Anyone here familiar with O'hare/Chicago?

[MissManda]

Not really Disney related but I thought it would be worth asking to see if anyone could give me an tips. I'm going to Chicago later this month. Flying into O'hare and staying at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers (which is at 301 East North Water St). This will be my first time at O'hare and Chicago. I am not renting a car. Is taking a taxi the best way to get to the hotel? I know the "L" would be a cheaper but I don't know much about it and wouldn't want to get myself turned around or get off at wrong stop.

Any tips that would be helpful for getting around O'hare? Particularly on departure day? We are flying U S Air. I've looked at airport maps and it looks really big and really confusing!

 

[siskaren]

I found this information for you:

http://www.sheratonchicago.com/faqs/transportationparking.html

Personally, I'd go with the shuttle since it's a bit cheaper than a taxi.

 

[RevFrHeinz]

I have always had an easy time with the "Blue line" of the 'L', but you would need to still get a cab from one of the downtown stops (such as Monroe.)

http://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/blueline_schedules/OHare.pdf

But with much luggage, etc., you probably would want to go with the shuttle.

Enjoy!

 

[bsjs0708]

Driving is a bit ..well...insane in Chicago...We take the "L" from the airport. I called my hotel concierge about a week before my trip and she told me which train to take. We got a week pass which was cheaper than just one day parking fees for a car... You can look up the "L" trains schedule online which was super helpful..

 

[MissManda]

I found this information for you:

http://www.sheratonchicago.com/faqs/transportationparking.html

Personally, I'd go with the shuttle since it's a bit cheaper than a taxi.

Thanks, I don't know how I missed that link on their website...sheesh! Actually, I forgot to mention I'll be travelling with a co-worker. So if we have to pay per person a taxi would probably be cheaper than the shuttle.

 

[Toulouse]

Traffic can be an absolute nightmare at any given time of day. If you take the L, then you will get there on time barring any craziness on the line itself, traffic into downtown Chicago is VERY unpredictable.

Blue Line L all the way, then taxi from a downtown stop.

The only thing to watch though is that you get off at a wheelchair accessible stop, the good old downtown L is not fun to negotiate a pile of stairs with luggage. It is still an oldschool elevated line downtown, and believe it or not, some of them do not have escalators or elevators still!

• Don't get off on the blue line Washington stop, continue to Clark/Lake
• Resist the urge to transfer downtown to another line on the loop to Madison/Wabash or Randolph/Wabash because it's a bit closer to the hotel - those are stairs galore (State/Lake on the red line is accessible but it's silly to bother transferring for two blocks)
• Get off at Clark/Lake and grab a (plentiful) taxi on the street there - taxis are cheap around downtown Chicago
• When you exit the stop just go through the wheelchair 'turnstile' with your luggage, don't worry that you don't fit through the normal ones

Have fun, Chicago is a wonderful city.

Another tip... skip the Willis Tower for all the cost/waits and instead have a drink on the 95th floor Signature Lounge at the John Hancock. $15 martinis but worth it when you look at the admission to the Willis! (Not to mention the rank wait all the time!)

 

[Toulouse]

Not really Disney related but I thought it would be worth asking to see if anyone could give me an tips. I'm going to Chicago later this month. Flying into O'hare and staying at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers (which is at 301 East North Water St). This will be my first time at O'hare and Chicago. I am not renting a car. Is taking a taxi the best way to get to the hotel? I know the "L" would be a cheaper but I don't know much about it and wouldn't want to get myself turned around or get off at wrong stop.

Any tips that would be helpful for getting around O'hare? Particularly on departure day? We are flying U S Air. I've looked at airport maps and it looks really big and really confusing!

PS, actually finding the shuttle might prove to be a challenge quite honestly if it's your first time at O'Hare too. I really suggest the L, can't suggest it enough. Follow the signs to the 'train' and then get off at Clark/Lake - hail taxi on the street from there.

 

[MissManda]

Traffic can be an absolute nightmare at any given time of day. If you take the L, then you will get there on time barring any craziness on the line itself, traffic into downtown Chicago is VERY unpredictable.

Blue Line L all the way, then taxi from a downtown stop.

The only thing to watch though is that you get off at a wheelchair accessible stop, the good old downtown L is not fun to negotiate a pile of stairs with luggage. It is still an oldschool elevated line downtown, and believe it or not, some of them do not have escalators or elevators still!

• Don't get off on the blue line Washington stop, continue to Clark/Lake
• Resist the urge to transfer downtown to another line on the loop to Madison/Wabash or Randolph/Wabash because it's a bit closer to the hotel - those are stairs galore (State/Lake on the red line is accessible but it's silly to bother transferring for two blocks)
• Get off at Clark/Lake and grab a (plentiful) taxi on the street there - taxis are cheap around downtown Chicago
• When you exit the stop just go through the wheelchair 'turnstile' with your luggage, don't worry that you don't fit through the normal ones

Have fun, Chicago is a wonderful city.

Another tip... skip the Willis Tower for all the cost/waits and instead have a drink on the 95th floor Signature Lounge at the John Hancock. $15 martinis but worth it when you look at the admission to the Willis! (Not to mention the rank wait all the time!)

Thanks so much for the info.

Do you mind one more questions....My flight home will be leaving at 4pm on a Tuesday afternoon. What time should I plan to leave for the airport? I'm thinking give at least 1 hour travel time (do I need longer?) and then 2 hours at the airport? So the latest would be 1:00. I'm thinking closer to noon might be safer to be able to get there, get situated and grab a bite to eat. I have no experience with O'hare and to be honest, I'm a little intimidated by finding my way around!

 

[nilseks]

Just chiming in to agree with those who said take the El (L). It will actually probably be far better marked than the shuttles. And can be way faster than a taxi or shuttle. You could easily rack up cab fare in waiting charges. Traffic on the Kennedy getting into downtown is, more often than not, terrible.

There is good signage throughout O'Hare and you'll be fine. That said, yes do allow yourself plenty of time. O'Hare is extremely large and you can spend a good amount of time walking. I can walk from the El to a terminal in 10 minutes but I walk very fast and know where I'm going. It can definitely be intimidating the first time but just follow the signs.

Enjoy my hometown, it's the best!