You don’t have to be a well-financed frequent flier to have the adventure you’ve been craving, and you don’t need to head overseas to have your next memorable trip. According to the New York Times and Condé Nast Traveler, three U.S. cities worth visiting in 2018 are New Orleans, Denver and Seattle.
Fortunately, there are plenty of relatively inexpensive flights between Chicago and those desirable urban destinations in the next few months, at least according to travel site Skyscanner.
Here’s a list of flights and hotels to get you excited about your next domestic excursion … or dare we say excursions.
(Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in the articles may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Prices and availability are subject to change.)
New Orleans
Flights between Chicago and New Orleans are frequent, and the best deals are if you fly nonstop, roundtrip with Spirit. The airline has $120 tickets for trips in August, September, and October.
Not sure where to stay?
The French Market Inn (509 Rue Decatur) has a 4.5-star rating out of six reviews on Skyscanner. With a nightly rate of $69, the hotel is an inexpensive option. Set in the heart of New Orleans, this hotel is close to the Riverwalk Marketplace, Jackson Square and Bourbon Street.
Another option is Hotel Monteleone (214 Royal St.), which at $179/night has a 4.7-star rating out of 27 reviews on Skyscanner. The hotel, which dates back to 1886, is located in the French Quarter, and is close to the Canal Street Shops, Harrah's New Orleans and the famous Cafe du Monde.
There's also the centrally located Hyatt French Quarter (800 Iberville St.), which has a 4.8-star rating and rooms for $125/night.
Denver
If you're looking for cheap flights, consider flying to Denver. There are plenty of nonstop, roundtrip flights between Chicago and Denver for less than $100 with Spirit. For example, there are deals in August, September, and October for $92.
If you're considering hotel accommodations, the Capitol Hill Mansion Bed & Breakfast (1207 Pennsylvania St.) has rooms for $130/night, plus it has a 5-star rating on Skyscanner.
The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa (321 17th St.) is another top-rated place to stay. With a 4.9-star rating out of 16 reviews, rooms are currently available for $169/night.
If you're looking for an inexpensive hotel, the Hyatt Regency Denver (650 15th St., near the Colorado Convention Center), which has a 4.5-star rating, has rooms available for $76/night. The hotel is close to the United States Mint, the Denver Art Museum and the 16th Street Mall.
Seattle
Lastly, getting to Seattle is well with-in your reach, especially if you're willing to travel in the next couple of months, when the deals are at their best (and Seattle's weather is on its best behavior). Nonstop flights with Spirit are currently going for $158, roundtrip, in late August and early September.
In terms of hotels, one of the top-rated, cheapest options is the Moore Hotel (1926 2nd Ave.). It has a 4.2-rating on Skyscanner, and rooms are available for $67/night.
Another option is the W Seattle (1112 4th Ave.), which has a 4.2-rating and rooms available for $159/night. According to Skyscanner: "Set in the heart of Seattle, this 4-star hotel is close to Seattle Public Library, Pike Place Market, Columbia Center, and the Space Needle."
A popular bed and breakfast, the Bacon Mansion (959 Broadway E.), has rooms for $104/night. It also has a perfect 5-star rating out of four reviews on Skyscanner.
