IL Travel Guide

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Thompson Hotels Now Managing Sutton Place in Chicago

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 21 E Bellevue Pl [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60611
February 6, 2012 at 10:36 AM | by | Comments (0)

Perhaps we spent too much time obsessing over The Belgraves in London, that we didn't realize that Thompson Hotels added another hotel to their growing collection--The Sutton Place Hotel in Chicago.

According to Thompson's website, the lifestyle boutique hotel brand is simply managing the Sutton Place hotel, very much like how their managership of the Hotel Victor in Miami Beach began. Except four months on, it looks like now Hotel Victor has become fully assimilated into the Thompson fold. The only thing left to do is officially change the hotel name to Thompson Ocean Drive.

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Sneak Peek at The Hotel Lincoln in Chicago, Opening on March 9

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 1816 N Clark Street [map], Chicago , IL, United States, 60614
January 30, 2012 at 4:44 PM | by | Comments (0)

With his hard hat on and patent leather sneakers, our Chicago man about town, Jared Hatch, headed over to forthcoming Hotel Lincoln last week to see what Joie de Vivre has in store for their second boutique property outside of California.

The Hotel Lincoln, situated toward the south end of Lincoln Park, is still pretty raw for an overnighter but Joie de Vivre has assured us it'll be ready and pretty (all 184 rooms) for a March 9th opening. This includes three family suites with bunk beds, lobby with details like a community events cork board and one hell-of-a tricked out rooftop.

It's been inching on completion since last summer when Joie de Vivre decided to take over the previous tenant's construction efforts which just weren't grand enough. Since this happened all the furniture has been altered or upcycled, they've bought original artwork from Marwen, and added an express elevator up to the rooftop.

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Waldorf-Astoria to Remove All Traces of The Elysian When it Takes Over Next Month

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 11 East Walton Street [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60611
January 24, 2012 at 3:30 PM | by | Comment (1)

Even though this hotel memory-erasing was expected, it still makes us sad. The luxe Elysian Hotel in Chicago will be no more come February 1 when the Waldorf-Astoria takes it over.

Waldorf is wiping the Elysian name from every nook and cranny, starting with the front entrance sign and then working their way up into the guest rooms to include the stationary, the bathrobes and literally anything else that says Elysian on it.

The good news is that the Chicago Tribune reports that pretty much everything else inside the hotel, as well as all the services, will remain the same.

What will stay the same is nearly everything else that has cemented the hotel's reputation for refinement: heated cobblestones in the courtyard, staff members who greet guests with platters of Evian bottles and a stunning, sunburst-shaped chandelier in the lobby modeled after a brooch by Coco Chanel.

That should please all those TripAdvisor members who voted the hotel the best in the U.S. If you're looking to be the first to stay at the Waldorf-Astoria Chicago, room rates start at $395 on February 1.

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When The Weather Outside is Frightful, Staying in a Chicago Hotel is Delightful

January 18, 2012 at 2:31 PM | by | Comment (1)

While the snowfall in Chicago last week wasn't quite as serious as expected, there's no doubt that with winter in full swing, there will be more snow predicted for the Windy City in the weeks to come.

We already highlighted a few mobile apps for scoring last-minute hotel deals at nice places, at nice prices, in case you find yourself stranded in Chicago. But there are a bunch of other hotels in town doing special things for the chilly weather.

· Kimpton's Hotel Palomar—one of our favorite sleeps in Chi—is doing a season-long "Winter Perk-ometer" promotion where perks rise as the temperature drops. Nightly rates go from $179 and, for every five degrees the barometer drops below freezing or for every five inches of snowfall, "guests receive a fun amenity meant to help warm up, snuggle up or cheer up." If it's freezing and there's snowfall, you get two amenities instead of just one. Some extras that may appear:

· Hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies for two delivered to guest room
· In-room movie credit
· Cocktails for two at Sable Kitchen & Bar, Palomar’s adjacent restaurant
· Late check-out of 3 p.m.
· Bottle of wine
· Morning coffee or tea delivered to guest room

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The Public Was Failed By Public Chicago's Online Reservation System

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 1301 N. State Parkway [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60611
January 18, 2012 at 9:33 AM | by | Comments (0)

OK. It happened. The Public Chicago's $1 sale came and went in the blink of an eye, and by the end of it (five minutes later), we were left still clutching our measly dollar, and cursing the hotel gods above. But it eases our conscience—slightly—to know we weren't the only ones duped into thinking we were actually going to score a $1 hotel room yesterday.

So what was going on? Well, just like with any place that gets inundated with too many customers all at once (eBay, Ticketmaster, Missoni for Target), some people simply got lost in the shuffle. Of course, some actually did end up scoring reservations. And hooray for them. But understandably, we were a little curious to know how—three times in a row—one minute we managed to snag a room, and the next, it was gone. So we spoke with a Public Chicago manager to find out her take on the whole melee. See below to read her response!

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You Can't Miss Fairmont Chicago's Reception Desk

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 200 North Columbus Drive [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601
January 17, 2012 at 9:35 AM | by | Comment (1)

Wow. It has been a while since we last stepped into the lobby of The Fairmont Chicago. In fact, the hotel came out of a $50 million renovation in 2010 and we only saw the place in its shiny newness just last month. First impressions? Niiiice. Oh, it's still vanilla enough to please the majority of travelers, but there's a hint of an Amazon jungle in those dark woods and LED underlights.

Specifically our attention was drawn to the reception backsplash—an undulating wave pattern of lights that begins at the ceiling, and flows down underneath the desk, out towards the center of the lobby floor. We like it and yet...

