Nice relaxing staycation...

October 31, 2015 10:01 PM

My boyfriend is being sooper nice to me while in grad school and I want to surprise him with a pre-getaway getaway.

So we're currently both in grad school and working and he is doing a way better job than me of keeping it together and still cooking food from scratch when we're sick of microwave meals and just generally being nice and looking out for me. I am very time-poor at the moment, but I'd love to pay for a surprise getaway when this quarter is over, in mid-December. We're going to visit my family for two weeks over Christmas, but we have about a week of time in between end of finals and traveling, where I'd like to do something nice. I have thought through a few possibilities...

1) We've thought about going to New Orleans for a few days before we travel for Christmas. Is there a really nice place to stay that I have no idea about (I know nothing about New Orleans) where we could enjoy not just the city but also the actual place we're staying in?

2) If no New Orleans, I'm looking for a super relaxing Chicago-area hotel where we could just spend one night being romantic lumps together in relative luxury. I can spend a few hundred bucks but would prefer to spend less, since buying a message or ordering out food would be a nice bonus. My ideal would be to stay at a hotel the night before we fly out for Christmas, so that we don't have to make a super long schlep on public transit the day of our flight. So, if it was near O'Hare (or had shuttle service, or not too bad a cab ride) it would be a bonus. (I have the impression that airport adjacent hotels usually suck, so downtown or elsewhere could be OK too?)

I guess when I think "relaxing" I think of like, a jacuzzi, but I have no idea what I am actually concretely looking for, since luxury hotels are not really a thing I... do. We have stayed in a few nice hotels in the past through Priceline deals and it was always just so nice to have a clean, modern room to stay in with really comfy beds, so I'm looking for that PLUS... some kind of bonus. Whether it be a nice swimming pool, or a jacuzzi suite, or a spa, or anything relaxing.

Thanks!!

posted by anonymous to Travel & Transportation (6 answers total)

We stayed at the Radisson Blu Aqua in Chicago and it was great, although the rooms are not that big. It's right by Millennium Park and Cloud Gate and very walkable to all of the fun stuff. Plus, it's somewhat of an architectural icon.
posted by Ostara at 10:44 PM on October 31, 2015

The Dana Hotel is nice and has a spa. (I've never stayed there but I set up a corporate rate plan with them for prospective hires at my last job and have gone on the whole amenities tour.) In the winter they have an outdoor ice bar in their top floor lounge, which is cool if you're into that sort of thing. It's in River North.
posted by phunniemee at 4:57 AM on November 1, 2015

Oh also, at least some (possibly all?) of the rooms have a big glass wall from the shower to the bedroom so everyone can see each other nekkid (there's a curtain you can close) which I suppose is also cool if you're into that sort of thing.
posted by phunniemee at 5:00 AM on November 1, 2015

Don't stay near O'Hare! The vibe of airport hotels is 0% romantic and the airport is close to absolutely nothing that a couple looking for a luxurious city romantic getaway would want. Stay downtown/in River North. If you want to avoid the expensive cab fare to O'Hare from downtown, you can take the Blue Line to/from the airport.
posted by andrewesque at 6:18 AM on November 1, 2015 [2 favorites]

So, if it was near O'Hare (or had shuttle service, or not too bad a cab ride) it would be a bonus.

Don't stay near o'hare (ughh!). Don't shuttle or take a cab - the Blue Line to O'Hare is a more pleasant experience than either and much cheaper. So look for a hotel that is near the Blue Line for maximum convenience (but not so near - the L is loud). Further from downtown equals cheaper. If it were me I'd also plan my hotel around a nearby restaurant that I was interested in - Logan Square, Wicker Park/Bucktown is where I would probably look.
posted by srboisvert at 11:03 AM on November 1, 2015 [1 favorite]

I get the impression you're already Chicago based, so if lowering the stress of departure would be valued by both of you, then go for the airport hotel option. However, that would totally be a treat for me and not my sweetie.

It sounds like a chain catering to business travel (radisson, Hilton, Westin) may feel nice enough for a treat if you're living frugally in student digs.
At this moment, Priceline has some pre-holiday overnight rates of $120. Keep in mind that it may be a peak travel night - the deals may not be there.

Alternatively, you could organize a nice dinner at home, or slightly fancier than usual out in the city. Or arrange some healthy meals be delivered for the week of his/your anticipated academic crunch time.
posted by Heart_on_Sleeve at 4:55 PM on November 1, 2015