This Best Western Hotel stands across from Grant Park, where rows upon rows upon rows of vividly colored flowers are visible from early spring through the end of summer. For sports fans, the hotel is across from Soldier Field, home of Da Bears. What's more, the Loop business district and the theater district are less than a mile's stroll from the hotel. Guests can easily reach assorted museums and other artsy stuff from the hotel. Chicago CityPass is good for nine days of admission to all the museums and other city attractions.

The Best Western offers guests an outdoor pool and sundeck that overlook Grant Park from the third floor. Patrons also will enjoy a fitness facility, complimentary coffee and tea in the mornings, and free newspapers.

Guest rooms include oak desks and floral-print fabrics for an English country feel. Rooms are appointed with forest-green wool carpeting, armchairs with ottomans, pale-yellow-on-gold wallpaper and colorful framed prints.

Following the Best Western company's budget-friendly national reputation, this version is perfect for business types who want access to the financial district and leisure travelers wanting convenience to "inside the Loop." The crowd here is an amalgam of guests in jeans juggling cameras and guidebooks and business types sitting on the earth-tone couches making deals over their cell phones.