You have been sooo helpful with planning our trip to Chicago. One last question: We check out of Omni Am. East Friday and we are heading out to the Cubs game. We want to drive out that way and hopefully find a motel on the EL route. Any ideas of where to stay so we can leave the car. Is the O,hare area close??

I'm sure Chigal will chime in, but I'll take a stab at this as well. First thing you should add is if you are flying in to Chicago or Driving?

If you are flying in, you really don't need a car. I would just ask for a late check out at the OMNI or leave your bags a the hotel while you are at the game.

The O'hare area is about as close as downtown to Wrigley field. If you have an early flight it could be an option to stay out at O'hare but I think we may be able to find other options if you elaborate on your situation.

If a car is absolutely necessary and you don't need a motel for the night, then here is another possibility. Drive out to either Cumberland or River Rd. exits on Kennedy Exp(last few exits before O'Hare)., park at the Park and Ride parking lots (I believe it's $1.75 for 12 hours) and take the Blue Line CTA train back to the city. Get off at Addison station and transfer to the Addison eastbound bus which will take you to the front door of Wrigley Field for $2 each way. For more info on CTA and Park and Ride look here: www.yourcta.com
Driving anywhere near the stadium on a game day is just not very practical.

Ronpal, from your other posts, it looks like you are flying into O'Hare and staying at the Ambassador East. You have the red line trains within a couple of blocks to get up to Wrigley. After the game, just return to downtown on the red line and change at Washington to the O'Hare/Blue Line. It's longer in terms of miles, but will take 60-90 minutes. Getting from Wrigley to the Kennedy will take 45 minutes to an hour during Friday rush, and another 30 minutes at least to the airport. You'll do the parking lot creep all the way.

Rooms at the airport are usually widely available on weekends, and nearly all of the hotels have an airport shuttle. But, given that taking your luggage to Wrigley is not a great option, I'd try to stay downtown for your last night. A cab from downtown to O'Hare on Saturday morning is under 30 minutes and under $40.

Thanks for all your replys. We deceided to stay another night. Got a room at Hyatt on wacker thru Hotwire. We are from Iowa and were driving in. Yes I know we are so close to Chicago but there is so much to learn about getting around in this city. I have to thank all the fodorites with there trip report.

Chicago is a great city but it's not very car-friendly -- especially around Wrigley when the Cubs are playing at home.

You should really consider leaving your car in one of the suburbs for the whole trip and taking the train into town. I think some of the Metra stations have secure parking lots? It will save you a ton of money (hotel parking in Chicago runs $30/day and up) and be less of a headache.

Being from Iowa, you may be anxious about taking public transportation. Don't be. I live in a small town and, not only have I figured it out, I've taught a dozen teens how to get around the city that way too. If we can do it, you can do it.

Go to the CTA website and get familiar with the system map. All you really need to know is the color of the line you need and the direction you're heading. Buy a visitor's pass at one of the locations listed on the site. It's a card that you swipe at the el-station turnstiles.

The stations are spaced apart regularly. In most of them you either walk up or down a flight of stairs, swipe your card and board a train. If you're not sure about your stop, just ask someone. They'll answer and be nice about it -- I promise.

As mentioned, the el to Wrigley is the Red Line. I believe it's called Dan Ryan/Howard North. It drops you off a block away from the stadium. Follow the crowd.

If you're really nervous about it, take a cab instead. Most places within downtown are five bucks. I think the ride to Wrigleyville and back is closer to $40, but that's not that much more than you'd pay to park -- if you find a place.

Relax. You'll be a pro at public transportation before you know it ;^)

If you are nervous about driving downtown or simply don't want to pay $30 a day for parking you could leave your car in Aurora/ Naperville and take Metra in to Chicago.

The Metra route 59 station (Just off I-88) in Aurora/Naperville has a large parking lot that is $2 per day. You need to buy as many parking tickets as days you will be there and put them on your dash board.

You could then take a cab to your hotel once you get to Union Station in downtown chicago.

It does seem odd that everyone recommends taking the train to Wrigley when you have your own car, but the area just cannot handle the traffic. Are you prepared for $30 a day parking fees downtown? If not, look at the Grant Park Underground or Millennium and Monroe Garages near the Art Institute. They usually have the lowest daily fees. If you are staying for several days, you may be able to negotiate something with a lot nearer your hotel.

chicgal, you are a very popular person!!

DH just bought me plane tickets to Chicago for my birthday (I think I'll keep him!) However there is an issue. He bought our tickets so that we arrive September 10 & leave September 13 and there is apparently a huge convention in town that weekend. Therefore there are no hotels to be found.

I'm going to change tickets to either the last weekend in September (24-27) or the first weekend in October (1-4). Which would you recommend? I'm leaning towards the second weekend, only because the Cubs are in town & although they're sold out, there's a better chance of seeing them when they're in town . They're out of town the last weekend of September.

Any thoughts? Also hotel recs would be great. I think we're going to Priceline it though because we don't want to spend much more than $100, and the areas we're looking in, that's not gonna happen!

Thanks for any advice!!

topping for chicgal.