We're scheduled to spend the weekend in Chicago visiting family and will be in-and-out of the hotel. Does anyone know of alternative parking near The Blackstone? When I lived in Chicago, it was always easy to find street parking in the city but I'm not sure what the area around the hotel is like these days.

A number of years ago they eliminated a lot of the street parking in downtown area of Chicago so it it is not as easy as it used to be. And there is the music festival in Grant Park this weekend. Try this website to search for nearby parking by address of the hotel. http://www.chicagoparkingmap.com/?kw...FQE0xgody2Qxkw.

Thanks Laurie. What a great tool. Is there a way to determine the parking rate? I don't see it, but perhaps I'm missing it...

One of the least expensive in the area is the Millennium Park Garage. There are several interconnected garages under Grant Park and for some reason the rates are different. It's in the neighborhood of $25 for 24-hours. Check www.millenniumgarages.com for exact rates.

I could find parking rates on that site but through a few steps it appeared there were links to the websites for whatever company operates that garage. Parking rates have gotten high, and with the privatization of the parking meters even street parking can cost you. (If you haven't seen all the controversy in the local news about it, just search on www.chicagotribune.com for "parking meter" and you will find articles like this one: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...,2083602.story

And here is a website that purports to describe street parking rules in Chicago. You can type in an address and see. http://www.parkinganytime.com/pat.ph...+Chicago%2C+IL

Thanks Laurie_Ann. I noticed the absence of meters during our stay. Seems they've done away with them in favor of pay boxes.

For anyone who plans to stay at The Blackstone, there are numerous lots/garages in the vicinity. The hotel charges $47 per night for valet. That rate is also very similar to the garage rate just across the street at the Hilton, which I believe is where The Blackstone valets park guest vehicles.

Not sure if there are in-and-out privileges included, but we found a nice, new-ish, secure garage at the corner of 8th and State. Just a block away from the hotel. It's in the same building as the Lou Malnatti's restaurant and the entry is on 8th Street, between Wabash and State. The overnight rate was from $17-20.

Can't recall the name of the garage, but there is a digital sign affixed to the outside of the building above the entry that says 24 hour parking. There were two or three open-air street-level parking lots, but the garage worked really well for our stay. Hope this helps. Oh.