Downtown Chicago, Illinois

Hotels

Hotel Tips

Always tip staff when you feel the service was great and don't forget the housekeeping staff which you may never see. You should tip every day if you are staying multiple days as the staff may rotate out and miss the bounty at the end.

Other sources of noise can be opening and closing trash dumpsters and also during collection by garbage trucks. Another great question is if they have any renovation plans, or underway that could affect your ability to relax. Pack earplugs and eyeshades!

Upon check-in, slip the desk agent a tip and ask for the best room they can find at your current booked rate. Often times a quick $10 or $20 bill can go a long way towards the mood of the person who directly decides where you lay your head for the night.

Things To Do

Chicago is the place to go when you want to freshen up or replace your nails. Call ahead to schedule an appointment, pick your colors and style and let the transformation begin. Some salons offer hair styling and coloring as well as lashes and eyebrow coloring.

Chicago brings musicians together and finding your local musical instrument shop can be a great way to get to try new and used guitars. Be sure to start your search downtown if you are looking to upgrade, trade-in or add to your collection.

Chicago has several options for shopping for specialty food items that are not found in regular grocery stores. Shops tailored for "foodies" offer tastings of the products as well as scheduled culinary classes to perfect your skills. Shop for infused oils, salts and spices from around the World!

Why Do You Love Downtown?

Carol Rotas
OSF

Sking King
I love walking through downtown when the sun finally comes out. You can get a great organic meal at one place, yummy sushi nearby, and awesome beer. Not to mention the Criterion has fabulous shows.

Liisa Shunn
We love going downtown, because we like to support our local economy. The shops and restaurants we visit -- we have gotten to know the owners, so when our money is spent downtown, we know who benefits. Also? We live only a mile from downtown, so we walk or ride our bikes. No worries about a designated driver or looking for parking. We chose to live in Medford, so of course we want our money to stay in Medford, not going off to some corporate office of a chain store.

Devany
I love downtown because there is so much life all around. From the shoppers walking the streets to the workers stocking the stores. Everybody comes together in one place, different purposes, yet all the same. Downtown stores are always so beautiful. You can see the care workers put into making their store not only clean and beautiful, but also safe and homey.

Kathleen Townsend
It's so quaint and cute!

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