PLACE TO STAY WITH FREE PARKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
 

Yes, we want it all! We are willing to stay "out a ways" to get lower hotel costs and hope to get free parking. We'll gladly ride the El. I did read on here about the Best Western River North was a good location. Is "River North" the name of a train stop, and if so, could someone give me the address of this Best Western? Any other ideas of where to stay would be appreciated! I'll have more questions later after we have a place to lay our head. I often use Priceline and bid for a room, but I'm afraid I wouldn't get all the things I want in a room. I'm trying to think of the other site that doesn't give the name but does give the amenities. My husband and I, our 38 year old daughter and 16 year old granddaughter are coming on Aug. 1st for three nights.

Thanks for any help!

I guess you are talking about Chicago? Can't you just google the hotel?

http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwest...electedHotels=

yourcta.com - for transportation info

Have a great trip!

At this point, the only hotels you're likely to find are "out a ways" as <i>Lollapalooza</i> begins August 2. It's a 3-day music fest in southern Grant Park that normally brings between 200,000 and 300,000 people into the city. Most inexpensive rooms in the central city have been booked for a couple months. Those that remain range from $200 to $500 per night.

The "L" only serves the city and a couple close-in suburbs. If you stay in the outer areas and don't want to drive into the city, you would have to take a Metra, the commuter train system.

You can try the Evanston-Skokie area north of the city. There are several hotels in downtown Evanston and in Skokie near Old Orchard Mall including some suite hotels that would have a kitchenette and nearby grocery stores. From Evanston, you can take the Purple Line to Howard and transfer to the Red Line into the city. From Skokie, you could drive to Howard or the Yellow Line station at Dempster. Either trip would take about 60 minutes.

For bus and "L" info, check www.transitchicago.com. It has maps, a trip planner and how to track buses and trains on your smart phone. A 3-day pass allows unlimited rides on all CTA trains and buses for $20. They're available at most CVS or Walgreens, Jewel and Dominick's supermarkets.

For suburban trains, check www.metrarail.com. Metra does not accept CTA passes.

For what to see or do in the city, check www.choosechicago.com. For info on restaurants, theatre and other happenings, check www.chicagomag.com or www.chicagoreader.com.

River North is a neighborhood that is bounded on the south by the main branch of the Chicago River; on the north by Oak Street; on the east by Lake Michigan and on the west by the north branch of the Chicago River. It includes the Magnificent Mile, the Michigan Avenue shopping district and Streeterville.

If you said the direction from which you're coming and what your hotel budget is, the posters can probably give you better info.

Take a look at the Hampton Inn near O'Hare airport.

They have a free shuttle to the airport where you can get the El. Or it's a short drive to a nearby station but there you would be charged for parking.