I'm headed to Chicago Nov 25th, to Nov 30th. My husband is going for work purposes, and me and my daughter 8, are tagging along. Our plans are to go to museums and such while we are there. We are booked at the Candlewood suites Chicago O'hare. So it looks like we will have to take the train into downtown everyday to see the sights, we will have a car available, but I'm told parking is very expensive. I'm told to expect an hour trip. I guess my biggest concern is the travel. Are the trains and buses easy to use. I've never lived in an area with a transit system so this is new to me. Is the choice of transit better than driving. I'm trying to convince myself that this will work out, but I'm starting to stress that it will be a disaster.

Don't stress. The train to downtown is very easy to use. You'll be fine. It's way better than driving, because traffic in Chicago is a nightmare, and we need fewer cars on the road.

To prepare, get a subway map from CTA's website and figure out where to go and what you want to do. You can also use www.hopstop.com to navigate transit directions and walking directions.

Hello,

Don't drive!! Parking is expensive, and the expressways and downtown can be very confusing to drive if you are not used it. The stress of driving is MUCH greater than any stress of taking public transportation.

The el is very easy to use! I've always found people at the station to be very helpful if I'm confused at all. Simply ask someone "Does this train go downtown?" or "Does this train go to O'Hare?" and people are generally happy to help. Get a good map (your hotel very well may have one.)

My only question is how you will get to and from the hotel to the el - does your hotel have a free shuttle? Otherwise, cabs near O'Hare are generally plentiful.

Also, if you plan on using public transit a lot, make sure you purchase the 3 or 5 day pass - it's a huge cost saver. You can purchase these from specific machines at the O'Hare el station.

Enjoy your trip!

Thank you for all the advice. I tend to be a very organized and planned person. I think I need to step back and just go with the flow on the trip. I'm sure it will be great.

You will be closer to the Mannheim Station on Metra (Milwaukee West Line) than to the CTA trains. Metra trains don't run as often, but they are faster, cleaner and quieter.
See www.metrarail.com for schedules. An alternative, little farther from your hotel, but on the same line, is the Franklin Park station which is bigger, has a ticket office, and more trains which stop, including the express trains.

From Union Station downtown, there is supposed to be free bus service to Michigan Avenue shopping starting after Thanksgiving. Otherwise, you can take the 151 bus.
www.transitchicago.com

If it's true you're closer to the Metra, then Patg made a great call. The Metra is also way more comfortable than the El. It's a little more expensive (at least my commute on the Mil-North line is), but probably worth it for you.

I'm right between the Metra and O'hare blue line. I was leaning towards Blue line as my hotel has a shuttle, I'm right near a bus stop that goes direct to O'hare, and I wouldn't have to walk a lot. I looked at Metra and it looked like I would end up walking a fair bit to get to stations, and buses. I'd like to keep my walking to a minimum as I had knee surgery 9 weeks ago and I'm still not back to normal. I still limp a bit. I was also thinking of getting a 5 day visitor card and that wouldn't cover the Metra. How much is the Metra?

The Metra is $3.05 per person, one way, from Mannheim to Union Station (downtown). You can also get a 10-ride ticket for $25.95.

If you buy individual fares for the Metra, be sure to buy from the agent at the ticket window, unless Mannheim doesn't have a ticket window. If you buy your fare from the onboard conductor, he'll charge you $2 extra. This applies ONLY to Metra stops that have ticket windows.

All that said, after my commute home last night, I hesitate to recommend the Metra to anyone. "Always on time", my ass.

The CTA trains are either subway-style, or elevated one story above the street. How are you with stairs after your surgery?

I'm okay on stairs. I'm just slower than most people right now, and I just don't have the endurance to walk miles like I use to. I'm planning on saving the miles I walk for the sights, not just getting there. I looked up the trip planner on the Chicago transit site and it recommends going to O'hare and taking the blue line and then transferring to a bus.

So I think I'll stick with getting a visitors pass and taking the transit system. I plan on going slow and doing only 1 museum each day. We will probably get the city pass since we will be there 5 days. I figure I can rest on benches while we tour the museums, so I should be okay. If not we will just adapt and move on.