You can’t get away, but you don’t have central air conditioning. Or a pool. Or a private beach, or a hot tub, or a cook. And you definitely don’t have a masseuse. But they do. —Heather Kenny
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The Drake For years, the Drake was the ne plus ultra of Chicago hotel experiences. Its gloried past can be evoked by taking tea in the Palm Court, bellying up to the bar in the Cape Cod Room (where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio’s carved initials can still be seen), or having a martini in the dim, old-fashioned atmosphere of the Coq d’Or, which was issued one of the first city liquor licenses at the end of Prohibition. Perks like a $75 Bloomingdale’s gift card accompany a shop-till-you-drop package deal, and a romantic getaway offer comes with champagne and late checkout. 140 E. Walton, 312-787-2200, thedrakehotel.com, $249-$2,500 per night.
Peninsula If you’ve got the cheese, the Peninsula is the place to go for the ultimate pampering. Known for its melding of Eastern and Western elements in everything from decor to dining, the hotel offers two well-regarded restaurants (Avenues and the Shanghai Terrace), a spa that’s regularly rated one of the best in the country, and an indoor pool with a spectacular view through 20-foot windows. Private cooking lessons and Chinese tea ceremony demonstrations are available, and a chocolate buffet every Friday and Saturday evening is the cherry on top. A “Summer Splendor” package, available until 9/6, offers rooms starting at $450 and a choice between a picnic (with wine and snacks) in Millennium Park or a visit for two to the Art Institute. 108 E. Superior, 312-337-2888, peninsula.com, $575-$8,000 per night.
