Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
96
10 E. Grand A ve. (at Stat e St.), Chicago , IL 60611.
&
800/HILTONS
(445-8667) or 312/595-0000. F ax
312/595-0955. www.hilton.com. 357 units. $169-$309 double; $400-$700 suit e. Kids 18 and under sta y
free in parent's room. Rollaways $20/night; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $34 with in/out
privileges; self-parking $20 with no in/out privileges . Subway/El: Red Line t o Grand/State.
Amenities:
Restaurant; lounge; indoor pool; fitness c enter w/Jacuzzi and sauna; c oncierge; business center; limited
room service; babysitting; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning.
In room:
A/C, TV w/pay movies, data-
port, fridge, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
Homewood Suites
An ex cellent choice for families, this hotel offers a handy
location and fresh, clean rooms with some nice extras. Because all of the rooms are suites
with full kitchens, y ou can pr epare your own meals, and ther e's plenty of r oom in the
suite for ev eryone to spr ead out. H oused just off the M ag Mile in a sleek to wer above
retail shops, offices, and a health club—and adjacent to ESPN Z one—the hotel's design
aesthetic is best described as “I talian R enaissance meets C rate & B arrel.” D istressed-
leather sofas, Mediterranean stone tile, wrought-iron chandeliers, and beaded lampshades
adorn its sixth-floor lobby.
Rooms—one- and two-bedroom suites and a handful of double-double suites, which
can connect to king suites—featur e velvet sofas that ar e all sleepers, and the beds hav e
big, thick mattresses. Each comes with a dining room table that doubles as a workspace,
and decent-siz e bathr ooms. The hotel pr ovides a complimentar y buffet br eakfast and
beverages and hors d'oeuvres every evening; there is also a fr ee grocery-shopping service
and free access to an excellent health club next door.
40 E. Grand Ave. (at Wabash St.), Chicago, IL 60611.
&
800/CALL-HOME
(225-5466) or 312/644-2222. Fax
312/644-7777. w ww.homewoodsuiteschicago.com. 233 units . $109-$359 2-r oom suit e. K ids 17 and
under stay free in parent's room. Rollaways and cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $35 with in/
out privileges. Subway/El: Red Line to Grand/State.
Amenities:
Fitness room w/small pool and view s of
the city; concierge; business services; babysitting; laundry machines on all floors; dr y cleaning.
In room:
A/C, TV w/pay movies, high-speed Internet access, kitchen, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
4
Westin Chicago Michigan Avenue
Located across the street from the John
Hancock Center, this hotel is right on the M agnificent Mile, steps from Bloomingdale's
and Water Tower Place. In past y ears the Westin looked a bit shabb y, but r enovations
have spruced up the lobb y, fitness center, and guest r ooms. Rooms were recently reno-
vated and feature a marble foyer, an expanded bathroom, and carpeting.
This hotel offers the Westin Kids Club for kids 12 and under . Other notable family
amenities ar e the many bab y and toddler accessories av ailable to guests, fr om bottle
warmers and cribs to night lights and electrical outlet covers. Kids are greeted with Wes-
tin Kids Club sports bottles or sippy cups, which are filled with complimentary beverages
at meals. Also av ailable are coloring topics, bathtub to ys, and a stor y line on the hotel
phone that plays age-appropriate bedtime stories when you dial a four-digit number. The
hotel r estaurant will make sur e kids ' meals ar e r eady when y ou arriv e if y ou call in
advance, and special menus are available through room service, too. Older kids can while
away the hours with in-room PlayStations.
The Grill on the Alley, which serves American cuisine in a contemporary atmosphere,
has been winning gr eat reviews. You'll be comfor table bringing the kids her e, and the
kids' menu featur es pastas and burgers. A lobb y cafe is a good stop for br eakfast. The
small fitness center is open to kids and includes fr ee weights, treadmills, Lifecycles, and
StairMasters, and men's and women's locker rooms feature saunas.
909 N. M ichigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.
&
800/228-3000
or 312/943-7200. F ax 312/397-5580. w ww.
thewestinmichiganavenue.com. 751 units. $179-$250 double; $600-$800 suit e. Kids 18 and under sta y
free in parent's room. Rollaways $25/night; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $33 with in/out
