Sweet home Chicago. Andrea departed for the Windy City this morning, one of my favorite places, so I’ll digitally reminisce about visits past, since I can’t be there myself.
Swissotel. Near the eastern end of Upper Wacker was the blue-glassed Swissotel. I had found a great deal on TravelZoo, and liked the location, so off to Chicago I went. The room had a beautiful view of Navy Pier and Lake Michigan. It was spacious, including the bathroom, and had I brought a herd of goats, they would have had plenty of room to roam. Alas, Swissotel had a strict no-goat policy. Balki from Perfect Strangers would have been very disappointed.
Swissotel, Chicago
Being Chicago, parking was expensive, topping (in 2007) $40 a night. $40 for a small piece of concrete? That is usually why I take the train from East Lansing. But for that trip, I also went to Six Flags, so I needed a car.
UPDATE 4/2/10: I just saw that Swissotel offers packages so guests can pamper their pets. Since I really don’t want to share a hotel with dogs, cats, ponies, and chimpanzees, I’ll probably avoid staying there in the future - there are plenty of other hotels in Chicago.
Hyatt Regency. On Upper Wacker between Michigan Avenue and the Swissotel, this was a popular spot for conventions. I liked the fountain in the lobby and the impressive views of the river, Wrigley Building, and Tribune Tower. This hotel was used for auditions in season 9 of American Idol.
Our room faced south and we had glimpses of Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park, though skyscrapers filled most of the view. It was relatively small room, but nicely furnished.
What? A Krispy Kreme store in the basement? Yes, one more amenity that the Hyatt Regency had. Our KK in Lansing closed in 2009, as did the store where I tasted my very first KK, the one located in The Venetian’s food court. So very sad.
The Wheeler Mansion. This was the temporary home for a weekend stay. It was a bed and breakfast not from McCormick Place, and we stayed there because most of the rooms in the city were taken because of a huge restaurant convention.
The Wheeler Mansion, Chicago
We happened to stay there when my daughter was still a baby and sleeping in a pack and play. We were all in one room, and she did not tolerate being in the same room and not sleeping in the same bed as us. And for being so small, she took up a large space. I ended up sleeping on the floor – it was more comfortable. But the room had lots of personality.
Antique furniture, details craftsmanship, and a creaky wooden floor – what more could we ask for. It was a little far to walk downtown, so having a bus schedule was very handy.
And The Wheeler Mansion had what most places in Chicago do not – free parking. Sure, it was a dirt lot behind the B&B, but it was very close. And did I mention free?
Club Quarters. Another TravelZoo deal, this hotel was typically used by business travelers during the week. It was located at Adams and Clark, right in the middle of the loop, and a few blocks east of Union Station. Of the hotels I have stayed at in Chicago, this was the smallest. Not bad, just not a lot of elbow room. It was, after all, made for the business traveler.
Club Quarters, Chicago