HELLO 2025! Do you find yourself leaping into the new year feeling energized? Or are you still reeling from the countless hours of holiday entertaining, hosting, traveling, etc.? I was recently talking to a friend who was recounting how much she enjoyed her time with family and friends over the holiday “break” while in the same breath explaining that she’s currently researching hotels for the ultimate solo getaway. Her exact words were: “I just need a hotel with a comfy bed and minimal noise — I need to familiarize myself with sleep again!” This sentiment holds true for so many people — let’s normalize the desire for a post vacation, vacation!
During the particularly boisterous times when city noises and sirens seem louder than usual, I yearn for an escape like The Neighborhood Hotel Grand Beach. This is a place that gets truly dark — like “way out there” dark — without feeling completely isolated and sad. Loneliness is kept at bay because nothing is all that far away, yet you feel completely removed from the hustle of life. The silence is pure, the nearby beach is soothing and each hotel suite is complete with all that you need. An ample TV prompts cozy evenings cuddled on the couch, a table and chair nurture journal sessions, a yoga mat in the closet invites a gentle stretch while the bed and shower provide another layer of escape. The simplest of luxuries are vital when hunkering down. If and when cabin fever sets in, a walk through the trees is magical and just minutes away, hikes amongst wetlands, through the sandy dunes and along the shore of Lake Michigan will hit the spot. These are my dreamy takeaways from solo travel moments but I’m not alone as NBC news has found that “women are increasingly planning leisure trips just for themselves.”
“The Neighborhood Hotel Grand Beach is where I find my balance and catch my breath. I live in downtown Chicago – which I love – but when I need a break from city life I yearn for the opposite. A place that’s quiet without feeling sterile or melancholy, a place that is removed but not isolated. TNBHD Grand Beach is that place for me,” says frequent guest, Megan Kulick.
According to The TechBuzz “one in five travelers ventured solo in 2024, driven by a thirst for self-discovery and adventure.”
Solo travel often crosses the boundary between leisure and business therefore making it ideal for “bleisure” [business + leisure] travel. Sometimes ‘alone time’ in a hotel is driven by the desire to tap into creative energy, solitude and/or a place to work without the distractions of home. “I love my husband…but I also LOVE traveling alone because it’s a chance to enjoy some independence without worrying if anyone else is having fun. This can mean reading, writing, binge-watching a good show or even just taking a few really great naps. The key is having uninterrupted privacy in a pretty place that feels like a nicer version of home for a night or two,” says Chicago based Freelance Writer, Allie Borden.
The Neighborhood Hotel Little Italy often has students from nearby universities/colleges (i.e. UIC, Loyola, Northwestern, Columbia) who book suites to study and/or catch up on much needed sleep for things like the IL bar or general exams. The draw to a place like The Neighborhood Hotel Little Italy is the ability to be in a comfortable space that’s outfitted with essential things like: full kitchens, local coffee grounds and Moccamaster brewers for late night/early morning focus, fast and secure wifi and living rooms that are spacious enough to set up a work station without infringing on the solitude of the sleep chambers. It’s a win/win when comfort and productivity collide so well. Plus, the hotel is surrounded by a plethora of quick food options if in-suite cooking seems like a daunting task. Nearby parks serve as the ideal dose of city nature for those needing a re-set moment powered by fresh air.
BOOK NOW for your solo travel adventure and/or rest period!
About The Neighborhood Hotel
The Neighborhood Hotel was founded in 2020 by travel enthusiasts who enjoy spaces that inspire, comfort and fuel. Each suite is well equipped for short and longterm stays (i.e. kitchens, laundry, etc.). The Neighborhood Hotel transforms old buildings with compelling history into well outfitted apartment style hotels that honor the old while representing the now. The vibe is fresh and fun with rooms that are stocked to support everyone from the homebody to the adventurer. The hotels provide a basecamp for the explorer and a sanctuary for the traveler who needs to recharge, reset or just chill. The suites are simple and clean, punctuated with accents that bring the right amount of pop. The Neighborhood Hotel has locations in Chicago: Lincoln Park, Little Italy, West Loop (2026 opening) and Southwest Michigan: New Buffalo and Grand Beach.
Read about TNBHD in: Architectural Digest, Midwest Living and CN Traveler!
Connect with @the.neighborhood.hotel on Instagram and LinkedIn!
