's tucked among anonymous office towers,
which makes it feel cut off from the life of the city. The grand circu-
lar lobby sets the hotel's tone: upscale and lavish rather than cozy and
personal (you might wander a while before finding the check-in
desk). Still, the rooms are large and inviting, with plush bedding and
comfortable chairs (ask for one with a lake view, although city-view
rooms aren't bad, either). The posh bathrooms feature extra-large
tubs, separate vanity areas, and swivel TVs. The windows open (a
rarity in high-rise hotels), so you can enjoy the breeze drifting off
Lake Michigan.
200 N. Columbus Dr. (at Lake St.), Chicago, IL 60601. & 800/526-2008 or 312/565-
8000. Fax [phone]. www.fairmont.com. 692 units. $129-$389 double;
$229-$539 suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $41 with in-out privileges. Sub-
way/El: Red, Green, Orange, Brown, or Blue line to State/Lake. Small pets accepted
for a $25 fee. Amenities: Restaurant (eclectic); lounge; access to nearby health
club; concierge; business center; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; laundry service;
24-hr. dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, high-speed Internet access, mini-
bar, hair dryer, iron.