# Something I Should Know About Going In In Chicago (Crowded Hotels)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444 "2011-06-05T22:06:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/1 "2011-06-05T22:06:21Z")
I’ve been making trips to Chicago for work periodically over the past couple years. Generally I’m able to find a City Center hotel, even on short notice, for ~$200. Planning a trip over the next couple days, I’m having a hard time finding anything reasonable (business hotel, centrally located) much below $400. The W City Center, where I’ve stayed and which isn’t even that great a business hotel, wants $437, and the J.W. Marriott is sold out. Is there something special going on in Chicago this week, or is early Summer some kind of high season, or did I just luck out over the past few years due to the soft economy, and this is more like normal? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/2 "2011-06-06T00:21:52Z")
Here’s an article which mentions it: [http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/problemsolver/ct-biz-1014-problem-kiles-20101014,0,4757628,full.column](http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/problemsolver/ct-biz-1014-problem-kiles-20101014,0,4757628,full.column) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/3 "2011-06-06T01:04:53Z")
1. Tourist season _is_ underway (though it’ll be even heavier in July and August). 2. The American Society of Clinical Oncology is meeting at McCormick Place through Tuesday; that’s a convention with over 32,000 attendees. Big conventions like that tend to fill up all of the mid-to-high end hotels throughout the city. There are a number of smaller meetings going on this week, as well. [http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago-conventions-trade-shows-conferences.htm](http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago-conventions-trade-shows-conferences.htm) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/4 "2011-06-06T01:07:30Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Here’s an article which mentions it: [http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/problemsolver/ct-biz-1014-problem-kiles-20101014,0,4757628,full.column](http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/problemsolver/ct-biz-1014-problem-kiles-20101014,0,4757628,full.column) Note that your link leads to an Tribune article from last October. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/5 "2011-06-06T01:17:26Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Note that your link leads to an Tribune article from last October. :smack: I hate when newspapers link to articles that aren’t current! ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/6 "2011-06-06T04:24:04Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > 1. Tourist season _is_ underway (though it’ll be even heavier in July and August). > > 2. The American Society of Clinical Oncology is meeting at McCormick Place through Tuesday; that’s a convention with over 32,000 attendees. Big conventions like that tend to fill up all of the mid-to-high end hotels throughout the city. There are a number of smaller meetings going on this week, as well. > [http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago-conventions-trade-shows-conferences.htm](http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago-conventions-trade-shows-conferences.htm) Ding ding ding. Thanks. My Asperger’s cab driver confirmed this (and many other unsolicited Chicago facts). Ironically (lates misuse of the word), the cheapest hotel I could find was in the heart of the oncolofy conference, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick ($237). Not bad though will need cab drive through morning rush to center city. Okay, as long as I’m trolling – dinner suggestions for tomorrow? Near Convention Center or otherwise? I went to Publican last time – nice. Have hit Topalombamba last few times. Anything you’d suggest? ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/7 "2011-06-06T11:42:17Z")
I’ve always been a fan of Avec (615 W. Randolph) if you’re looking for something less-than-formal but still gourmet. Sitting at the bar and watching the food being prepared was fascinating for a foodie like me, and the food itself is damn good. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/8 "2011-06-06T13:21:50Z")
No need for a cab ride. Take the #3 bus from your hotel straight up Michigan Avenue, every few minutes during rush hours. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/9 "2011-06-06T13:54:13Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > Okay, as long as I’m trolling – dinner suggestions for tomorrow? Near Convention Center or otherwise? I went to Publican last time – nice. Have hit Topalombamba last few times. Anything you’d suggest? My only suggestion is, wherever you decide to go, make a reservation if you can. All of those doctors will stream out of that conference at 4 or 5, and want to have a nice dinner. 😛 There’s not much in the way of dining near McCormick Place, so they’ll all be heading downtown, too. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/10 "2011-06-06T15:32:16Z")
From McCormick Place, you’re pretty close to Chinatown. Lots of good places there. Lao Sze Chuan is a personal favorite. Or go to Ricobene’s on 26th street, have some good cheap eats, and pocket your per diem… ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/11 "2011-06-07T02:31:49Z")
It’s always wise to check the local sports listings, too. A Cubs home game can really foul it up north on the Kennedy and side streets, Sox down south on the Dan Ryan. The other expressways wil vary. It would be hard to go wrong at [Girl and the Goat](http://www.girlandthegoat.com/) for dinner. If short notice and dining alone, try for seat at the bar. Lately, I’m more surprised at how light traffic is sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/12 "2011-06-07T02:37:18Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Lately, I’m more surprised at how light traffic is sometimes. I had a conversation about that with a cab driver last year; his observation was that it’d been true since the financial crash in '08. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-should-know-about-going-in-in-chicago-crowded-hotels/584444/13 "2011-06-07T23:15:13Z")
Somehow my dumb ass replied this thread: [What is the best time to avoid Chicago traffic](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=611385) here and yet added the restaurant rec.