Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
95
Fitness dev otees will delight in the fact that the hotel adjoins the Lakeshor e A thletic
Club, where guests may enjo y the extensiv e facilities fr ee of charge (including an indoor
pool, fitness classes, and a sauna); you don't even have to go outside to get there. The hotel
also has its own spacious outdoor pool and sun deck; in the summer y ou can sit back and
enjoy a drink at the outdoor bar . (Be forewarned, however, that the hotel fills up during
summer v acation; book as far in adv ance as possible for J uly-Aug). R ooms on the two
Priority Floors include upgraded amenities, a daily ne wspaper, and feather pillows.
The Doubletree is a good bet for the budget-conscious family , as kids 17 and under
stay free in their parent's room. Leave the pay-per-view movies one night and head to the
massive AMC theaters next door, where all 21 screens offer stadium seating.
300 E. Ohio St. (at F airbanks C ourt), Chicago, IL 60611.
&
312/787-6100.
Fax 312/787-6259. w ww.
doubletreemagmile.com. 500 units . $109-$270 double . Rollaways $20; cribs fr ee. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.
Self-parking $38. Subway/El: Red Line to Grand.
Amenities:
2 restaurants (American, cafe); bar; outdoor
and indoor pools; complimentary access to nearby health club w/whirlpool and sauna; c oncierge; busi-
ness center; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; laundry room; dry cleaning; executive-level rooms.
In room:
A/C, TV w/pay movies and video games, high-speed Internet access, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe.
Four Points by Sheraton—Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile
This
hotel's location puts y ou and your kids in the hear t of the action—just 1 block w est of
the heart of M ichigan Avenue, with its shopping and gr eat restaurants. You'll also be a
block from the stop for the no. 151 bus, which will whisk you south to Millennium Park
and the Ar t Institute, or the no . 146, the expr ess bus that goes to M useum Campus.
Hotel staff is friendly and accommodating to families: I f American Girl Place is on your
list of things to do, the hotel will provide miniature beds for your little girl's dolls. Rooms
feature whirlpool tubs and flatscr een TVs—some come equipped with r efrigerators and
microwaves, so make sur e to ask about those amenities. F amilies might want to book a
junior suite with two double beds, which also pr ovides a separate sitting ar ea. The pool
and whirlpool area is bright and air y. Room service comes from Lawry's Prime Rib, the
venerable steakhouse across the street. At press time, room rates were quite reasonable—
I've heard as low as $160 for a junior suite in the high season—and self-par king is only
$28, a bargain compared to many Magnificent Mile hotels.
630 N. Rush St. (just west of Michigan Ave.), Chicago, IL 60611.
&
312/981-6600.
www.starwoodhotels.
com. 226 units. $185 double; $215 junior suit e; $245 king suite. Kids 14 and under sta y free in parent's
room. Rollaways $25; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Self-parking $28 with no in/out privileges. Subway/
El: Red Line to Grand/State.
Amenities:
Snack bar; indoor pool and whirlpool; fitness room; room service.
In room:
A/C, TV w/pay movies, free Internet access, fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
4
Hilton Garden Inn
Although it might seem out of place in these urban climes,
this Hilton Garden Inn, located on prime r eal estate betw een North Michigan Avenue
and the Riv er North neighborhood, is ev ery inch a big-city play er. The hotel caters to
business types, but families certainly won't feel out of place here: The building is adjacent
to ESPN Zone, a Virgin Megastore, and the Shops at North Bridge mall. The hotel offers
weekend packages for families, so ask for curr ent deals when you call. The hotel doesn't
have much personality—the lobby is strictly business and feels cold. What the place does
have going for it—besides location—is a high-rise sensibility that should appeal to
families looking for an urban experience. The ample rooms are located between the 13th
and the 23rd floors. Views higher up, especially on the east side and fr om corner suites
facing north and south, afford dramatic vistas of the cityscape and skyline.The hotel's six
suites include a parlor area, wet bar, and dining table, with possible connections to adja-
cent rooms.
