Flying into Midway/Out of O'Hare: Where to leave luggage while at Cubs game?
 

We are a family of four going on an insane baseball tour. Sadly, our schedule allows us only one long day in Chicago.

We're arriving at Midway at 9:30 AM, attending a 12:00 game (which we hope won't be rained out), then taking an 8:00 PM flight to NY from O'Hare (so we can get there in time for the Yankees the next day).

Would appreciate suggestions for where to leave our bags (carry-on) while at the game:
- a hotel close to Wrigley
- VIP area at Wrigley?
- or possibly a trusted car service that could pick us up at one airport and take us back to the
other.

Thanks, everyone. And please don't critique our itinerary. We know we're crazy, but there were games that certain members of our family just couldn't miss.

For a hotel "close enough" to Wrigley, try the City Suites on Belmont and Sheffield. It's 0.7 miles from Wrigley, and is serviceable for a quickie one-night stay.

http://www.cityinns.com/citysuites/

Never mind, I just realized that you just want a place to leave luggage. No idea if they will do that, but I guess it's worth calling to find out.

Thanks, TwoFat. Is that the closest hotel to the field?

Based on a hotels.com search, it appears to be the hotel closest to Wrigley. Wrigley is in a densely residential area, so there aren't a ton of hotels like there are downtown.

The Best Western Hawthorne Terrace is also nearby. I'd give the hotel(s) a call before you go, just to make sure they'll do this. It's a nice walk from there to the game - my best friend lives very close to the hotel and we take that walk a lot.

Otherwise, you could always try one of the hotels in the loop if you're taking public transport, since you would switch trains in the loop anyways (from Orange to Red on the way in, and Red to Blue on the way out.) It might be nice to NOT have luggage on the Red Line on game day, since the train is always packed. You could try the Allegro, the Renaissance or the Palmer House Hilton.

Otherwise, I'd find a number and call customer service at Wrigley. I'm sure you're not the first family who has wanted to see a game and had luggage in tow:)

Good luck!

Maybe even rent a car for the day? Do the 1 way rental from Midway to O'Hare. That may give you more time to enjoy Wrigley. Not the most cost-effective method but it would work.

Out of curiosity, what other stadiums are you going to for your trip?

Wrigley Field has a parcel check (as does Cellular Field). There isn't much info on their website, but you should be able to call and ask.

If you opt to leave them at a hotel, I'd do it at one of the larger hotels downtown. They have people who store bags all the time before check-in or after check-out so you'd be like just another guest.

If you left them at the Palmer House, you could take the Orange Line from MDW, drop the bags, then catch the Red Line to Wrigley. The total walk would be about one block. When you're ready to leave, catch the Red Line back to the Loop, pick up the bags and walk one block to the Blue Line.

Thanks, everyone. These are great options. We are thinking about both the car and the Palmer House idea, but will also contact Wrigley. The Palmer House might be best because that way we'll get more of a sense of Chicago.

We're also going to:
Braves
Cubs (playing CWS)
Yankees
Mets
Cooperstown
Tigers?
Indians

It was VERY difficult planning this trip because of game schedules. And to complicate things, we're looking at colleges as well.

We live on the west coast. We'll be starting in Atlanta, flying to Chicago and NY, driving to upstate NY (and possibly Detroit) and then flying home from Cleveland. We managed to use Delta mileage (just ten days before the trip) for all legs except ORD-LGA, but whatever we saved in plane fare we will be giving to the ticket brokers.

And although my boys (both teens) are thrilled, I will be ready for a real vacation when we return.

Wow, that sounds like an crazy trip, crosscheck. Good luck!

I would also check with a car service like limolink.com. I haven't used them in Chicago, but they operate nationwide and I've used them several times in NYC and they are VERY accommodating. They may well keep your bags for the day. It might be cheaper than the car rental idea and might be a lot less hassle than getting to a hotel, checking bags, getting to and from the game, etc.

Can anyone recommend a great ticket broker for Yankees and Cubs?

crosscheck, you in a heap of hurt trying to get Cubbies/Sox tickets this late date. I'd try ebay tickets. But I'm bettin' you'll be looking at 500-600 for 4 seats. EEK! Bleacher seats may be a bit cheaper (and always more fun at Wrigley!).

Good luck! Have a great time in my favorite city!!!

Paula

Try Stubhub or Ebay. Who are the Yankees playing when you are there? You are facing a lot of money for these games, especially if all of them are Interleague. Toughest time to get tickets. Good luck getting tickets. Its not going to be easy or cheap.

Sorry for the doublepost.

http://www.stubhub.com/chicago-cubs-...1-2008-495079/

There are tickets there cheaper than I expected. You are going to have to be willing to split up potentially. Act now to get these tickets.

