Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The remodeled building has a more open feel than the typical Victorian
home. The five rooms in the main house and three apartments in a coach house
are each named after Chicago writers. Families should choose one of the two
coach-house apartments that can sleep four: two in an upstairs bedroom and
two on a bed that folds up against the wall. (Custom-made for the Shaws, these
feature top-quality mattresses, 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 Chicagoans wish they could live in themselves.
607 W. Deming Place, Chicago, IL 60614.
&
877/897-7091
or 773/248-7091. Fax 773/248-7090. www.
chicago-inn.com. 8 units. $115-$185 double. Kids age 10 to 18 stay free in parent's room (coach-house apts
only). No rollaways or cribs. Rates include buffet breakfast. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Parking $6 in nearby lot with
in/out privileges. Subway/El: Red Line to Fullerton.
Amenities:
Laundry machines. In room: A/C, TV, kitchen-
ette; coffeemaker, hair dryer, and iron available upon request.
INEXPENSIVE
City Suites Hotel
A few doors down from the elevated train stop on
Belmont Avenue, this charming small hotel has a 1930s Art Deco aesthetic, and
feels more along the lines of an urban bed-and-breakfast than a big hotel. Most
rooms are 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 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 local limousine service, plush robes, and complimentary conti-
nental breakfast. Families will be happy to know that fridges and microwaves are
available upon request in suites.
A bonus—or drawback, depending on your point of view—is the hotel's
neighborhood setting. Most rooms can be fairly noisy; those facing north over-
look Belmont Avenue, where nightlife continues into the early-morning hours,
and those facing west look right out over rumbling El tracks. On your way in
and out of the hotel, you'll mingle with plenty of locals, from young professional
families to gay couples to punks in full regalia. Blues bars, nightclubs, and
restaurants 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. 138).
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. $99-$169 double. Rates include continental 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
$18 in nearby lot with in/out privileges. Subway/El: Red Line to Belmont.
Amenities:
Exercise room; business
services; concierge; limited room service; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV w/pay
movies, dataport, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
The Majestic Hotel
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. Guests receive
a complimentary continental breakfast and afternoon tea in the lobby. Some of
the larger suites—the most appealing are those with sun porches—offer butler's
pantries with a fridge, microwave, and wet bar. Families should ask about the
Value
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