Help with hotel around Chicago cheap

[MichelleB]

I know some of you live in Chicago, so I'm hoping you experts can help me. My friend and I would like to take our daughters to Chicago to the American Girl store and plan a day there for them. This in itself is expensive so we're looking to save some money on a hotel rather than spend up to $300/night. We will be 5 traveling and hope to get one room and share the cost. Are there any good areas that have lower cost hotels that may offer a shuttle into the city? We are ok with a Doubletree, Hampton, Fairfield, etc. as long as it's a nice one and in a nice area. We would be looking at going during the summer while the kids are off school.

 

[imsayin]

If you go to this page on the AG website, it lists hotels near the store. It also says "Ask about special rates for American Girl Place visitors at the following hotels". You might want to start there. I find it is more convenient to actually be downtown, but I know the cost can be high at certain times.

http://www.americangirlplace.com/agp_chi_plan_info.php

 

[tinaluis]

The Hyatt Regency on Wacker Drive typically comes up on Priceline for about $45/night. It's about a mile away from the American Girl store. If you're interested in trying the Priceline route, check out www.biddingfortravel.com and www.betterbidding.com. Good luck.

 

[4Tinks]

We booked the Embassy Suites near Navy Pier for $159.00 a night. They are suites so you get a bedroom with either a king or double beds and a living room with a pull out couch. I think that would be large enough for 5 people. oh, by the way we asked for the American Girl rate and we will be staying their on Fri/Sat May 6 and 7. Here is the address and Phone number.

Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago-Downtown/Lakefront
511 North Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 1/312/836-5900

 

[bnlbebes]

I have stayed at a Doubletree through Hotwire before. The hotel itself was great, but a little distant from the main hubbub of the city. Not too far for my wife and I to walk to most things, though. I'm not sure what it would cost to book directly, but I'm sure that it's worth at least $150 per night.

 

[FINFAN]

FYI...Lallapalooza was just announced for July 23/24...over 70 bands playing at Grant park. Hotels will book up fast, and be $$$$...plus not sure you want to be here with the crowds. Not sure when this summer you were thinking, but wanted to suggest avoiding that one.

 

[maggiew]

I think if you get anything on the North Michigan ave. area on Hotwire it will be good. You can easily walk to AG from anywhere in the area or get a cab. When we stay downtown, we usually stay at the Westin Chicago River North (I've always been able to get this through Hotwire for around $80-90). This is a regular hotel room though not a suite. But it is fancy with marble bathrooms, etc. The girls would love it. You can also stay in the Loop area, but you will need to either take a cab or the RedLine el train to American Girl. It would be a little bit of a walk for the kids otherwise.

If you have more questions, I'd be happy to answer. I am an expert on American Girl! My girls have too much of their stuff! Bonus, the disney store on Michigan Ave. is not too far away!

Let me know when you all with be there, maybe I could stop down and say HI. Although I can't go May 6-7 as that's the State Science Fair weekend and my DD is going!

Maggie

 

[Hunnybee]

One thing to keep in mind -- parking at most downtown hotels is at least $30 a night! We live about 2 1/2 hours from Chicago (used to live in one of the suburbs) and visit fairly regularly. We usually stay in the suburbs -- cheaper hotel rooms w/free parking.

You can't beat the convenience of staying downtown though, especially if you're not familiar with the Chicago area. Just keep in mind that whatever you pay for the hotel room -- you'll need to add in their parking price. Might make a difference in which hotel room is a better deal. Call ahead to find out their parking price.

 

[maggiew]

One thing to keep in mind -- parking at most downtown hotels is at least $30 a night! We live about 2 1/2 hours from Chicago (used to live in one of the suburbs) and visit fairly regularly. We usually stay in the suburbs -- cheaper hotel rooms w/free parking.

You can't beat the convenience of staying downtown though, especially if you're not familiar with the Chicago area. Just keep in mind that whatever you pay for the hotel room -- you'll need to add in their parking price. Might make a difference in which hotel room is a better deal. Call ahead to find out their parking price.

That's true. I guess I was assuming she was flying.

It is a pretty good idea to park in the suburbs and then take the train into downtown. But I am not sure of a good, safe, cheap spot to stay coming from Cincinnati. I live on the north side. You also then need to factor in the cost of the train ticket. The el train costs $1.75 each way. Kids may/may not have to pay depending on age.

Maggie

 

[purplebelle]

Definitely book a hotel that is along the red, brown, or blue "L" line. The "L" is like the subway and you can get aorund the city pretty well with it. Right now it's $1.75 a trip, per person (I don't know what the age cut-off is, kids under a certain age are free) The American Girl store is off the Chicago stop on the Red line.

