ChicagoTop City Vacations

Best Places to Find Shelter from The Wind in Chicago

By , February 3rd, 2016

You’ve already been seduced by the abundance of good food and good music happening in Chicago. No matter what your budget, there are some incredible Chicago hotels, offering accommodation that feels unique to this city and located close to all the flurry of activity in the Windy City!

Chicago hotels for every budget

The beautiful Chicago Bean at sunrise. Photo by Steve Wright Jr. CC BY

Don’t know which area to pick? Skyscrapers and modern architecture dominate the skyline of the Loop district, the heart of Chicago’s downtown. The pavements are packed with commuters and visitors alike, but its central location makes it easy to explore the rest of Chicago either on the train or on foot. The River North is stylish and cultural, and a must visit for visitors seeking Chicago’s artsy side. At night, there are plenty of lively bars to choose from and a burgeoning foodie scene. The Magnificent Mile has historically been the heart of Chicago’s shopping district and the street itself is a Chicago landmark. Stay here if you plan on shopping till you drop.

Pick your hotel based on what area suits your Chicago adventure best from our top picks for best places to stay in Chicago below.


Aloft City Center

RIVER NORTH, CHICAGO

Aloft City Center Chicago

Funky vibes at the Aloft Chicago. Photo by the Aloft Chicago.

Price Range: Under $200

You consider yourself in-the-know, owner of the latest technology and at the unveiling of every hottest new restaurant in your locale. Where to stay in Chicago? Located in the trendy River North neighborhood of Chicago, the Aloft reflects its hip surroundings in the playful decor full of fresh colors and mid-century modern furniture for the discerning design-loving traveler. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer expansive views of the city and complimentary in-room WiFi keeps you connected whenever you need it. You’re also only a short walk way from the sights and shopping of the Loop and the Magnificent Mile.

PERFECT FOR: Trendseekers on a budget

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Aloft Chicago City Center

Sweeping views and playful decor. Photo by Aloft Chicago.

The Godfrey

RIVER NORTH, CHICAGO 

Godfrey Hotel Chicago

Plush fabrics and modern furnishing at the Godfrey. Photo courtesy of the Godfrey.

Price Range: Under $200

Housed behind a cubist facade, this hotel is a design-lovers dream come true. Just the perfect mix between industrialism and comfort, stay here if you have a hard time deciding between tuna poke and scallop ceviche–you like things that are trendy, exciting and melding old with new. L’Occitane products line the bathroom, the WiFi is complimentary, and every room is immaculately decorated with leather, velvet and other sumptuous fabrics. You’ll want to wear nothing but their plush robes, but you’ll definitely make a point of venturing out onto their ultra-cool rooftop patio for drinks and munchies.

PERFECT FOR: Design aficionados on a budget

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The Majestic

LAKEVIEW, CHICAGO 

Majestic Hotel ChicagoMajestic Hotel Chicago
Photos courtesy of the Majestic Facebook page and Mr.TinDC CC BY

Price Range: Under $100

You may have just arrived with suitcases overflowing and snotty nosed children, but fear not: your stay comes with a complimentary breakfast, WiFi and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies in the afternoon in the fire-lit lobby–perfect for a family with kids visiting the Windy City for the first time. Overall there is a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of vintage, shabby-chic London. The Majestic is a charming place to stay in a quieter and elegant residential area of Chicago. This hotel is super close to Wrigley Field (baseball fans will want to catch a Cubs game if they can) and is a great alternative if you’re looking to stay somewhere different from the Magnificent Mile–which is still close by!

PERFECT FOR: Families on a budget

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Majestic Hotel Chicago

A decadent layout. Photo courtesy of the Majestic Facebook page


Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel

MAGNIFICENT MILE, CHICAGO

Millenium knickerbocker 2Millenium knickerbocker
The 20s are alive in this Art Deco hotel on the Magnificent Mile. Photos by the Millennium Knickerbocker. 

Price Range: Under $150

You’ve arrived in Chicago for the first time and while the city is already a bit bewildering, home is to be found at the Millenium Knickerbocker hotel. This lavish Art Deco hotel was built in the 1920s and is steps away from Michigan Avenue shopping needs and a vibrant local nightlife and food scene. There is a wonderful romance to this historic hotel with stories of bootleggers, speakeasies and Al Capone creating the perfect backdrop for your Chicago trip. If you want to continue with the bootleg vibe, head to the 1920s style martini bar for cocktails that won’t force you to break that piggy bank open.

