My husband and I will be in chicago for a meeting. His meeting is out by O'hare, so we am thinking of flying into that airport. However, I hate to stay way out in the burbs for the entire weekend. It seems to be quite expensive for him to taxi back and forth for 2 days just for me to be able to stay in the city. I don't know what to do. Any help?

Just back from staying near the airport yesterday. I stayed at the Hampton @$120/nt. Rate was for a King NS with an excellent free buffet breakfast, including hot items. I did not check it out but they have room service dinner (unlike other Hamptons - don't know who provides it but it seemed reasonable). The staff were extremely polite and accomodating. My room was spacious and spotlessly clean - some airport noise early in the evening but quiet after midnight. Rented a car from Dollar @$36 with all the taxes - had reserved an intermediate but because I just signed up for their "Fast Lane" program got upgraded to a Chryler Pacifica SUV instead so maybe that is the way to go to spend time downtown if you want.

I would definitely recommend AGAINST a car as transport between O'Hare and the city if you have other options. Parking in the city, even in the cheapest garages, is $15 for 12-24 hours (near Millenium Park). In the Michigan Avenue area you'll pay $25+ for the same amount of time. Plus, the drive along that route into the city (or out) can be just horrid!

I did the drive this weekend on Saturday. The drive out took about 35 minutes to go 30 miles. The drive back into the city took 1 hour and 40 minutes for the same distance. At that hour (6pm) traffic was backed up in both directions equally badly.

Staying in Chicago is wonderful for the atmosphere and ability to just wander back to your hotel after dinner. If it's an option, definitely do it and have your husband take the El to his meeting (and a cab from the El station if necessary). But, if this simply won't work at least it will be easy for you to get into the city to enjoy it by public transport.

We will be in Washington DC during Cherry Blossom time and the fireworks will be on for one of those nights. For those of you who know the area and have seen these before-is there a hotel that has windows that face the direction they are in-so if possible we could see them from where we are staying? I'm not certain on this-but the Cherry Blossom website says they are on the southwest(?) side of the Tidal Basin. Can anyone help me out here? Thanks.

sorry about this last Chicago/Washington DC posting-I goofed.

Technically, O'Hare is in the city of Chicago (although the O'Hare hotels are in Rosemont).

I would take into consideration the time of your husband's meetings. If they start early or end late, he may not feel like dragging all the way downtown.

Many of the O'Hare hotels (especially the Hyatt, but also several others) are within walking distance of the El. That means you can hop on at the Rosemont stop and be downtown in about 40 minutes for the $1.75 Chicgal mentioned.

Hotel prices may also be cheaper, if that's an issue.

HTH,
Racy