rph326

Please help! For the past 2 weeks I've been trying to find a room in Chicago for our family of four (kids 17 and 14). We wanted to spend AUg 4-6 there. No luck! I've decided our best bet is to stay near O'hare and take train in. Any suggestions as to what hotels are close to train or where I can find that info> Also how we can find out train routes etc? thanks

Neopolitan

Maybe you have a reason, but if you're staying two or three days, why would you remain at the airport and take trains back and forth every day, which would also force you to be "stuck" in the city for the full day instead of being able to use your hotel room? It would make much more sense in my opinion to take a train into a hotel in the city so that you have a convenient base for getting around. Then one train back to the airport when you're ready to leave. There are thousands of hotels in Chicago. What price are you looking to play?

You can take a train directly from the airport to downtown.

Anonymous

Um, Neo, did you read the post? The train commute is a last resort because she's been trying to find a hotel in-town for the past 2 weeks.

Neopolitan

You're reading it differently then I am then. I read it as if all along they thought their best bet was to stay near the airport, but they aren't having any luck finding a place. She doesn't indicate that her decision that their best bet to stay near the airport was a change of decision or her original decision. But I suppose you could be right. I do see how it could be read that way.

Anonymous

Yeah, I guess it could go either way, but I figure if she's been trying for weeks, then she would've asked about train routes etc. earlier and not given all the backstory.

wtm003

I'm reading it the same way as Anonymous. My first thought would be to stay at the Hilton O'Hare which is connected to the airport. There is at train in O'Hare that will take you into Chicago. I don't remember the exact routes, but hopefully this will give you a start on your planning.

A quick look at Expedia shows that the Hilton is available for $159/night. Good luck!

ksanders

rph326

So crazy, I can't believe there are no hotels available. I checked Travelocity and the only hotel I could find in Chicago available was the Hyatt Regency McCorrmick Place. The rate was $339.00 per night. Ouch! The other idea I has was possibly staying in Evanston and taking the train in to Chicago. Evanston has many restaurants and shops to walk around. If you haven't alread, you might want to try and call a few of the hotels directly to see if there are any rooms. I was having the same problem a few weeks ago when we were traveling to Indianapolis for a weekend. Couldn't find a room on the internet to save my life. I finally called a few places directly and found they did have a room or 2 available. Good Luck. Hopefully you will be able to make it to Chicago.

socialworker

The suggestion of a close suburb w/a train or El is a good one--Oak Park and Maywood are close. Even Hinsdale and Downers Grove are on train lines that get you to the city in 30 min or less. Those more familair w/Chicago should be able to help.

BTW, Anonymous, I agree w/your reading of her/his query. It seems obvious...

Neopolitan

OK, I'm beginning to agree with the interpretation. I guess it never seemed reasonable that there were NO rooms in downtown Chicago, so that possible interpretation never even came into my mind. I've been out of the country for a while, but what the hell is happening in Chicago that weekend? Must be big!

CAPH52

Lollapaluza (spelling?) is that weekend. But surely that wouldn't be what's taking all of the rooms?

CAPH52

Lollapalooza.

Brookside

The Cubs are in town, plus there are several festivals (Bash on Wabash, Northalstead Market Days) in addition to Lollapalooza. I imagine that the few hotel rooms available are going for a premium price.

I did some checking,and it appears that even Evanston and Oak Park are are booked up. So O'Hare may indeed be your best bet. The Hilton gets good reviews on Trip Advisor, and the Blue Line from O'Hare will take you straight to the Downtown Chicago/Loop area in about 45 minutes.

Best of luck!

Charley1965

This may be a very long shot.

I am in the UK and I googled your requirements and the MARRIOTT CHICAGO
540 NORTH MICHIGAN AVEUNE was available for a family of 4 for your dates. Unfortunately it's only bookable in the UK but it shows they do have availability. You might get lucky if you call them, you never know! Good luck

Brookside

P.S RPH --

To answer your questions about train routes and schedules, go to
www.transitchicago.com.

This Web site has schedules, maps and a *trip planner* feature where you can enter your departing address and your destination and receive the correct bus/train routes to get there.

Again, good luck!

patg

I would keep calling the big convention hotels as they are the most likely to have cancellations (and the fewest Lollapalooza fans.)

The Marriott Suites is a nice airport hotel (the Marriott O'Hare is much older and noisier.) The train line to O'Hare runs down the middle of highway I-90, so check out the distance on the hotel maps, or call the hotel and see if they provide shuttle service. You can plan any visit by public transit on transitchicago.com

Orcas

Did you try International House at the University of Chicago? I noticed the Wooded Isle Suites, which is only a few blocks away from I-House, appears to be available on Aug 4 and Aug 6, but not on Aug 5. Both are in Hyde Park, near the Museum of Science and Industry and Lake Michigan (with parks and beaches), with excellent public transportation available to the loop (and you could bike there along the lake, if you rent bikes). The neighborhood is 8 miles south of the loop. This would be a lot better than staying at O'Hare, if you could get rooms.

GoTravel

I'd change my dates before I'd stay at O'Hare.

Did you try VRBO.com? What about Craigslist.com?

mikesmom

I think the Tall Ships are in Chicago that weekend.

lincasanova

correct me if i am wrong, but is the gerenal opinion that hyde park is a good idea for family of four??

i used to visit my grandmother there in her apt. and frankly, i would not feel comfortable on the streets with children in many places i had to go with her.
it was bad enough with the two of us..

alot of strange people walking around.. and some were very menacing.
i cetainly would not like to be pendant on waiting for buses on corners in that neighborhood. i always had a car there, and was very happy to get back to oak park or downtown.

placeu2

Do a search on Rosemont hotels. This will give you a list of almost everything in the O'Hare immediate area.

There is nothing wrong with staying at O'Hare.

If you are bound and determined, Schaumburg may be an alternative. Lots of things there for teens. I guess it depends on where you are from. If you are already suburban people, might be a bad idea. However if you are rural, it might be cool.