A Review of Hampton Inn Chicago: Great Location, Great Price

So you're off to the Windy City for a few nights, but haven't booked a hotel. Staying in the fashionable district of any urban center is going to be more expensive than staying out in bland suburbia, where your scenery consists of Golden Arches and highway onramps. But if you're heading to a nice city like Chicago, you might as well soak in the bustling downtown ambiance while you're there. The Hampton Inn and Suites Chicago Downtown is a great place to stay for those with a mind toward economy.

If you book via Priceline and follow William Shatner's commands, you can nab a room for $60-80. A room with two double beds proved more than adequate on a recent visit. The room itself was very clean - no mysterious stains or odors to haunt my dreams. The bathroom is plain but functional, with the usual soap and shampoo freebies and a hair dryer. Although spending large amount of time in the hotel room was not my goal, it was nice to know that a modern flat screen television awaited my weary legs after a long day trekking through the city. I was also happy to find that the beds' mattresses are reasonably firm - an appealing attribute for this finicky sleeper.

One of the primary benefits of staying at a Hampton Inn hotel is that you'll be able to take advantage of the continental breakfast. At this particular hotel in Chicago, the eating area was large and the buffet was well stocked. A smiling young woman even greeted us and offered complementary mints. Choose from oatmeal, cereal, toast, waffles, hash browns, and pastries, among other starchy items. For the Atkins crowd, the hotel offers scrambled eggs, sometimes with ham or cheese. Yes, the eggs are an unnaturally bright yellow, but it's best not to question such things sometimes. They tasted fine. I was especially impressed by the fresh fruit salad of pineapple and melon. And if you're feeling righteous, or just wishing to compensate for a forthcoming day of indulgences, you'll be able to partake of plenty of low-fat options, including yogurt, apples, oranges, and bananas. Sadly, no blueberry mini-muffins, the measure of any true continental breakfast, during my particular stay.

The hotel's amenities are impressive. Through the foggy glass, the pool and hot tub appeared well-maintained. The fitness room, though small, sported two new elliptical machines, two treadmills, and a bike. At the time of my visit, there was also a free weights rack, albeit an empty one. And there are plenty of fresh towels, natural light courtesy of a large window, and a scale so can you see just how much damage that sausage deep dish pizza caused. And best of all, this Hampton Inn is in such a great location that you'll be able to go back for more pizza once you've sweated off the previous night's binging.