Value has been hard to come by this year. Since we pay full price for all the hotels we review, we have felt the surge in room rates just like everyone else. Fortunately, there are still some wonderful places in the United States where plush accommodations can be had at a reasonable cost, perhaps even at a discount. Chicago is one of those places. Because big cities haven’t seen the demand spikes experienced by beach resorts and national parks, their hotel prices haven’t increased so steeply. During our summer stays, we discovered room rates that were perhaps 30 percent less than usual, and more important, we had a sensational time visiting uncrowded museums and dining in superlative restaurants. This autumn is an ideal time for a long weekend in the city.