My son is planning on going to the ball games on May 3 and needs help in finding a hotel. To save moeny, he has suggested finding a hotel in one of the northern suburbs and then taking the El downtown. If the El drops him at Howard station, how would he return to the hotel? I remember that buses quit running rather early. Is there parking near the station that he could leave his car?
Is it better to make the suggestion that he look for a hotel somewhere else? What would parking rates be then?
I have also thought of Priceline, but I'm not sure what area would assure him easy transport to and from the games.
Thank you for your help!

You sound confused. Wrigley is not downtown, it's at Addison, 3600 North, halfway between downtown and the northern city limits. Take a look at the CTA map for the Red Line:
http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/maps/F2004N.html

He can stay in Evanston and walk to the Purple Line or stay in or near Skokie and take the Swift (1 or 2$ to park during the week). Both require a change of trains at Howard, but there is usually a train waiting on game days. He can also drive to Howard Street and park there for a few dollars - it's about 25 minutes east of the Edens Expressway via Touhy Avenue. The Swift is faster. To be safe, he should allow an hour to get to the game by train. It's absolutely painless, any teenager can manage it.

The only problem he'll have on his return is if he stays out late and misses the last train to Evanston or Skokie.

has your son checked out the best western hawthorne? it's walking distance from wrigley (broadway & roscoe) and priced competitively.

http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwest...ertyCode=14151

I would reccomend staying at a cheaper hotel in the city and avoiding the suburbs compelety. I don't think there is much money to be saved in staying up norh a bit. Use Priceline and look for a hotel in the "North Michigan/Mag Mile" area. Any hotel can give him directions.

when we go to chicago and wrigley, we always find really inexpensive hotels right on the mag mile through priceline, expedia, etc. the el station is super close to north michigan and drops off 1/2 to one block from wrigley

If he has a car, he will have to factor in parking downtown or in Wrigleyville, about $25 a day unless he can find a bargain. I agree that he would have more to do after the game if he stayed downtown or near Wrigley, although Evanston has quite a bit of nightlife because of Northwestern U.