Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
105
sleep four: two in an upstairs bedr oom and two on a bed that folds up against the wall.
(Custom-made for the S haws, these featur e top-quality mattr esses, making them much
more comfortable than the Murphy beds of old.) These apartments have kitchens and are
wonderfully cozy with their fireplaces and Jacuzzi tubs.
In good weather, guests are invited to eat breakfast on the back porch or in the garden
between the main house and the coach house. There, you can sit back and imagine that
you're living in your very own Chicago mansion—the type of home that many Chicago-
ans wish they could live in themselves.
607 W. Deming Place, Chicago, IL 60614.
&
877/897-7091
or 773/248-7091. F ax 773/529-4183. w ww.
windycityinn.com. 8 units. $125-$255 double; $175-$325 coach-house apts. Rates include buffet break-
fast. Kids 10-18 stay free in parent's room (coach-house apts only). No r ollaways or cribs. AE, DC, DISC,
MC, V. Parking $6 in nearby lot with in/out privileges. Subway/El: Red Line to Fullerton.
Amenities:
Laun-
dry machines.
In room:
A/C, TV, Wi-Fi, kitchenette.
INEXPENSIVE
City Suites Hotel
Value
A few doors do wn from the E l stop on B elmont Avenue,
this charming small hotel has a 1930s Ar t Deco aesthetic, and feels more along the lines
of an urban bed-and-br eakfast than a big hotel. M ost r ooms ar e suites, with separate
sitting rooms and bedrooms, all furnished with first-rate pieces and decorated in a homey
and comfortable style. Families should ask about the king suite, with a king-size bed and
sitting area with sofa bed; they can also accommodate a crib. The amenities are excellent
for a hotel in this price range, including plush r obes and complimentar y continental
breakfast. Families will be happy to know that fridges and microwaves are available upon
request in suites.
A bonus—or drawback, depending on y our point of vie w—is the hotel 's neighbor-
hood setting. M ost r ooms can be fairly noisy; those facing nor th o verlook B elmont
Avenue, where nightlife continues into the early-morning hours, and those facing w est
look right out o ver r umbling E l tracks. O n y our way in and out of the hotel, y ou'll
mingle with plenty of locals, from young professional families to gay couples to punks in
full regalia. Blues bars, nightclubs, and r estaurants abound hereabouts, making the City
Suites a find for the bargain-minded and adventuresome. Room service is available from
Ann Sather, a Swedish diner and neighborhood institution (p. 149).
933 W. Belmont Ave. (at Sheffield Ave.), Chicago, IL 60657.
&
800/248-9108
or 773/404-3400. Fax 773/
404-3405. www.cityinns.com. 45 units . $149-$249 double; $199-$409 suit e. Rates include c ontinental
breakfast. Kids 12 and under stay free in parent's room. No rollaways (sofa beds in suites); cribs free. AE,
DC, DISC, MC, V. Parking $22 in nearby lot with in/out privileges. Subway/El: Red Line to Belmont.
Ameni-
ties:
Free access to Bally's health club 5 blocks a way; concierge; limited room service; laundry service;
same-day dry cleaning.
In room:
A/C, TV, free Wi-Fi, hair dryer, iron.
Majestic Hotel
Finds
Owned by the same group as the City Suites Hotel, the
Majestic blends seamlessly into its residential neighborhood. Located on a charming tree-
lined street (but convenient to the many restaurants and shops of Lincoln Park), the hotel
welcomes kids with open arms. G uests r eceive a complimentar y continental br eakfast
and afternoon cookies in the lobb y. Some of the larger suites—the most appealing ar e
those with sun por ches—offer butler's pantries with a fridge, micr owave, and w et bar.
Families should ask about the two-room king suite, which includes a bedroom with king-
size bed, a living r oom with a sofa bed, and a kitchenette with r efrigerator and micr o-
wave. O ther than the larger suites, many of the r ooms ar e fairly dar k because y ou're
surrounded by apartment buildings on almost all sides. A void the claustrophobic single
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