How to Book Your Chicago Hotel With Points

Just this month, I took my husband to see Pearl Jam at Wrigley Field. After some back and forth, we decided to spend 3,000 Starpoints per night to stay at the Four Points by Sheraton Chicago O’Hare Airport. We’ve stayed there before, and it’s nicer than one might think. Plus, we didn’t plan to spend much time in our hotel room anyway.

As I searched for the best option, I was surprised by all the great hotels and properties offered by the major chains in Chicago. If you’re heading to the city and looking for a place to stay, here are some of the properties you can book with our favorite hotel credit cards.

You can book these properties with points from the IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card:

	IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card Add to Favorites	$0 intro first year $49 annual fee	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. Read Review »
Already have this card? Track it and maximize your rewards.
The information for the IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card has been collected independently by FTG. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

	IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card
Read Review Add to Favorites
Sign Up Bonus $0 intro first year $49 annual fee Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. Annual Fee Already have this card? Maximize your rewards.
Read the FTG Review »
The information for the IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card has been collected independently by FTG. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

• Holiday Inn Express Chicago, Magnificent Mile: 35,000 points per night
• InterContinental Chicago: Magnificent Mile: 50,000 points per night
• Hotel Indigo: Chicago Downtown Gold Coast: 35,000 points per night
• Crowne Plaza: Chicago Metro Downtown: 35,000 points per night
• Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Chicago – Downtown: 35,000 points per night
• Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area: 25,000 points per night

When you have the IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card, you get IHG Platinum status as a cardholder perk. As a result, you can qualify for a free room upgrade and more depending on availability.

You can book these properties with Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card:

	Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card Add to Favorites	$85 annual fee	80,000 Points After spending $3,000 in your first 3 months Read Review »
Already have this card? Track it and maximize your rewards.
The information for the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by FTG. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

	Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Read Review Add to Favorites
Sign Up Bonus $85 annual fee 80,000 Points After spending $3,000 in your first 3 months Annual Fee Already have this card? Maximize your rewards.
Read the FTG Review »
The information for the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by FTG. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

• Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel: 40,000 points per night
• JW Marriott Chicago: 40,000 points per night
• Hotel Chicago Downtown, Autograph Collection: 40,000 points per night
• Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile: 40,000 points per night
• AC Hotel Chicago Downtown: 35,000 points per night
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile: 35,000 points per night
• Chicago Marriott Midway: 30,000 points per night

With the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card, you get two free nights at any of these properties with the signup bonus alone. Also remember, your fifth night is free when you book with points.

Here are some of the best Chicago properties to book with the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card:

	Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card Add to Favorites	$95 first year $95 after first year	2 weekend night certificates After $2,500 in purchases within 4 months of account opening Read Review »
Already have this card? Track it and maximize your rewards.

	Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card
Apply Now Add to Favorites
Sign Up Bonus $95 first year $95 after first year 2 weekend night certificates After $2,500 in purchases within 4 months of account opening Annual Fee Already have this card? Maximize your rewards.
Read the FTG Review »

• Hampton Inn Majestic Chicago Theatre District: 50,000 points per night
• Palmer House – a Hilton Hotel: 50,000 points per night
• Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown: 50,000 points per night
• LondonHouse Chicago: 60,000 points per night
• Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago – Downtown: 50,000 points per night
• Conrad Chicago: 80,000 points per night

Remember, Hilton status members get their 5^th night free when they book with points. Also, consider the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve card if you want two free weekend night certificates instead of points.

You can score free weekend nights at the following Chicago properties with points earned with the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card from American Express:

	Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express Add to Favorites	$0 first year $95 after first year	25,000 Bonus Starpoints® After you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months Read Review »
Already have this card? Track it and maximize your rewards.

	Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Apply Now Add to Favorites
Sign Up Bonus $0 first year $95 after first year 25,000 Bonus Starpoints® After you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months Annual Fee Already have this card? Maximize your rewards.
Read the FTG Review »

• W – Chicago City Center: 12,000 – 16,000 points per night
• Westin Chicago River North: 12,000 – 16,000 points per night
• Aloft Chicago City Center: 12,000 – 16,000 points per night
• Sheraton Grand Chicago: 12,000 – 16,000 points per night
• The Gwen, a Luxury Collection hotel: 12,000 – 16,000 points per night
• W – Chicago Lakeshore: 12,000 – 16,000 points per night
• The Tremont Chicago Hotel at Magnificent Mile: 10,000 points per night
• The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago: 12,000 – 16,000 points per night
• Four Points by Sheraton Chicago O’Hare Airport: 4,000 points per night

Remember, you get your 5^th night free when you book your room with points at category 3 – 7 properties. Also, the Starwood Preferred Guest program makes it easy for spouses and domestic partners to combine their points into one account.

Final Thoughts

Obviously, this is just a sampling of Chicago hotels you can book with points. There are others within these programs that I didn’t mention. Plus, you can book any Chicago hotel if you have a card that offers fixed-value travel credit or flexible points.

Still, Chicago is a city where options on points are almost limitless. And the more choices we have, the better.

Have you ever stayed in Chicago on points? Where did you stay and why?

[Image via Getty]