Use expedia.com or those other websites to check prices for a hotel and report back here so we can give your our opinions if you like.

The AG store is so cute...I've been there many times. They have a hair salon for the dolls and everything. Be sure to have tea there or see an AG play.

 

[MichelleB]

We are driving for sure. Does anyone know a good safe suburb that is on the red L line to stay at? I forgot to factor in parking! Yikes! Thank you for all the help.

 

[purplebelle]

The red line stays within the city boundaries. The blue line goes as far as O'Hare. You can stay near O'Hare and hop on the blue line, possibly transfer to the red line to make it downtown. Rosemont is a nice suburb, but so are all the hotels that would be near the airport, which is still Chicago, I believe. It'll be about a 45 minute L ride from O'Hare into the city. The yellow line branches out into Skokie, a nice suburb. I'm not familiar with the green or orange lines...maybe someone else can help with those.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I say to stay at the Marriott O'Hare - just steps from the blue line. They have a huge outdoor pool and another pool that is 1/2 indoor and 1/2 outdoor. We spend every other weekend there in the summer and the kids just love it.

Take the Blue line, get off at Clark and Lake, take a 5 dollar cab ride to AG. The Blue line is safe; if you feel uncomfortable taking the "L" back at night time a cab back to your hotel will be about $25.

Marriott is running a special right now; that includes b-fasts, I just booked our entire summer and got some great rates. Good Luck.

 

[maggiew]

Coming from Cincinnati (I am assuming that), it would be clear out of her way to go to O'Hare. She would have to drive through the city to O'Hare and then back through the city when finished. It may be worth it just to suck it up and pay the parking.

Maggie

 

[maggiew]

Me again. I did a search and found the Best Western River North and they do NOT charge for parking. I haven't stayed here so can't comment. But the location is pretty good. It is about 5 blocks away from Michigan Ave. Shopping. There is an indoor pool and a Chicago Style pizza shop on site.

http://www.rivernorthhotel.com/

Maggie

 

[disneyatl]

OK, hope I can help here as I was just there three weeks ago. I actually bid on priceline for my hotel (first time ever) and got the Embassy Suites on State Street (a couple of blocks from Michigan Ave) for - get this.....$60/night!!!! Rate room rate is $189/night. I was very pleased with the hotel. Excellent location, very clean and a suite. We had a room with double beds and also a pull out sofa. Plenty of room for your gang. We were within walking distance to Michigan Avenue and just a trolley ride to the Pier. There was a grocery store next door which came in handy a few times and also the Rainforest Cafe a couple of blocks away. Also the new McDonald's that has just opened (the world's largest) was just a block away. Oh, yeah, I was also concerned about the service that I would receive from the hotel being that I was a priceline customer and not paying full price. No problems with that at all. The staff was very friendly. Also, ever guest gets a full breakfast free - not a continental - I'm talking eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, cereal, muffins, etc.

Good luck and have a great time at AG Place. My daughter absolutely loved it and will remember it forever.

 

[DisneyFan09]

I don't know my way around the area or anything about trains but last summer we spent the weekend and went to the American Girl Store. I got a Sheraton suite in Elk Grove Village for $37 a night on Hotwire and it was very nice. We just drove to downtown and parked on a side street a couple of blocks away from the American Girl Store. The nice thing about Elk Grove was that we were about 10 minutes away from Woodfield Mall and we ate at Rainforest Cafe and pretended we were at WDW!! (I know, we are pretty pathetic!!)

Anyway, no matter where you stay you will love the store. My daughter kept saying that she must be dreaming. It was so cute!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Me again. I did a search and found the Best Western River North and they do NOT charge for parking. I haven't stayed here so can't comment. But the location is pretty good. It is about 5 blocks away from Michigan Ave. Shopping. There is an indoor pool and a Chicago Style pizza shop on site.

http://www.rivernorthhotel.com/

Maggie

Maggie - have you ever seen the Best Western River North? I consider it to be somewhat on the dumpy side. And as "swanky" as that neighborhood is in the day; for some reason that block at night time is really scary there are a couple bars on that street owned by gangs. JMHO

 

[EdDome]

The nice thing about Elk Grove was that we were about 10 minutes away from Woodfield Mall and we ate at Rainforest Cafe and pretended we were at WDW!! (I know, we are pretty pathetic!!)

If you want another dose of Disney, there's a Ghirardelli's a couple of blocks from the American Girl store. Guess I'm pretty pathetic too!

 

[imsayin]

If you like popcorn, you must go to Garrett's. It is just a few blocks from the AG store (on Michigan Ave.). They have the best popcorn! I love the cheese & caramel corn, mixed together.