chigago hotel stress

[robinb]

My mom lives on the South side of Chicago and she was very ill last August. I stayed in a 3* hotel in Oak Brook for a full month, changing every 4-5 days (I was never sure when she was getting out of the hospital). I never paid more than $32 per night using Priceline. Every hotel I stayed at was nice. My favorite was the Lombard Hyatt Place with its large rooms, indoor pool and great breakfast. My least favorite was the Staybridge Suites that was okay overall but the pull out couch was very uncomfortable and there was no pool. Every hotel had free internet and some had free breakfast.

If you're really looking to save money, then I would stay in Oakbrook and then drive to an El stop and take the subway train in. We use the park and rides at River Road (near O'Hare) or at Midway airport. It's less than $5 per day plus El fare. Even if you end up paying to park you will spend less than $100 for the hotel *and* parking. Plus, you will have plenty of restaurants to choose from and two big malls (Yorktown and Oak Brook) nearby.

 

[lulu2]

We stayed the same place I think. I was stunned to see the 2 hotels in one. It was so nice to have the suite so Dd could sleep on the couch since we were with my parent. The breakfast buffet was to die for and we walked up a few blocks to Michigan to watch the Saturday night fireworks from Navy pier.

Found it!!!!! Good thing I save old emails. SpringHill Suites Chicago> Downtown/River> North The pool on the top floor was loved by my Dd. She thought she was so awesome to be able to see that high up from the pool. We would love to stay there again, I think it was only $125 on travelzoo.

Also up 1 block and over 2 was the rainforest cafe. We all went there for dinner after seeing Cirque. It was a very short walk. Otherwise you are very close to Ed Debevics and Hard Rock cafe.

We took the free trolly to Navy pier, the stop was a block over. The is a long walk, especially in the summer so the free trolly is a great perk. I still wish they had them from Shedd/ Museaum campus to other areas.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chinr-springhill-suites-chicago-downtown-river-north/

That's IT! We had a blast and would stay again.

 

[Bete]

Get one close to the major expressways. You won't get lost if you do it that way. I so much rather save the money and eat better, etc. than stay at a downtown Chicago hotel.

Driving back and forth is not that bad and museum parking is reasonable. It will be easier on the pocketbook for eats out in the suburbs, too. It shouldn't take more than 75 minutes to get wherever, as long as, you avoid rush hour.

Entertainment.com books are a great value for Chicago; I suggest the North edition. Last year they had buy 1 get 1 for the Science museum and the History museum in the book. There are free days offered at all the museums, too. You have to do a search, but it's not that hard. You may be able to coordinate your dates to take that advantage of free. Free X 4 is a good hunk of change.

I lived in Chicago for 40 years and there's nothing that magical about being downtown.

If you insist I heard that a new LaQuinta was built downtown last year and the rates are reasonable for their location. They have the free breakfast offer. You may want to look into family suites of any major chain. Some of the more classic hotels will not have them downtown.

 

[NotUrsula]

We took the free trolly to Navy pier, the stop was a block over. The is a long walk, especially in the summer so the free trolly is a great perk. I still wish they had them from Shedd/ Museaum campus to other areas.

The free trolley has been gone for almost a year; the funding ran out. However, it was really always too crowded in the summer anyway, IMO.

OP, just get a CTA visitor transit pass and you'll be good to go on the much less crowded CTA bus that goes straight there.

I witnessed the FUNNIEST beat-down of a guest trying to run a scam at that Springhill Suites last fall, on Marathon Weekend. We overheard them planning it in the elevator, and happened to also be needing to to speak to the desk clerk when it happened, so we got to overhear. The Springhill shares the building with a Residence Inn, which of course has really large suites. These folks were Springhill guests, and they were trying to get comped to the RI by complaining that their Springhlll Corner suite (the largest room class in the hotel) was not really a suite at all, and that the hotel either had to move them to the RI or refund their money so they could go elsewhere. What they did not seem to be aware of was that it is IMPOSSIBLE to find a walk-up room in Chicago on Marathon Friday. So they did their little scene, and the manager cordially invited them to try to find a room elsewhere or stay put with what they had; no amount of screaming was going to get them the RI, which was booked solid in any case, nor was it going to get them a refund of their non-refundable room rate. They yelled for 15 minutes, went away, and then came back to try again, still no go. This particular scam apparently happens often; the clerk told us that people try it every day.

 

[of the seas]

Staying in the suburbs is like staying off site at Disney or in Jersey while visiting NYC. Yea it may be cheaper, but part of the fun of Chicago is staying in the city! We always stay downtown at least once a year. Check Trip Advisor.

