Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Illinois > Chicago
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 09-29-2017, 09:23 AM
 
Location: TPA
6,476 posts, read 6,470,460 times
Reputation: 4863

Advertisements

Hi guys, I'm hoping to come to Chicago next week for my birthday. I've found cheap flights, but can't find cheap, quality hotels that aren't "hostels." Airbnb is no good either.

If we were to stay near Ohare, how easy is it to get in and out of the city? I know there's Uber and the subway, but Uber can run $30+ one way, and google says the Blue Line subway can take 30+ minutes. Plus my gf complains that trains make her sick. I'm not old enough to rent a car.

So if we were to stay near Ohare, would it be a pain getting into the city and getting around? I'm trying to find a hotel that's right on the blue line, but haven't found one. If we did decide to take the train everywhere, are there buses to get you to the stations?

Does anyone have any suggestions before I commit? Thanks for the help!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 09-29-2017, 09:33 AM
 
1,089 posts, read 1,867,091 times
Reputation: 1156
It is easy and cheap to get to the city from ORD via the Blue Line. Once you are in the city, it is easy to get around via walking, el, bus, and Uber.


I'd try to find a hotel close to downtown rather than stay at the airport.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 09-29-2017, 09:39 AM
 
Location: TPA
6,476 posts, read 6,470,460 times
Reputation: 4863
Hotels downtown are out of my price range. I'd prefer to be in the heart, but I'm okay with staying near Ohare if getting in and out wont be difficult. Thanks for your help. What about the buses? Are they a help?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 09-29-2017, 09:41 AM
 
28,453 posts, read 85,493,153 times
Reputation: 18730
What is "cheap"? If you are not able to split $100 night maybe you need to rethink the trip. A couple of regular posters here do rent out their spare rooms via the online services and they can speak to the relative demand and pricing but if you have traveled anywhere it would be hard to imagine not using some kind of public transit...
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 09-29-2017, 09:46 AM
 
Location: TPA
6,476 posts, read 6,470,460 times
Reputation: 4863
Quote:
Originally Posted by chet everett View Post
What is "cheap"? If you are not able to split $100 night maybe you need to rethink the trip. A couple of regular posters here do rent out their spare rooms via the online services and they can speak to the relative demand and pricing but if you have traveled anywhere it would be hard to imagine not using some kind of public transit...
I've used transit in multiple cities. I'm familiar with it, just not familiar with Chicago. Cheap hotel being under $150 a night. I have found some in the city that are under that range, but just in case it didn't work out, I just wanted to make sure it was accessible from Ohare.

Going from JFK to Midtown Manhattan was a pain both ways. I just wanted to gauge how Ohare to Loop compares.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 09-29-2017, 10:14 AM
 
28,453 posts, read 85,493,153 times
Reputation: 18730
It would be foolish to try to directly compare the NYC to Chicago, very different transit / traffic levels and completely different commuting patterns BUT you are correct that it is NOT a good idea to try to "go cheap" and stay at an airport hotel IF you are really in town to enjoy all the Chicago or NYC has to offer -- the areas near both cities airports is pretty much a "wasteland" and even if the transit is bit more direct in Chicago you are still burning an hour or so on a bumpity ride that makes too many stops...

If you have not already checked out "alternatives" like Longman & Eagle http://www.longmanandeagle.com/sleep/ it is worth poking around both their site as well as others nearby -- https://secure.rezovation.com/Reserv...x?s=u0gecTAfeg At least those spots in hipper areas have SOMETHING to do as opposed to the sterile areas near the airport.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 09-29-2017, 10:26 AM
 
Location: TPA
6,476 posts, read 6,470,460 times
Reputation: 4863
Quote:
Originally Posted by chet everett View Post
It would be foolish to try to directly compare the NYC to Chicago, very different transit / traffic levels and completely different commuting patterns BUT you are correct that it is NOT a good idea to try to "go cheap" and stay at an airport hotel IF you are really in town to enjoy all the Chicago or NYC has to offer -- the areas near both cities airports is pretty much a "wasteland" and even if the transit is bit more direct in Chicago you are still burning an hour or so on a bumpity ride that makes too many stops...

If you have not already checked out "alternatives" like Longman & Eagle Sleep it is worth poking around both their site as well as others nearby -- https://secure.rezovation.com/Reserv...x?s=u0gecTAfeg At least those spots in hipper areas have SOMETHING to do as opposed to the sterile areas near the airport.
That's why I'm asking you...I'm very familiar with New York. Not familiar with Chicago. I didn't stay at a hotel at JFK, I stayed in Manhattan, just getting there and back on the train was a pain. Didn't know how Ohare to Loop compares to that.

Thanks I'll check out those links.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 09-29-2017, 10:26 AM
 
1,225 posts, read 1,242,958 times
Reputation: 3429
Well I think the problem is bad timing. Mid-week there's Cubs in the playoffs, and next weekend is the Chicago Marathon. So hotels are likely to be fully booked and charging full rate for anything that's left. But I did find a few airbnb rooms for under $150.

If you must stay at an airport hotel, it's an easy trip via the Blue Line from the airport area. You will probably need to take a hotel shuttle back to the airport and then go to the CTA station at the airport. Some hotels might have a drop-off at an el station directly (Usually Rosemont) but you'd have to ask. But the Blue Line will take you directly downtown, no transfers required, and no 'airtran' transfer from the airport to the CTA system--the station is right at the airport terminal. It's very easy.

Note that the 'train' we're talking about isn't an Amtrak train. It's not a slow rocking train that makes people seasick.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 09-29-2017, 10:56 AM
 
Location: TPA
6,476 posts, read 6,470,460 times
Reputation: 4863
Well scratch that. I managed to find a good deal next to Millennium Park, so no having to worry about staying near Ohare. Though it looks like we'll be flying into Midway and out on Ohare. Thanks everyone for the help!

I've never been to Chicago, or the Midwest period, so if you have any suggestions or places we should vist, please let me know!

I've rode MTA in New York and Metro in DC, and I assume Chicago is similar in set up? You buy a card, reload the card, and ride wherever?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 09-29-2017, 11:25 AM
 
2,567 posts, read 3,637,188 times
Reputation: 3444
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jandrew5 View Post
Well scratch that. I managed to find a good deal next to Millennium Park, so no having to worry about staying near Ohare. Though it looks like we'll be flying into Midway and out on Ohare. Thanks everyone for the help!

I've never been to Chicago, or the Midwest period, so if you have any suggestions or places we should vist, please let me know!

I've rode MTA in New York and Metro in DC, and I assume Chicago is similar in set up? You buy a card, reload the card, and ride wherever?

What are your interests? Museums? Live music or theater? Sports? Dining? In any case, Chicago is probably in the top three nationwide in any of those categories, so would suggest you go online and find out more about these areas, unless you can give us specifics.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2022 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Illinois > Chicago

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top