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What’s new and happening in Chicago

By Paul Johnson on Jan 25, 2019 in Accommodation, Attractions, Events, Food and Drink, Going Out, Hotels, Illinois, North America, Regions, Restaurants, Travel Miscellany, USA

Chicago welcomed over 57.6 million visitors in 2018, a growth of 4.3% over the previous year, resulting in a new tourism record. In 2019, Chicago will continue to wow visitors with its world-class theater, innovative culinary and mixology adventures, state-of-the-art hotels, premiere exhibits and more. This winter in Chicago, experience the Year of Chicago Theatre, […]

Barcelona Barceloneta sunrise Club1Hotels

5 of the world’s most exclusive hotels with up to 70% off

By Paul Johnson on Jan 21, 2017 in Accommodation, Chile, Europe, Featured, France, Hotels, Illinois, Middle East, North America, Regions, South America, Spain, Special Offers & Packages, Travel Miscellany, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA, Western Europe, Worldwide

As you can imagine I have stayed at some absolutely amazing hotels and resorts, which is definitely one of the perks of my job. Whether I am visiting an iconic city or one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in the world, I always like to get the best out of my trip, by matching […]

4 Chicago attractions to enjoy now

By Carol Stigger on Mar 20, 2016 in Attractions, Going Out, Illinois, North America, Regions, USA

The Windy City can hang on to a good thing for its residents and visitors, but some of its attractions are temporary. This spring is an ideal time to see two unique, temporary exhibits, experience a performance that has lasted two decades, and learn more (while eating well) about the oldest grand hotel that has […]

Top 5 hotels in Chicago

By Matthew Coe on Sep 18, 2015 in Accommodation, Hotels, Illinois, North America, Regions, USA

Chicago is a trendy, diverse city, renowned for its lively atmosphere and good food. The Windy City draws in an eclectic crowd, from hipsters to budding entrepreneurs, who all need somewhere to stay. Over the years, Chicago has seen countless hotels spring up, each one as chic and quirky as the next, all trying to […]

A rising star: Starved Rock State Park

By Carol Stigger on Sep 11, 2015 in Attractions, Food and Drink, Going Out, Illinois, North America, Regions, Travel Miscellany, USA

Utica, Illinois, just 90 miles from Chicago, was hovering beneath the radar except for people living within a two-hour drive. Then, the tiny town of Utica exploded on Flipkey (an offshoot of TripAdviser) besting vacation venues in Dubai, Barbados, Sri Lanka, India, Costal Africa and other well-known places. In the same time period, Utica had […]

5 Chicago landmarks you shouldn’t miss

By Vicky Anscombe on Sep 08, 2015 in Attractions, Going Out, Illinois, North America, Regions, USA

Say ‘Chicago’ in a crowded room, and you can bet that one or two people will end up making clever little jokes about Catherine Zeta-Jones, or jazz, or speakesies. And they’re right to; it’s a great musical. But if you’re visiting Chicago any time soon, you’ll realise very quickly that things have moved on, and […]

5 can’t miss experiences in Chicago

By Hilary Stockton on Jul 20, 2015 in Accommodation, Attractions, Cruises & Boat Travel, Food and Drink, Going Out, Hotels, Illinois, North America, Regions, Restaurants, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, USA

Chicago is sometimes overlooked by visitors, who have heard more about NYC, Miami and San Francisco, but it’s a delightful discovery that many miss out on. As a New Yorker, I loved strolling along the riverfront, with its aquamarine water (a beautiful color, thanks to water from Lake Michigan), the clean air, lack of crowds, […]

5 great Chicago places to not take the kids

By Carol Stigger on Apr 03, 2015 in Attractions, Events, Going Out, Illinois, North America, Regions, Restaurants, Travel Miscellany, USA

From sports to shopping, culture to clubbing, Chicago has attractions for every age and interest. For parents in the Chicago area, visits to the Field Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, and Lincoln Park Zoo are practically mandatory. These are popular sites for school field […]

4 fun ways to pass the time when stuck at O’Hare Airport

By Carol Stigger on Feb 23, 2015 in Air Travel, Attractions, Bars, Food and Drink, Going Out, Illinois, Leisure Travel, North America, Regions, Restaurants, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, USA

