I think taking a limo is going to be your cheapest option.
Long term parking is $13/day effictive 4/1/05.
There might be some offsite lots that you could try. For 3 weeks however, I would go with a limo if you are in southern WI.
Through places like airportdiscountparking.com I have found different deals. The best one (does not always seem to be available) is a 100% prepaid reservation with Avistar, which worked out to in the neighborhood of $9 a day when I did it.
The "regular deals": Avistar is $9.95 with their standard coupon (first day free); economy lot is $13/day. Econ lot requires using the automated people mover to get to the terminals, Avistar requires a 10 minte shuttle ride.
Park and Fly options will also sometimes be good. You stay a night on the front end and get 14 days of parking thrown in. (They might let you stay on the return instead, which would perhaps be better for you coming back from China).
For 14 days, and two of you, Coach USA is your best deal if you can get a ride to downtown (or Waukesha), balancing convenience with money. Amtrak isn't bad either. But you already said you were driving, so I'd poke around with the various discount parking sites, but I'd be surprised if you do better than about $9 a day.
Location: Near Chicago and Under the MDW and ORD Flight Paths, IL, USA
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I Vote Limo
I can't say that I've priced limo rides to ORD from your neck of the woods, but I think you really ought to look into it. If you're gone 20 days, $10 a day is still $200, which can't be too far from the R/T limo ride. And you get what you pay for at those remote lots. The Avistar lot always seems like the cars are doorhandle to doorhandle and being parked outside and under 294 for that long seems like asking for trouble.
And one more consideration: you're going to be flying back from China for what? 12-14hours? Do you really want to schlep your way to the shuttle stop behind the Hilton, wait for the Avistar bus, put up with traffic out to Mannheim, then get in your car and drive for over an hour to get home? Seems like a better deal to call the limo, walk outside baggage claim and sit back and let someone else deal with traffic. Don't discount jet lag and how tired you'll be after that trip.
We must drive my father in law to ORD on June 10. He will not fly RJ from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We will be stuck with our vehicle at ORD for 8 days. Suggestions and directions for cheap parking??? Thanks
There are a few offsite parking places - Avistar being one of them. They are $3-$5 cheaper (per day) than the $13 per day long term parking at ORD. You might also check into "park and fly" rates at some of the airport hotel locations. We've gotten a $99 Park and Fly rate at the Renaissance at O'Hare in the past. Several other chains have these rates as well.
I just joined a couple weeks ago (at their office in Tinley Park, IL) and they sent me some sort of voucher/coupons for parking at one of the ORD-area hotels (Marriott?). Don't have them at hand at the moment.
Thrifty is the best deal in my opinion. They have a Travel Agent of $6 per day, which they give to anyone who convinces them that they are a Travel Agent. They also have a Corporate rate (with a little card and everything) for $8 per day. You can get this if you park there frequently enough. Then they have a number of internet coupons for $11 per day or so.
I parked there every Thursday thru Monday for two years straight and with the exception of the grumpy old Phillipino Git found all the valets and shuttle drivers to be extremely pleasant and accomodating.
One time they smashed up the back up of my Landcruiser by backing it up into a three foot pole (odd height for a pole) and I didnt notice until four hours later. I returned to the lot and they cut me a check to get the car repaired at the facility of my choice and let me rent whatever cars I wanted until the repair was complete. Always walk around your car and check it for damage after it is driven back to you!
Thrifty is the best deal in my opinion. They have a Travel Agent of $6 per day, which they give to anyone who convinces them that they are a Travel Agent. They also have a Corporate rate (with a little card and everything) for $8 per day. You can get this if you park there frequently enough. Then they have a number of internet coupons for $11 per day or so.
I've heard Thrifty is the way to go. (Never used them myself since I'm too lazy to take a shuttle...but they definitely seem to have the most presence and frequency to pick you up from the airport and bring you to their lot.)
I too like Thrifty. Just note that you're best off with a reservation, which I do thru the same website FlyByMike posted. Have twice had a less than great experience - once at 5:15am, and another time at 1am or so...