How Adventerous Are You?

If you want to shake it up a little bit and shack up with some of your friends for the weekend, check out AirBnB.  Have you heard of it?  I've wanted to use AirBnB when we travel to San Francisco, but it's just never worked out.

Basically, it's like either staying with a friend or having your own condo in Chicago.  You can rent a room in someone place or rent a whole place.  It's very cool and I highly recommend that you check it out.  If you're sharing the place with someone else or another couple it could definitely save you some cashola.

I mean, how cute is this place?   It sleeps four and is only $175 a night.  What a deal.

This place is kinda swanky for $225 a night.

More Hotel Deals

Here are a few deals I found online today:

$189 at the Fairfield downtown on the Marriott website. 

$170 at the Wyndham Blake on Kayak.com

$169 at the Inn of Chicago on Kayak.com

Hotel 71

Laura found a rate of $150 at Hotel 71, so check it out.  It's right down the street from the Renassaince.


Thanks Lolo!

Hotel Room Block

There is a block of rooms booked at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, located at 1 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Renaissance is a Marriott property and was recently recognized at one of the "2013 Best Hotels" by U.S. News & World Report. The hotel ranked 6th among all Renaissance Hotels, 16th in Chicago and 16th in Illinois. 

To book your room, please call Marriott Reservations at 800.468.3571 or 312.372.7200 before Friday, October 2013. Identify yourself as a part of the Grindley Birthday Party.  There are rooms secured for Friday, October 25 & Saturday, October 26 for $249 per night. You can also book directly through this link.

Fall is a highly desirable time in Chicago and hotel rooms go quickly and prices just keep rising as fall gets closer.  Feel free to stay where ever you'd like, but I do recommend that you stay in The Loop and not an airport or suburban location.

Additionally, I advise against renting a car as parking is expensive (the highest in the country) and there's loads of congestion. Everything is easily accessible by public transit or cab.  

Other resources for hotel accommodations:

• Kayak
• Hotels.com    

I have some other suggested hotels in the city.  These are all hotels that I've actually stayed in over the years.  (Ok, not The Peninsula, but if anyone has and pull there, that's where I REALLY want to stay for my birthday weekend). 

• The Peninsula
• Springhill Suites Chicago Downtown/River North 
• Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Magnificent Mile
• The Blackstone
• The Whitehall
• The Allerton
• The Willows
• Inn of Chicago

Let the Planning Begin!

You're probably here because you receive the save the date for my 40th birthday party in October!  I actually started planning months ago, but you know I love to plan a party!

At this point, here's what I know -- there will be some kind of something on Friday, super casual and optional.  Probably a hospitality suite at the hotel.  The actual birthday part on Saturday night and a brunch gathering on Sunday.  Plan your travel accordingly.

Check back here regularly to get more details about the party and everything that's being planned.

Some questions you may have:

• Where should I stay?
• I'm not familiar with Chicago's public transportation?
• What should I do when I'm in town?
• What if I get hungry -- where should I eat?
• What should I wear?
• Isn't it cold in Chicago?  How cold will it be?
• What do you have planned for us?  Where should I be and what time should I be there? 

Of course, you can always email me if you have any questions.

I can't wait to see you!

How to Visit Chicago Like a Chicagoan

This article cracks me up and is so true.  I pretty much agree with 85% of it.

It's long, it's rude and there is profanity.  You've been warned.