PERFECT FOR: First time visitors on a budget

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The James

MAGNIFICENT MILE, CHICAGO

The James ChicagoThe James Chicago

Price Range: Under $200

You’ve arrived in Chicago, clothes packed in your Louis Vuitton carry-on and your only requirement for a hotel is somewhere that has triple-distilled water. The James offers visitors complimentary WiFi and the triple-distilled water that you’ve always dreamed of. For the discerning luxury shopper, you’ll be super close to the Magnificent Mile, the heart of downtown Chicago and most museums if you fancy expanding your art collection. But, will you be able to rouse yourself from the Keetsa pillows that top the ultra comfy bed? Your bathroom will have full-sized Intelligent Nutrients products and the pantry comes stocked with an emphasis on locally-sourced items. Be sure to ask for a nightly turndown since it includes some delicious cookies.

PERFECT FOR: First time luxury visitors

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Warwick Allerton

MAGNIFICENT MILE, CHICAGO

Warwick Allerton

Price Range: Under $150

Ideally located for someone visiting for the first time, the Warwick Allerton is a 1920s era Chicago Landmark located on the Magnificent Mile where historic architecture and sophisticated modern style converge seamlessly. You’ll be walking distance to all the places you’ve carefully marked on your map, including must-try restaurants and the giant, shiny Chicago Bean. The attentive concierge team supplies impeccable service, and the stunning event space provides for productive small meetings and talk-of-the-town soirees, making the Warwick Allerton Hotel the premier choice in luxury accommodations and meeting facilities in downtown Chicago.

PERFECT FOR: On a budget and visiting without a car

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The Four Seasons

MAGNIFICENT MILE, CHICAGO

Four Seasonsfour seasons 3

Price Range: Under $400

If you’re looking for the Chicago royalty treatment, stay at the Four Seasons, the epitome of superlative luxury and customer service. Right beside Michigan Avenue and with views of the beautiful Chicago skyline from nearly all of its 345 rooms, you’ll feel like you’re a V.I.P. The rooms are decorated in mid-20th century French style and have Malin + Goetz toiletries that are made in the U.S. from locally-sourced natural botanicals, free from parabens, synthetic perfumes, and dyes. Throw yourself down on the feather bed following a swim in the 50-foot pool and enjoy the feeling of utter hotel indulgence.

PERFECT FOR: V.I.P’s seeking the ultimate in luxury

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TheWit

CHICAGO LOOP, CHICAGO

TheWit Chicago

A funky interior at theWit hotel. Photo courtesy of theWit

Price Range: Under $250

You know what you like- the best of the best, packaged in a beautiful bow.T heWit is centrally located in the theater hub of Chicago, blocks from Millennium Park and the boutiques of Michigan Avenue. Every room has views of either the river, the park or the architecture that makes the city famous. Their rooftop lounge club, The Roof, is way up on the 27th floor and has the most incredible views of Chicago. The food and drinks are so good you won’t even have to leave the hotel to enjoy the Chicago foodie culture–truffle pizza and Patron XO churros are served with hand-crafted cocktails. The hotel also has a multimedia center with cult film and special event screenings regularly and a yoga studio onsite, and the sound of birds and crickets chirping in the hallways!

PERFECT FOR: Trendseekers seeking luxury

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JW Marriott Chicago

CHICAGO LOOP, CHICAGO

JW Marriott Chicago

The sparkling lobby. Photo courtesy of JW Marriott Chicago

Price Range: Under $300

You’re looking for that classic Chicago experience with plenty of gold and a touch of retro nostalgia. The awe-inspiring lobby, complete with crystal chandeliers and a grand staircase at the JW Marriott will greet you to this skyscraper hotel which is the picture of historic neoclassical Chicago opulence. The rooms themselves are plushy, grand and a throwback to the classic elegance of hotel rooms of the past, but with all the modern amenities you can handle, or perhaps even absolutely require. High ceilings, blackout curtains lots of pillows and HBO on the TV. Don’t worry, we won’t blame you if you never make it past your hotel room door.

PERFECT FOR: First-time visitors

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JW Marriott Chicago

A serenely luxurious room. Photo courtesy of the JW Marriott

Cover Photo via Visual Hunt