Part of the Marathon Majors, Chicago is now one of the biggest marathons in the world. With its wide flat roads, boisterous crowds and city centre start/finish area it has also developed a reputation as being one of the best marathon running experiences anywhere. Chicago itself is also a magnificent city to spend a weekend, it is the home of the Blues and superb shopping on Michigan Avenue. All are accessible from our fantastic and historic hotel base, the superb 4-star Drake Hotel, located r…
Part of the Marathon Majors, Chicago is now one of the biggest marathons in the world. With its wide flat roads, boisterous crowds and city centre start/finish area it has also developed a reputation as being one of the best marathon running experiences anywhere. Chicago itself is also a magnificent city to spend a weekend, it is the home of the Blues and superb shopping on Michigan Avenue. All are accessible from our fantastic and historic hotel base, the superb 4-star Drake Hotel, located right on the Magnificent Mile.
As the 2020 event was cancelled due to the Covid Pandemic many of our runners chose to defer their entries which means we have only a limited number of places remaining for 2021. While there are no guarantees about any travel in 2021, the positive news about the roll out of the vaccination programme in the UK and USA gives us confidence that Chicago and other autumn Marathon Majors will go ahead as planned.Â
If Covid restrictions remain in place and the event cannot go ahead your deposit is fully refundable or can be deferred to a future year at the same prices. Furthermore we will not ask you to pay the balance of the booking until we are certain the trip will go ahaed.Â
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The RaceÂ
With a start and finish in the wide spaces of Grant Park on the shores of Lake Michigan - this is where President Obama made his first speech after being elected as President - Â the race logistics of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon are very easy.
With 45,000 runners this is truly a major event and many think the best of the big marathons as its status as one of the Marathon Majors (along with London, Boston, Berlin, Tokyo and New York) testifies. Â
The route takes in much of the shoreline and the downtown areas with their massive and distinctive skyscrapers, such as the Sears Building on the Magnificent Mile. It is very flat with just a rise on a slip road as you go up and over a highway for the turn towards the finish.Â
GUARANTEED RACE ENTRY
We have a limited number of guaranteed entry places for the 2021Chicago Marathon which are available with a travel package only - our places are GUARANTEED with our travel packages and you will not have to go through the ballot system. The minimum package under our ITP contract with Bank of America Chicago Marathon is Hotel with entry - we are not able to offer Flight with entry and there is NO ENTRY ONLY.
The prices on our hotel-only and our full packages, do not include the price of the race entry you will need to add that to those prices if you require a guaranteed entry. Runners with their own places can also join our tour at the prices quoted below.
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DRAKE HOTEL CHICAGO****Superior
The Drake Hotel is one of Chicago's oldest and best-known hotels. Throughout the roaring twenties, The Drake Hotel became high-society’s first choice in opulence. The Fountain Court, now known as the Palm Court, hosted Chicago's social elite daily for tea—a continuing tradition at The Drake. The popularity of the illustrious urban resort continued to rise well into the 1930s seemingly unaffected by the crash of 1929. Icons such as Bing Crosby, Walt Disney, George Gershwin, and Charles Lindbergh could be seen sipping a cocktail and listening to Herbie Kay in The Gold Coast Room.
Guest rooms at The Drake, a Hilton hotel, are distinguished by their comfort, elegance, and amenities.  All of the hotel accommodations feature HDTVs, and Italian marble bathrooms, enhancing the luxurious ambience. The distinctively furnished rooms are diligently designed to meet your every need.
All Deluxe Rooms feature either a king bed or two oversized twin beds. Both rooms come standard with office space, HDTV,  in-room seating and high-speed Wi-Fi.
There are two packages available, a full, flight-inclusive package and a hotel and entry package.Â
Thu 7 Oct:          Flight to Chicago from London Heathrow with British Airways (BA 295) departing 10.30 and arriving 13:10 local time  - or book your own flights on a hotel and entry only package (transfers are not included if you are booking your own flights). Manchester flights are available on request.
On arrival at O'Hare International Airport, if you are on a full flight and hotel package from LHR, we will transfer you to your hotel, the 4-star Drake Chicago Hotel (room only basis) where you can leave your luggage then make your way to marathon registration (hotel check-in from 3pm). After check-in, there is time to relax or join us for a loosen up run along the Lake Michigan shoreline to nearby Grant Park where the race starts and finishes.
Fri 8 Oct:      Flight to Chicago from London Heathrow with British Airways (BA 295) departing 10.30 and arriving 13:10 local time  - or book your own flights on a hotel and entry only package (transfers are not included if you are booking your own flights). Manchester flights are available on request.
On arrival at O'Hare International Airport, if you are on a full flight and hotel package from LHR, we will transfer you to your hotel, the 4-star Drake Chicago Hotel (room only basis) where you can leave your luggage then make your way to marathon registration (hotel check-in from 3pm). After check-in, there is time to relax or join us for a loosen up run along the Lake Michigan shoreline to nearby Grant Park where the race starts and finishes.
Sat 9 Oct:       Day to visit registration or go shopping on the Magnificent Mile. Visit Navy Pier or view Lake Michigan from the Sears Tower Sky Deck or visit the excellent Art Institute of Chicago.  Pasta Party in the evening - must be pre-booked and paid.
Sun 10 Oct:       Race day - the marathon starts at 7.30am in Grant Park. In the evening why not join us on an optional river cruise with dinner to celebrate your performance - cost £82 per person including a 2 course plated dinner and dessert station.
Mon 11 Oct:     Transfer to Chicago O'Hare Airport for your return flight to London with British Airways (BA 296) departing 20:55 and arriving 10:45 the next day.Â
Extended stay after 11 October at the prices shown in the price section - transfer to the airport is not included on early arrivals/extended stays - a taxi from the hotel to the airport is approx $40 alternatively the subway system connects directly with the airport.
Please be aware from 1 April 2016 all customers travelling to the USA on the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) require an E-passport. For all up-to-date information please check http://www.dhs.gov/visa-waiver-program-requirements
CHICAGO PRICES PER PERSON IN UK £'S
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| PRICES PER PERSONÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | TWIN/DOUBLE ROOM | SINGLE ROOM |
| 3-NIGHT HOTEL ONLY PACKAGE     | £769 | £1389 |
| 4-NIGHT HOTEL ONLY PACKAGE | £939 | £1749 |
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 TWIN/DOUBLE |
 SINGLE |
| 3-NIGHT FLIGHT & HOTEL PACKAGE | £1489    | £2099   |
| 4-NIGHT FLIGHT & HOTEL PACKAGE | £1679 | £2469  |
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| EXTRA NIGHTS - TWIN/DOUBLE ROOM    | £200 Per person |
| EXTRA NIGHTS - SINGLE ROOM | £350 |
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Single means one person is occupying the hotel room, double is two people sharing a king-sized double bed, twin is two people in one room with two beds. If you are travelling alone the single person cost applies. Hotel bookings are on a room-only basis. Flight and hotel packages also include airport transfers to and from the hotel.
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Race entry is not included on the hotel-only or flight and hotel packages and should be added to the prices above if required.
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A non-refundable deposit per person is required to secure this tour:
The final balance payment is due 10 weeks before travel (July 28th). This date may be put back if the trip remains in doubt due to Covid restrictions.
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For further information email 2:09 Events on info@209events.com
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