If your number one concern during a trip to Chicago is getting go all the best shopping opportunities possible and snapping up fantastic deals, it helps to consider two prevailing factors in determining where to stay during your visit- you’ll want to consider the cost of the hotel and its location in relation to the main shopping areas. After all, no one wants to blow all of their spending money on hotel amenities they don’t intend to use. Furthermore, it’s no fun to trudge through Chicago’s winter streets with tons of bags and blocks to go before you reach your home base. So, shoppers should be considering simultaneously how close they can afford to be near the shop-till-you-drop action downtown while weighing whether they can afford the most luxury hotels nearest to the center of things.
If money is no object, then put your mind at ease. There are a dozen luxury hotels located near the Magnificent Mile. Park Hyatt-Chicago, Omni Chicago Suites, The Whitehall Hotel, Hotel Essex Chicago, and Warwick Allerton-Chicago are all within an easy walk to the very best shopping in the city’s heart. But you may be able to spend a little less if you come during an off season, such as the non-holiday winter weeks, or during any time the city is seeing a reduction in booking, whatever the reason. Famous landmarks along the Miracle Mile include The Allerton, The Drake Hotel, and the InterContinental Chicago. All three are historic and luxury stays well worth booking in advance of your next downtown shopping spree.
If you are not particularly inclined to carry all of your own bags, you can rely on the hotel bell hop to do the heavy lifting for you, though you should recall that generous tipping is encouraged. If there’s no bell hop on duty where you’re staying, you may still wish to at least have a valet park your car while you run your new conquests and deals up to your room. There are usually wheeled carts available in the lobby to be loaded up and to help you haul your things where they belong. That assumes that you purchased that much fun stuff to begin with, but then, if you didn’t take advantage of Chicago’s shopping, what was the point of the trip?
If you purchased jewelry, it would be a good idea to make sure you make use of the room’s safe if one is included among the room’s amenities.