Chicago suburban hotels
 

I see lots of discussion about Chicago hotels, but it's all pretty pricey in our Canadian pesos, especially as we're hoping to stay a week or so. We'd like to stay out of downtown and take the CTA or drive in. Suggestions for places to stay in the 'burbs? To avoid?

Try hotels in Elmhurst....we had good luck there at a Courtyard by Marriott. Also a Hampton Inn on I believe Mannheim Road? Dont'stay in a Days Inn in Joliet or on Mannhiem Road.

If you are renting a car, I would suggest staying in Evanston, IL. Evanston is 20 minutes drive from Chicago, its a college town (Northwestern University) with tons of restaurants/movies/shopping and you are within 20 minute drive to Chicago. You can also take the subway called the "EL" which would take about 50 minutes, and there is a commuter train called "METRA" that would take about 25 minutes and drop you off downtown. Once in the city you can take the subway/busses to get around town.<BR><BR>In Evanston there is a Hilton Garden Inn, and a place called the Omni Orrington, both in the center of town. I dont know how much they are. Also, you can stay in SKOKIE, which is West of Evanston by 10 minutes (but only accessible by car) and there is a Doubletree Guest Suites there as well. <BR><BR>Hope this helps!

It's not actually the burbs but there is a Clarion Hotel Barcelo (www.choicehotels.com) on the Northwest side of the city - right off the Kennedy expressway at Cumberland Avenue. Rates are less than $100/night and it is 1/2 block from the blue line el. It is only about 6 minutes (either 2 or 3 el stops) from O'Hare and has a free airport shuttle.

If you are coming to visit Chicago you are making a big mistake not staying downtown. To stay in the burbs-why bother-and you waste too much time commuting. Try quickbook.com. We use it all the time and they have fantastic rates for downtown hotels. We live in the burbs and spend the weekend downtown every few months. One of the best deals we have found on quickbook is the Swisshotel. It has a fantastic view of Lake Michigan and an indoor pool. We have booked a room there for $129.00 a night on their club level. Staying on that floor w/a private lounge they offer continental breakfast<BR>w/cold cuts that you can make sandwiches for luch, afternoon tea, happy hour food and wine & liquor. I think we drank more than what we paid for the room. E-mail me w/any questions.

The Swissotel is a good choice especially if you request a corner room. The rooms are larger than an average hotel room singe the Swissotel is triangular in shape. It is also in a very good location.

I've never paid more than US$50 (+ tax) for a hotel/motel in my life, and that's what I was hoping to find in the Chicago 'burbs (but if I found it downtown I'd certainly be happy). I keep seeing recommendations that come in well above that. Am I out of touch?<BR><BR>Also, someone told me to avoid hotels on Mannheim Road as they attract rather seedy people, yet others are recommending them. Clarification?

Mannheim Road is a long piece of asphalt, and goes through good areas (such as Rosemont/O'Hare) as well as bad.<BR><BR>Your preferred hotel rate is definitely on the low side. Check hotrooms.com for deals. Keep in mind that downtown parking is about $20 per day or more. (There are cheaper lots but they fill early.) <BR><BR>If you are interested in Evanston (which has the lakefront, Northwestern U., and a interesting assortment of restaurants and shops) check out <BR>www.evanston-illinois.org<BR><BR>

The problem with staying in the suburbs is the amount of time it would take to get downtown. From a western suburb such as Oakbrook, commute time by Metra would be about 50 min. each way. You are looking at a good 40-45 min. from Schaumburg (northwest an area with every chain hotel and restaurant imagineable but still in Cook Co.) Most of these times would be on express trains, the commute would be even longer on a train making all stops. Further, most trains let you off in the Union Station area (not all but many) This is the on the southwest side of downtown and you would still be nowhere near the Michigan Ave. or Navy Pier area and would have to cab it from the train station. You would not want to drive in as the commute would take even more time and parking is $20/day. I just wasn't sure if you understood the time involved in coming in from the suburbs.<BR><BR>If you are set on doing so, you will still have to look hard to find something for $50. I would try to look at the closest suburbs first like Skokie, Evanston and Oak Park. Otherwise suburbs like Schaumburg, Oak Brook and Orland Park may be options as they are very commercial with large malls and lots of hotels. You could even go further out like Napierville, Wheaton, or Elgin but then you are looking at almost ridiculous commutes exceeding the times I listed above. Of course the general rule is the further out you go, the cheaper it is.

