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Hotels

A diverse array of lodging options abound in Chicago, from the grand and luxurious hotels of Magnificent Mile to nearby boutique properties and budget options geared toward value-conscious travelers.

The best luxury options can be found in the Magnificent Mile and the Loop. Boasting a blend of "Far-Eastern graciousness and Midwestern hospitality," The Peninsula (www.peninsula.com) opened to universal acclaim in 2001; set in the heart of the Magnificent Mile, it features 339 spacious guestrooms and suites furnished in a magnificent classical style, with marble bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, and high-speed internet access. Visiting celebrities are known to frequent The Four Seasons (www.fourseasons.com/chicagofs); among its 343 elegant guest rooms is the Author Suite, which includes personalized editions from luminary guests like Stephen King, Margaret Thatcher, Oliver Stone, and Anne Rice. Opened in 1920, The Drake (www.thedrakehotel.com) is a city landmark, a symbol of white-glove elegance located at the end of the Magnificent Mile; its 535 recently renovated rooms include 74 opulent suites.

In the moderate range, the brand-new boutique-chic James Hotel (www.jameshotel.com/Chicago) is a hip addition to the River North neighborhood just off the Magnificent Mile; its 297 guest rooms feature flat-screen plasma TVs, 300-thread count sheets, designer furniture, complimentary wireless Internet service, and a stereo system with iPod dock. Voted "best new building in Chicago" by the American Institute of Architects, the prism-shaped Sofitel Chicago Water Tower (www.sofitel.com) offers spectacular views of the John Hancock tower from many of its 415 guest rooms. Directly overlooking Lake Michigan, the W Hotel (www.starwoodhotels.com) touts 520 deluxe guest rooms with oak shutters that open onto panoramic views of the lake and the city; its rooftop lounge, Whiskey Sky, is where the "in crowd" hangs.

If you're on a tighter budget, the city offers many affordable lodging options. Hotel Monaco (www.monaco-chicago.com) offers 192 rooms at reasonable rates considering its prime location near the Art Institute of Chicago and Millennium Park; like other Kimpton properties, this hotel is pet-friendly, and if you don't have one, they'll supply you with a goldfish to call your own. Another option, the 150-room Cass Hotel (www.casshotel.com), may not have the most stylish rooms, but it's clean, comfortable, affordable, and within walking distance of the Magnificent Mile. Also great value is the 15-storey Red Roof Inn (www.redroof-chicago-downtown.com), which has a newly redesigned lobby, parlor room, and reception area.

See Chicago Travel Guide