Enjoying Chicago On A Shoestring Budget

Posted on June 1, 2010 by

Enjoying Chicago On A Shoestring Budget

While travel can often be an expensive endeavour, it should never be limited to those whose wallets are full. Chicago – as with many US cities – has plenty of attractions and amenities for those on a tight budget. To save money and maintain a budget in Chicago requires a little forward planning and will power however, it is still easily possible to see the best of the city without having to splash out.

If you are interested in seeing a large number of attractions such as museums and exhibitions around the city, then it may be worth investing in a Chicago City Pass. If you’re not familiar with the concept, a city pass allows you to see many of the most popular attractions within a city for a flat fee or at a discounted rate.

The Chicago City Pass for example allows you to visit Chicago’s most popular attractions at a significantly discounted rate. These attractions include The Hancock Observatory (also known as Sears Tower), The Field Museum, Alder Planetarium, The Museum of Science and Industry, the Omnimax and Shedd Aquarium. Typical saving on a regular priced ticket at any of these attractions is around 50%, however since the cost of the city pass is around , it is important to make sure you are planning to visit a considerable number of attractions in order to make the purchase worthwhile.

Of course, while the city pass may get you into many of the attractions at a cheaper rate, it is possible to see some of Chicago’s museums completely free. Throughout the city, there are a number of popular museums which hold free days, usually once a week or once a month, allowing you to see the museum for free.

The Museum of Contemporary Art for example, is free all day on Tuesdays. The Art Institute of Chicago opts for free evenings instead, with entry free after 5pm on Thursdays. Finally, other attractions such as the popular Shedd Aquarium hold a series of annual free days. Seeing these attractions – any many more throughout Chicago – is all about forward planning.

Another popular attraction for those whose enthusiasm is high but wallets are empty is the Chicago Loop Train Tour. This tour allows you to take a tour around some of the most famous architectural sites of the city. The tour lasts around 40 minutes and is completely narrated throughout.

The tour is funded by the Chicago Office of Tourism and only runs throughout the summer. However, if you are still interested in seeing some of the most popular sites in the city with a little narration to help, take a trip to the Visitor Information Centre where you can get free MP3-based walking tours which you can download onto your MP3 player.

Finally, after a long day of sightseeing and exploring, head back to one of the many discounted Chicago hotels or bed and breakfasts for a good night’s sleep before getting up to do it all again the next day.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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Achieving Chicago Tourism Luxury on a Budget

Posted on June 1, 2010 by

Achieving Chicago Tourism Luxury on a Budget

As the economy fluctuates and people start reassessing their budgets many Americans have decided to make cutbacks in their budget. For many, travel was one of the first words on the list to hit the cutting room floor.

The travel industry quickly took up the cry of “staycations,” encouraging people to act like tourists in their own towns and cities. While a staycation might work for a weekend, it’s not quite the same as a full-fledged getaway.

The better solution? Choose a destination carefully, explore all your cost options and go somewhere! Perhaps the trip will be a day or two shorter than normal, or not quite as international as originally planned, but it will still be a trip.

Travelling and exploring new cities is an important experience that should never be completely deleted from anyone’s budget. With so many intriguing cities just a few hours away by plane, it’s always possible to find a way to make it happen. Chicago with its two airports can be a great destination for those looking for a bargain on luxury. Here are some tips for making the most of available downtown Chicago hotel packages.

Chicago Luxury on a Budget:

Chicago is an incredibly diverse city with more to see and do than you’d have time for in a month and it is an easy choice for a fun, memorable vacation. Choosing a luxury hotel in Chicago is easy, and depends on the location and ‘feel’ you’re after. For those looking for a cosmopolitan experience, staying at a hotel in downtown Chicago will give you easy access to everything the Loop has to offer. From a night at the opera to days at the many art museums, you’ll be able to steep yourself in culture, and a downtown Chicago luxury hotel is definitely the way to go.