Thanks. We easily got tickets for Atlanta. Lots of choices (surprisingly) for Cubs. Yankees much more of a challenge.

http://www.stubhub.com/new-york-yank...2-2008-511504/

There are some tickets available at an ok price. 1 thing I would recommend is not getting bleacher seats as you cannot access the rest of the stadium with these tickets.

If you're taking public transportation from Wrigley to O'Hare, you DO NOT go through the loop. You take a bus up Addison to the blue line -- it'll be much shorter. So the Palmer House or any other hotel in the loop is NOT a good idea.

"Thanks, everyone. These are great options. We are thinking about both the car and the Palmer House idea, but will also contact Wrigley. The Palmer House might be best because that way we'll get more of a sense of Chicago."

The red line is running on the elevated (brown line) tracks) most weekends, so the Palmer House idea may not work if you are here during a weekend.

Lots of Cubs/Sox tickets available on Craigslist. And there are always tickets available from the brokers right near the el station on the day of the game.

Try priceline for car rentals. We've been able to get one day rentals from Midway for $12 pretty regularly.

Great tips, everyone. Had to change my plans because of work. My husband and the boys will now have two days of male bonding without me in Atlanta and Chicago before I meet them in NY. I can't say that I'm terribly disappointed - wasn't looking forward to three games in three cities in three days during a heat wave.

Finally booked the flights and hotels for first two stops. It's a good thing we're using mileage because we keep altering our itinerary (the latest change ensures that the boys arrive in Atlanta in time to watch the final NBA game, if there is one).

Yankees are playing Cincinnati, and luckily I think we have a connection for those tickets. But looking at Stubhub, there do seem to be plenty of options. Hardest ticket to get is for the sold-out Emory University tour.

If you have time and are hitting Detroit, the best way to go is through Buffalo and Canada. You'll be near Toronto if they are playing! You hit Niagra Falls that way too. Then you could drive the other way to get to Cleveland. Just bring your birth certificates if going to Canada.

And if hitting Detroit, don't miss the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The best school in the world. Okay, I'm a bit biased. :)

I see that Cincinnati leaves New York to play Toronto. You could follow the too!

Update:
- Got excellent Cubs/CWS tickets through Craigslist. Same seats were for sale on stubhub for twice as much.

- Seriously considering the Cooperstown/Niagara/Detroit/Cleveland odyssey (after sitting in hot stadiums for half the vacation, should be really fun spending the other half in the car!) But both Cooperstown and Niagara appear to be overrun with cheesy touristy stuff. Niagara now seems like Vegas/Disneyland with nature as an afterthought - Do the falls still seem real?

- kelliebellie, We have already visited U-M, and my son agrees with you - He thinks it's one of the greatest colleges we've seen.

Sorry you can not join the rest of your family for the baseball games tour because it sounds like a great adventure. Would agree U of MI is a great school! DD just graduated from there in April! The out of state tuition is incredibly high, but I guess it paid for itself since DD got a fully paid ride plus stipend to graduate school. She could have stayed at U of MI but opted to go to a different school. Good luck college touring!

Luggage Update: As a poster mentioned, Wrigley has an area to check any sort of oversized bag or parcel. So the boys are good to go.

Detroit restaurant recommendation:

http://www.vicente.us/

Cuban food with a menu posted on their website. It is easy walking from Comerica park and you can go in your grubby ballpark clothes. They have a small outdoor patio which is nice. Really, really good food.

How did you know we love Cuban food? We're hoping for a week without heat waves or tornadoes. Will post a trip report.

Are you going to make it to Detroit then? Hoping for no heat waves or tornados for you. And no rain outs either!

We're in Detroit right now. After several hours of severe thunderstorms, the skies miraculously cleared minutes before the game began. And my son caught a ball!

Tomorrow: Cleveland.

So did your DH and DS enjoy the Cubs/Sox game? For some reason my kids were just fascinated by the idea of them flying in just for the day for that game. Even though my daughter was going crazy getting ready to leave for a three month stay with her future in-laws in Ireland, she kept wondering how my "Fodor's friends" were doing!

For the most part, anything I mention about Fodor's goes in one ear and out the other. But I guess this struck a chord with them because they love Wrigley!

He caught a ball?!? How cool!!! My husband caught one at a minor league game and was all excited. Well, with this insane trip he was owed a ball!

I'm glad the weather held out for you and hopefully you had a good Detroit experience.

CAPH52,
The guys adored their day at Wrigley, and are now obsessed with the Cubs. Even my jaded husband (who has been everywhere) has not stopped bragging/marveling about how he and the boys flew in and out of Chicago just for the game.

kelliebellie,
Our Detroit experience exceeded all expectations - and turned out to be the most relaxing part of the trip. We're now in Cleveland, recuperating from four hours in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, hoping that the rain will let up within the next 90 minutes.

I'm so glad to hear they enjoyed it, crosscheck. My kids will be glad to hear it too!

Enjoy the rest of your trip!