chicago ---parking
 

I will be traveling to Chicago next week for vacation and staying at a downtown hotel.
Where would be the best place to park my car during my week long visit? I'd rather not pay $25-30 per day to park downtown if I'm not going to be using my car

I can't offer help about parking out of town and training in, but depending on where your hotel is, you could park at the Millenium Garage (under Millenium Park, off Columbus north of Monroe) for $15.25 for 24 hours. It's slightly less than that (~$12) on your last day if you're there less than 12 hours.

You could park your car in the economy parking lot at O'Hare for $13 per day and take the subway (Blue Line) into downtown.
As far as parking in a neighborhood and taking the CTA into downtown, neighborhoods require resident permits. You won't be able to park at a suburban Metra station, either. Those lots require daily payment and are usually for residents only.
Have a great time!

there are lots of lots to park in that cost less than 25-30 a day, where are you staying?

If you are not planning on using your car (which I wouldn't recommend unless you are going outside of the city), the Millenium Park garage mentioned above is the best deal downtown near most hotels for overnight/long term parking. Access it from Columbus Drive between Randolph and Monroe. There are several garages in that area, the Millenium Park one is the cheapest.

I wish I had had the smarts to ask this question last week! My husband and I spent a long weekend at the Hotel InterContinental (great hotel BTW) and the parking cost $37/day. OUCH. Next time we'll go to the Millenium Park garage and roll our luggage down the street. No problem.

What direction are you coming in from. You may be able to dump your car in the suburbs and take either CTA or Metra in.

Many of the Metra lots have parking for 1-1.50 per day, the problem is that you have to pay daily. The Millenium Park lot, or Grant Park South or North are all about the same price. The Grant Park lots have entrances in the middle of Michigan Ave. As you drive down Michigan, you take a ramp "down" to the lot which is under ground. I have one friend who refuses to pay for parking so she drops stuff off at her hotel, drives to Lincoln Park, parks on a side street and then takes the El back to the hotel. It's possible but seems a bit ridiculous to save a few bucks.