Chicago’s Trendy Side:

If a trendy Chicago hotel is more your scene, you’ll find some of those, too. Sip green tea martinis and passion fruit cocktails at the sleek hotel lobby bars before heading out on the town to track down some local music. Be sure to schedule a visit to one of the serene day spas, where you’re sure to find a trendy new treatment just waiting to be tried. A pilates stretching massage, maybe? Round the trendy Chicago tour out by touring what really matters: the restaurants! Ask your hotel concierge about joining a walking tour of the city’s best restaurants and local neighborhood jewels, with lots of interesting local lore thrown in.

Shopping on the Mag Mile:

On the Magnificent Mile, shopping is king. When your ideal vacation includes a significant chunk of time and money spent browsing through high end boutiques, a day on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is right up your alley. This shopping haven sports the basics you’d find in any hometown as well as the very high-end, awe-inspiring shops that leave you desperate for more. With over 450 stores, it’s a shopper’s dream, with unique local boutiques nestled against the department stores you know and love. Whether it’s window shopping, or the real thing, Magnificent Mile shopping is an experience not to be missed.

From your home base of a downtown Chicago, it’s easy for a newcomer to make the most of a quick visit to the area and soak up some local culture before heading back home. Remember the next time you’re thinking of a luxury vacation on a budget to make sure Chicago is on your list destinations to consider!

Norma Berry has an interest in the downtown Chicago luxury hotels. Her passion includes evaluating downtown Chicago, IL hotel package in the Magnificent Mile hotel district.

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An Historic Jewel Among Downtown Chicago Hotels

Posted on June 1, 2010 by

An Historic Jewel Among Downtown Chicago Hotels

At the heart of Chicago’s Financial/Theater District (the Loop), The Silversmith Hotel & Suites , a landmark Chicago attraction in itself, was designed in 1897 by famed architectural firm D.H. Burnham and Company to serve the rapidly growing jewelry and silver trade in the area, still referred to as Jeweler’s Row today. Constructed during the “Arts and Crafts” Movement of the late 19th century, the exterior features upper floors of red brick and unglazed terra cotta while the lower floors are clad in a rich, dark green highly-glazed terra cotta.

Among Chicago, Illinois luxury boutique hotels, The Silversmith Hotel & Suites offers a restful retreat by pampering guests with white-glove service and a historic ambience coupled with state-of-the-art facilities.

• The expansive lobby of this hotel envelops you in the soothing tones of our gleaming wood floors and detailed paneling found throughout, distinguishing The Silversmith Hotel & Suites from other Chicago area hotels.

• Experience culinary delights nearby and at our onsite Chicago restaurant, Adas Famous Deli & Restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Partake in light conversation while sipping your favorite cocktail in the casual atmosphere of our 14 Karat Lounge.

• Meeting and event planners searching for hotels in Chicago for their next event will benefit from high speed internet access throughout, a business center and 3500 square feet of meeting space, ideal for corporate conferences or special occasions.

Although you may not want to leave the sanctuary of our elegant hotel, just steps from our doors, you will discover limitless possibilities for adventure.

• Visit Chicago’s fine cultural attractions including the famed Art Institute, Millennium Park, Grant Park or any of Chicago’s world-famous museums.

• Stroll the surrounding district to delight in abundant examples of remarkable designs by noted Chicago architects Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright.

• Be sure to make time in your schedule to visit the many shops on State Street or the renowned ‘Magnificent Mile’- Michigan Avenue.

Downtown Chicago hotels are known for their luxury, but our hotel takes luxury a step further by offering plush lodging and deluxe amenities in an unrivaled locale. Book your stay now at The Silversmith Hotel & Suites , a distinctive luxury hotel, for your next exciting Chicago leisure or business vacation.

Hotels…

View Chicago travel videos and plan you stay at the Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro hotel in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

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Boat Tours: Lake Michigan Dinner Cruise and Boat Tour Options

Posted on June 1, 2010 by

Boat Tours: Lake Michigan Dinner Cruise and Boat Tour Options

Whether you’re a resident or a visitor to Illinois, something everyone should consider doing is to enjoy the lake. When it comes to options in boat tours, Lake Michigan has a lot to offer including dinner cruises, various tours, charters, and more.

