Wife and some friends want to go to Chicago Thanksgiving weekend and do some shopping. Looking for a hotel to stay at that is safe. She’s been told to get a hotel out of the city but I find it hard to believe there isn’t an area that’s safe near downtown. Suggestions?
Chicago hotels and shopping
- Thread starter denmar81
- Start date
I’ve stayed all over downtown Chicago and never felt unsafe. Stay close to Michigan Avenue and she should be fine. I love Howl at the Moon and there is a Marriott around the corner we stay at frequently.
Look for a hotel in River North area. Several nice options.
Don’t be ridiculous and get one ‘out of the city’. You’ll be fine.
Don’t be ridiculous and get one ‘out of the city’. You’ll be fine.
I hate big cities and I hate shopping. I would be in the suburbs if I was forced to go to Chicago for some reason.
Agree with previous posters about staying downtown. I usually attend a Broadway show when in Chicago and have stayed at a variety of hotels south of the river close to the theater. Never felt unsafe walking around or going north of the river to the shopping area, but I am also not staying out late. There are definitely fewer people walking around post Covid during the week due to virtual work.
Oak Brook sounds just like your cup of tea.
I don’t see a lot of smokers at the outdoor mall there but I’m sure you could find your people.
Anywhere on or near the Mag mile. We stay multiple times a year and go to cubs games, the pier, etc.
I’ve never felt unsafe in downtown Chicago…lots of people around. Basically anything close to the river/Navy Pier are great locations.
What tiny town are you from OP? Like others have said, downtown Chicago is not scary or unsafe.
What heat is wife and friends packing, that will determine where they should stay
hawkeyetraveler
HB Heisman
Good lord OP…downtown Chicago is very safe. Have lived here for 30 years. Never been mugged, never had property stolen. Hell I Iet my kids visit downtown unsupervised as high schoolers. So relax. The violence is not in the places your wife will be.
As to where to stay: I assume she wants to shop the mag mile? Any hotel within walking distance will be very safe.
As to where to stay: I assume she wants to shop the mag mile? Any hotel within walking distance will be very safe.
Chicago shootings: Tracking gun violence in 2024
The city of Chicago continues to grapple with gun violence, which impacts hundreds of people every year. As of July 7, 2024, there have been almost 1,200 total reported shootings in the city, according to the Chicago Police Department.
"We cannot take our eyes off the ball," Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said at a news conference following a violent July 4 holiday weekend. "We cannot stop thinking about the people who have been victimized by this crime."
While long holiday weekends often see a spike in gun violence, Chicago police and city officials are working to curb shootings and make the city safer.
These are the latest updates on gun violence in the city of Chicago in 2024.
Chicago shootings: Tracking gun violence in 2024
Chicago shootings in 2024 happen across the city. These are the latest updates on gun violence in Chicago this year.
Funny that you say that about never having anything stolen in 30 years. My son and a friend went to a Sox game last year and had their car stolen from the hotel parking garage.
Chicago gets such a bad rap when so much of it is really safe and so awesome. There are a lot of areas in Davenport that make me much more uneasy than in Chicago, or NYC, for that matter. 1990s downtown Detroit was a much different story.
Downtown shootings up 220%, biggest spike in city: ‘People are fed up’
The economic and cultural hub has seen the most shootings in years. The rise mirrors a citywide violent crime wave and threatens downtown’s recovery.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- In just the past three days there have been four shootings in downtown Chicago – nine people have been shot, two of them were killed, and three of them were caught in crossfire.
We have asked city officials about safety and changes for weeks. On Tuesday, CBS 2's Tara Molina took a closer look at the crime.
With nine people shot, two killed in downtown Chicago in past three days, what are the city's safety plans?
In just the past three days there have been four shootings in downtown Chicago – nine people have been shot, two of them were killed, and three of them were caught in crossfire.
www.cbsnews.com
The economic and cultural hub has seen the most shootings in years. The rise mirrors a citywide violent crime wave and threatens downtown’s recovery.
So instead of bitching, give him a rec. How about the Swissotel on North Wacker?
We have stayed here multiple times since I have top tier Hyatt status and have enjoyed it.
Have you been to Chicago? My wife and I and 2 teenagers walked all over downtown Chicago at all times of the day. Really impressed with how safe we felt.
Generally I've had no issues safety wise north of 55 and east of 90. Busy? Absolutely. Traffic? Generally terrible. Safe? No worse than any medium to large city. Use common sense, like train stations late at night are not be the best of ideas, and you'll be fine.
I find no small amount of humor when reading posts authored by self-proclaimed MAGA "tough guys" who are scared of big cities.
I've stayed there, too. Very nice Hilton property.
I've stayed in several hotels in downtown, River North and West Loop and not once felt unsafe.
I was trying to find the words to post this but you did it perfectly. Those gravy seals are afraid of their shadows.
Great location. You're within walking distance of everything. There's a park/retail area behind your hotel with a nice little diner (Eggy's) that's a good spot for brunch.
Loews is our preferred hotel in DT Chicago, but there are tons of hotel options DT you can't go wrong with. Just have your wife pull up hotels on Google maps and pick the one that best suits them.
Chicago might be one of the best big cities in the entire world. Def the best in the USA. Downtown is incredibly safe. Just don’t drive to far south Chicago (not Chicago by the way). Do you people even big city bros?
Agree, any place on Michigan is a good one. Stayed at the Hilton where they filmed The Fugitive with Harrison Ford, nice place as it’s about a block from a Lou Malnotti’s. Stayed a lot at the downtown Marriott diagonal to Joe’s Stone Crab. Also close to Geno’s and not too far from Giordano’s as well as Garret’s popcorn. Good stuff. Lots of good shopping up and down the street depending on what you are looking for.
Also, there are rules OP, abide by them!
Also, there are rules OP, abide by them!
hawkeyetraveler
HB Heisman
I wasn’t trying to bitch, I was trying to reset his erroneous expectation about the city. As I said - any hotel near mag mile will be safe. I didn’t give a specific hotel recommendation because OP didn’t give a price point or preferences outside safety. You can do anything from a low end hotel to The Peninsula or the St. Regis.
No idea about the Swissotel - I’m not familiar with it and I don’t know anyone that has stayed there.
Your wife will probably feel safer just going to the Williamsburg outlet mall instead. Leave the big cities to the pros
I have no idea about the Swissotel or if it still exists. I did stay there many years ago and it was nice.
