We stayed on a Wednesday Night after looking around Chicago for a closer location than the suburban (Marriott) locations we had stayed from Friday to Tuesday. Note: Last Minute Lodging searches are not a recommended big city travel strategy. After a leisurely drive north along the Lake Michigan Chicago North Shore up through Evanston showed no motels in sight or any room availability near Northwestern U --- so we headed south back down along the lake drive to the Super 8 Motel we had spotted in the Chicago/ Rogers Park neighborhood near Loyola U.
As the previous “trip advisor” review mentions – there is a very small lobby and a tiny elevator, with very light breakfast food but we are Talking a Super 8 Motel! ---The coffee was OK for a morning wakeup and the tiny pastries can hold you off until you find a good local place to eat. The Parking is included and is a fenced in so that a big plus. In the morning we walked to Jarvis Square (about two blocks) and found an outstanding coffee and bagel spot next to an Irish Pub This is also the Jarvis CTA train stop for access to everywhere in Chi Town. The beach park is two blocks from the motel for a nice walk on the beach.
The entrepreneurial desk clerk might have over charged us a few bucks (140) over the listed rates Super 8 (online rates are 90 up to 160 for the listed "hot tub "rooms) for the medium size room (#410) - but it was the last room available at 8pm (or another trip back out to the OHare suburbs). The room was spartan but clean with the heavy deodorized smell that comes from a good cleanup following a smoker. The AC ran nice and cold and the windows opened overlooking the back of the property for a little fresh air. Fresh paint was apparent and they might eventually install the bathroom exhaust fan. The High Speed Internet worked for an email check and some browsing, but the cabling took a lot of trial and error adjustment to get that cable link light active! I had to resort to swapping the cable wire from the TV to get the reliable signal.
We'll stay there again - just make the reservation in advance and remember to bring our beach towels and picnic gear.