Long layovers, flight delays, and cancellations are dreaded words in any traveler’s vocabulary. But being stuck at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport no longer means you are stuck to a plastic seat, stuck in an overcrowded bar, or stuck for hours with nothing to do but wander around the concourses lamenting your luck. Thanks to a well-developed […]

Chicago’s top three hotels for luxurious fun on the Magnificent Mile

By Carol Stigger on Feb 10, 2015 in Accommodation, Hotels, Illinois, North America, Regions, Special Offers & Packages, Travel Miscellany, USA

Three of Chicago’s luxury hotels are situated on the Magnificent Mile’s prime location of Water Tower Place. They have world class spas and attractive swimming pools plus excellent restaurants. They are located above or across the street from some Chicago’s finest shopping venues and two acclaimed theaters: the LookingGlass Theater and the Broadway Playhouse. The […]

5 of the best high-in-the-sky travel experiences

By David Gilmore on Feb 09, 2015 in Asia, Attractions, China, Florida, Going Out, Illinois, Middle East, New York, North America, Regions, United Arab Emirates, USA

Dubai, Chicago, New York, Orlando, Shanghai… A solid top 5 must-visit list, and home to some the highest and sought after attractions. Being on top will always be en vogue! How do you rival an Orlando Disney World experience? What’s it like to stand atop a glass floor from 100 storeys high? How much adrenalin […]

The best free attractions in the US

By Matthew Coe on Nov 20, 2014 in Attractions, California, Going Out, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, North America, USA, Washington DC

You don’t have to spend a fortune to see some of America’s best sights and sounds. There is a plethora of attractions which are free to enjoy, from some of the country’s most famous landmarks to fascinating museums and art galleries. We’ve searched the US for its best free attractions and grouped them into this […]

Photograph of the week: The Cloud Gate, Downtown Chicago

By Paul Johnson on Sep 10, 2014 in Attractions, Going Out, Illinois, North America, Regions, USA

The Cloud Gate, better know locally and affectionately as The Bean, is a surreal, giant reflective structure in downtown Chicago that brings the tourists flocking for this skewed vision of the Windy City’s skyline. Designed by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor and dominating the AT&T Plaza in Millennium Park, The Bean throws back crazy images […]

The 9 best bacon festivals across the US

By Breanna Wilson on Aug 09, 2014 in California, Events, Food and Drink, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North America, Ohio, Regions, Travel Miscellany, USA

Pure bacon madness. Bacon Sundaes, Miso Bacon Steamed Buns, Chicken Bacon Apple Sausage Sliders and Thai Style Curried Coconut and Bacon Paella all washed down with a Maple Bacon Old Fashion. That’s just the tip of the bacon iceberg when you attend bacon festivals like the first festival on our list, the annual Bacon & […]

12 luxury hotel openings to be excited about this year

By Daniel Moran on Jul 16, 2014 in Accommodation, Africa, Asia, Australia, China, Colombia, Eastern Europe, Europe, France, Hotels, Illinois, Indonesia, Middle East, New York, North America, Oceania, Pacific Islands, Regions, Resorts, Russia, South America, Tanzania, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA, Western Europe, Worldwide

Every year sees a great many new hotels open and 2014 is no different. The major hotel brands are reacting to the market and diversifying as it is no longer enough to offer one brand and one product. Hilton, Marriott and Starwood amongst many others have different brands to suit different market needs. Whether it […]

The top 10 places to visit in 2014

By Paul Johnson on Nov 13, 2013 in Africa, Antarctic, Asia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, China, Cuba, Eastern Europe, Europe, France, Illinois, India, Japan, Latvia, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, North America, Oceania, Pacific Islands, Polar Regions, Regions, Seychelles, South Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Texas, United Kingdom, USA, Western Europe, Worldwide, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Lonely Planet’s “travel experts” have come up with three lists for where to visit in 2014. The top 10 cities to visit in 2014, the top 10 countries to visit in 2014 and the top 10 regions to visit in 2014. I do feel it lacks credibility when one of the “countries” they list is […]

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