Ang: Just an FYI: there is no metra station in Oak Brook. Closest train station to that suburb would be either Hinsdale, Western Springs or LaGrange. Commute time from those three suburbs is only 20 - 25 minutes to Union Station.

Ed,<BR><BR>I'd suggest looking into biddingfortravel.com and using priceline to get a decent hotel in your price range. If you want to commute daily into the city, I'd suggest the O'Hare area hotels. A 3* Radisson has been going for under $40 per night.<BR><BR>If you'd like to stay downtown, it looks like you could get the Hyatt on Wacker for just under $50 per night (and it is a 4*). As noted, however, parking a car would add $20 per night.<BR><BR>Good Luck,<BR><BR>Kevin

Ed, I agree with Kevin--look at BiddingForTravel.com. There are even occasional 4* hotels (Hyatt Regency, Doubletree Guest Suites) in the North Michigan Avenue zone on Priceline that come up for $46-$50/night. If you got a room for that price, the parking would be expensive--in which case I'd just find an inexpensive place outside the downtown area to leave my car and use the mass transit system to get around.<BR><BR>No guarantee you'd actually be able to get a 4* in the North Michigan Avenue area for under $50, but some people have--so it might be worth attempting a Priceline bid. If you decide to try, be sure to read the Hotel FAQs on BiddingForTravel and understand how to use free rebids to maximize your chances of a successful bid.<BR><BR>Usual disclaimers apply--no vested interest in your using Priceline or BiddingForTravel, no guarantee you'd be able to get a hotel under $50/night, you can't pick a specific hotel (just a star level and a Priceline zone in the city), yadda, yadda...

I live in Joliet which is a 30min drive to anywhere near Chicago and you will get a great room for a great price and an indoor pool.Joliet also has good food at good prices and shuttles to local casinos

Tinley Park has tons of new hotels and Metra stations right nearby. It's about 25 miles south of Chicago off of I-57 and I-80 if you are looking at a map so it's easy expressway access if you drive in. If you do end up driving in, the Park District garages are the cheapest for parking, Grant Park North, Grant Park South and Millenium Park. You can park there and walk or cab it relatively cheaply to most of the tourist attractions.

I've been both resident and tourist in the area and here's what you need to think about: Driving into Chicago is hair-raising for the unfamiliar and parking is expensive. I don't think it's a bad idea to think about staying in the suburbs but don't do that thinking you'll drive in and out to see the sights and go to restaurants.

If you want to stay in the suburbs, I'd look at the Metra map and probably try the suburbs to the N, NW, and W, but make sure you are somewhere near a Metra or &quot;El&quot; line, and ask your possible hotel whether you can walk to the station (and back from it at night safely) or if parking at the nearest station is at all possible (they are commuter lines, so sometimes the lots fill by 8:30 am).

Evanston is a good choice partly because it is an interesting place itself with good restaurants, and in many cases you may just about walk to the El or Metra station (of which there are more than one).

Sorry Swalter, didn't mean to exclude Tinley -- just less familiar with it.

Mannheim Road also flanks OHare, so you have that noise in many cases. UGLEE.

Evanston is definately the closest but I'm not sure it's going to come even close to your price range. Joliet is quite far (at least an hour by train or driving if no traffic).

I'd try bidding $50 or $60 on Priceline for a 4 star in Chicagos loop or mag mile. A lot of people have ended up in the Palmer House or Westin for this price. I think the suburban idea is a really bad idea. Some of the suburban suggestions here are pretty far out of the city or just plain funky. The driving experience and high parking cost would be aggrivating to say the least.

I just realized this is 2 years old. Who the heck opened this?