Coming to Chicago, need advise

Staying in the O'Hare area is not a bad idea. Plenty of hotels around. Taking the blue line is not a PITA. Driving would be.

Having said that, there are lots of reasonably priced hotels/motels in the city itself. E.g. there is a Best Western on La Salle. There you'd be in walking distance to almost everything.

Must see? Well, the whole city is a must see. Depends on what you're interested in: Art, architecture, music, food, cars, sports, museums, you name it.

 

If you stay by Ohare, its not like you are actually "seeing" Chicago. There is little of interest near the airport.

If you can, stay downtown. Yes, it costs more. BUT, you will save money in transportation fees, etc. Stay near the Hancock center, and walk the Magnificent Mile, see the lake, check out the museums...

Hotels about 250$/day during the week...if you only stay a couple of days, its not so bad...

 

The Blue Line trip from the O'Hare stop is roughly 40-45 minutes to the Loop. Unless you're staying at the O'Hare Hilton, I think it might be tough for you to get to the train station. Its $1.75 per person, each way. You can also buy 1, 3, 5, or 7 day passes for unlimited rides. Check transitchicago.com for more info.

Before I moved to Chicago, I stayed at the Palmer House Hilton on New Year's Eve for $79 via Priceline. If you do some looking, I think you'll find reasonably priced rooms in the city.

 

Definitely look at Priceline and the other discount hotel websites. I suspect that you can find $70-80/night hotels in the city at this time of year.

 

First time to Chicago and you are thinking about NOT staying downtown??

Thats Dumb. You GOTTA stay downtown.. call around, find a hotel in your budget.. I dont know what you're in to, but check out the House of Blues, see if someone is playing that weekend worth seeing.. also, one night go to Fogo De Chao for dinner, very awesome brazilian steak restaurant.

The only way you can go wrong with Chicago is by NOT staying downtown, especially if its your first time in the city.

 

Before I moved to Chicago, I stayed at the Palmer House Hilton on New Year's Eve for $79 via Priceline. If you do some looking, I think you'll find reasonably priced rooms in the city.[/QUOTE]

i have a room @ palmer house for the stones concert september 10th. best rate i could find was $149. (that included priceline) still a good price for a nice hotel. there are plenty of good hotels on the magnificant mile for under $200 per night (raddison & le'meres)

cheers.

 

EEEEEEEEXXXXXXXXXXAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCTTTTTTTTTTLLLLLYYYY!!!!!!!!!!

Downtown rocks!
Fogo de Chao rocks!

 

Seller's right.

 

If you can get ahold of Blue Man Group tix, that is a great night time show. They perform at the Briar Street Theater.
For dinner, there are 3 places close by the theater that I think are wonderful.
The Italian place is called Angelina's. Then there is Genesee Depot, not Italian, but INCREDIBLE food...BYOB at that place. The last choice which is very close to where Blue Man Group performs is called Jack's. Great food and place...service is wonderful!
Then after Blue Man, you can head downtown, and take a carriage ride around the Magnificent Mile area.

Let me know if you want info on any of these, I will get it for you.

 

Brand new restaurant opened a little while ago... a friend of mine owns it. the name is "Osteria Via Stato". its on State St. Very authentic Italian, I've been there a few times, very enjoyable.. the food is great, and the atmosphere is excellent. ('lettuce entertain you' restaurant. www.leye.com for more info)

Great wine selection.

 

O'Hare is the way to go. Midway is PITA IMHO. Flew in and out of both as a passenger and crew. And definitely stay downtown, take the line out of O'hare straight to downtown. I just did it this past weekend for HS reunion. Great town and sorry I didn't run into you fellow chatters around the area. I'll be back end of Aug. I hope for better luck spotting more Ferraris next time.

Philip

 

If you like carrier landings then Midway is for you.


O'Hare is more comfortable and a tad easier to get into the city.

 

Brian, if you end up staying by the airport, then Midway is definitely out of the question. Trust me on this one. Look into the downtown hotels, since you are coming a little after peak season you should be able to find some sort of deal. Like the others said, if you come all this way and stay by the airport I think you'll be a little let down. Too much going on downtown. Also, the Cubs are in town that weekend, playing the Cardinals no less. Big rivalry, fun part of town, great experience. Let me know if you're interested--I can help get some tix.

 

Midway may not be as fancy as O'Hare, but... it's an AIRPORT fercrissake. Unless you're spending a long layover there, who cares what it's like? The goal of the trip should be to spend as little time there as possible. From that perspective, Midway has the advantage of being a tiny fraction of the size of O'Hare, so you will spend far less time getting from point A to point B. Both airports are connected to downtown by el lines, and either line will take about the same time to get downtown---the Midway line may be a little quicker in that regard, too. Take either line (blue line from O'Hare, orange line from Midway) into the Loop and you should have no trouble flagging a cab for the (relatively) short ride to the hotel.

If you are staying downtown and you can get a good fare into Midway, I can't see any difference that would justify paying more to fly into O'Hare.

 

For Italian, you should go to La Scarola on Grand, just east of Halsted. If you end up staying at O'Hare, its right on the Blue Line, Grand stop.

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/search/32488,0,1015442.venue

EDIT: Also, the Orange Line doesn't run as frequently as the Blue Line, especially during off peak times. Depending on arrival and departure times, that might be an issue.

 

Will you be hiring a livery whilst here, or will you be using public transport?

 

I see you drive a 164. The Chicago Alfa Club meeting is on the 15th. I'm not sure what we will be doing for the September meeting. It's out in the suburbs, but something to keep in mind.

 

I think Fogo de Chao translates roughly to "food coma"

 

ROTFLMAO!

I thought it was Portoguese for Atkins diet.

 

Yes,and you can also complete a "Round Trip" of "Route 66" in about 10 minutes or so.....

The "Begin Route 66" sign is on Adams,just West of Michigan Av. Walk to the end of the Block to Wabash. Go Left,(South) to Jackson. Hang another Left,and walk about 3/4 down the block,Eastbound) and on the Right side of the Street,you will encounter the "End Route 66" sign.....

(The Art Institute is right there on Michigan Av.,just ahead at that red light in this Photo. Thentake another left.)
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LOL! Well put!