Alternative Lodging Options in Chicago

Most visitors to Chicago will stay in a hotel, usually one located in the heart of the tourists sites, near the Magnificent Mile. But these highrise hotels aren’t your only lodging option. Here are a few hotel alternatives for your stay in Chicago.

Hostels
Chicago is home to just a few hostels, which offer both private rooms and dorms. If you are traveling solo, these are great budget-friendly places to stay and to meet other travelers. But if you have a group of three, you’d be better off getting a low cost hotel room and ordering a roll-away bed, or getting two queens and having two people share. For groups of two, do a little price comparison. During high-season, a hostel with a private room may be a cheap option, but during off-peak times you may be able to snag a 2- or -3star hotel for less than the cost of a hostel room.

B&Bs and Guesthouses
Many people don’t realize that there are several bed and breakfast and boutique hotel/guesthouse options in Chicago. While some of these can cost just as much as a fancy hotel, others will cost less than $100 per night. And all of them offer a few perks that the downtown hotels don’t. Chicago’s B&Bs are located outside of the downtown area, in neighborhoods like Lakeview, Wrigleyville, and Bucktown, so you can get a better glimpse of life in Chicago. You’ll get personalized attention and recommendations from the owners, plus, breakfast is included so you’ll save even more.

Apartments
If you’ll be staying more than a few days, it can be well worth the extra effort to book an apartment for your stay. Though there’s often an extra fee involved (either a deposit or a cleaning fee) and checking in is sometimes not quite as easy as rolling up to a fully-staffed hotel, you can often save a considerable amount of money by staying in an apartment. You’ll have more space and access to your own kitchen so you can cook meals on occasion. Choose a place located near an el line and you’ll be able to get anywhere in the city with minimal effort.

Photo by KFerguson