Leigh Witchel

That's awful. I had a flight once that left exactly 9 hours late from Heathrow and then had an unscheduled stop in St. John's to change crew. No crew was waiting but the pilot had flown his hours and walked off. We waited another 5 hours on the tarmac until a crew was flown in from Toronto to take us to Montreal. The positive side of that is that almost all other delays seem small in comparison.

I'd love to hear your hotel recommendations for Chicago.

Happily, the ballets have proved to be worth the trip.

I've only stayed so far at the Club Quarters Central Loop in Chicago, gotten both times as a 3* bid on Priceline, last time for $73/night, this time $68.

I like the hotel's central location and services (free in room wireless, an acceptable gym), but unless I were traveling solo I would not book it through opaque channels. The hotel could assign Priceline guests small rooms with a full size bed that I find perfectly comfortable (the room is well-designed and uncluttered) but two people would find cramped.