Chicago hotel

[kymom99]

My son and a couple college buddies want to take a weekend trip to Chicago for a gaming tournament. My son asked if I would help them find a room at a reasonable price. I told him to ask his friends where they want to stay, downtown or in one of the suburbs. The event is near soldier field and I noticed hotels around there are all over $300 a night. I've been to Chicago one time on a bus trip, and we stayed in Schaumburg. They will be coming from Kentucky through the Indianapolis area. What would be a safe area for them to stay where they might find a decent room for a reasonable price? I'm mostly concerned with safety and access to public transportation. Also a possibility they could drive in and pay for parking.

TIA!

 

[robinb]

The tournament might have a hotel block set aside for attendees at a discount so I would check there first.

You can also check to see if there is a BIG convention that weekend:
https://www.choosechicago.com/meeting-professionals/convention-calendar/

If downtown is booked solid, I would look at hotels near one of the airports. There are a number of hotels that are close to the Blue Line near O'Hare. There is also a "hotel farm" (what we call it) near Midway. ETA: The Orange Line is right near midway. The hotels run a shuttle to the airport and they can take the EL from there. He will have to pay for parking at the hotel or at the venue. Check out www.spothero.com for cheap parking.

 

[StacyStrong]

Have you thought about airbnb?

 

[kymom99]

Have you thought about airbnb?

Not really. I've never used them myself and might be worried about things being ok for the boys. One thing I'm running into is certain chains not renting to people under 21. Seems crazy since they are adults with credit cards and proper ID.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Chicago hotel prices can fluxuate greatly depending on what's happening any given weekend. Without knowing what specific weekend it is I'd say anywhere from $150 to $200 is a decent rate for downtown/mag mile. Be aware that parking fees for Chicago hotels can range from $40-$75 per night.

When people ask me where "safe" hotels are I tell them to Google the Trump tower location. I'd go between 6 blocks south of that and as far as 30 blocks north of that (by Wrigley Field). Anywhere in that radius is "safe"....as Chicago goes. As far as the best area, I'd stick to the Mag Mile. The Intercontinental is a great spot just for reference.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I'd agree that Chicago you need to be downtown or directly on a train line. One wrong turn driving and it's not pretty. I also agree that expecting to pay >$50 to park downtown per day/night is the norm. My wife used to travel from Lexington to Lurie Hospital monthly. Hotel rates near that spot routinely ranged from just under $200 to above $700 per night, depending on events.

I honestly would look to see if cheap flights are available and skip the car. It's way more of a hassle than it's worth inside the city. We've flown from both Louisville and Cincinnati into Chicago and back for under $100. Hit the train from either airport, and it's so much easier than trying to navigate Chicago traffic.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Just on a whim, checked hotels for a random gaming convention at McCormick Place in March. With Hilton honors pricing, the rooms are about $180 a night plus tax, walking distance to the expo center. Rooms are a bit cheaper more into downtown. Parking is $59 a night at the hotel, although I believe it is cheaper at the expo center itself for the night.

 

[kymom99]

Just on a whim, checked hotels for a random gaming convention at McCormick Place in March. With Hilton honors pricing, the rooms are about $180 a night plus tax, walking distance to the expo center. Rooms are a bit cheaper more into downtown. Parking is $59 a night at the hotel, although I believe it is cheaper at the expo center itself for the night.

That would be awesome if they would allow a 20 year old to check in. I'll call and check

 

[robinb]

Just on a whim, checked hotels for a random gaming convention at McCormick Place in March. With Hilton honors pricing, the rooms are about $180 a night plus tax, walking distance to the expo center. Rooms are a bit cheaper more into downtown. Parking is $59 a night at the hotel, although I believe it is cheaper at the expo center itself for the night.

That Hyatt is very nice.

 

[kymom99]

That Hyatt is very nice.

No rooms. The Marriott is $350 a night

 

[robinb]

When are your dates?

 

[kymom99]

When are your dates?

November 9-11

 

[lisa3635]

I just wanted to recommend SpotHero if they park downtown. We’ve stayed at the Westin on Michigan Avenue several time. Their parking is $48 offsite and we’ve used spot hero to get it across the street in a garage for $12.

 

[robinb]

November 9-11

According to the Convention Calendar I posted above, there is a 22,000 person American Heart Association convention at the McCormick Place starting on the 10th (actually, the calendar says it starts on the 11th, but the convention webpage says it starts on the 10th). You're not likely to find anything near the McCormick Place.

I would use TripAdvisor to find something that is close to the EL train or downtown where they can uber/lyft. The 20-year old thing is a PITB, though. Maybe you can call the hotel manager at places that are 21 and over? The Crowne Plaza West Loop is $151 per night but I think you need to be 21 to check in.

 

[Alice Sr.]

We stayed at the Hilton at 720 S Michigan Ave for my DH's corporate annual meeting last week (we stay there every year, if it wasn't acceptable they would have moved the event). It's a nice hotel (1.2 miles to Soldier Field as a reference), it would be a good location for them. Self park was $50 but like mentioned they would want to use spothero and just leave the car parked to avoid other parking hassles and use uber if they are going back to the hotel after dark. I think the event/corporate rate was in the $175 range, which I thought was a great deal. A coworker took her DD to see Taylor Swift at Soldier Field and there was nothing in the area under $600.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Driving in to the city is going to be rough and then finding parking on top of that will be a pain, their best bet is to stay downtown and split the cost equally, so that they can spend a little more.

