The Swissotel on E. Wacker Dr.is offering rooms at a special reduced rate this weekend. Are there any parking garages nearby? The hotel charges $35.00 a day for their parking, which is rather steep for our budget. Thanks for your help.

Chicago, like most cities, offers very expensive parking, be it your hotel or other parking garages. Using your car in downtown Chicago is not encouraged.

Best bet is to park out in the boonies and take public transportation, which is very good, downtown.

Curious

Usually the city lots are about $24 for 24 hours- a little cheaper than having the hotel park for you.

Drop your stuff off at the hotel and then park at either the Grant Park North garage (entrance at southbound Michigan at Randolph) or Millenium Park garage (enter at Columbus and Randolph)-both are run by the park district and cheaper than privately held parking-about $24.00 a day.

The Monroe Street Garage (enter from Columbus north of Monroe, i.e. a block north of the back entrance to the Art Institute) is less than $15 a day and an 4-5 block walk to the Swissotel.

PatG, I think that's now called the Millenium Park garage and they've raised the prices, but it's still cheaper than Swisshotel.

swalter, I haven't used the new Millenium garage, but believe it is separate from Monroe Garage. There is probably some confusion since they are both under Grant Park. The one I'm talking about has its pedestrian exit on Monroe and has always been the cheapest of the Grant Park garages.

PAtg, that's the Millenium Park garage (newly renamed) The other two under grant park are Grant Park North (also an option for Swisshotel) and Grant Park South.

Very sorry to hear they've raised the prices! And don't get me started on the parking meters on Columbus - they're so unwieldy (all quarters) and expensive that they're 90% empty - for good reason.

I just called the Millenium Park garage, Columbus at Monroe, and although the price has increased from $13 to $15.75 for the 24 hour rate, I think it is still a parking bargain for Chicago. Phone # if you want to confirm or get directions, 312-742-7644, and as stated above, there are several garages in this area so make sure you get the right one.

Thanks you, all. I don't live in a big city so the parking charges seemed very high to me. I will right down the telephone number and the address for the least expensive one . Funny, I expect to pay a high price for a room but the parking is something I forget! (or would like to)