Chicago Hotel Recommendation for You
 

We stumbled across this one. What sheer luck!

Where: The Willows is a 1920's building on a quiet, leafy 1920's street near Lincoln Park, on the edge of Boys Town. The neighborhood is young professionals and one of the safest in Chicago. Lots of inexpensive, interesting eats, boutiques, plus Borders, Panera, etc. Lincoln Park zoo is maybe six blocks away. Public transportation is a block away. As we were checking out, many were checking in to attend the Gay Pride parade. The parade ends one block from the hotel so awesome location for that.

How much? Last week, we paid $125/night plus $20/night garage parking. That was for four adults in one room.

So what's the hotel like if it's so cheap? If I worked for AAA, I'd give the hotel 3 stars. It's a 1920's hotel, nicely decorated and maintained, nice French country lobby, modern bathrooms, nice desk people and housekeepers, funky elevator, average Continental breakfast, Bally's gym privileges a block away. I walked by an open door and saw a very small room so that's a risk. Our room was plenty large enough for the four of us for five nights. The views are over rooftops and an alley.

Bonus Chicago tip learned the hard way: If you're driving to Oak Park to see the Frank Lloyd Wright houses, don't go through Austin. Turns out, it's straight-up OMFG ghetto. Take the expressway and you'll be fine.

Great neighborhood! I'll get back to one of my favorite US cities soon (I hope).

We took the train. Just flying above such impoverished areas was hard enough to take.

Cool recommendation!

That trip to oak park was downright opulent compared to the blight of south side headed to the Museum of Science and Industry.

I like traveling through ghettos, it is a good reminder of how we lie to tourists. Everybody will tell you that you'll never get out alive/unharmed/unmugged. So far they've been wrong (at least for me).

We stayed in Harlem when we visited NYC. It was great.

Maybe that's what I'm thinking of.

We had a little scary tourist moment when attempting to shop at a convenience store. Nothing major, just a place that did not feel welcoming, and we were soon on our way.

I remember being on the subway in NYC at a late hour (maybe 1:00 a.m. if I recall correctly) and there being a gunshot. Nobody in our car even flinched but it scared the buhjeebus out of us.