Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
inquire when you make reservations to
make sure that the hotel can meet
your particular needs.
RESERVE IN ADVANCE
What-
ever hotel or hotels you choose,
regardless of season, making reserva-
tions well in advance will help ensure
that you get the best rate available. I've
provided toll-free phone numbers for
all the hotels reviewed in this chapter,
but you might find better rates by call-
ing the hotel's reservations office
directly. Most hotels have check-in
times somewhere between 3 and 6pm;
if you are going to be delayed, call
ahead and reconfirm your reservation
to prevent cancellation.
RESERVATION SERVICES
For
discounted rooms at more than 30
downtown hotels, try
Hot Rooms
(
&
800/468-3500
or 773/468-7666;
www.hotrooms.com). I've used this
service and was very pleased to get a
night in a top-rated downtown hotel
for about half the regular price—and
that was during the height of the busy
summer season. The service is free,
but if you cancel a reservation (and
you must adhere to each individual
hotel's cancellation policy), you're
assessed a $25 fee. Another source of
information on reservations is the
annual
Illinois Hotel-Motel Directory,
which also provides information
about weekend packages. Call the
Illi-
nois Bureau of Tourism
at
of a Loop office building. Most lie
within 3 miles of downtown (many
are located in the Gold Coast, Old
Town, and Lincoln Park) and will run
you $135 to $300 for apartments, and
as low as $85 for guest rooms in pri-
vate homes.
Note:
Most B&Bs require
a minimum stay of 2 or 3 nights; also,
many have restrictions on children.
Some accept only children over age
10, for example, and others will not
accept kids of any age. It's always wise
to ask if children are welcome when
making reservations.
LANDING THE BEST ROOM
Somebody has to get the best room in
the house: It might as well be you. You
can start by joining the hotel's fre-
quent-guest program, which may
make you eligible for upgrades. A
hotel-branded credit card usually gives
it owner “silver” or “gold” status in fre-
quent-guest programs for free. Always
ask about a corner room. They're often
larger and quieter, with more windows
and light, and they often cost the same
as standard rooms. When you make
your reservation, ask if the hotel is
renovating; if it is, request a room
away from the construction. Ask
about nonsmoking rooms, rooms with
views, rooms with twin, queen-, or
king-size beds. If you're a light sleeper,
request a quiet room away from vend-
ing machines, elevators, restaurants,
bars, and discos. Ask for a room that
has been most recently renovated or
redecorated.
If you aren't happy with your room
when you arrive, ask for another one.
Most lodgings will be willing to
accommodate you.
A NOTE ABOUT PRICES
In this
chapter I've divided hotels into four
price categories:
Very Expensive
means double-occupancy rooms typi-
cally cost upwards of $350 per night;
Expensive
rooms cost around $250 to
$350;
Moderate,
about $150 to $250;
and
Inexpensive,
$85 to $150.
&
800/
2CONNECT
for a copy.
BED & BREAKFAST RESERVA-
TIONS
A centralized reservations
service called
Bed & Breakfast/
Chicago Inc.,
P.O. Box 14088,
Chicago, IL 60614 (
&
800/375-
7084
or 773/394-2000; fax 773/394-
2002; www.chicago-bed-breakfast.
com), lists more than 70 accommoda-
tions in Chicago. If you're of an
adventurous bent, you'll find options
ranging from high-rise and loft apart-
ments to guest rooms carved from a
former private club on the 40th floor
