The Blackstone hotel opened in 1910 and was the site where the Republican Party chose Warren Harding as its candidate in 1920. The Blackstone closed in the late 1990s, but Sage Hospitality Resources later put $128 million into renovating the Blackstone and the hotel reopened in March 2008. The hotel now boasts a modern fitness facility and the Mercat a la Planxa restaurant, which serves Spanish cuisine.
Chicago's Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel opened in May 1927 and still retains some original architecture, such as its Crystal Ballroom which sports a domed ceiling. The Millennium Knickerbocker's amenities are thoroughly modern and while Frommer's notes that guest rooms are small, they found the accommodations very comfortable.
Chicago's Hampton Inn and Suites lets children under 17 stay free and provides Nintendo consoles and games for older children. The hotel also offers cribs and high chairs on request for new parents traveling with infants.
The Affinia provides board and card games for families and will bring cribs and strollers to the guest rooms on request. The staff gives children a backpack when they check in which contains a Frommer's Chicago guide written for children, a digital camera and a Chicago scrapbook with stickers.
The Hotel Monaco's rooms each have a "meditation station," with cushions arranged in front of a picture window overlooking the city, and the hotel offers accommodations for its taller guests furnished with nine-foot long beds. Guests can also enjoy in-room spa treatments, choosing from massages, facials and body treatments.
All guest rooms in the 92 story Trump International Hotel and Tower have kitchens and guests can have one of the hotel's chefs prepare a meal in their room. Oprah Winfrey enjoys the hotel's Sixteen restaurant, highly recommending its turkey burger. The New York Times strongly recommends guests visit the hotel's Rebar lounge, praising its panoramic view of the Chicago River.
Daniel Burnham built his namesake hotel in 1895, creating one of America's first skyscrapers. The Burnham's staff give guests pet treats when they arrive and the hotel offers pet sitting and dog walking services. The Burnham's Pets in the City Package offers deluxe accommodations along with a Kimpton leash and an instruction book on pet message.
Amalfi hotel is located within walking distance of Chicago's financial and theater districts and doesn't charge pet fees or impose weight restrictions on pets. Guests may also stay with as many pets as they like. The hotel's Pamper Your Pooch Pet Package comes with overnight deluxe accommodations, a pet bed and bowl, goodie bag with a dog treat and toy, and the hotel's guide to the city for pet owners.
