First Time in Chicago, need help...
 

Hi All,

We will be traveling to Chicago the weekend of July 16th, just Friday night - Sunday(somewhat last minute decision) and need some help/advice about a couple of things.

The reason for our trip is b/c we are going to see the Real Madrid vs Chivas soccer match at Soldier's Field on the 16th. Since we don't know anything about the city yet, where is Soldier's Field (city or suburban)?

What is the best way to get there via public transportation?

I am interested in shopping on Michigan Ave and seeing some of the cities major sites. I think we'd prefer to stay in a hotel on/near Michigan Ave, do you agree that this is a good location?

We also need hotel advice: We'd like to stay in at least a 4 star hotel, I think 5 star may be out of our budget. Any good recommendations.

About us... we are a married couple in our late 20's just looking to have a good weekend seeing some sites, the match, shopping and eating some good food.

Thanks for the help.

Hilton Chicago at 720 South Michigan will put you right in the middle of what you want to do. It's a walking distance to Soldier Field and it's a short shuttle or a city bus ride to north Michigan shopping. It's reasonably priced and it is a 4* plus hotel. You are within a short cab/public transportation ride to many of Chicago's famous downtown landmarks. Grant Park is right across the street and lakefront is also a short walk.

BTW, Soldier Field is right on the lakefront on the south side of Chicago's downtown.

Definitely stay in the city. I've stayed at both Hotel Monaco and The Palmer House downtown and have really enjoyed both. Neither are right "on" Michigan Ave., but still within walking distance or a quick cab ride away. Soldier Field is in the city - but will probably need to take a cab.
I only have experience with cabs - someone else may be able to explain the el system.

If you stay downtown and want to take public transportation simply take the Red Line (Subway, downtown it is underground) to Roosevelt Road / 12th Street and take the #12 bus east to Soldier Field (it will stop there).

Try hotwire for hotels. You can narrow it down as closely as the N. Michigan Ave. area, and I've gotten some great deals from them for other cities.

For transit info, go to:

www.transitchicago.com

With so little time, instead of museums consider an architecture tour. The city itself is like an outdoor museum. Go to

http://www.architecture.org/tours.aspx

We've gotten excellent deals for downtown and N. Michigan Avenue hotels on Priceline ($45 max). I'd highly recommend you try that first for your lodging. The Michigan Avenue Hilton is handy for Soldier Field, but not quite so for your shopping. But that's my personal bias. It is a HUGE convention-style (tho older, landmark-status) hotel. Just about any of the No. Michigan Avenue properties offer you a much nicer 'neighborhood/shopping' feel than the Hilton.

(Yes - the Hilton IS across the street from Grant Park - a lovely bit of Chicago's front yard, but the surrounding neighborhood doesn't have a whole lot going for it. And the N. Michigan Ave. hotels are mostly are longish 1-2 block walk from Chicago's exquisite lakefront.)

For $45 I doubt you can even get a 3* NMA property through priceline. That's not to say that the 2* and 2.5* properties are bad choices, just letting you know what your options are. I typically prefer the loop area and get 4* hotels for around $75 (sometimes less).

As to shopping, it really depends on what you like. tuckerdc clearly prefers the NMA area, but others of us find it too rich for our blood and prefer the loop area (Marshall Field's flagship store, TJ Maxx, Filene's basement, Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, H&M, etc.). I enjoy shopping both areas, but loop wins for me.

You most likely wouldn't be unhappy, though, with a hotel in either zone. Public transportation options are great, and Chicago is a great walking city.

If you don't want to try priceline, then please provide a budget to make it easier for people to recommend hotels. Also, specific Chicago hotels have been disussed here, so a search might help tremendously.