 

[aladams2]

We booked!!! I found a King suite one bedroom and pullout couch with complete kitchen AND washer/dryer in room!!! All for $146 a night on Michigan Ave.!!! Where you ask? We are staying at Comfort Suites!! I've read some great reviews and am now very excited about our trip!! Thanks so much for all the suggestions and help! Anyone have some must have restaurants that we need to eat at?

 

[klj27]

We have stayed downtown and in Schaumburg and I liked our Schaumburg stay so much better! I used hotwire/better bidding and got the springhill/staybridge? suites for $54 a night and it included comp breakfast and comp dinner/drinks. There was a train station nearby and we bought cta passes. It was so easy to get into the city.

The best part of staying at Schaumburg was that we were right across the street from Doorway to Dreams!!! We got to tour the rooms at Baylake Tower.

 

[kydisneyfans]

We went last summer and paid $35 a night through Hotwire for the Sheraton Suites in Arlington Heights. Parking was free. We drove about 2 miles to the metra station, hopped the train, and enjoyed the ride into downtown. Parking was not a problem on the weekdays, the cost was minimal ($12 maybe RT for 3 of us). It was a great stay, especially when we only paid $209 total for a 5 night stay in a suite.

We did the double decker bus tour, which was priceless to familiarize us with the area. Unfortunately any visit to Chicago ends up at the Rock and Roll McDonalds for dinner. We have to search out Giordano's every visit though.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

We live about a 3 hour drive from Chicago, and we usually spend some time there every year. The best bet is to stay in a hotel in a suburb (Schaumburg or Arlington Heights) and take the train in to town. Once you are at the train station, buses will get you wherever you want to go. Plus, riding the train is always a highlight for my kids. In Schaumburg, there is an Embassy Suites and Springhill Suites that usually have some good summer specials.

This would be my suggestion, too. Week or weekend passes for the Metra are very reasonable. From Union Station everything else isn't too far. Bonus--in Schaumburg there is a new smallish Legoland and an IKEA. If you don't have these at home, they are totally worth a morning of fun.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

Staying in the suburbs is like staying off site at Disney or in Jersey while visiting NYC. Yea it may be cheaper, but part of the fun of Chicago is staying in the city! We always stay downtown at least once a year. Check Trip Advisor.

OK...I take it back. This poster is right. While the other may save you some money, you aren't really going to Chicago. We stayed down near the River on our last trip and our best night was walking to and from Fox and Obels to get picnic dinner to eat in the hotel room.

OP--Glad you found accommodations that work for you. Have a great trip!

 

[PinkRhombus]

There is a convention center parking garage out at the Rosemont exit that is a pay as you go in kind of place. It is also attached to at least one hotel.

We were actually staying downtown at the Embassy Suites at, I think, Ohio & Grand. We dropped our luggage off with the hotel. Drove out to that center. Paid, I think, $11 or $15 parking fee going in. Took the train back down and left our cars out there all week.

The Embassy Suites run a little more, but you have a great BIG free breakfast and indoor pool. Free drinks in the evenings.

And the separate bedroom and living area....with a DOOR instead of a half wall...worked out great with kids. We could stay up and watch tv while they went to sleep.

 

[budbeerlady]

We booked!!! I found a King suite one bedroom and pullout couch with complete kitchen AND washer/dryer in room!!! All for $146 a night on Michigan Ave.!!! Where you ask? We are staying at Comfort Suites!! I've read some great reviews and am now very excited about our trip!! Thanks so much for all the suggestions and help! Anyone have some must have restaurants that we need to eat at?

Ed Debevics is one of Dd's favorites. http://featuredfoods.com/cgi-local/...?L+scstore+scxl8714debevicffa17ca1+1267634465

Find some deep dish pizza at Ginos EAst http://featuredfoods.com/cgi-local/...ml?L+scstore+kwpj5749ginosff50e550+1267634611

Get greek the Parthanon http://www.theparthenon.com/restaurant-main.htm

At Navy pier is buba gump shrimp, there is Harry carrys, you name it.

You can have dessert at Hershy's or Giradelli on Michigan by American girl area.

 

[NotUrsula]

I lived in Chicago for 40 years and there's nothing that magical about being downtown.

If you live there, then no, but if you are a visitor who normally doesn't get to experience the pedestrian bustle and architecture of a major city, then yes, there is magic, at least if you are a child. From their POV, it's a whole new world ...

And it starts up north in Hollywood, water on the drivin' side ...
Concrete mountains rearing up, throwin' shadows just about five ...
Sometimes you can smell the green if your mind is feeling fine ...
There ain’t no finer place to be, than running Lake Shore Drive.