Another option is to stay super close to a train line and they can take the train in. We LOVE Geneva and St. Charles area and then you take the train in from Geneva but parking there is TOUGH during the week but easier on the weekend.

Itasca is about an hour or less in and there are a few hotels right off the highway around there AND the parking lot there is HUGE, that even during the week there are no issues. Once in downtown they can also easily take an UBER to the convention.

 

[Bete]

Try LaQuinta Chicago downtown location.

 

[kymom99]

Try LaQuinta Chicago downtown location.

That's what I'm hoping for. It's $230 a night plus parking. There is one in willowbrook. Not sure what that area is like but it looks ok

 

[robinb]

That's what I'm hoping for. It's $230 a night plus parking. There is one in willowbrook. Not sure what that area is like but it looks ok

Willowbrook is about a 30-60 minute drive into the city depending on traffic. The area around the hotel is fine. It looks pretty cheap and the TripAdvisor reviews are good.

To add to your hotel and transportation misery, there is a Bear's game at Soldier Field on the 11th at noon. Traffic and parking will be a BEAR (forgive my pun) on that day.

The Red and Green EL line is a 4 minute walk from the arena. I would look for something on one of those lines and take public transportation to the event.

I just looked on Trip Advisor and Agoda has the Travelodge near south Grant Park available for $119 per night for 4 adults. It's about a 35 minute walk or 15 minute EL ride to the arena.

Edited: TA has mixed reviews, but it's close and cheap!

https://www.agoda.com/travelodge-by-wyndham-downtown-chicago/hotel/chicago-il-us.html?asq=z3c4D3riyyTntT4xCoHiUeNaM7V87GEx8ZYX516VlsHl9SxidiJzypletqdiuCv2FDqFjuI6HyAuGRj1qu/HPA+Z7DaY/4m73FWZZvObK8jYeR90Aq82j4ATBXjAbOQI1f4tMtCkUOcG6AQSFmkuYrhJ3VhEoPIswAxGG6eeW4sx8dS6+cT2iwnVxD2QiEp+A5YJ4Hvtlt9Q09mkiKwNwQ==&hotel=146893&cid=1587523&tag=hid146893,pidW5Vk0AoQHkEAAihuMpgAAAAP&tick=636721394048&languageId=1&userId=05e0f2c9-26d9-4ac7-aed0-44a85bf03212&pageTypeId=7&origin=US&locale=en-US&aid=85174&currencyCode=USD&htmlLanguage=en-us&cultureInfoName=en-US&ckuid=05e0f2c9-26d9-4ac7-aed0-44a85bf03212&prid=0&checkIn=2018-11-09&checkOut=2018-11-11&rooms=1&adults=4&childs=0&priceCur=USD&los=2&textToSearch=Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown Chicago&productType=-1

 

[kymom99]

Willowbrook is about a 30-60 minute drive into the city depending on traffic. The area around the hotel is fine. It looks pretty cheap and the TripAdvisor reviews are good.

To add to your hotel and transportation misery, there is a Bear's game at Soldier Field on the 11th at noon. Traffic and parking will be a BEAR (forgive my pun) on that day.

The Red and Green EL line is a 4 minute walk from the arena. I would look for something on one of those lines and take public transportation to the event.

I just looked on Trip Advisor and Agoda has the Travelodge near south Grant Park available for $119 per night for 4 adults. It's about a 35 minute walk or 15 minute EL ride to the arena.

Edited: TA has mixed reviews, but it's close and cheap!

https://www.agoda.com/travelodge-by-wyndham-downtown-chicago/hotel/chicago-il-us.html?asq=z3c4D3riyyTntT4xCoHiUeNaM7V87GEx8ZYX516VlsHl9SxidiJzypletqdiuCv2FDqFjuI6HyAuGRj1qu/HPA+Z7DaY/4m73FWZZvObK8jYeR90Aq82j4ATBXjAbOQI1f4tMtCkUOcG6AQSFmkuYrhJ3VhEoPIswAxGG6eeW4sx8dS6+cT2iwnVxD2QiEp+A5YJ4Hvtlt9Q09mkiKwNwQ==&hotel=146893&cid=1587523&tag=hid146893,pidW5Vk0AoQHkEAAihuMpgAAAAP&tick=636721394048&languageId=1&userId=05e0f2c9-26d9-4ac7-aed0-44a85bf03212&pageTypeId=7&origin=US&locale=en-US&aid=85174&currencyCode=USD&htmlLanguage=en-us&cultureInfoName=en-US&ckuid=05e0f2c9-26d9-4ac7-aed0-44a85bf03212&prid=0&checkIn=2018-11-09&checkOut=2018-11-11&rooms=1&adults=4&childs=0&priceCur=USD&los=2&textToSearch=Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown Chicago&productType=-1

What about staying in willowbrook and driving to the red line? It looks like its 20 minutes to midway airport from there and the line originates there?