Most people who plan a getaway to Illinois will inevitably consider heading to Chicago.  But, the “Land of Lincoln”, as Illinois is known, has a lot to offer outside of the nation’s third largest city.  Will you opt only for the big city, or for the chance to see what the other parts of the state have to offer also?  Wherever you choose to spend your time in Illinois, you can rest assured that you will find plenty of Illinois hotels wherever you go, especially in the areas of highest travel interest.  Of course, there are numerous hotels in Chicago, and in other Illinois cities you will have your pick of upscale Illinois hotels.  Off the major highways, the chain brands have plenty to offer in the way of discount lodging in Illinois. 

The kinds of hotels in Chicago that you decide to stay at will be dictated by your budget, your group make-up, and by the part of the city that you choose to make as your base.  The hotels in Chicago run the gamut from pricy to affordable, large to small.  In downtown Chicago, you will be close to all the downtown action and have a selection of some of the finest Illinois hotels anywhere.  If you have come to visit the Chicago museums, such as the Field Museum and the Art Institute, you might pick a nice downtown Chicago hotel.  The downtown hotels in Chicago can fill up quickly during the week, due to conventions, but on the weekends, you can sometimes find deals.  A popular place to stay in Chicago is on the North Side, where some of the city’s nicest neighborhoods are.  If you stay in one of the hotels in Chicago in the neighborhood of Lincoln Park, for example, you can easily get around by foot or by tax.  Really anywhere you want to go in Chicago, you can reach it on the “EL”, which is the city’s metro train.  You will find Wrigley Field on the North Side of Chicago, and the dining and nightlife here is among the best in the city. 

After your time spent in the Windy City, you might consider heading south on I-57 to the college town of Champaign.  Home to the University of Illinois, the city of Champaign has plenty in the way of exciting nightlife, as well as cultural interests and a nice array of dining opportunities.  If you are in town to see what Champaign has to offer, then you will be happy to know that the choices for Champaign hotels run deep, meaning you can satisfy your budget here and find ample discount lodging in Illinois.  Not far west of Champaign, the city of Bloomington is a good place to stop and explore, especially if you find yourself there in the summer.  Every year, from late June to early August, the famed Bloomington Shakespeare Festival delights visitors who come to see the live performances that take place at the Theatre at Ewing.  Many of the Bloomington hotels are of the chain variety, but there are also some more unique Bloomington hotels if you are looking for more character.  You may want to book your hotel room in Bloomington early if you plan to visit during the Shakespeare Festival.

A short drive continuing west from Bloomington will bring you to the small city of Peoria.  Three-time winner of the “All American City” award, Peoria might not be huge, but it is the largest city found on the Illinois River.  Peoria has a well-established parks system, and when the weather gets nice, you can tee it up on some of the Peoria, Illinois golf courses.  If you like the water, you can get excellent views of the Illinois River from atop the Tower Park viewing structure, or you can take a ride on the Spirit of Peoria, which makes scheduled trips to destinations as far as Starved Rock State Park and Pere Marquette State Park.  Much like Bloomington, the Peoria hotels offer up a good amount of chain options, with some choices as well for Illinois hotels that exhibit a bit more character or service.  For a taste of Illinois history, or for the chance to view the capitol building, a stop in the capital city of Springfield is where you will head.  Springfield has maintained some of its oldest and most significant structures, and among the various points of interest are the Vachel Lindsey House and Edward’s Place.  After your history lesson wraps up, you might opt for the excitement of the Knights Action and Caribbean Water Park and finish off the day with a movie at the historic Route 66 Twin Drive-in Movie Theater.  You can find budget hotels in Illinois in Springfield, as well as some nice bed and breakfasts.  All told, the Springfield hotels should match your needs. 
 
If you want to spend a weekend or more in one of the most unique small towns in Illinois, then you will head a few hours west of Chicago for the historic and quaint village of Galena.  Galena, and the surrounding area, feature a good amount of exposed rock, due to the fact that the region stayed clear of the glaciations of the last Ice Age.  The Galena Historic District features some of the beautiful homes of past Galena residents who made it big in the 1800's when the area was practically oozing lead.  One of the main attractions in Galena is the home of Ulysses S. Grant, and the town’s specialty shops are fun to peruse for those who love to shop.  You can find some good deals at the Galena IL hotels at the various chain-types that are found nearby.  Also, if you visit Galena outside of the warmer months, you may find significant price drops at the Galena IL hotels. 

However, if you are Galena for the full experience, then you will forego your options for discount lodging in Illinois in favor of the town’s historic and charming bed and breakfasts.  They are among the best Galena IL hotels.  From Galena back towards Chicago, you will find the city of Rockford along the way.  With some exciting things to do in town, the Rockford hotels might make it on your list.  If you have an extra day to spend in Chicago, you might head for the shopping outlets in Schaumburg.  With Schaumburg hotels being primarily of the chain variety, it is a good place to find budget hotels in Illinois.  For some of the prettiest natural landscapes in Illinois, the rolling terrain and natural vistas in the southern part of the state are where you might head.  The Garden of the Gods is a pleasure to explore, as is the entire Shawnee National Forest.