We are planning a long weekend trip this fall to a Notre Dame football game and will be staying in Chicago, so will be taking the South Shore alone train to South Bend and back. (I guess Uber to stadium? Any extra insight on that is great!) I’m looking at hotels and I’m not sure how to choose. I’ve never been to Chicago so I’m not familiar with downtown. We are using Marriott points and I’ve sort of narrowed it to Renaissance downtown Chicago, Hotel EMC2, or The Chicago Marriott downtown. Are any of these better location wise?
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@Jennibenni: Is there a reason you're not staying in South Bend? As far as the hotels, I used to work at the Marriott Downton and it doesn't look like it's very close to the South Shore Line but it is in a nice area if you want to stay on the Mag Mile. There's also a new Marriott Marquis on the south side of the city, have you looked into that?
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@macintosh: Hotels in South Bend for that weekend are pretty scarce, and we decided we would combine it with a Chicago trip. I don’t remember seeing the Marriott Marquis, so I will look into that one. Thank you!
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@Jennibenni: I’ve stayed at the emc2 and really liked it. It’s nice and super modern and in a good location. There’s a pretty cool Irish pub not far away (Timothy o’tooles) that has over 100 beers on tap if that’s your thing and lots of restaurants nearby.
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We were thinking of taking a family trip to Chicago and my cousin reco’ed the Embassy Suites off the Magnificent Mile. She said good price for a suite (which is nice with kids!)
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@yellowbird: That’s good feedback, thank you! @lioneyes: Thank you! We are kid free for this trip so I’m ok with a regular room but I do love embassy suites with kiddos!
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I just stayed at the Marriott on the Magnificent Mile for a work trip and it was nice. Not really anything particularly special, but no complaints either. One nice thing was it was close to some really delicious restaurants like Purple Pig and Volare.
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The Renaissance downtown is only about three blocks from a South Shore station. It’s convenient to the Mag Mile, Millennium Park, and the Museum Campus. The Theater District is nearby, too. It’s also close to CTA train lines, if you’re coming in from an airport or parking further out.
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I’m guessing you’d want to stay walking distance from the South Shore station at Randolph and Michigan. Of the hotels you suggested, I think the Renaissance is the most convenient. Given its location in the loop, there may be less things open around it in terms of restaurants due to it being the weekend but after 2 train rides and a long day of tailgating/walking around ND, etc., I’d personally prefer to not have to hop in a taxi after getting back to Chicago.
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@Shantuck: That helps! I just don’t feel like I understand the geography so this is good to know. Does it change your advice that we will be arriving Thursday morning and spending Thursday, Friday, and Sunday morning downtown?
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@Jennibenni: I live in Chicago (and went to ND) and I'm pretty anti-Michigan Avenue area just because it is so touristy and shopping-centric (I went to grad school right near there). I'd personally prefer to stay at the Renaissance. It's still not far from Michigan Avenue and a short bus ride away from all of that if you want it. It's also close to the riverwalk area. With that said, all of these hotel options are probably within a 1 mile radius of each other. Also, all of the loop (the main area where people work) will be open on Thursday and Friday. There may just be less restaurant options on Sunday but the hotel also has offerings as well.
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@Shantuck: So is Michigan ave like the equivalent of Times Square?
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@Jennibenni: Yes and no. It's touristy like Times Square but it's basically the main shopping destination. Think of a long street with all the big stores... Saks, Nordstrom, H&M, Victoria's Secret, Neiman's, Bloomingdale's, Cheesecake Factory, etc.
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@Shantuck: Ohh ok. This is helpful thank you! Also open to food recommendations
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@Jennibenni: For food, try to get a table at The Girl and the Goat - it's amazing. Also loved Publican the last time I was in town. Chicago has great restaurants!
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@Jennibenni: Are you bringing kids with you? That would dictate what restaurants I would suggest.
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No kids, we’ll be four adults
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@Jennibenni: My post just got eaten. I like Sienna Tavern, Hampton Social, Bad Hunter, Sepia, Little Goat and Chicago Q. If you want Chicago pizza, Pequod’s is the best in my opinion.
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