Visitors to downtown Chicago looking for an experience--and not just sleep--can opt for a themed hotel room. Hotels offering these special rooms take an idea and decorate accordingly. As a result, decor on walls, the bed and sometimes in the bathroom conveys different worlds ranging from tranquility to kid-friendly. The ambience can set the tone for an entire trip and make for a fun story after returning home.
The luxurious Hotel Monaco Chicago offers discriminating travelers their choice of two themed suites--the Tranquility or the Rock and Roll suite. In the Tranquility Suite, bamboo linens grace the comfortable bed situated in a sleeping cove. Guests can gaze out at the Chicago River from two walls of windows while tranquilized by the room's beige and silvery-blue decor. Fabrics, feathers and suede complete the luxuriously peaceful experience. After unwinding on the oversized furniture, sink into a warm bath in the two-person tub, lit by a 42-strand crystal chandelier. In the Rock and Roll suite, bold colors accent zebra stripes and you can indulge your inner rock star while strumming the electric guitar provided.
Hotel Monaco Chicago
225 N. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60601
866-610-0081
monaco-chicago.com
Baseball fans might want to check out the Wrigley Suite at the Old Chicago Inn Bed and Breakfast--as long as they like the Cubs. A neon sign decorates the room, as well as original works of baseball art. Sleep in a four-poster king size bed and eat at a dinette with room for four. The Old Chicago Inn sits four blocks away From Wrigley Field and a short distance from Lake Michigan.
Old Chicago Inn Bed and Breakfast
3222 N. Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
773-472-2278
oldchicagoinn.com
Kid-centric families can opt for Swissotel's Kids Suites where children receive an entire adjoining room with "kid-sized" tables and chairs, coloring books, stuffed animals and video games. The child-friendly experience starts immediately with the V.I.K. (Very Important Kid) check-in that includes an area set aside for coloring and playing. Some on-site restaurants offer special children's menus, and the hotel lies close to family-friendly places like the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum. The hotel package includes four tickets to whichever museum the family chooses. The hotel will even decorate the suite in a theme reflecting the museum choice.
Swissotel Chicago
323 E. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
312-565-0565
swissotelchicago.com
Kid-friendly rooms at downtown's Crowne Plaza Avenue Hotel Chicago provide children with rainbow colored bedding, Crayola bath products and a chalkboard for scribbling. While adults lounge in their luxurious room, the kids can play Wii video games in the kids' room. Traditional adult rooms come with the Crowne Plaza's signature zebra print chairs, in rooms otherwise decorated in earth tones and wood furniture. Bathrooms have granite countertops, marble floors and bath products containing organic ingredients.
Avenue Hotel Chicago
160 E. Huron
Chicago, IL 60611
877-283-5110
avenuehotelchicago.com