Does this look like a Fairmont to you?

[Photo: HotelChatter]

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JDV's Hotel Lincoln Looking Good for a March Debut in Chicago

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 1816 North Clark Street [map], Chicago, IL, United States
January 16, 2012 at 3:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

This is Chicago's time in the hotel limelight, there's no doubt of that. The next property to open in the Windy City will have an excellent neighborhood, prime lake views, and a top-rated restaurant all to itself—this is the Hotel Lincoln, due to fling open its doors this spring at the intersection of Lincoln, Wells and Clark Street in Lincoln Park.

This is the second property outside California for Joie de Vivre Hospitality (following The Saguaro in Arizona), and totally out of their comfort zone. Chicago is a long way from LA, baby.

The Lincoln looks to be going with a quirky nautical vibe for the 184 rooms, which are small, yes. The first bookable night is March 30, and only the standard room type is available for $199. Playing around with dates in later spring, we were able to find rooms for $139.

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Soho House to Open in Chicago's Fulton Market District

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 125 N. Green Street [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60607
January 13, 2012 at 10:05 AM | by | Comments (0)

Now, look what we've started. Just the other day we mused about the possible location for the planned Soho House Chicago. We were skeptical of the private members club' plans for Chi-town from 2008 which would have opened a hotel inside a building on Dearborn Street but we had no leads on where else they were thinking for Chicago.

Lo and behold, an excited Chicago-based tipster tipped us off the other day about a report in Crain's Chicago Business that says the Soho House Chicago will actually open in the West Loop/Fulton Market area inside a 91,000-sq.ft. warehouse at 113-125 N. Green Street. Soho House would install about 50 rooms, a signature restaurant and yes, a rooftop pool.

Apparently, Chicago-based hotel company AJ Capital Partners LLC is close to buying the property and once that sale goes through, Soho House will be installed.

Crain's also surmises that Soho House might have a problem drawing guests to a not-so-traditional neighborhood for tourists. We beg to differ. The Soho House experience is so covetable, if you will, that luxe scenesters--especially A-list celebrities as well as high-profile artists--will seek out the patented private haven, wherever it may be. We know we will.

[Photo mash-up: Google and HotelChatter]

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So You're Stuck in the Chicago Snow and Needing a Hotel?

January 12, 2012 at 5:01 PM | by | Comments (3)

So you're stuck in Chicago today, hm? Or perhaps stuck trying to get to Chicago. The Windy City is currently the snowy city, with conditions canceling flights across the board. Indeed, Southwest Airlines has nixed all of their flights from Chicago-Midway for the day.

This is your seasonal reminder to beef up your trip booking apps to take advantage of last-minute deals and most likely save you from sleeping on the cold, tiled floor of a strange airport.

Three apps we recommend you have updated and on deck:
· Kayak (Blackberry, Android and Apple)
· Jetsetter (Apple)
· HotelTonight (Android and Apple)

Those rates you see listed above are direct from HotelTonight, for Chicago-area stays TONIGHT. Jump on that Hotel Felix one; we've done it, we approve and here's the proof. Safe travels!

[Screenshot: HotelChatter]

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Hold the Phone: The Public Chicago Will Be Offering Rooms for Just a $1

Where: 1301 N. State Pkwy [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60610
January 10, 2012 at 8:45 AM | by | Comments (0)

We never once thought the rooms at the hot new award-winning Public Hotel in Chicago were too pricey (we stayed there on opening night for $135 and have recently seen specials for $100 a night) but it looks like hotelier Ian Schrager is staying true to his promise to make Public available to the public--because he's just announced the hotel's first ever ONE DOLLAR SALE.

For a 90-day period starting on a secret date, Public will offer three special guest rooms per night, each with a rate of just $1. Not $10, not $5, ONE DOLLAR.

Once the sale goes live, prospective guests have 48 hours to book a room for $1 within the 90-day booking period (meaning you can book your stay either 10 days or 90 days in advance.)

It is first come, first served so there is no time to think it over, text with your boyfriend, DM your roommate or ask your friends on Facebook if you think you should book it. You just book it. Right there, right away. And then you can use the savings to have a seriously gluttonous meal down at The Pump Room.

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Ab Fab: Soho House Still Planning a Chicago Location

January 6, 2012 at 12:17 PM | by | Comment (1)

Soho Beach House, Miami

We knew Chicago was having a bit of a hotel renaissance these days as evidenced by our 2011 Best Hotel Scene award and now we've got word that it will get even more exciting with the addition of Soho House.

A reader pointed out the careers page of the Soho House website which detailed some "What's Next" plans:

We are very excited to announce that we have a few new ventures just around the corner. In June 2012 we will be opening a site in Mumbai, followed by a site in Istanbul in June 2013.* We also have plans to take Soho House to Chicago in the not too distant future!

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Make Sure You're On the Inside for Tomorrow's Sale at James Hotels

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 55 East Ontario [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60610
January 4, 2012 at 10:27 AM | by | Comments (0)

We sung Chicago's praises last week when we named it Best Hotel Scene of 2011, and with good reason! The city's in the midst of a renaissance, and there are so many hotels to visit there now it makes your head spin. But here's one to keep in mind if you're visiting over the next few weeks: James Chicago is offering majorly discounted rooms, available during an exclusive Insider Sale that launches tomorrow.

The booking window lasts from tomorrow to January 15, and is valid for any reservations through March 31. How do $139/night guest rooms sound? As luck would have it, James New York is also getting a piece of the mid-winter action, with discounted Queens starting at $259, and Corner Kings starting at $339.

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