The 8th Best Hotel On Earth Is Only 90 Minutes From Rockford

So you've stayed at places like Motel 6, The Red Roof Inn, Days Inn, Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, and/or any similar lodging with the words "motel" or "inn" attached. Feel like an upgrade?

If you've fantasized about staying at a luxurious, all-the-amenities-and-then-some world class hotel, the good news is that you don't have to fly for hours and hours to get there. Just set your car's navigation system to 521 N. Rush Street in Chicago.

That's where you'll find The Gwen: A Luxury Collection Hotel in Downtown Chicago. Yeah, it's a pretty long name, so we'll just go with The Gwen.

Condé Nast Magazine Puts The Gwen At #8 On Their List Of The Best Hotels In The World

For 34 years now, Condé Nast has been asking their readers to name their favorite spots, and for their 2021 list, over 800,000 people weighed in with their thoughts. Not only did readers heap a lot of praise on The Gwen, they showed Chicago a lot of love, too. Chicago was named the "Best Big City" nationwide in Condé Nast's 2021 roundup for the fifth year in a row, beating out New York City, New Orleans and Boston for the number-one ranking.

The Gwen, Named For A 1920s-Era Chicago-Born Sculptor, Goes For Old World Luxury

The Gwen has shown up very well previously on the Condé Nast people's choice vote, having been recognized in 2017 and 2019 before being named to the list once again this year.

Condé Nast:

The Gwen, located on the city’s famed Magnificent Mile and in the landmark McGraw-Hill building—with its 1928 facade wholly preserved—does just that. Art deco interiors with taupe- and gold-hued rooms emanate old-fashioned glamour and chic modernity all at once. The rooftop bar and restaurant, Upstairs at the Gwen, is buzzy as can be when the weather is nice, and your best shot for mingling with a crowd beyond the hotel’s typical guests on business travel.