Chicago is being attacked by yet another superhero action film crew. This time, it is for the shooting of the new Superman movie “Man of Steel” starring Henry Cavill.

Comicbook superhero fans seeking a glimpse of the shooting or the stars will find them in Downtown Chicago until Sept 17. Parking on South Wells Street is on hold until Sunday because of the filming, and the film crew’s trailers are in the 311 South Wacker building parking lot nearby.

Hotel 71, Chicago

Among downtown Chicago hotels in the Loop, the usual suspects that cater to these film crews include Hotel 71 on East Wacker Drive and the Trump Tower across the river.

When “The Dark Knight” was being filmed, Hotel 71 was one of the stars in the hit Batman movie when the ballroom on the hotel’s 39th floor was used as Bruce Wayne’s penthouse.

The hotel started offering a Bruce Wayne package with a stay in a penthouse similar to the one shown in the movie.

Man of Steel star Henry Cavill was in the hotel earlier this year in July, and did a photo shoot on the same 39th floor.

Hotel 71 also offered a ‘Transformers’ package when some scenes from the third installment of the Transformers series were shot outside the hotel on Wacker Drive last year.

Hotel 71, located perfectly for leisure on the Magnificent Mile, has just completed a $15 million renovation, and offers nightly rates from $159. They have guest rooms and suites with views of Downtown or the Chicago River.

Trump Tower has benefited just as much from its role in both movies. In fact, the Transformers stars actually were staying in the hotel too, so it’s a good choice for getting up close to the Man of Steel shooting and the stars.

Just remember the not-so-secret codeword “Autumn Frost” under which the movie is being filmed.

Photo – Hotel 71

More info: 71 East Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60601; (312) 346-7100

Related posts:
3 Sci-Fi Inspired Hotels to Rest Your Travel-Weary Body At
Superman Festival, Metropolis, Illinois
Think Tall, Think Trump
A Chicago Rom Com Walking Tour

Santa Croce in Florence, Italy

Budget Travel recently alerted its readers to a new hotel tax in Italy – not for every city, but for some of the major ones. Like many countries around the world, Italy is feeling the economic pinch and is weathering these rough economic times by passing the buck onto tourists. What this means for travelers to Italy is that, in some cities, they can expect to pay between $1-$4 more per person per night than they paid last year at the same time. The majority of cities imposing these new taxes began charging them this spring and summer, but a couple, namely the Sorrento Coast and Capri, will not begin charging them until early next year.

Read More »

Would you forgo housekeeping in a hotel to save money?

I recently came across this article from The New York Times, and it got me to thinking. How far am I willing to go to save money on a hotel stay? Part of me says that if I am constantly thinking about how I can save money on a hotel stay, then perhaps I shouldn’t be staying in a hotel at all. But another part of me, the “I love a good deal” part, is willing to do a lot of things to save money on a hotel stay. Maybe even make my own bed (gasp!) Interestingly, this “make your own bed” deal is not advertised on the Marmara’s website (from what I can tell, at least), so perhaps it is no longer available. Or perhaps this is something that they advertise only in the rooms like most hotels do about saving water with towels. In my opinion, this is the sort of thing that should not be kept a secret – advertising this option would snag more customers, including myself.

Read More »

What’s better than a beachfront all-suite luxury hotel in Maui? That would be a beachfront all-suite luxury hotel in Maui that’s offering a 50 percent discount.

That description currently fits both The Fairmont Kea Lani resort and The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach. Both are undergoing renovations, and both have ‘Pardon our Dust’ offers.

The Fairmont Kea Lani

In fact, The Fairmont Kea Lani has a whole bunch of renovation packages. There’s a basic ‘Renovation with Aloha’ package which includes accommodations in a 1-bedroom luxury suite or a villa, with rates from $219 per night.

The $219 rate is a far cry from their usual $439 per night. Valid for stays until Dec 16, 2011. Then there’s also a ‘Renovation with Aloha Breakfast’ package and a ‘Renovation with Aloha Golf’ package too.

Apart from the spectacular Polo Beach and the beach-front suites and villas, The Fairmont Kea Lani offers complimentary transportation service to the adjacent Wailea Golf Club, tennis courts and shops at the Wailea Shopping Center.

Wailea Golf Course & Island Cabana at The Fairmont Kea Lani

The resort has three pools, two of which are connected by a 140-ft waterslide and have neat places to hang out like an island cabana in the middle of the pool. Then there’s the famous Spa Kea Lani and a 24-hour fitness center, a bakery and a deli and four other restaurants including the famed Ko.

Guests get complimentary self-parking, don’t have to pay a resort fee, and those with kids under 5 can save on meals with the ‘Kids Eat Free’ program.

As for the Whaler on Kaanapali Beach, their construction special includes accommodations in a 640 sq ft studio suite at a nightly rate of $168, which is a big discount on the standard $300 rate for this suite. Two night minimum stay required, and the package is valid from now until Dec 21, 2011.

Oh, and you also get a free pineapple and free access to the resort’s DVD collection. The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach, located minutes from Lahaina and directly across from two championship golf courses, offers private access to the shops and restaurants at Whalers Village.

Their studio and 1 & 2 bedroom suites include fully-equipped kitchens and private lanais. You get free in-room high speed internet, and there’s a children’s program called “Camp Kaanapali” nearby that is open to all guests staying at the hotel.

Photos – Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Related posts:
5 tips to save money at Maui restaurants
Maui’s Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa Finishes $50 Million Renovation
Kaanapali Alii, Maui, Hawaii Luxury Beachfront Condominium