Traveling for business can be fun, but it doesn’t come without stress. Depending on how long you need to be on the road, things can get pretty overwhelming. From packing enough to finding a place to call home, business travel isn’t cherished by everyone. However, there’s one thing that can drastically increase your experience and even make you excited for future ventures. When visiting a major city like Chicago—known for its vibrant downtown, world-class amenities, and heavy traffic—choosing the right place to stay can make or break your trip. To help you make informed decisions, here are five common mistakes business travelers make when booking accommodations in Chicago and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Prioritizing Cost Over Convenience
Regardless of who’s paying for the trip, saving money is always a priority. This is especially true for corporate travelers on a budget. However, when you try to choose accommodations based solely on price, there can be a lot of unintended consequences—especially in a sprawling city like Chicago.
For one, budget options tend to be located (far) outside of the city center. This might seem like a good deal at first, but quite a few things could go wrong. You might end up with a broken-down budget option utterly unconnected to the city or any form of public transportation. Without a car (or even with one), getting to where you need to go can be a huge pain that takes hours out of your day. Commuting from some areas outside the Chicagoland area could add two to three hours of navigating public transportation (plus a few Ubers) or sitting in traffic. Chicago’s notorious rush hour can turn a 15-minute drive into a 65-minute ordeal, and that’s within proximity to the city. Additionally, transit costs can quickly add up, diminishing any savings you might have gained by booking a cheaper hotel or rental.
Another thing to note is that you may end up in an unsafe area. While many neighborhoods of Chicago are safe, others can be a bit dangerous or uncomfortable at certain hours of the night. Per night cost decreases may be tied to this factor.
What to Do Instead:
- Stay Central: Prioritize accommodations near downtown or your primary meeting location. Areas like the Loop, River North, and Streetervilleare popular for business travelers because they are close to office buildings, conference centers, and great dining options.
- Corporate Housing: Consider corporate housing options like Corporate Suites Network, which combines affordability with convenience by offering centrally located, fully furnished apartments designed for business travelers.
Not only will a centrally located stay save you time, but it also provides easier access to networking events, business dinners, and the attractions that make Chicago so unique.
Mistake 2: Choosing the Wrong Neighborhood for Your Lifestyle
In addition to choosing the wrong neighborhood in terms of safety, business travelers don’t often consider which area will best suit them during their free time. Instead, business travelers focus entirely on proximity to work. While this is important, staying in a neighborhood that doesn’t match your lifestyle or interests can leave you feeling disconnected or bored during your downtime. Luckily, Chicago has a ton of unique, vibrant neighborhoods, so it’s easy to find your perfect fit.
To help you find the best option, consider some of your hobbies. If you love the arts, choose neighborhoods like the West Loop or River North for access to galleries and theaters. For those more into active living and fitness, for areas near Lake Michigan with easy access to jogging paths and gyms. You should also consider dining and entertainment options. If you enjoy vibrant nightlife or unique dining options, areas like Fulton Market or the South Loop offer plenty to explore after work.
Finding accommodations in a neighborhood that suits your interests can enhance your trip and make your downtime more enjoyable, so put some thought into it. You can also find more about choosing the right neighborhood here.
Mistake 3: Assuming Hotels Are Cheaper Than Corporate Housing
Many business travelers default to booking hotels, assuming they are the most affordable option. However, for extended business trips, this can be a costly mistake. Hotels often charge higher nightly rates and lack the amenities and conveniences standard with corporate housing. Instead, it’s essential to consider different factors, analyze costs, and adopt a long-term mentality.
Factor in additional expenses like dining out, laundry, parking, and internet fees that hotels often charge. You’ll also want to consider rate differences for stays longer than a week. Hotels don’t typically offer any discount, while corporate housing can provide significant cost savings. Plus, you get more value for your money in furnished corporate housing, so it’s a win-win.
Mistake 4: Neglecting to Verify Amenities
That brings us to our next point—amenities. Not all accommodations cater to the needs of business travelers, especially not hotels designed with tourism in mind. While the price or location might seem appealing, you could end up in a place that lacks the basic amenities required for a productive trip. Imagine checking in late after a long flight, only to find out the Wi-Fi is unreliable, the workspace is nonexistent, or the in-room coffee machine is broken.
As a business traveler, some of the essential amenities to look for when booking accommodation include:
- Reliable High-Speed Internet: A must-have for video conferences, emails, and accessing corporate systems.
- Workspace Availability: Look for a desk or dedicated workspace in your room and quiet areas for calls or meetings.
- On-Site Business Facilities: Conference rooms, printers, and co-working spaces can be lifesavers.
- Kitchenette or Full Kitchen: For longer stays, having a kitchenette can save time and money on dining out.
Mistake 5: Ignoring Guest Reviews and Ratings
Another mistake that business travelers tend to make is ignoring the reviews. However, marketing photos and descriptions don’t always tell the full story. What appears to be a well-maintained hotel or rental on a booking site might be outdated, unclean, or poorly managed. But the people you stay with are just as important as the accommodation. Guest reviews are a goldmine of information, offering real-world insights into the quality of accommodations.
For example, a hotel might advertise “high-speed Wi-Fi,” but reviews might reveal frequent outages. Similarly, noise complaints or cleanliness issues could affect your ability to relax and focus after a long day of work.
Always look for feedback within the last six months to clearly understand current conditions. You should also check for patterns in reviews, as a single negative one doesn’t always paint the right picture. If you’re unsure, contact a few options and see how you feel about their customer service and responsiveness. This can give you some insight into what to expect.
Why Corporate Housing is the Perfect Solution
Chicago is a dynamic city with endless opportunities for business travelers. However, avoiding these five common mistakes when choosing your accommodations can make your trip smoother, more productive, and more enjoyable.
Corporate housing offers a practical, stress-free alternative to traditional hotels when planning a business trip to Chicago. Companies like Corporate Suites Network specialize in providing fully furnished apartments that cater specifically to business travelers. Corporate Suites Network is proud to offer extended-stay housing with unbeatable value as an independently owned and operated organization. Alongside our luxury amenities, we offer fully furnished apartments in prime locations throughout the vibrant neighborhoods of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Each apartment is ready for move-in, so you can focus on maximizing your productivity without disrupting your daily routine. To learn more about Corporate Suites Network’s available properties in Chicago, call us at 1 (800) 833-0331 or email us today.