If you’re heading to Chicago for some site seeing, a great item to add to your To Do list is to look into boat tours.  Lake Michigan, at the city of Chicago, is beautiful. There are a lot of different options for booking cruises. You can choose from many types of cruises including:

•    Chicago Historical cruises
•    Chicago Architectural boat tours
•    Dinner Cruises
•    Lake Michigan Brunch Cruises
•    Other Charter Cruises

Whether you’re interested in a cocktail cruise at sunset for your party of 50 or more or are looking at day long dinner cruises, Lake Michigan is very picturesque. During the day you can arrange a group shoreline tour and learn all about the history and architecture of the area while you dine in luxury on a beautiful ship.

Those who take later cruises can catch a glimpse of this city at sunset and if you’ve ever looked at photographs of Chicago sunsets, you’ll realize just what a treat it is to be out on the water witnessing such spectacular displays of natural color. When it comes to cruises, Lake Michigan  area residents often spend time on the water whenever they can and Chicago’s Navy Pier offers a multitude of things to do (such as rides, shopping, dining, and local special events)and ships to choose from.

If you want to book a charter cruise for your group, it’s a good idea to book well in advance and have a discussion with the cruise company to ensure your event can be planned to meet your specific expectations.

If booking for a large event, you’ll undoubtedly be impressed with the luxury and available options for making your event a success.

Article written by Wendy Kahn. Check out my internet website for the very best in info and articles on charter boats in chicago plus search engine optimization services.

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Chicago Hotel Deals in the Windy City

Posted on June 1, 2010 by

Chicago Hotel Deals in the Windy City

Chicago is a wonderful city, but for good Chicago hotel deals you have to stay out of the Loop. The Chicago Loop refers to the historical center of downtown Chicago, and this is where the most expensive Chicago hotel deals are to be found. For Chicago hotel deals it is better to look in Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Bridgeport. Chicago hotel deals can be found in the Loop if you are able to find attractive package deals.

Saving Money with Chicago Hotel Deals

There are cheap hotels in Chicago and staying in these will save you money. However, you really don’t want to be wasting precious time on your vacation by spending time on busses and trains but rather be close to the heart of the city. Chicago hotel deals can be found at the Benedictine Bed and Breakfast which is run by Benedictine Monks in Bridgeport. Other options can include the Villa Toscana, close to Wrigley Field, the Days Inn Chicago which is a boutique hotel that is very affordable and is apparently the home from home of touring rock bands, and the Old Chicago Inn. Finding Chicago hotels deals at these hostelries will mean that you are situated within easy reach of public transport, and just outside the downtown area.

Chicago Hotel Deals at the “Heart O’ Chicago”

The Heart O’ Chicago is not in The Loop. It is a motel, situated approximately nine miles north of this downtown area. Situated in Edgewater, this retro motor lodge should not be easily dismissed. The rooms are not that pleasantly decorated and it is a traffic heavy area. But you should not let this deter you, this bare-bones motel provides free parking which is an absolute treasure and staying here will ensures a great Chicago hotel deal. It also means that you will be staying near the shopping in Clark Street and Broadway as well as close to the bar hopping scene. Accommodation at this cheap Chicago hotel costs from as little as per night.

Chicago Hotel Deals in Low Season

It is virtually impossible to find cheap Chicago Hotels in high season, conventions are being held in the central hotels at this time so it is better to stay out of the Loop. It is obvious that for money saving reasons you should visit in low season, but Chicago is not called the „Windy City“ for no reason. Its close proximity to Lake Michigan means it is windy, and although there are still a great many attractions and things to do in the low season, make sure you take your winter woolies with you. Chicago has a well established public transport system so this makes it easy to book cheap Chicago hotels and commute, and still be only a few minutes away from the main attractions. Staying out of the Loop means you still have access to the Seneca Hotel and Suites, from per night, the Windy City Urban Inn from 5 per night and the Willows Inn from 9 per night and this includes breakfast. To get the best Chicago hotel deals you have to stay away from the city center, it is also possible to find cheap Chicago hotels in low season.

Content writer for Last Minute Travel

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