What are some good hotels/things to do/restaurants in chicago?

My boyfriend and I are looking to plan a little weekend getaway to chicago in the next month. I would like to stay in a hotel somewhere in downtown chicago or near there. Please don't list hotels that are more than $150 per night. We are poor college students. Also, what are some inexpensive things we could do and or see while we are there? And what are some good places to eat?What are some good hotels/things to do/restaurants in chicago?
Welcome to a fantastic city!

AND yes you can stay a number of places right in the downtown area within your budget. See the Cheap hotels page below for a list of various hotels, plus there are coupons right on the page the last I checked one even mentioned hotels for about $59.00, in addition to the ones on the page. So YES it's very doable.

I moved to Chicago for college and survived just find on a college income. :)



There are lots of things to do without spending a lot, I'm providing some links to help you have a great time, these pages all have things you can do so browse and find the perfect ones for you and your boyfriend.



Shopping, if you like to window shop, it's definitely cheap sometimes I love to just see what's there.

Navy Pier no cost to get on the pier, and they have a number of great restaurants that are budgetable

Architecture Chicago has fantastic architecture to look at, and for this you can just simply walk around.

Festivals, Chicago has TONS of them and a lot of them don't cost to get in, all you pay for is food if you want, and a lot of them have music, and lots of entertainment that you can enjoy as you walk around.

Museums, yes there is a cost, however, check with the ones you're interested in and find out if or rather when they have FREE days

Chicago has a FREE zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, it's right off the lake so you can enjoy the zoo and then walk right over to the FREE beaches

YUMMY Food, take a look at the different types of food on the restaurant link, there is information on this page for every budget.







All this to say there is SOO much you can do as a college student on a budget in this beautiful city.



Chicago is a city with tens of thousands of college students who love this beautiful city so they've created LOTS to do for college students.





I hope you have the best trip possible!! :D







Cheap hotels http://www.exciting-chicago-vacation.com鈥?/a>



Shopping malls: http://www.exciting-chicago-vacation.com鈥?/a>What are some good hotels/things to do/restaurants in chicago?
I don't have any suggestions on hotels, except I wouldn't stay somewhere expensive so you have more money to spend on fun. As for places to go there is Navy Pier which is fun, also there's the Sears(or willis) tower, go to the top and see the whole city, and a great restaurant is Ed Debevic's, it's not very expensive, it's like a oldies style burger joint, and the waitors are all rude(jokingly) and really funny.What are some good hotels/things to do/restaurants in chicago?
Visit the Aquarium and natural history museum if you're interested in that kind of thing. They do cost so it's not something you can do cheaply.

Also be ready for the tolls on the highways, you have to stay in the right lane to pay them or a camera will record your plates and you will get a fine in the mail.
Hotels in downtown Chicago are expensive. Use Expedia and see if that gets you some deals.



If money is an issue, you need to try to do more things that are free. You can always walk around Navy Pier.



There is so much to do and so much good food to be eaten, you can do just about anything and still have a great time.



I suggest explore, ride the L.