MDW or ORD
 

We are going to Chicago for a week before Christamas and trying to find out which airport is easier to navigate.
We won't rent a car so we need to use public transportation or taxi if there is no other way to get to Marriott's Residence Inn Downtown.

Without a doubt go to O'Hare. The train to the city is so easy. There are also many more flights out of there in case you have problems/cancellations.

The counterpoint is: MDW is closer, cheaper, and the orange line train also runs straight downtown.

I go to Chicago frequently on business as well as for fun weekends. I prefer Midway. It's a more manageable airport, has recently received a much needed renovation and is closer to the city so you can get to the Loop quickly. If you choose a cab, fare typically runs around $24. I can't place the Residence Inn, but I typically stay at the Le Meridien and this is how much I pay when I don't take the train.

O'Hare is a hassle in my opinion.

I used to do a commuter flight into Chicago Midway pretty frequently on Southwest but have been to or through ORD many times as well.

If I'm going TO and FROM Chicago, rather than through, I'd pick MDW anytime. All those flight options at ORD come at a cost. The times I've been stuck on a plane which taxis for an hour or more at O'Hare are numerous. "We're 67th in line for take off folks, but hope to have you in the air soon...." That's a real ORD quote.

O'Hare is much larger, but not that hard to navigate. Both airports have similar train connections. After a 30-40 minute ride, you'll have to disembark in the Loop and take a $6-7 cab ride to the Residence Inn on Walton. (You might see references to transfering to the Red subway line, but this would still leave you 3/4 of a mile from your hotel.) You'll want the Clark/Lake stop on the Blue line from O'Hare, or the State/Lake stop on the Orange line from Midway.

The upshot is that you should book whichever airport saves you money on the airfare. One note of caution: be sure you mention to the cabdriver that you want the Residence Inn on Walton. There is a huge conventioneer's Marriott on Michigan Avenue where you may end up if you aren't specific. You should go two streets north of the John Hancock building and one block east.

One point to consider is the security lines at MDW have been outrageously long for travelers -- often taking upwards of an hour to get through. The new terminal was built before 9/11 and is not set up to accommodate the more stringent security process. The Chicago Tribune has reported much about this problem and business travelers are "giving up" on Midway and flying out of O'Hare.

I fly weekly and have never waited more than 10 minutes to get through security at ORD. I would recommend ORD -- particulary during the holiday season for this reason alone.

I guess money talks, we got our tickets to MDW as it was $98.00 less for each ticket then to ORD. Thank you all for your opinions

Pat2003, you make the ultimate case! A number of discount carriers make use of Midway and that frequently has a favorable impact on the fares into and out of MDW.