My daughter is going to attend a conference in Chicago in October and has consulted with me as to where to stay.
The conference will be held at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention center, and the hotel with special rates for conference participants is the Marriot Schaumburg ($199 per nite). She has the following we questions:

Is Schaumburg a reasonable place to stay for a couple in their 30's who will be interested in other things besides the conference?
How far is it from the center of Chicago?
Are there restaurants and attractions in the area??
Are there other nearby (and cheaper)hotels she should consider in the Schaumberg area??

If anybody can provide some advice, we will greatly appreciate it.

Schaumburg is 30 miles from Chicago. I've only been to the Ikea there, but it didn't strike me as very attractive for a visitor.

Do you need to be at the conference? Can you stay in Chicago while your daughter stays in Schaumburg?

I just realized that you're asking for her, not for you.

You mean there's an IKEA there?? If it's big enough, maybe that will keep her busy in the evenings...

Schaumburg isn't beautiful (it's a 'burb), but yes, it does have an IKEA (and if you don't have one near your hometown, it IS fun), and there's also a huge mall right in Schaumburg (Woodfield Mall....if you google it, you can find out what stores are there). I'm not from Schaumburg, altho I've been there a few times and have enjoyed the shopping. You can take the blue line train from O'Hare airport to downtown (about a 40 min. ride)....the hotel could give you info on where to get the train...there might be a closer station than O'hare.... Will they have a car? Other than the mall and IKEA, I don't know of many unique places....altho there are a lot of chain restaurants in the area...TGIF, Chili's, etc. There are also plenty of other hotels in the area...again, many of the well-known chains. I'd guess there is a shuttle from the Marriott to Woodfield and IKEA (I think they're in the same vicinity). If the conference center is convenient to the Marriott, I'd probably stay there 'cus it's a crowded and busy suburb. Have fun!

They could always take the Metra into the city - but it's a 50-minute ride.

www.rtachicago.com

I guess she'll just have to concentrate on the conference and if she wants to see Chicago. she can make a "day trip" there.

Brookside:

Is the Metra the suburban rail line?

Steve, yeah, the Metra goes to the 'burbs in various directions, from downtown.

www.metrarail.com